The Washington Wizards are heading into a new chapter, and the preseason opener against the Knicks offers an early chance to show what this group can be. With the team trying to move past years of rebuilding, the first test is less about polish and more about habits: getting to the line, defending on the perimeter and using their athleticism the right way.
One of the biggest issues last season was how rarely Washington lived at the foul line. The Wizards averaged just 21.2 free throws per game, fifth-worst in the NBA.
That came despite taking the seventh-most shots a game and finishing in the bottom half of the league in three-point attempts. Part of that was roster makeup.
Washington was young and short on proven top-end talent, and the kind of players who usually draw more whistles simply weren’t there. Trae Young and Anthony Davis change that, and those two alone should get a friendlier whistle when they attack the basket.
The rest of the roster has to do its part too. Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and AJ Dybantsa need to welcome contact when they drive. If they do, Washington should start stacking up more trips to the free-throw line.
Defense is where the real separator could be. The Wizards may not have to worry much about the paint, even without Alex Sarr, because Davis and Deandre Ayton can handle that area. The bigger concern is out on the perimeter, where Washington has to make life harder for ball-handlers and cut off driving lanes.
Coulibaly stands out as the best perimeter defender on the roster, and George is solid there as well. Justin Champagnie brings quality perimeter defense too.
But the guard spot is a different story. Tre Johnson and Young are not strong perimeter defenders, even if Johnson has room to improve.
Young, because of his size, is likely to remain a weak spot. Dybantsa also has something to prove on that end.
At BYU, he wasn’t asked to carry much defensive responsibility, but now he’s trying to show he can defend at the NBA level. He flashed some of that in Las Vegas.
Still, the broader formula starts with a sturdier perimeter defense.
Washington also has a chance to lean into what makes this group different. This is a young, athletic team, while the Knicks are not built the same way.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are exceptions, but beyond them the Knicks are slower and less athletic than these Wizards. That gives Washington a lane to push the pace and make the game uncomfortable.
Whenever a fastbreak opens up, the Wizards need to fill the lanes and get down the floor. Offensively, constant movement should be the goal. That kind of pressure can create easy baskets and wear on New York’s defense over time, which can also chip away at the Knicks’ offensive output.
But speed alone won’t be enough. Washington has to control the pace, knowing when to push and when to settle.
Running wild without structure can make a team one-dimensional. The trick is finding the right rhythm and sticking to it.
In Other News...
Wizards Preseason Is Exposing A Real AJ Dybantsa Concern
The early look at Washingtons preseason has put a spotlight on a familiar kind of rookie question: how quickly can a top pick become a focal point when the roster already has proven talent around him? AJ Dybantsa enters the season with plenty of upside, but the Wizards are also trying to balance touches, roles and shot quality while leaning on a group that includes established All-NBA-level players. For a team trying to climb out of the leagues lower tier, the fit matters almost as much as the talent.
The bigger concern is what that fit looks like when the ball is moving and the floor is packed. Washingtons shooting profile leaves some room for doubt, and the preseason has made clear that spacing is going to be a central issue if the offense is going to open up for Dybantsa and the rest of the core. The Wizards need their young talent to find cleaner driving lanes and easier decisions, and that puts a premium on which players can punish defenses from outside and keep the half-court from bogging down. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Already Puts A Huge Wizards Decision In Focus
Anthony Davis is heading into his first full season with the Wizards, and even before the games start counting, his long-term future is already hanging over the franchise. The fit is obvious on paper, but the contract picture is anything but, especially with Washington balancing Davis injury history, his age, and a payroll that already has major commitments built into it.
What makes this situation so tricky is that the real conversation is likely to wait until after the season, when both sides can better judge where things stand. If Davis plays well and stays healthy, the Wizards will still have a major decision to make about whether to meet his price or pivot elsewhere, and every step of the season will only sharpen the pressure around that choice. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Gives Wizards Hope As One Big Threat Lingers
Anthony Davis has already given the Wizards something they have badly needed around a roster in transition: a reason to believe the fit can work. His enthusiasm about joining Washington, along with his praise for the groups balance, offers a useful counterpoint to the skepticism that usually follows a franchise trying to reset around a veteran star.
The bigger question, though, is whether the story stays about basketball long enough for Washington to benefit from it. The Wizards have made clear they want to keep Davis, but the trade chatter is unlikely to disappear, especially with the deadline drawing closer and Davis still trying to put recent injury issues behind him. Until he gets on the floor and settles into his new team, the speculation will remain part of the package. [Read more 🡒]