At the early juncture of this season, the Washington Wizards were off to a hot start under their new head coach Wes Unseld Jr. Their defense was exceptional after being one of the worst defensive teams in the previous years. Three of the Los Angeles Lakers played they acquired in Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell were playing at a tremendous level in the first 10-15 games.
As the franchise cornerstone of Washington, Bradley Beal has struggled immensely with his shooting and efficiency this season even in the midst of their strong start. With his teammates regressing to their usual production along with Beal's continuous struggles, the Wizards have been 3-7 in their last 10 games despite having a more complete lineup compared to other squads. As Beal has entered health and safety protocols, it would be paramount for some of his teammates to step up in the next two weeks.
As one of the individuals who was part of one of the most convoluted trades in NBA history, Spencer Dinwiddie was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets. He is on a three-year, $54 million deal, but he has been struggling with the Washington organization. In his career year with the Nets in 2020, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game. That has since dropped to 12.6 and 5.3 a contest, respectively in a Wizards jersey.
He was brought to the city of Washington as the complementary facilitator with Beal in the backcourt, but they have both been underwhelming this year. Dinwiddie has shown flashes of brilliance, but his averages have skyrocketed when Beal sits down some games. For instance, he had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists in their last outing against the New York Knicks. This is a massive opportunity for him to prove his worth and lift up his team even if they are struggling.
Kyle Kuzma
This athlete was one of the most underrated selections in his draft class, but Kuzma's talent is definitely unquestionable. There are instances wherein he would make bone-headed decisions that would cost their squad to lose a crucial game. However, the strength of Kuzma's game is his irrational confidence to convert long range shots, especially in clutch situations.
He has wrapped up two key victories over the Detroit Pistons and Knicks because of crucial shots wherein defenses focused on his teammates, but they swung it to him in the corner for him to swish the ball through the net. Kuzma's talent is top notch, but his efficiency and decision-making are still two major facets that he could enhance in the next few years of his career. With Washington missing Beal, Kuzma will receive more shots, thus the higher volume must result to more conversions as well.
Corey Kispert
The underrated choice of looking for Corey Kispert to produce in the absence of Beal could be a long shot, but his three-point shooting capabilities would open up several chances for him in the next two weeks. Prior to the Knicks game, Kispert has only tallied double-digit points twice in his rookie season, but he exploded for 20 points on four three-point conversions.
Unseld Jr. gave him the opportunity to be part of the first unit, and it looks like he would stay in that role until numerous players return from health and safety protocols. Additionally, Kispert was part of a remarkable Gonzaga program that fell short in the NCAA Championship game against the Baylor Bears. Kispert's experience of playing four years in college gives him a huge advantage as he brings a more mature and methodical approach to the game.
The Wizards' performance has been dwindling, but the franchises on the same tier as Washington have not been consistent too. Teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers have their own issues as well, but the Wizards must figure things out before it is too late. Moreover, Beal must elevate his production and impact as the leader of this organization when he comes back in two weeks. It has been an underrated season for Washington, but they must sustain their performance for them to be a force to reckoned with in the playoffs.
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