Last night's Spurs drubbing underscores the Wizards' desperate need for lottery fortune to unearth their next franchise cornerstone.
The Washington Wizards 119-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs isn't just another loss in the record book. It serves as a deeper reminder.
In the midst of a three-year rebuild, Washington hasn't been as lucky as it had hoped. This isn't saying this year won't be the year, but last night reminds us why lottery luck is paramount to the Wizards' next step.
The Spurs are 19-7, posting the fourth best record in a loaded Western Conference. The Spurs and Wizards are two teams in opposite spots. Much like the guys from D.C in the previous regime., San Antonio spent a three-year period muddled in mediocrity.
At a point, it became time to tear it all down. One 60 loss season later, some lottery luck changed everything for the Spurs. With the best prospect in the sport since LeBron James on the horizon, the Spurs landed the first pick and drafted Victor Wembanyama.
That move alone was enough to change that franchise. And as a painful reminder, Washington was one lottery ball away. It also came up one ball short in the 2025 lottery, where Cooper Flagg was the prize everyone was after.
Getting that luck is an important step in a rebuild. Washington landed the second pick in the 2024 Draft and took Alex Sarr, who has emerged into a potential future all-star player -- at the least, someone the Wizards can certainly build around.
A little more luck can't hurt. Just ask the Spurs, who landed the number two overall pick in the 2025 draft, jumping six spots in the lottery. Washington, despite holding the best odd at landing number one, fell all the way to six -- the lowest it could.
The Spurs selected Dylan Harper, the top point guard in the class. Harper scored a career-high 24 points last night. Washington currently lacks at that position, and Harper would have filled that void.
Harper, Stephon Castle, and Wembanyama combined for 56 points in the Spurs' win. Castle is the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, who the Spurs took 4th overall in 2024.
Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly both returned from injury for Washington. Sarr put together a solid first half and finished with 18 points. Coulibaly struggled offensively going 1-7 from the field and 0/4 from behind the arc.
Besides battling injury for a lot of the season already, Coulibaly has seen plenty of struggles on offense.
Regardless of the intriguing pieces Washington has currently, this upcoming draft is vital. Some lottery luck can go a long way in a class loaded with guys like Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and AJ Dybansta.
Wizards fans know all too well a 60+ loss season guarantees you nothing but higher odds. This year serves as another bite at the apple for Will Dawkins and the Wizards' front office.
The Wizards believe they have some real buildable pieces on the roster now. It's paramount that they develop the way Kyshawn George and Sarr has. That might not be enough. Washington needs to find its superstar.
This draft is just another opportunity to do so in this rebuild. One superstar can make alleviate all the pain that arrives with three-straight seasons with a plethora of losses.