Entering this season, the Detroit Pistons had only won a combined 31 games over the previous two years. At 42-32, they have experienced a complete turnaround and will be clinching a spot in the postseason any day now. Last season, the Washington Wizards went 15-67. They are currently 16-57 this year, last place in the Eastern Conference. Could the Wizards take a giant step forward next season and actually contend for a playoff spot?
Can 2025-26 Wizards Duplicate Success of 2024-25 Pistons?
Wizards Have Plenty Of Youth With Potential
At the very least, Washington can certainly use the Pistons as motivation entering next season. On February 6 in a four-team deal, the Wizards added 13-year veteran Khris Middleton . The 33-year-old forward won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 as the team’s second-leading scorer. He has a player option for more than $34 million in 2025-26, one that would be quite surprising to see him decline. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype spoke with Middleton and asked him what he expects for next season if he remains with the club. Middleton responded with,
“I think this team could definitely be a playoff team…I think we had a stretch recently where we were competing against some of the playoff teams in some games, where we won some games and lost some others. I think if you give us a full offseason and give us a full season together, with the improvement of the young core, which is going to be huge, I think they can take a big step because of the way they work, how talented they are, and how smart they are.”
That is highly optimistic thinking when you see how the last couple seasons have gone. Second overall pick Alex Sarr has been playing better though and may make the All-Rookie First Team . Bub Carrington just set the Wizards rookie record for threes made (albeit it on not a great percentage). Kyshawn George has started 34 games in his first year. Bilal Coulibaly is still just 20 years old, and he continued to show All-Defense potential prior to his season-ending injury.
There’s youth in Washington that the fans can root for. But can they make that gigantic of a leap and help the Wizards make the playoffs next season?
Similarity And Difference With The Pistons
One possible similarity between this season’s Pistons and next season’s Wizards is both adding veterans to a young squad. In the offseason, Detroit signed Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley while acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr. in a trade. Not only did the Wizards add Middleton via trade, but they also gained 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart . He also has one year left on his deal after this season. If neither he or Middleton are traded in the offseason, the two will enter their first full year in Washington in 2025-26.
A difference between the teams though is nobody on the Wizards roster seems to have the upside of Cade Cunningham . The first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft , Cunningham’s tantalizing potential had been somewhat marred by injuries and subpar teammates. Surrounding the 23-year-old with more outside shooting and a more veteran-laden lineup has helped allow the world to see Cunningham play at an All-NBA level.
It remains to be seen what moves the Wizards make in the offseason. Maybe lottery luck will be on their side. At the very least, the Wizards can enter 2025-26 looking at the 2024-25 Pistons as motivation for a quick turnaround in becoming a team that reaches the playoffs.
Photo credit: © Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
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