JMJV Photo/Joseph Mendoza
By Trent Watson | 12:00 PM EST, September 29, 2026
The time is now. It's a new start to the NBA season, and Wizards fans have a ton to be excited about. The late additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis last year have basketball fans eager to see what's in store for Washington in the 2026-27 season.
Adding all-star-level veterans to your locker room is always a bright spot for improving your chances of winning, but those moves often hold more weight for teams looking to win now. Fans often get excited when teams make moves that also promise a bright future, and it's safe to say Washington has a new level of excitement around its young core with the addition of the No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa.
One may ask, what's the plan of attack for a team like Washington with its unique mix of veteran leadership and youth? Those of us who can see the bigger picture and view the game through a deeper lens understand exactly what's brewing in Washington. Here's what Wizards fans and the regular hoop fan can expect to see from the Wizards this season.
One thing that sticks out with this roster initially is the youth, depth, and versatility of this team. While AJ Dybantsa brings the most excitement around the young core, people need to be talking about guys like Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley, who are poised to take major leaps.
From year one to year two, George improved his points per game by more than 6 points, going from 8.7 to 14.8. He also improved his assists per game from 2.5 to 4.5, while raising his three-point percentage from 32% to 38%. He's already one of the best young players in the league and has shown he can impact winning in a multitude of ways.
Guys like George, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley should see the number of open shots they receive during games take an uptick due to the gravity of Trae Young and Anthony Davis alone.
Will Riley surprised some people last season, but those who know Riley aren't surprised at all. He's been displaying elite levels of self-creation and multilevel scoring production since his prep days at the Phelps School (PA). With added strength and an understanding of the NBA's spacing and pace, Riley can find his niche as a real scorer in this league. Even though it was a small sample size, Riley was one of the leading scorers of NBA Summer League this past summer, scorching the nets for 25 points per game.
A player like Alex Sarr, who averaged just under 20 points per game and grabbed 7 rebounds a night, can show his true impact alongside another big in Anthony Davis. Sarr's skill set complements what Davis brings to the table as another rim protector who can also run the floor and score in various ways. The opportunity for Sarr to really study Davis and absorb some of the things that have made him a perennial All-Star presents an advantage for the 7-foot Frenchman to take a leap.
Sarr will be a huge piece in what this team does defensively, alongside guys like Bilal Coulibaly. Coulibaly could find his calling card this season as one of the league's best young perimeter defenders. Justin Champagnie could find minutes in a 3-and-D role as well. Even a player like Bub Carrington, who is known for his mid-range scoring, could make a real difference this year on both ends of the floor.
Khris Middleton brings championship DNA and veteran leadership to the locker room. DeAndre Ayton adds more interior depth and gives Washington a reliable post presence off the bench who can keep Anthony Davis from logging heavy minutes as he heads into his 15th year in the league.
Brian Keefe and his staff have their work cut out for them in a very competitive Eastern Conference, but the future and the present look very bright for Washington. Fans should be flooding Capital One Arena all season in hopes of seeing a new and improved Wizards team.