The Washington Wizards don't have any indication to suggest they're close to competing for a playoff spot, especially considering their positioning in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The good news? Anybody looking for a reason to be optimistic can look at a pair of playoff teams, who have seemingly put together a blueprint that the Wizards can use moving forward.
On the surface, looking at the San Antonio Spurs, who just finished the season 60-22 and 2nd in the Western Conference, along with the Philadelphia 76ers, whom just completed an upset against an NBA Title favorite in the Boston Celtics, as any mirror to see yourself as could seem like a course in wishful thinking after the last half a decade that the Washington Wizards have experienced.
I mean, the Wizards over the last 3 years COMBINED are at 50 wins, so I don’t blame any Wiz diehards who laugh when I try to compare their path out of the basement to relevancy to that of the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, but the route is indeed there, and with how deep the 2026 Draft class is, the mission is clear.
Whether it’d be BYU Wing AJ Dybansta, Kansas Guard Darryn Peterson, Duke Forward Cameron Boozer, North Carolina Forward Caleb Wilson, or someone else in this crowded class, find the guy.
But that alone isn’t why the Wizards should look to the Spurs and Sixers as the best-case scenario for their current situation, because unlike Wizards teams in the past that were bringing in the future of their franchise, whoever will be chosen to don the navy blue, red, and white won’t have to do it alone.
The Wizards incoming draft pick will be inheriting a roster with a lot of help
The cupboard was bare when the Wizards brought on franchise legend John Wall in 2010; the same was true two years later, when, with the third pick, they selected three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, and even more recently, with the 2024 and 2025 selections of Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson, respectively.
You see, when the Sixers picked VJ Edgecombe 3rd Overall a season ago, they were coming off of an incredibly disappointing 24-58 record that left the futures of Joel Embiid, Paul George, head coach Nick Nurse, and President of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s futures in question.
They bounced back in a big way in 2026, though, that saw superstar guard Tyrese Maxey take another leap, Paul George look much better than he did his initial season in Philly, and franchise Big Man Joel Embiid look closer to the Embiid we’re all used to than how he looked last season, all leading to a 46-36 finish and 2nd round appearance in the postseason.
Well, why can’t the Wizards aspire to be that next season?
Their top pick would be coming into a situation with a star guard, a superstar big man (when healthy), and an intriguing supporting cast, sound familiar?
Now, most, if not all, would currently take what Philly had built over Washington on paper, but the talent is definitely there for whoever comes in next year to thrive.
Sixers' Edgecombe and Spurs' Harper shine in their roles
The Spurs are much harder to emulate, as they're currently title favorites alongside the reigning champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and of course, many anticipated San Antonio with generational player Victor Wembanyama to rise into an intriguing team this season, but their dominance this quickly had to have left even the biggest Spurs fans a little surprised.
The emergence of second-year guard Stephon Castle turning into a two-way force, with wings like sharpshooter Devin Vassell, and Sixth Man of the Year winner, Keldon Johnson fortifying the roster, along with All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio has taken a major leap.
However, centered around franchise star Victor Wembanyama, adjusting to the NBA was made so much easier for Dylan Harper than it would have been landing in a place like Brooklyn.
The above is the exact type of opportunity that the Wizards fans, front office, and the rookie they select on June 23rd should look forward to.
This is an atmosphere changing opportunity for the Wizards
Maybe you won’t finish 2nd in the conference, or upset a title favorite in the 1st round next year, but building the rooks confidence from day 1 around the fact that they won’t be asked to carry the organization as the face alone, the way Edgecombe or Harper weren’t asked to, goes a long way in helping them ease into a league that is already hard enough.
That there are two vets on the team in Trae Young and Anthony Davis who are very accomplished in the league (in AD’s case, a top 75 all-time player in fact) that are there for the incoming player to rely on.
Along with a cast of talented young guys like Alex Sarr, Will Riley, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington, amongst others, who you can not only learn from but learn with, this selection for the Wizards should not only be thought of as a chance for a team reset, but a culture shift.
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