It takes time for historically bad sports teams to change their reputation, and the Washington Wizards are experiencing that now. However, they're more of a threat to make the playoffs than multiple media outlets are admitting.
For example, Bleacher Report ranked them 20th in the NBA after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, one spot behind the Dallas Mavericks, who finished 26-56 last season. The Mavericks are getting star guard Kyrie Irving back from injury to pair with franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg. The Wizards will experience their first full season with Trae Young in addition to debuting Anthony Davis and number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
ESPN ranked Washington 22nd, five spots behind the Utah Jazz. The Jazz finished five games ahead of the Wizards at 22-60 last season and are similarly on the rise after landing a top-two pick in the draft and trading for an All-Star at the deadline in February. But sticking them five spots ahead doesn't give Washington enough credit, as a rotation led by Young, Dybantsa, Davis, and Alex Sarr is on par with one led by Keyonte George, number two overall pick Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, and Jackson Jr. on paper.
Finally, NBA.com ranked the Wizards 12th in the Eastern Conference, two spots below the last Play-In seed. However, it ranked the Miami Heat eighth despite having little backcourt talent to support Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. At the same time, the Charlotte Hornets are 11th despite trading LaMelo Ball for Naz Reid. Kon Kneuppel and Brandon Miller could still lead them to a Play-In spot, but listing them ahead of Washington could age poorly given the latter team's star veteran duo.
On one hand, it's understandable for a squad to be slept on even with an improved roster after bottoming out for three straight years. But the Wizards will make pundits look silly if their young core makes a developmental leap.
Wizards are one of hardest teams to evaluate
Not only will Young, Davis, and Dybantsa each play their first full seasons in the nation's capital, but the returning rookie contract players will finally have a true point guard to set them up. Sarr, wing Kyshawn George, guard Tre Johnson, guard Bilal Coulibaly, and others haven't played extensively with a veteran who manipulates defenses like Young. Plus, Dybantsa is talented enough to have offensive gravity from the get-go, and Davis must be accounted for inside too.
On the other hand, Washington's young core has only played in tanking seasons, so there will likely be growing pains as they learn how to win. Plus, every team in the East has the talent to finish .500 or better outside of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls, so it won't be easy for the Wizards to earn a Play-In spot.
While the organization has plenty to prove, it still deserves to be compared to last season's Hornets, who finished ninth in the East at 44-38 after going 19-63 the previous campaign. It will be difficult for Washington to match that record, but it's capable of doing so if healthy.
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