30 in 30: What has to happen for the Washington Wizards to compete?

As the start of the season quickly approaches, we explore what has to happen for the Washington Wizards to compete in the Eastern Conference.

The Washington Wizards were a team that many thought could potentially make the pivot to a rebuild. Instead, they decided to offer Bradley Beal a huge contract extension. Now that he’s locked up for the foreseeable future, the Wizards will continue to build around him.

A huge part of Washington’s hope heading into the 2022-23 NBA season also falls on the shoulders of Kristaps Porzingis, who the team acquired at last year’s NBA Trade Deadline. If he can be a consistent – and healthy – threat alongside Beal this season, it could make all the difference for the Wizards this year.

The Washington Wizards’ offseason moves

In an attempt to improve the roster this offseason, the Wizards drafted Johnny Davis in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft and signed Delon Wright and Taj Gibson in free agency. They also acquired Will Barton and Monte Morris via trade from the Denver Nuggets.

It remains to be seen if these moves will end up being enough for the Wizards to make a move up the East standings this season, but you can’t say Washington didn’t try to get better this summer.