leswizards wrote:If you are anti-tanking and want the wizards to win (as I am), I think these are the most optimistic yet plausible keys to wizards having the best season possible and becoming a playoff team:
1. Kyle Kuzma becomes offensively efficient, and is productive enough to justify the contract he received. (As an anti-Kuzma poster I don’t see it happening, but I would love to be proven wrong.)
Alternative scenario. Kuzma tweaks something and has to sit. Deni starts. The Deni/Bilal combo proves significantly successful in stymieing opposing offense that the team goes on an implausible streak. The coaching staff decides to ride it. Kuzma comes off the bench while rehabbing, the coaching staff says they like his leadership on the 2nd team. Praise him for his attitude etc. Deni with a new seriousness of purpose, long term contract, and room to make mistakes begins to grow into the role.
4. Cory kispert
...develops chemistry with Tyus Jones, maintaining the high efficiency he has shown in stretches. With the defense and size of Bilal and Deni, the team is able to play Kispert 6th man minutes at guard when either of Jones or Poole sit. His handle improves some, his defense is passable, his leadership qualities come to the fore.
7.... Landry Shamet
Shoots well, stretching defenses, and proving a reliable bail-out target on kick-outs from players who are stopped when driving the paint. Teams who need a 3pt shooting role player make offers. The team demurs at least until after the allstar break when the offers become more serious.
8. Delon Wright
Likewise maintains his solid play. A minor bidding war for his services drives up his asking price at the deadline.
9. Bilal Coulibaly
Starts and plays well. Learning at a prodigious rate.
10. Ryan Rollins and Patrick Baldwin jr)
...show anything like NBA calibre talent. Earning their contracts. Rollins in particular has looked better than his prior stints. Baldwin looks like he should be a better player than the numbers say he is. But so far he is not. He's an enigma. In this scenario, he de-enigma-fies. Turns out his ankle was still bothering him. A Johns Hopkins medical experiment grows him a new ankle. Miracle! Fully healthy, building a bit of muscle his outside shot starts falling, he is no longer timid on defense or rebounding.
11. Tyus Jones
...Is an active and dynamic floor leader in ways that Monte Morris has not been. He makes the case for a starting lead guard with a remarkably efficient stat line, earning serious and significant offers from contenders. The Wiz attempt to re-sign him long term. His presence elevates the play of young developing talent, his poise exemplifies professionalism, providing a steady hand in a positive contrast to the more mercurial and highly talented Poole. Synergy abounds.
I'd add: Muscala provides a change of pace at Center, allowing for stretch line-ups that give freedom to operate underneath.
The early arrival of players who voluntarily joined the team by Sept 1st allows for a quicker start than in years past, catching some teams by surprise who are still integrating new parts.
All this could lead to a surprisingly better than expected mid-season record.
However.
I would still fully expect the new FO to look at the record and understand we are unlikely to advance in the playoffs in any significant way, and sell high on productive players who they do not figure to be with the team over the long term. The returns on the trade will come in future draft capital, deep bench talent, etc. Which may be used to move up in the draft as needed.