The Washington Wizards enter the 2025-26 NBA season in a position they have not enjoyed for quite some time: optimism. After years of drifting through lottery seasons and patchwork roster moves, the franchise has finally begun to carve out a clearer identity. Their young core of Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington has energized the fanbase, while the addition of steady veterans like Khris Middleton and the acquisition of CJ McCollum and Cam Whitmore provide both leadership and scoring balance.
The Wizards may not yet be ready to contend for a top seed in the Eastern Conference, but they are no longer a bottom-feeder either. Instead, they sit in the intriguing middle ground where growth is expected, and every roster move could tip the scales toward either a Play-In chase or