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

The road to competing in the East

Earning a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference is going to be difficult for the Washington Wizards. The East is top-heavy and deep. And considering that there is plenty of uncertainty revolving around this season, it’s difficult to project where this team stacks up at the moment.

If everything falls their way and they can remain healthy all season long, you’d have to think that they are probably in the third tier – behind the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Heading into the season, I think a successful season would include the Wizards qualifying for the Play-In Tournament in the East. Anything better than that, and the Wizards should be over the moon.

Making the playoffs seems like a tall task in the East but the team is talented enough to potentially be in the conversation. Will they come through with that and live up to their ceiling, who knows? But that’s where expectations lie for this team heading into this season.