One of the worst-kept secrets across the entire NBA is the Wizards’ desire to lose. From resting key starters, to potentially shutting down star Anthony Davis for the rest of the season, the team has made it obvious that their goal is to achieve the best draft position.
Losing has the potential to set the Wizards up well for the future, pairing Davis and Trae Young, with a potential superstar in the wings. The one issue? The Wizards have plenty of competition, as multiple other NBA teams look to lose their way into the top pick.
As the second half of the season roars on, it will be important for the Wizards to out-lose multiple teams in the battle for prime draft position. Can they out-tank the competition? Here are the vital matchups to watch for the Wizards’ draft stock.
Utah Jazz at Washington Wizards- March 5th
This has quickly become a matchup Wizards’ fans have circled, with Trae Young’s debut set for this date. However, the game is also incredibly important for other reasons: the Jazz are key competitors for the Wizards in the tank race.
Currently, Utah has 2 more wins than the Wizards, giving Washington the upper hand. But a head-to-head loss could flip the tide, giving the Jazz a greater path to the top seed.
Washington will have a serious dilemma on their hands. Do they want to play Young more and see what they have, or solidify their place in the standings?
I expect that Washington will prioritize the latter, likely disappointing Wizards fans. But the end goal is too important to sacrifice, even if it means limiting their star’s minutes.
Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans- March 8th
Following Young’s home debut, things don’t get any easier for the Wizards in the tank race. The team will travel to New Orleans to take on the plummeting Pelicans, sitting just a game above them in the standings.
The last time the two teams faced off, New Orleans manhandled Washington, with Zion Williamson and Derrick Queen bullying the Wizards’ smaller big man depth in the paint.
However, Williamson has been in and out of the lineup of late, likely making the challenge harder for New Orleans. With Young’s ball-handling in the picture, Washington could challenge a New Orleans defense that has struggled mightily at preventing paint penetration.
With back-to-back vital contests in the tanking race, the Wizards will certainly have their hands full this week, looking to propel themselves to the top spot.
Washington Wizards at Utah Jazz- March 25th
The second game of the Wizards’ season series against the Jazz will be just as crucial as the first.
It could also be even more challenging for both sides to lose: both teams could potentially have their stars back for this one, as Alex Sarr and Lauri Markennan are just weeks away from returning.
This one could get ugly, with both teams having even more incentive to lose as the season winds down. Expect sloppy basketball, and lots of controversy stemming from both teams’ 4th quarter decisions.
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets- April 5th
The Wizards’ most important game of the rest of the season lies with just 2 weeks left in the regular season, as they take on their biggest rival in the tanking wars: the Brooklyn Nets.
Washington sits a game and a half over Brooklyn in the standings currently, needing to make up ground. But the Wizards do have the tiebreaker over Brooklyn in the draft race: the Nets currently lead the season series 2-1, after a dominant win on February 7th.
Both teams will be desperately trying to gain an edge in this one, given their proximity to each other in the standings. But if the Nets’ offense explodes as it did in the first game, with the team scoring 80 first half points, Washington should be in prime position for the top spot.