Will the Washington Wizards Improve This Season?

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Last year the Washington Wizards did not have a great season like everyone expected. After making the playoffs the past two seasons, they finished 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 41-41 record. Ultimately, the team fired Randy Wittman and brought in former Oklahoma City Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks.

If the Wizards want to do well, they need Bradley Beal to stay healthy (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
If the Wizards want to do well, they need Bradley Beal to stay healthy (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

The team is led by John Wall. Wall averaged a career high 19.9 points and earned himself his third straight All-Star appearance. He is the clear leader of this team and if he has an off night, it hurts the team’s chances of winning. The Wizards decided to bring back Bradley Beal to a max deal this offseason. It is interesting to see Washington give max money to a guy that has not been able to stay healthy throughout his entire career. When healthy, he is a great player that compliments well with John Wall. Needless to say, Beal and Wall need to be on the court together for the franchise to have some success.

Ian Mahinmi was one of the few players Washington signed to help their second unit (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Ian Mahinmi was one of the few players Washington signed to help their second unit (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Washington added a few rotation players that can contribute right away. The team traded for Trey Burke, a former 1st round pick that’ll be the main backup to John Wall. Burke is a good all-around player that can score the basket and pass too. In free agency, Washington signed Ian Mahinmi,  Andrew Nicholson and Jason Smith to solidify their frontcourt depth. The Wizards also signed their 2012 second round selections Tomas Satoransky. Look for him to help out both guard positions.

The Washington Wizards have a solid starting core. Wall and Beal make up a dynamic backcourt, Otto Porter Jr. has steadily improved year by year, Markieff Morris showed that he fits nicely with the team in his half a season stint and Marcin Gortat is a solid double double guy. This starting lineup will be interesting to look at as we get closer to the season. They also have Kelly Oubre Jr. looking to be a solid rotational player for the them.

With the addition of Burke, Satoransky, Nicholson along with Oubre, the Wizards second unit will also be an improvement from last season. With the team that has not made the conference finals in over 30 years and only making the playoffs six times since becoming the Wizards in 1997, changes need to happen. The core of Wall, Beal and Scott Brooks is nice to keep building around. They may have missed out on Al Horford and hometown kid Kevin Durant, but I think the Wizards will improve this season.

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