Washington Wizards

We do not really know what to expect from the Washington Wizards anymore because some days, they look like a team that could sneak into the playoffs and other times, they look like a team that needs the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft! 

Outside of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, there has been no consistency on this Wizards team, which is why they needed to make a big move to bring in a third, high-level talent at the NBA trade deadline. The Wizards were involved in a deal and traded away Troy Brown Jr. and Mo Wagner, but they ended up with Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchison. 

Gafford has the potential to be a high-motor, athletic big man for the Wizards and he was a solid pick-up for them, but that move does not push them over the edge into playoff contention. This team is still just Westbrook and Beal running things with Rui Hachmiura showing up here and there. 

The Wizards’ playoff hopes are still very much alive, as they are just 3 games back from the Bulls for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference, but it just does not seem like this team is going to have enough firepower down the stretch to be anything special. 

Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook can go for 40+ points a night individually, but at the end of the day, they have nobody else they can count on for production night-in and night-out, which is why they will regret not making a move at the NBA trade deadline. 

Especially if they miss the playoffs and Bradley Beal decides he wants to be traded in the offseason. As much as Washington and Beal have shot down rumors of him wanting to leave the Wizards, Bradley Beal requesting a trade this offseason is still very much in-play and a major developing storyline to watch over the course of the next few months.