The rebuild in Washington has seemingly been ongoing for years as the fanbase continues to grow impatient about how long it will take for the Wizards to finally begin making noise in the Eastern Conference.
Washington has assembled an abundance of talented young prospects along the way and although the team hasn't exactly found a solidfied cornerstone to build around yet, it's become evident that general manager Will Dawkins and head coach Brian Keefe are headed in the right direction.
With prospects like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George emerging as legitimate rising stars this season as sophomores, fans have began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The only problem with that is fans don't know exactly how long it'll take before they're fully able to reach that light at the end of the tunnel and find themselves in position watching their team make a run for a playoff spot in the East.
Fortunately for the fanbase, veteran guard CJ McCollum may have finally given the fanbase a timeline that hints at when the Wizards may be back in the mix.
CJ McCollum reveals timeline for Wizards rebuild
CJ McCollum was one of the Wizards biggest additions this past offseason as the team used the opportunity to offload Jordan Poole's long-term contract in exchange for one of the best mentors the league has to offer.
The veteran guard has given the fanbase several exciting performances to watch this season setting franchise records and knocking down game winners with the most recent coming in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks on New Years Eve.
Despite that, it's obvious that McCollum won't be around for the long haul in Washington with his time in the DMV most likely being a temporary stint down the stretch of his career.
However, McCollum's role in mentoring the team's young core has already proven beneficial for the team's future plans with his ability to serve as a perfect example for the exact type of professional the team's decision makers hope their young core will work to be like in terms of off the court preperation and on-court IQ.
Nonetheless, arguably the most encouraging sign about McCollum's time in Washington so far, is the confidence he has in the team's young core and the direction the rebuild is heading.
On a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, McCollum used his appearance to praise the team's young core and give the Wizards' fanbase an update of just how bright the future in the DMV could be:
“The sky’s the limit in the next three years," McCollum said. "They’re boys, that’s the scary part. Real dogs when they’re 24–25.”
McCollum's confidence about the team's young core is extremely encouraging, especially considering how long it's been since the Wizards have made noise in the East.
Washington seems to be on the right track and the fact that the team's young players have impressed McCollum this much in this little bit of time suggests the Wizards may have a roster full of future stars.