With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Washington Wizards
Conference: Eastern
Wins O/U: 27.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Last Year’s Record: 32-50
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): B. Beal*, D. Bertans, I. Bonga, T. Brown Jr.*, T. Bryant*, R. Hachimura*, J. Jones, I. Mahimni, A. Schofield, I. Smith*, I. Thomas, M. Wagner
Key Offseason Moves: Drafted R. Hachimura and A. Schofield, Lost T. Satoransky, Signed I. Smith, Lost T. Ariza, Signed I. Thomas, Lost J. Parker, Lost B. Portis, Lost J. Green, Signed C. Miles
Overall Summary: As always, it begins at the end – or more appropriately, in Washington. CapitalOne Arena is mere minutes from where I currently live – and unfortunately, my presence in a city seems to guarantee a poor basketball season. This year will be no different, as the Wiz are in a rebuilding cycle. However, the Wizards do have a top 25 player in the NBA in Bradley Beal. Beal is a scoring dynamo that has shown his playmaking and leadership since star point guard John Wall has been out with a torn achilles. With Beal’s timeline potentially not fitting in with the rest of the Wizards, it’s possible that Washington will try to move him for future assets at some point. Otherwise, the cupboard is pretty bare. I love draft pick Rui Hachimura, as I think he could grow into an All-Star caliber forward, but the 9th pick seemed a little high for him. Otherwise, they signed Isaiah Thomas? It’s somewhat hard to think of other exciting things the Wizards did – if not for the Hornets, they would be by far the most boring team in the league this year – but hopefully Wall can continue to recover and Rui can make good on his potential.
Verdict: Well, I wish I had moved to a city with a better basketball team? In all seriousness, this is likely to be another depressing basketball year in the capital city. This line isn’t bad, and it has to be this high because of how good Beal is – but the Wizards have no magic this season. Take the under – I project a record of 26-56.
