Dat2U wrote:This preseason, the team has the inevitable look of a lottery team. Most have us at 11th or 12th in the East and I'd agree with that.
Were a country mile from the top 8 in the East and I think those 8 are pretty locked in unless there are major injuries. Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Miami, Brooklyn, Cleveland & Toronto. That's a stacked 8 and all are capable of winning 50 games. I'd expect 45 wins to be the floor for this group.
New York I have 9th around the .500 mark give or take. Brunson helps. Barrett looks improved and they'll defend for sure.
We know for certain these 9 teams are not tanking no matter what. The Wizards will fall somewhere below this group. Somewhere b/w 10-13 is my projection so there is an outside chance for the last play-in spot.
The two clearly bad teams in the East so far are Detroit & Orlando. No need to tank. Both will have a low 20s win total at best.
That puts the Wizards in the mix with Chicago, Charlotte & Indiana. If all of those 3 teams decide to tank at some stage then the Wiz can squeak into the 10th spot. If Indy holds onto Turner, Charlotte gets LaMelo & Chicago gets Lonzo back, 13th is not out the question.
So the question is who out of Chicago, Charlotte & Indy will commit to tanking? If any of them goes for that play-in spot, I think they'd beat out the Wizards as currently constructed.
Which brings up my last point. I think a trade will come before this current roster construction goes down in flames. Whether its moving Kuz + Avdija or Davis for something considered an upgrade. I think we'll see tanking teams selling off remaining vets and with the Wizards always being buyers, I see something happening sooner than later.
I'm tentatively at 38 wins and the 10th play-in spot not based on the current roster but a presumable trade that's coming to help secure the available play-in spot.
Chicago can't tank. They don't have their pick (it is top 4 protected that Orlando owns). I think Indy trades Turner before the deadline and will want to tank for Victor. Too many young guys. Detroit & Orlando will be improved. The Hornets look like a mess, but Ball &. Rozier will keep them in games (although Ball is injured now).
I think we win 33 games. Utah, SAS, and OKC are the tankers in the West. We don't have a shot at worst record unless KP and/or Beal get hurt.