Honestly, being a fan of this team feels like a full-time job where the pay is mostly just stress and occasional flashes of "wait, are we actually good?"
If you've been checking the Washington Wizards news lately, your head is probably spinning. We just watched Michael Winger and Will Dawkins pull the trigger on a move that nobody—and I mean nobody—saw coming in the middle of a rebuild. Sending CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Atlanta for Trae Young is the kind of "burn the boats" move that usually happens when a team is one piece away from a ring. But we're sitting at 10-31.
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We're at the bottom of the East, looking up at the Detroit Pistons. Yeah, those Pistons.
The Trae Young Era Starts... From the Training Room?
It's kinda hilarious in a dark way. The biggest trade in a decade happens, and Trae Young immediately lands on the injury report with a right quad contusion. He hasn't even suited up for a full game yet, and the Wizards are already out here losing 121-115 to a Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets squad.
People are trashing this trade. They're saying it ruins the tank. But here's the thing: you don't pass up a 27-year-old All-Star point guard when the cost is basically a veteran on an expiring deal and a wing shooter.
Basically, the front office decided that "developing" doesn't have to mean "losing by 30 every night." They want someone who can actually pass the ball to Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. Speaking of Sarr, have you seen the kid lately? He just put up 16 points and 8 boards against Denver. He’s looking less like a "project" and more like a problem for the rest of the league.
Why the "Bust" Labels Were Total Garbage
Remember last summer? The internet was convinced Alex Sarr was a bust because he struggled in Summer League.
Total. Nonsense.
- Sarr is currently second in the league in blocks per game.
- He’s averaging 16.9 points on 50% shooting this season.
- His defensive footwork is basically a cheat code for a 7-footer.
He’s 20 years old. He's still figuring out where to stand on offense, yet he’s already anchoring a defense that—admittedly—is still giving up way too many points. But that’s not on him. That’s on a roster that currently features more rookies and second-year guys than a college dorm.
The Trae Young Effect on Bilal Coulibaly
This is the part of the Washington Wizards news that people aren't talking about enough. Bilal Coulibaly has been a "glue guy" for most of his short career. He defends, he runs, he hits an occasional corner three. But his efficiency has been... well, it’s been a rollercoaster.
With Trae Young coming in, Bilal isn't going to have to create his own shot anymore. Trae is a walking gravity well. He draws three defenders just by crossing half-court. If Bilal can't thrive as a cutter and a spot-up shooter next to one of the best passers in the world, then we have a different problem.
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Right now, Bilal is averaging about 10.1 points. Expect that to jump. If it doesn't, the "rebuild" might take a lot longer than Winger promised.
Is Brian Keefe on the Hot Seat?
You've got to feel for Brian Keefe. He’s 10-31. He’s trying to teach winning habits to a bunch of kids while the front office keeps swapping out his veterans.
Is he a long-term solution? Hard to say. The Wizards' defensive rating is 29th in the NBA. You can't blame everything on youth. At some point, you have to stop a ball-handler. Getting Trae Young—who isn't exactly Gary Payton on defense—doesn't help that specific problem.
But Keefe has the locker room. The guys play hard. They nearly beat a surging Nuggets team on the road yesterday. That counts for something in January.
What’s Next: The Trade Deadline Fire Sale
Don't think the Trae trade was the last move. Not even close.
Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley III are basically living out of suitcases at this point. Middleton was always a rental. He’s a veteran on a declining contract that contending teams crave. If the Wizards can flip him for another first-round pick or a young prospect, they’ll do it before you can finish your coffee.
Bagley is in a weird spot. He’s been productive—averaging double-digit points off the bench—but with Sarr and Jonas Valančiūnas (who we still haven't moved?) in the way, there’s no room for him long-term.
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The Actionable Reality for Fans
If you're watching the Wizards right now, stop looking at the standings. It’ll just make you sad. Instead, watch these three things:
- Sarr’s block-to-foul ratio: If he stays on the floor, the Wizards stay in games.
- Trae Young's chemistry with Bub Carrington: Bub is the future at guard, and learning from Trae could turn him into a star.
- The 2026 Draft Lottery odds: We’re currently 14th in the East. We need to stay in that bottom tier to ensure we get another elite talent to pair with Trae and Sarr.
The plan is finally clear. It’s "Trae + The Kids." It might be messy for the next two months, but for the first time in years, the Wizards actually have a direction that isn't just "tread water and hope for the best."
Keep an eye on the injury report for Monday's game against the Clippers. If Trae debuts, the vibe at Capital One Arena is going to be electric, regardless of the record.
Your next steps as a fan:
Check the Monumental Sports Network schedule for the January 19th home game. If you’re looking to buy tickets, now is the time before the "Trae Bump" makes them overpriced. Also, keep a tab open for the NBA Trade Deadline on February 6—Middleton is almost certainly moving by then.