The Washington Wizards had one of the most active offseasons in the NBA last summer. With the arrival of Michael Winger and Will Dawkins as the new decision-makers in the front office, the Wizards finally decided on a direction: they were going to tear down and rebuild.
This was not an easy task. The Wizards were the epitome of mediocrity in the NBA for a long time. They arguably waited too long to decide on a rebuild, causing them to hold onto their stars for too long, lowering their trade value. The previous regime also regularly prioritized the present over the future, preferring NBA-ready prospects to high-upside picks in the draft and trading away future assets for present-day value. This had left the franchise bereft of high-end talent or valuable assets. This is the context in which the 2023 offseason needs to be evaluated. Â Â
The new Wizards front office was one of the busiest front offices in the league last summer, trying to execute their tear-down plan. They made a series of moves in the draft and trade market to completely overhaul the roster. Three starters from last season; Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Monte Morris were traded, and youngster Bilal Coulibaly was drafted with the no. 7 overall pick. The team became a much younger, more dynamic, but less talented team almost overnight.
The new roster has failed to be competitive so far this season. With a 3-19 record and the worst defense in the league, the growing pains in Washington have been very real. It’s also important to remember that this was always going to be a long process that requires patience. However, it’s also worth taking stock of the moves of the offseason: which ones might the Wizards already be regretting?