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The Washington Wizards are strengthening their team after a subpar 2023-24 season. Washington approaches a pivotal NBA Draft in June, where they look to increase their talent. Moreover, the team is looking for its next head coach after parting ways with Wes Unseld Jr. Former assistant-turned-interim coach Brian Keefe has an intriguing chance to land the head job amid the team's offseason activity.
Washington possesses the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Analysts believe the talent in the draft is weaker than prior years. Yet, there are undoubtedly high-level players who can help teams win. The Wizards have eyes on French center Alexandre Sarr (Perth Wildcats – NBL) and fellow countryman small forward Zaccharie Risache (JL Bourg – LNB).
Who Washington selects depends on what the Atlanta Hawks do with the first pick. Nevertheless, one thing remains constant for Wizards President Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins: they will aggressively seek the best talent. This could involve the team trading one or both of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma.
Of course, much of the team's mold will be impacted by their next head coach. Washington has had a relatively quiet search after Wes Unseld Jr.'s departure. However, momentum continues to sway toward Brian Keefe being promoted from interim to full-time head coach, per insight from ClutchPoints' NBA Insider Brett Siegel.
In addition to his stint with the Wizards, Brian Keefe has 13 NBA seasons worth of experience as an assistant. It will be interesting to see if Washington keeps him at the helm as they approach a transformative period.
Wizards look to make improvements in 2024-25
Washington finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-67 record, which placed them second-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings. The year did not go as expected, especially after the team acquired Jordan Poole.
Poole had come off a career year with the Golden State Warriors and was less than two years removed from an NBA championship. However, he did not perform to the expectations many analysts and fans placed on him. After averaging 20.4 points per game during the 2022-23 season, Poole regressed to a 17.4 mark.
His first year in Washington was a tough adjustment, but he can make a strong return in 2024-25. Moreover, Poole will have intriguing pieces alongside him. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 22.2 points per game in 2023-24. If he and Poole stay together, Washington will have at least two reliable scorers in the lineup.
Furthermore, the Wizards retain the services of rising second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly. Coulibaly was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and averaged a promising 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 63 games. He also shot 34.6% on three-pointers and made 70.2% of his free-throw attempts.
Coulibaly unfortunately suffered a season-ending wrist injury in March, but when he returns healthy, he will be an integral piece of the Wizards' core. It remains to be seen who the Wizards will add to that core, but the answers will become clearer on draft night.
As the 2024 offseason continues, Washington will do all it can to prepare its team for improvement amid its head coaching search and roster changes.
