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The Washington Wizards have had it rough in the last few seasons. Of late, however, they have made several personnel moves that they hope will help turn things around beginning next season.
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Washington has missed the playoffs in each of the last five campaigns and seven of the last eight years. They posted a 15-67 season in 2023-24, the worst in franchise history, along with a slightly better 17-65 record last campaign.
But the team accumulated quality young players via the draft, which include Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and, this year, AJ Dybantsa. To further sharpen their roster, they added All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis in separate deals midway through last season.
All the moves were geared toward returning to steady competitiveness, a situation the Wizards have not been in since the early 2010s.
T-Mac high on Wizards moves
Having kept tabs on the Wizards, NBA legend Tracy McGrady believes the team has built something competitive with its recent moves. While it remains to be seen how things will pan out collectively, all indications suggest the team could be a force to be reckoned with in the East.
“This is a team that has been trying to figure out how to draft and get player assets in free agency to build the team up. I think they have done a phenomenal job over the past couple years… So far it looks good,” T-Mac
The former two-time NBA scoring champion went on to say that having veterans like Young and Davis, who individually have chips on their shoulders, should benefit the Wizards.
“Trae Young is a guy that has a chip on his shoulder, the way he got shipped out of Atlanta. He is a guy that’s coming in this season very determined. AD has something to prove as well. So with them two together, I think they should be able to do something in the Eastern Conference,” the Hall of Famer explained.
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Dybantsa all-in
Apart from Young and Davis, the player expected to make an immediate impact is the 2026 No. 1 overall pick, Dybantsa, out of BYU. The 19-year-old wing will likely start for the Wizards when next season unfurls. His fit with Davis and Sarr in the frontcourt has many excited, as they all combine size and athleticism.
But apart from the top skills he brings to the team, Dybantsa’s all-in mindset while playing for the Wizards will be a huge boost.
“That’s the main thing. If I make it to the playoffs, I think Rookie of the Year will come, Rising Stars will come – all that good stuff. My main goal is to make the playoffs,” he
Dybantsa is coming off an eventful one-and-done collegiate season at BYU. He led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points, along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while helping the Cougars to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Interestingly, Dybantsa is often compared to McGrady, with his hesitation pull-up jumpers, athleticism and length.
The Wizards have long struggled, but they appear to be onto something with the moves they made and the players they brought in. Now, it is up to them to deliver and turn that promise into results.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 8:25 AM.