Just one year after experiencing the worst season in franchise history that culminated in just a 15-67 record, the Wizards are on pace for 11 wins this year. At 3-20, they own the least efficient offense and second-worst defensive ratings in the league and their point differential is on pace to be the worst in league history. While the Wizards were expected to lose more than they won this year as they continue to develop their core, it wasn’t supposed to look like this, David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic write.
A little more than a year into their multi-stage rebuild, Aldridge and Robbins write that some team officials still believe their future franchise cornerstones are still playing in college or high school. But team officials didn’t think the team would start off worse than last season after adding veteran talent like Jonas Valanciunas, Malcolm Brogdon and Saddiq Bey this offseason. But both Brogdon and Kyle Kuzma have missed extensive time with injury while Bey hasn’t yet played as he recovers from a torn ACL.
“I try to come into seasons with not too much of an expectation, because you just never know how things can go,” Kuzma said. “I probably thought we could struggle, but never to the extent that we are in the present.”
The injuries and departure of some of last season’s rotation fixtures thrust rookies Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George into the spotlight early and often. While those three have been bright spots, Aldridge and Robbins write that they’ve still each struggled at times.
“We are immersed in a very difficult stretch right now,” general manager Will Dawkins said. “But we remain committed to the long-term sustainability of the organization. Our staff and players have continued to work, and are growing. We will continue to stack the positive developmental gains and, at the end of the season, put proper perspective on the totality of the year. Don’t worry about the whole thing right now; at the end of the year, let’s look up and see what we accomplished. They’re getting better, and they’re still working, and that’s the main thing. What we signed up for is hard, and we know it.”
Head coach Brian Keefe endured a similar situation with the Thunder in 2008/09 as a player development coach. That team opened the season 3-29 before winning 20 of their final 50 games. According to Aldridge and Robbins, Keefe’s been great at teaching the young talent, but the team has to do more to not surrender big runs in games.
“It’s being addressed, I can tell you that,” the team source said. “It’ll look different.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Getting used to the NBA’s grueling schedule was the biggest adjustment Sarr had to make in the first part of his young career, Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network writes in a piece reflecting on the Wizards’ rookies. Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, is averaging 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in his age-19 season.
- 2023 No. 11 overall pick Jett Howard is continuing to earn more minutes for the Magic while holding his own on the defensive end, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes. Howard’s averaging 4.2 points in 25 games this season after making just 18 appearances last year.
- After falling out of the rotation in November, the Heat‘s Nikola Jovic worked behind the scenes to regain the trust of the coaching staff, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. He had an impressive night on Thursday, helping Miami beat Toronto behind 14 points and four rebounds. “If you’re not playing, how do you win the day? At least you have a staff that’s looking and valuing prepractice, film sessions, practice, shootarounds, walkthroughs and that’s how you can earn trust,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But then you also stay ready, so that when you get your opportunity that you can make the most of it and then you can impact winning.“
- After trading Thomas Bryant to the Pacers, the Heat have two open standard roster spots. They have 14 days after that trade is official to fill their 14th slot, and as we discussed, Dru Smith being converted to a standard deal could be an avenue the Heat explore. In that case, as explored by the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman, Isaiah Stevens could be a natural replacement for Smith’s two-way spot. Stevens impressed in summer league and the preseason and is averaging 13.8 points and a G League-leading 10.8 assists for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
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