THE WIZARDS ARE BUILDING SOMETHING MAGICAL

In case you've been living under a rock, the NBA had its first big trade of the year occur a couple of weeks ago. Actually, the ONLY trade to happen so far this season (praying for an eventful deadline). Trae Young, 4x All-Star point guard, was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum & Corey Kispert.

Now this does show that the Hawks are pushing all their chips in on Jalen Johnson as their franchise player (fair after all, he is averaging 23/10/8), but this could be the start of something magical for the Wizards. 4 main components could take the Wizards from competing for last place to last team standing.

1.) TRAE YOUNG

The centerpiece to this all sways on Trae Young, of course. This is a guy who the last 6 seasons, averaged 26 points and 10 assists. To put it in perspective, only 6 other players have done that in a single season. Trae is doing that over a 6-season average. Even if you bump it down to 25 & 9, the number only goes up to 10 players. But it's not just the fact that he has his individual stats of being a walking double-double. Look where his teams have ranked offensively (using team offensive rating):

• 2020: 8th

• 2021: 8th

• 2022: 2nd

• 2023: 7th

• 2024: 12th

• 2025: 18th

This man was the focal point and engine of multiple top-10 offenses in the league. Now we all know Trae Young has his faults, with his biggest being his defense. Those years above, despite the offensive production, they only ranked in the top half in defensive rating once. That disparity basically explains how the Hawks finished almost .500 every year. The Wizards are struggling on both sides of the ball this year, despite multiple players showing signs of being quality to high-level defenders (Sarr, Kyshaw, Bilal). So, definitely areas to improve if these young players continue taking the strides we've been seeing them take. But their best passer? Kyshawn George with an average of 5 assists per game. Trae is DOUBLING that. Again, insert a walking 20 & 10 with versatile and athletic young players at all positions and watch the offense flourish. And the best thing Trae Young is doing for the Wizards this season? Not playing games. That's right. Let the young players go through growing pains and improve while setting your team up for our 2nd point...

2.) GETTING A TOP PICK IN THE 2026 NBA DRAFT

The Wizards are currently in a 3-way tie (with the Pacers and Hawks [via NOLA]) for the highest odds in the NBA for the #1 overall pick. They also have an over 50% chance at a top 4 pick. If this were 2023, they'd be doing everything possible to make sure they get that no. 1 pick, as Wemby was head and shoulders above the rest of his draft class peers. But this year? The 2026 NBA Draft best player is legitimately like the current odds for the 1st pick in my opinion: a 3-way tie.

AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer are all generational talents. The crazy thing is that I truly believe there's no wrong order to those three.

Do you want a generational scoring wing with two-way potential, one of the smoothest and most polished college guards I've ever seen, or a potential walking triple-double big? The comparisons these guys are getting too?

• Dybansta: Tracy McGrady/Paul George

• Peterson: Kobe Bryant/Anthony Edwards

• Boozer: Alperen Sengun/Paolo Banchero

Any of these three guys can immediately be plugged into the Wizards' starting lineup. Embrace the tank in Washington.

3.) FREE AGENTS & CAP SPACE

This one is very self-explanatory and quick. The Wizards are rolling into this free agency with a load of cap space thanks to moving off CJ McCollum and more than likely, Khris Middleton.

Fastest way to go up a level on a rebuild? Pair veterans on long-term contracts and young players still on their rookie contracts. Need to pay the young player? Trade the veteran for draft compensation, pay the player, and get a new young player. Rinse and repeat. Exactly what the Thunder have done.

4.) IMPROVING YOUNG PLAYERS

The biggest catalyst is the Wizards' young players continuing to improve. Alex Sarr is in Year 2 and looks to be a future perennial All-Star/All-Defense guy. 17/7/3 with 2 blocks a game and 35% from three as a 20-year-old 7-footer is elite. Kyshawn George is a legit Swiss-Army knife wing. 16/5/5/1/1 and 39% from three? Every NBA team would be breaking its back to try to acquire him.

Bilal Coulibaly is a dawg defensively, too. And lastly, rookie Tre Johnson looks like a true sniper who can play the two-guard next to Trae or be the microwave 6th man for the Wizards, depending on what draft pick they get. The Washington Wizards have a lot of things that need to work for them to leap from the lottery to the playoffs and even a deep run. But if they work out, the Eastern Conference gets a new contender.