The Washington Wizards are closing the book on another historically bad season, but can they turn it around in 2026-27?
The Washington Wizards are closing the book on likely its third consecutive season failing to win 20 games, marking a new low for the franchise. But this offseason has a much different feel this year compared to the last two. And the pair of trades ahead of the deadline this offseason.
The arrival of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who will officially miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, has changed the outlook for the rebuild under general manager Will Dawkins. Another big piece of the equation will, of course, be the 2026 NBA Draft with Tuesday's loss cementing a bottom three finish regardless of the final three regular season games. While No Ceilings projected BYU star AJ Dybantsa as the top overall pick for Washington, fans will stay patient before celebrating the idea of actually landing the top pick, a feat that hasn't materialized for the Wizards since 2010.
Yet the impending draft addition, coupled with Young and Davis, paired with the young core set to return has shifted the conversation within the fanbase from a rebuild to a possible playoff contender in 2026-27. And CBS Sports believed the same.
The Wizards ranked fourth in a CBS Sports article ranking the non-playoff teams from the 2025-26 season most likely to make the postseason in 2026-27, trailing the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers.
Sam Quinn of CBS Sports admitted he doesn't expect Davis to remain healthy for the full season having missed at least 20 games in all but one of his last seven seasons, but the good news is Washington has firepower in the frontcourt with Alex Sarr preparing for year three, Tristan Vukcevic back to solidify the rotation while Julian Reese has made a late season case to become a re-sign candidate this offseason.
Yet the impact of a Davis-Sarr tandem could be what elevates the Wizards in 2026-27.
"Davis is the ceiling-raiser. He doesn't have the same playoff weaknesses as Young. Defensive big men are a postseason necessity, and the pairing with Alex Sarr has a chance to be great," Quinn wrote.
The Wizards should, at a minimum, have the pieces to become a postseason contender with the play-in considered the floor for a successful season. Yet another outlet pointed to a head coaching candidate to track should a change in leadership materialize in Washington: former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
The NBA coaching carousel took an early development this week when former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was named the next head coach at North Carolina, a surprising development after Billy Donovan drew focus toward the final stage of the search.
Washington, meanwhile, hasn't shown any signs to question whether Brian Keefe will return for a third season as head coach. Of course, the Wizards haven't had much success under his leadership given he is just 43-157 since being named the interim head coach in relief of Wes Unseld midway through the 2023-24 season.
The counterargument? Keefe hasn't been given a roster to win...until now.
While Dawkins and the front office enter the offseason with a litany of questions, it's clear that expectations are raised with a more competitive team expected inside Capital One Arena when they kick off the next season in six months.