The Washington Wizards are heading toward the 2026-27 NBA season with more depth than many people seem to realize, and that has opened the door to a pretty striking idea: they might be able to stay in the playoff mix even if Anthony Davis is gone.
That’s the view Jeff Teague is putting out there. The former All-Star guard, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win after being part of the 2015 Atlanta Hawks team that finished first in the East before falling short in the playoffs, sees a Wizards group that doesn’t have to lean entirely on Davis to get results.
Washington’s biggest job, at least right now, is clear enough: handle the regular season and survive in a crowded Eastern Conference. That won’t be easy, and it’s going to take everyone on the roster doing their part.
Davis is still the headline name, but he doesn’t appear to be the only piece that matters. He’s a proven winner and a huge talent, yet the injury concerns that follow him could make people think twice. Teague, though, sounds more convinced by what else Washington has around him.
"Because Trae did more with less. Like Alex Sarr is still a capable player.
You still got D. Ayton off the bench, and you still got a bunch of young wings.
You put the ball in Trae's hands and let him cook as he did in Atlanta. Because Atlanta, this is basically an Atlanta Hawks team," Teague said about the dynamic between the Wizards and Davis on his Club 520 Podcast.
That’s the interesting part of this Wizards story. They’re trying to become a real factor again, and the roster has enough talent to make people take notice. If that comes together, Washington could end up being dangerous whether Davis is there or not.
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His appeal is obvious enough on paper, with the Wizards imagining him as a lob target and shot-blocking presence next to Trae Young, but the path to making that idea real is a longer one. Okpara is still early in his basketball journey and will almost certainly need a lot of time to develop before he is in the mix for regular NBA minutes, which makes him less an immediate answer than a frontcourt question Washington will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
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Memphis is heading toward a roster squeeze, and that creates a small opening for teams still sorting out the back end of their own lineups. With the Wizards sitting on a vacant 15th spot, Washington could at least kick the tires on one of the players who may become available as the Grizzlies trim down, especially with the front office still looking for ways to add competition and depth without forcing a bigger move.
Walter Clayton Jr. is the name that stands out for Wizards fans because theres already a familiar thread there from draft night. Washington once selected Clayton before turning him into a deal that brought back Nos. 21 and 43, so if he ends up on the market, the connection would be obvious even if nothing has been decided yet. For now, its simply one of those summer roster situations worth watching closely, because the Wizards have room and Memphis may soon need to create some. [Read more 🡒]