When the Washington Wizards faced off against the Orlando Magic Jan. 6, Orlando were heavy favorites, having won their last eleven meetings against Washington. They seemed poised for an easy victory.
Instead, Magic fans watched a rout. The Wizards were up 26 points before Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley subbed out his starters in the 3rd quarter and, despite a run by the bench unit, Washington held on for a statement win. Wizards center Alex Sarr boasted a game-high plus-minus of 23 while guard CJ McCollum led in scoring with an efficient 27 points.
This game was emblematic of Washington’s recent surge, powered by savvy veteran play and contributions from young players. The team’s abysmal 1-15 start to the season weighs down an overall 10-29 record — No. 14 in the Eastern Conference. However, the Wizards have a respectable 6-5 record over their last eleven games. After a couple of years of heavy losses and little light on the horizon, the Wizards’ long rebuild may be coming to an end.
Central to this run has been Sarr’s emergence as a two-way force. Along with jumps in points, rebounds and assists, Sarr has markedly improved his efficiency, shooting an above-average 50 percent from the field.
On the defensive end, Sarr has been a shining spot on a dismal unit — second in the league in blocks per game and receiving defensive player of the year buzz. Sarr seems primed to be an All-Star and remain a franchise cornerstone for years to come.
While Sarr increasingly looks to be a sure thing, guard Bilal Coulibaly remains something of an enigma. Defensively, the 21-year-old has wowed as Washington’s best perimeter threat, racking up a steal and a half per game and suffocating opponents.
Offensively, however, Coulibaly is a black hole, shooting a bleak 39% from the field and 27.3% from three. He has shown strong flashes, including an 18-point performance with good percentages against Philadelphia earlier this month. Whether or not he can put the pieces together for a full stretch is an open question, and the clock is ticking.
For forward Kyshawn George, the good comes with the bad. Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe has been content to let George handle more scoring and playmaking duties this year, and George has responded to the tune of 15 points and nearly five assists per game. This increased usage has come at a cost, however, as he now averages over three turnovers a game. For George, the upcoming challenge is maintaining his production while protecting the ball.
The jury is still out on Washington’s other young pieces. Guard Tre Johnson has shown promise in his rookie season, scoring efficiently and handling the ball with poise, but he will need more time to develop, like any rookie. Forward Marvin Bagley III, meanwhile, has been a vital spark plug off the bench and may have played himself into a second contract. Point guard Bub Carrington continues to confound, shooting worse from two than from three this season and struggling to create his own shots. Still, at just 20 years old, he warrants more time to develop.
Of course, it’s impossible to ignore the acquisition of Trae Young. Washington’s trade with the Atlanta Hawks to acquire the all-star guard late last week marks a shift in their timeline as they swap an aging veteran for a 27-year-old nearing his prime. Young and Sarr are poised to form a two-headed attack that could lead Washington to a playoff spot as early as next year.
Still, this acquisition feels strange. Many fans have voiced concerns about Young’s compatibility with the team, but the overarching question is whether he is a winner.
Ever since his mythical conference finals run in 2021, followed up by a stellar 2022 season, Young has coasted on a reputation that has largely outlived him. His efficiency has cratered. For two of the last three years, his teams have performed better with him off the court. Most damning of all for a Wizards team that already ranks 27th in defense, Young is statistically the third-worst defender of all time.
This is not to say that the 27-year-old cannot be valuable for the Wizards. Having a gifted playmaker on the floor will undoubtedly help Washington’s youth grow. However, anyone seeing Young as more than a short-term rental is probably mistaken.
Looking ahead, the Wizards enter a challenging stretch with road games against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets before returning home to face the Los Angeles Clippers. Ultimately, the Wizards are the Wizards. By now, multiple years into a rebuild, fans know what to expect come February and March. The team most likely will tank as the organization shields its top-eight protected pick, meaning Washington only gets the draft pick if it lands eighth or better. In the meantime, the Wizards remain what they have been for a while: a team capable of surprising on any given night, though they will disappoint in the season.
