The Washington Wizards haven’t made the playoffs since 2021, but they’re only in their second year of a complete rebuild. It wasn’t until the franchise traded Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis that the dismantling began in full swing. The Wizards are now focused on stockpiling young talent and draft picks.
Bilal Coulibaly has received mixed reviews as the team’s top pick. It will be a slow process in the nation’s capital, leaving fans wondering when they will be ready to compete.
Washington’s chances of competing are directly tied to Jordan Poole’s contract. He’s one of the the worst of the NBA and will remain on the Wizards’ books for years to come, but the franchise should be in a fortunate position when she disappears from their books.
Poole was ineffective last season. He produced the second-worst winning percentage per 48 minutes in the NBA and the fourth-worst value for money (VORP). Poole has been a disaster and has $95.5 million remaining on his contract for the next three years. He takes up about 20% of the salary cap each season.
The Wizards had three first-round picks in the 2024 draft and one is already making comparisons to an All-StarThey have six players 22 or younger on their roster and are clearly preparing for the future. In three years, Washington will have added several draft picks and should have enough talent to get back in contention.
It’s likely that Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas will be traded at some point this season. That will free up playing time for their young talent and allow the Wizards to recoup more draft capital. Washington needs talent before it can worry about their fit and who to build around.
Jordan Poole will be gone from the Wizards in the 2027 offseason, if not sooner. By then, Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Bub Carrington will be in their 20s and inches away from their prime. It will be time for the Wizards to add pieces and get into the title race. That means three long seasons for fans, but the goal is to have a serious title contender on the other side of the rebuild.
It’s never easy, but the Washington Wizards are taking the right approach. They need to connect in the draft and maximize their trade returns. Nothing is a given, but fans should have faith. Management has a plan and is sticking to it. It’s a start. Fans will just have to wait until 2027 to find out if it worked.
