2025-26 Season News & Discussion

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

This takes me back to a conversation I was having with a particular someone on here who said the Wizards wouldn't be good in a long time.

Now put KD on that team and tell me they wouldn't be a playoff team....lol. his family/ friends live in DC. So the argument for potential interest could've definitely been considered valid.

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

[bigfoot]

Gotta say nine games in and this is a huge improvement over last year. I quit watching last season because Durant was so apathetic and it carried over to the rest of the team. Suns can almost always have three to four legit three point threats on the floor all time between Book, Green, Allen, O'Neale, and Gillispie. If Brooks and Goodwin can revert to last seasons form I don't know how teams will cope. Lots of room for the guards to attack the basket and get easy lobs to the bigs. Thank goodness they picked up Williams on draft day.

Disappointed so far in Oso and Nigel. Weak link is depth at the power forward position. Oso and Nigel are not cutting it.

[NapoleonII]

Durant already putting his sour-stamp onto Houston.

Tons of turnovers and crybaby bitching.

[Blonde]

I would be feeling really good right now if we had made the Pelicans trade at the draft.

Pelicans trade?

The Pelicans traded the 23rd overall pick + their unprotected 1st this year for the Hawks 13th overall pick on draft night. It has been reported that the same offer was made to the Suns for their 10th pick and we turned it down to draft Maluach (who can’t get minutes over Oso and Richards). That Pelicans pick is looking really good right now, and Maluach is not…

[Fo-Real]

I would be feeling really good right now if we had made the Pelicans trade at the draft.

Pelicans trade?

The Pelicans traded the 23rd overall pick + their unprotected 1st this year for the Hawks 13th overall pick on draft night. It has been reported that the same offer was made to the Suns for their 10th pick and we turned it down to draft Maluach (who can’t get minutes over Oso and Richards). That Pelicans pick is looking really good right now, and Maluach is not…

He will be fine. Our roster is gonna change at some point.

[Sunsdeuce]

Gotta say nine games in and this is a huge improvement over last year. I quit watching last season because Durant was so apathetic and it carried over to the rest of the team. Suns can almost always have three to four legit three point threats on the floor all time between Book, Green, Allen, O'Neale, and Gillispie. If Brooks and Goodwin can revert to last seasons form I don't know how teams will cope. Lots of room for the guards to attack the basket and get easy lobs to the bigs. Thank goodness they picked up Williams on draft day.

Disappointed so far in Oso and Nigel. Weak link is depth at the power forward position. Oso and Nigel are not cutting it.

We were like 8-1 after 9 games last year and praising Bud all over these boards. I’m very careful before I say things are better. Still lots of bad and there is a lot of good.

Bads: Oso has to go! He’s not an NBA player. Oso is the new Shamet. Ott wants Oso to date his daughter is the only explanation why he’s getting playing time. Hayes-Davis probably gonna have to go back overseas, had hopes but he’s was a low risk signing that didn’t pan out. Rookies aren’t getting time is criminal with this team (a rookie who can’t get off the bench in a good team is a very different story than a rookie who can’t get off the bench with a bad team). Offense is three or bust which concerns me.

Some goods, Green’s first game was really exciting, Booker is shutting up his doubters (me) so far. We are hitting a lot of threes. Mark Williams hasn’t gotten hurt yet. Brooks is a dog this team needed (unfortunately he’s hurt).

Long story short, I will wait till midseason before I give this team a grade.

[Blonde]

Pelicans trade?

The Pelicans traded the 23rd overall pick + their unprotected 1st this year for the Hawks 13th overall pick on draft night. It has been reported that the same offer was made to the Suns for their 10th pick and we turned it down to draft Maluach (who can’t get minutes over Oso and Richards). That Pelicans pick is looking really good right now, and Maluach is not…

He will be fine. Our roster is gonna change at some point.

Maybe so, but it was a missed opportunity. I am not a Maluach believer but I hope he proves me wrong.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

This takes me back to a conversation I was having with a particular someone on here who said the Wizards wouldn't be good in a long time.

Now put KD on that team and tell me they wouldn't be a playoff team....lol. his family/ friends live in DC. So the argument for potential interest could've definitely been considered valid.

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now.

[ChuckS]

Durant already putting his sour-stamp onto Houston.

Tons of turnovers and crybaby bitching.

You are absolutely right. He had a poor game because of those turnovers.

On the other hand, before that he was averaging 2.3 a game. That was his lowest since the 2.7 with GS. Even after though he is averaging 3.0 without a real point guard. That would be his second lowest thus far, albeit a small sample size. His totals for the season, however, have been four less than Sengun and 3 more than Thompson who, with him, have been charged with attempting to replace VanVleet.

As far as his alleged "sour-stamp", most experts I've read seem to disagree. The Rockets went from 12th in offensive rating last year to 1st in his first seven games. Google AI summarized: "The addition of a perennial elite scorer like Durant has been a major catalyst for the offensive surge, drawing defensive attention and creating opportunities for others." And in spite of a previous uncharacteristically bad shooting, 11 point, game (which they won) he is still the teams' leading scorer at 24 per.

My biggest concern has been his holding the ball until a double comes occasionally. To an all-time great ISO scorer that would seem counter-intuitive. I hope those instances have not been his decisions.

[dremill24]

Read on Twitter

This takes me back to a conversation I was having with a particular someone on here who said the Wizards wouldn't be good in a long time.

Now put KD on that team and tell me they wouldn't be a playoff team....lol. his family/ friends live in DC. So the argument for potential interest could've definitely been considered valid.

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now.

Wtf are we talking about here?? The Wiz are in last place (1-8) and that tweet is from 2021.

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

This takes me back to a conversation I was having with a particular someone on here who said the Wizards wouldn't be good in a long time.

Now put KD on that team and tell me they wouldn't be a playoff team....lol. his family/ friends live in DC. So the argument for potential interest could've definitely been considered valid.

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now

I'm seriously curious what do you think IS the context of their current situation?

This tweet you're referencing is from 4 years ago, where the 2021-2022 Wizards went 25-44 the rest of the way to finish the season 35-47 or 12th in the East. The prior season that team won 34 games, so you're talking about a 1 game improvement. Like Brad Beal is still front and center of that tweet. I'm not sure if you're confused thinking this tweet is from the actual 2025 because the current 2025-2026 Wizards are equal dead last not just in the East but in the whole NBA at 1-8. So your very serious argument is a team that won 18 games last season, doesn't even have an established semi-star (Poole/Kuz were their best players and both are gone now unless you consider a cooked CJ/Khris a semi-star), has virtually no record of recruiting real stars (maybe old MJ in the 2000s?), an unproven GM, a HC that has won a grand total of 26 games....across two seasons is the team KD would've bet his last few seasons on because he has some connection to DC?

And if you want to play the thought experiment that early success with a KD means a damn thing, let me remind you again that we started last season with KD with an 8-1 record and vibes were great and we finished the season with 36 wins. This is on a team with prime DBook, a championship level HC and a solid supporting cast.

[Fo-Real]

I know its not important now but we are still at 14 , with an open roster spot. The way it was trending before he ran into Nurkic and got hurt, I thought maybe we would eventually convert Livers contract. Or are we positioning ourselves for a castor OR a trade where we get back more than we send out?

[NapoleonII]

Any word on Greens re-injured hamstring?

[sunsbum]

Any word on Greens re-injured hamstring?

4-6 weeks

[SkyBill40]

Any word on Greens re-injured hamstring?

Yeah: Disappointing.

Sent from my SM-F966U using RealGM mobile app

[Ghost of Kleine]

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now.

Wtf are we talking about here?? The Wiz are in last place (1-8) and that tweet is from 2021.

Nice catch.
I obviously missed checking the date on this tweet so my bad. So congratulations again on pointing this out so emphatically.

[Ghost of Kleine]

That was me.


KD isn't wasting the last few years of his career on the Wizards lol

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now

I'm seriously curious what do you think IS the context of their current situation?

This tweet you're referencing is from 4 years ago, where the 2021-2022 Wizards went 25-44 the rest of the way to finish the season 35-47 or 12th in the East. The prior season that team won 34 games, so you're talking about a 1 game improvement. Like Brad Beal is still front and center of that tweet. I'm not sure if you're confused thinking this tweet is from the actual 2025 because the current 2025-2026 Wizards are equal dead last not just in the East but in the whole NBA at 1-8. So your very serious argument is a team that won 18 games last season, doesn't even have an established semi-star (Poole/Kuz were their best players and both are gone now unless you consider a cooked CJ/Khris a semi-star), has virtually no record of recruiting real stars (maybe old MJ in the 2000s?), an unproven GM, a HC that has won a grand total of 26 games....across two seasons is the team KD would've bet his last few seasons on because he has some connection to DC?

And if you want to play the thought experiment that early success with a KD means a damn thing, let me remind you again that we started last season with KD with an 8-1 record and vibes were great and we finished the season with 36 wins. This is on a team with prime DBook, a championship level HC and a solid supporting cast.

The context of their current situation is that they have a solid core of exciting young players who are flanked by established vets and they also have significant cap space and a plethora of draft assets with which to actually upgrade their roster if they chose to,

Like in a scenario wherein they would approach KD and sell him on these factors, along with playing as the franchise centerpiece star alongside of McCollum, Coulilaby, Middleton and Sarr.

And with those assets, cap space, etc they could have significant flexibility to dramatically upgrade their roster around KD and be a legitimate playoff team in a much weaker and more wide open Eastern conference as a selling point for his consideration.

While He could finish his career as a hometown hero around his family and friends as that is actually a factor to some stars in sports. And good catch by the way on the timestamp invalidating the current premise somewhat.

Although I'd still argue that (currently) absent their obvious intention to tank for a loaded draft class, in the hypothetical premise of courting a player of KDs' established caliber, if added to their team, those intentions and competitive trajectory goals would change significantly.

And I'm not sure you could tell me that this Wizards current roster (downplaying situation or not) with KD added and the assets/ cap space they have for moves, wouldn't legitimately make the playoffs in a much weaker eastern conference.

I mean thanks for sharing those stats on their losing seasons ( by comparison to the western conference standards) but first off, we all know that in their current situation, they're intentionally tanking and not overtly concerned about winning.

But even aside from that consideration, consider for a moment the actual records of those eastern conference teams that still snuck into the playoffs in the Eastern conference as seeds in the 7-9 ranges. How many of them actually had winning records?

Obviously, the Eastern conference would be a cakewalk for a team with KD to make the playoffs under most conditions barring absolute calamity. So I'm unsure of the relevance of your stats that you've shared for this hypothetical thought experiment that's predicated upon the premise of this Wizards lineup WITH KD added.

Can you honestly tell me 8 better teams that would jump a lineup ( even absent post KD upgrades) of McCollum/ Coulibaly/ Middleton/ KD / Sarr plus depth pieces in the Eastern conference preventing them from being a playoff team?

You see the thought experiment we argued over was predicated upon the premise of what Washingtons' situation could be as a selling point in a potential pursuit of KD.

Now sure as Dremille so excitedly pointed out, I mistakenly shared a post from 2021 that was only recently shared yesterday on X. Sure! My bad, but regardless of that error, the argument is still a hypothetical premise that cannot be legitimately proven beyond subjective speculation.

But under the hypothetical conditions I've offered still remains absolutely plausible, Overall, each teams situations are highly individualized and subjective to a wide range of outcomes.


So a team can start off hot and finish poorly just the same as a team can start slow, add a key piece or star and make a run and surprise with unexpected outcomes too. By the way, how'd our situation with an established D Book, coach Bud, and a solid supporting cast work out for us again?? Each situation is and can be uniquely different man.

[lilfishi22]

Sure! He chose what he thought was best for him at the late stages of his career man. But my point was that obviously perception and competitive trajectory can change rather quickly in the NBA.

All things considered, he was still under contract when we traded him. And the Washington situation as a #1 seed in the eastern conference might be a much easier and more beneficial path to the playoffs than playing in a loaded cutthroat western conference.

I still believe when all factors are fully considered, the wizards given the context of their current situation, is not as tar fetched of a possibility as some make out to be at surface level assessment.

My point of argument also being ( at the time) that they could improve rather quickly and be a playoff team. And that's currently being reflected by their standings now

I'm seriously curious what do you think IS the context of their current situation?

This tweet you're referencing is from 4 years ago, where the 2021-2022 Wizards went 25-44 the rest of the way to finish the season 35-47 or 12th in the East. The prior season that team won 34 games, so you're talking about a 1 game improvement. Like Brad Beal is still front and center of that tweet. I'm not sure if you're confused thinking this tweet is from the actual 2025 because the current 2025-2026 Wizards are equal dead last not just in the East but in the whole NBA at 1-8. So your very serious argument is a team that won 18 games last season, doesn't even have an established semi-star (Poole/Kuz were their best players and both are gone now unless you consider a cooked CJ/Khris a semi-star), has virtually no record of recruiting real stars (maybe old MJ in the 2000s?), an unproven GM, a HC that has won a grand total of 26 games....across two seasons is the team KD would've bet his last few seasons on because he has some connection to DC?

And if you want to play the thought experiment that early success with a KD means a damn thing, let me remind you again that we started last season with KD with an 8-1 record and vibes were great and we finished the season with 36 wins. This is on a team with prime DBook, a championship level HC and a solid supporting cast.

The context of their current situation is that they have a solid core of exciting young players who are flanked by established vets and they also have significant cap space and a plethora of draft assets with which to actually upgrade their roster if they chose to,

Like in a scenario wherein they would approach KD and sell him on these factors, along with playing as the franchise centerpiece star alongside of McCollum, Coulilaby, Middleton and Sarr.

And with those assets, cap space, etc they could have significant flexibility to dramatically upgrade their roster around KD and be a legitimate playoff team in a much weaker and more wide open Eastern conference as a selling point for his consideration.

While He could finish his career as a hometown hero around his family and friends as that is actually a factor to some stars in sports. And good catch by the way on the timestamp invalidating the current premise somewhat.

Although I'd still argue that (currently) absent their obvious intention to tank for a loaded draft class, in the hypothetical premise of courting a player of KDs' established caliber, if added to their team, those intentions and competitive trajectory goals would change significantly.

And I'm not sure you could tell me that this Wizards current roster (downplaying situation or not) with KD added and the assets/ cap space they have for moves, wouldn't legitimately make the playoffs in a much weaker eastern conference.

I mean thanks for sharing those stats on their losing seasons ( by comparison to the western conference standards) but first off, we all know that in their current situation, they're intentionally tanking and not overtly concerned about winning.

But even aside from that consideration, consider for a moment the actual records of those eastern conference teams that still snuck into the playoffs in the Eastern conference as seeds in the 7-9 ranges. How many of them actually had winning records?

Obviously, the Eastern conference would be a cakewalk for a team with KD to make the playoffs under most conditions barring absolute calamity. So I'm unsure of the relevance of your stats that you've shared for this hypothetical thought experiment that's predicated upon the premise of this Wizards lineup WITH KD added.

Can you honestly tell me 8 better teams that would jump a lineup ( even absent post KD upgrades) of McCollum/ Coulibaly/ Middleton/ KD / Sarr plus depth pieces in the Eastern conference preventing them from being a playoff team?

You see the thought experiment we argued over was predicated upon the premise of what Washingtons' situation could be as a selling point in a potential pursuit of KD.

Now sure as Dremille so excitedly pointed out, I mistakenly shared a post from 2021 that was only recently shared yesterday on X. Sure! My bad, but regardless of that error, the argument is still a hypothetical premise that cannot be legitimately proven beyond subjective speculation.

But under the hypothetical conditions I've offered still remains absolutely plausible, Overall, each teams situations are highly individualized and subjective to a wide range of outcomes.


So a team can start off hot and finish poorly just the same as a team can start slow, add a key piece or star and make a run and surprise with unexpected outcomes too. By the way, how'd our situation with an established D Book, coach Bud, and a solid supporting cast work out for us again?? Each situation is and can be uniquely different man.

KD is not carrying a rebuilding team to relevance, even in the East. A KD/Book-led team last season, that won 49 games the previous season, was the 11th worst team in the West, which would've also been the 11th worst team in the East. Literally wherever KD has gone in his career, he's either brought elite talent with him to play with (Kyrie/Harden) or he's joining a team that's already competitive (GSW/Phoenix). And he was able to do that at 28, 31 and 34 years of age, he's not doing it in year 17 at 37 nor does he carry the weight as a franchise-changing centrepiece either. Houston is the perfect situation for him because he's joining a team that won 52 games (2nd in the conference) that has proven they can play together and under a coach most consider to be elite.

Again we're talking about a completely unproven coach, unproven front office, a franchise with no track record of attracting stars and his "co-stars" are a cooked CJ, Khris and some very young players? That's the team you seriously think KD would hitch his old wagon to for his final few seasons? If so, then you're just arguing just for argument sake, because that isn't a serious proposal

[Saberestar]

Any word on Greens re-injured hamstring?

Duane Rankin:

Suns haven't released an official injury update on Green, but he's expected to miss multiple games with injury.