#washington-wizards

#washington-wizards

Washington has been searching for a point guard that can serve as a true facilitator and command enough attention offensively that can open up the games of other prospects like Alex Sarr or Kyshawn George. The Wizards hoped that second-year man Bub Carrington could be that player this season in an increased role following the departure of Jordan Poole this offseason.

To make matters worse, the early season challenge to his players from head coach Brian Keefe, which was followed by a players only meeting, made it seem as if the young team was heading in the wrong direction as a whole. Fortunately, things in the DMV finally seem to be turning around, at least considering the state of the organization this time last week when they found themselves at the bottom of the NBA standings for yet another season.

The Washington Wizards roster is full of young talent and multiple veterans who could make an impact elsewhere. As the NBA trade deadline looms, Washington will be forced to take a deep look at their current roister structure as several teams prepare to make a run at the Wizards most attractive trade chips to bolster their own depth charts. Obviously, the Wizards rebuilding roster is in position to make moves and with several trade candidates such as Corey Kispert, CJ McCollum, Khris Middleton and even Marvin Bagley III, Washington will be fielding calls up until the February trade deadline.

The Washington Wizards bad luck has been put on full display over the last few years. From earning the No. 2 overall pick in arguably the weakest NBA Draft in years, to being snubbed of a top five pick as a whole in last offseason's NBA Draft Lottery despite being tied for the highest chances to earn the top pick, it's clear that the Wizards misfortune over the years has been largely due to the team's horrendous luck.

Between the sophomore slump for Bub Carrington, lackluster play from veterans and the inconsistent start to Cam Whitmore's tenure in the DMV, the Wizards woes have come at the hands of several factors. However, arguably the biggest reason for the team's struggles can be linked to the fact that Washington has been plagued by an injury bug that simply just won't go away.

When the Wizards made the decision to move on from Jordan Poole this offseason in exchange for CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk from the New Orleans Pelicans, many wondered how this move made sense for Washington. The Wizards were ultimately getting much older at their most concerning roster position and were set to lose the player that served as the team's primary ball handler last season.

The Washington Wizards injuries have managed to make an already bizarre start to the season take a turn for the worse. Washington's injury woes have forced head coach Brian Keefe to search for answers deep on the team's bench and after declaring that no minutes would be given, but instead earned this offseason, Washington found themselves turning to a second-round pick on Thursday night.

The Washington Wizards struggles have been hard to overlook this season and in large part due to the extra eyes the team's busy offseason brought to the team's rebuilding process. Sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings, not much has changed for the Wizards looking back to last season. In fact, instead of taking a step forward, Washington looks like they've regressed up to this point of the season; at least in terms of the team as a whole.

Up to this point, the fanbase has been forced to watch their team drop game after game, which has been accompanied by sophomore slumps and sophomore leaps. While the slumps have added to the frustration of a trying season, the leaps from emerging stars Alex Sarre and Kyshawn George have been the lone encouraging signs for the Wizards. Sarr has emerged as one of the most dynamic big men in the league this season, taking a major step forward in year two of his development.