The Washington Wizards season has come to an end as the team and their entire fanbase look ahead to a pivotal offseason.
Not only does the team have to remain focused on the NBA Draft, but they also have to begin thinking about what direction they want to take moving forward with multiple roster decisions looming.
One name in specific for the Wizards to keep their eyes on is Marcus Smart who the team landed at the trade deadline in February moments before the deadline came.
Washington's decision to take on Smart's contract was made for multiple reasons, but the main factor for the guard joining the team was about what he would be able to offer the Wizards young core down the stretch.
Not only is Smart a former Defensive Player of the Year, but he was a pivotal piece for the Boston Celtics in their run to the NBA Finals a few years back.
Adding him to the mix of a young backcourt with an aspiring two-way star like Bilal Coulibaly in specific could prove to be huge for the French product's development, especially getting the opportunity to learn defensive strategies and tendencies as well as how he operates on and off the court as a true professional.
And while Smart's tenure with the Wizards may be short-lived, his impact on the team could be around for years, including the draft pick that Washington acquired when they landed the playmaker from Memphis.
Wizards find out fate of acquired Grizzlies draft pick
When the Wizards traded for Smart, the biggest driving factor behind the move was the first-round pick that the Grizzlies offered to make it worth Washington's while.
At the time of the deal, it was unclear where the first-round pick would fall for Memphis considering they were stuck in a tie-breaker scenario.
However, after the Grizzlies essentially won the "coin flip" to decide the tie breaker, it has been announced that the Wizards will now have the No. 18 overall pick in the first-round of this offseason NBA Draft.
Adding the No. 18 overall pick to the team's projected top 3 pick in the upcoming draft will be huge for the Wizards as they continue to build their young core from the ground up.
With plenty of moves still to be made, the Wizards can at least begin to prepare for what players may be available when it comes their turn to select at No. 18.