The Washington Wizards’ difficult season has been offset by flashes from the young players on the roster, who have given the team hope even though their record suggest the light at the end of the tunnel is still far away.
Even then, the team's blockbuster trades ahead of the NBA trade deadline to acquire four-time All-Star guard Trae Young and future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis seemed to raise major question marks about the team's plan moving forward.
Sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings, it didn't seem to make any sense as to why the team feelt the decision to make two bolds swings when they did.
However, former Wizard John Wall shed light on the situation and his reasoning for the team's franchise-altering moves says more about the front office's faith in the young core, while offering reaons the fanbase should be encouraged.
John Wall sites young core as reason for Wizards' bold move
In a recent interview, Wall spoke extremely highly of his former squad and the direction they're headed in.
Not only did the former guard offer confidence about the direction the team is heading in, but he revealed how the team's deadline swings came as a result of the young prospects on the roster proving they're ready to make the leap.
"Our young guys are developing, they're getting better now," Wall said. "They told the front office what to do. It told them we are ready"
Hearing Wall say that doesn't come as a surprise, but when you really think about it, he's right.
Wizards don't make these moves without confidence in their youth
Washington's fanbase and coaching staff has gotten the opportunity to see real growth in second-year players Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George this season, and that's not even including the flashes third-year man Bilal Coulibaly has put together.
In addition, the flashes from rookie standouts Tre Johnson and Will Riley have only added to the team's confidence in the youth movement that has completely revamped their roster.
Despite the team's record, Washington has shown several times this season that their young squad is ready to compete at the next level.
All that to say, the Wizards front office made those moves with the confidence that their young core was ready to be surrounded by win-now players, which is where Young and Davis come in.
With a new superstar duo and a potential top five draft pick set to join the team this offseason, Washington could be in store for a major bounce back season next year and to Wall's point, it these moves wouldn't have happened without the encouraging signs from the team's young players on the roster.