The Washington Wizards aren't a team that anyone expects to contend in the 2025-26 season, but they've quietly built a strong roster over the past year. They're still in rebuild mode, which led them to select Tre Johnson with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but they won't snag another top talent like that if the current trend continues beyond next season.
The 2026 draft class consists of several top names that could land in D.C., but that isn't the case for 2027. ESPN reported that executives are "ringing alarm bells" in their front offices about the 2027 draft class, with one talent evaluator saying that it's "one of the weakest high school classes I've seen in a long time."
There will be no incentive to tank during the 2026-27 season, as the talent evaluator also stated that there may not be a future NBA All-Star in the draft class. ESPN wrote that college coaches feel the same, as they've said at summer league that they are "largely underwhelmed by the lack of star power."
The good news is that Washington is on track to have a competitive team sooner rather than later.
There might not be an incentive for a high draft pick in 2027
Washington learned yet again the hard way this past season that even if you do tank (intentionally or not), you're rarely rewarded for it. The Wizards entered the draft lottery tied for the highest odds of winning the No. 1 pick (14 percent), but ultimately fell to the No. 6 pick.
As disappointed as fans were that Cooper Flagg wasn't going to D.C., that has changed since the Wizards selected Tre Johnson, who has been one of the most impressive rookies at summer league. There won't be another player like him on the board in two years.
Luckily for fans, Washington can make some noise as soon as this season in a weakened Eastern Conference. It's not like the Wizards are trying to dig themselves out of a hole with no light in sight while competing against top teams within their conference, such as the Thunder, Nuggets, or Rockets. The 2025-26 season will be somewhat of a gap year for the East, with the Celtics and Pacers dealing with injuries to their star players.
There is no end date for the Wizards' rebuild, but rest assured, the front office is well aware that the 2027 draft class won't leave Washington with another promising young talent like Alex Sarr or Johnson.