There's something brewing in Washington. Unfortunately, brewing is often a drawn-out process, so Wizards fans still need to look toward the future instead of being too caught up in the present. Kyshawn George has been thrilling to start the year, Alex Sarr is the dominant post presence the team hoped he'd be, and Tre Johnson looks like he'll have no trouble scoring in the NBA.
And still, the Wizards are 1-5 and another long season may be in store for fans who have watched about six of those in a row. Striking a balance is key in times like these, and there's reason to believe that a big payoff is coming. But can the Wizards sell fans on that idea? The idea that in a few years, this group might compete?
It's been 46 years since this team made the Eastern Conference Finals. You can't fault fans for being skeptical of another rebuild when the "big payoff" of previous rebuilds has been, at best, a second-round exit.
How patient can Wizards fans be in year three of a rebuild?
Since last season, I've been a fan of pretty much every move the Wizards front office has made. Gathering assets, adding veteran talent, taking swings on draft picks, etc. This is how you conduct a rebuild!
That's the important word, though — rebuild. This is, after all, still a rebuild, and one entering its third season. If things go right in a rebuild, then next year, year four, is when you want to see a big leap. But strides in year three feel important, too; this team has to be better this year than it was last year, and in some pretty important areas, too.
Because the "right moves" only get a front office so far in the eyes of fans. For most fans, the savvy moves made behind the scenes are far less important than the on-court product. And the on-court product has been rough the past two years, even with some promising play from youngsters.
So the question right now is clear: does this core look like a group that can, eventually, win multiple playoff series? What about this group, plus one of the top three prospects in a 2026 NBA Draft loaded with talent at the top? Things change quickly in the NBA. Things will need to change at all in Washington for fans to get excited about this rebuild. There are reasons for optimism — but the results aren't going to be immediate. How much more patience can this fan base be asked for?
If there aren't clear signs that this rebuild is headed in the right direction this year, that patience will run thin quickly.