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2025-26 Washington Wizards Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/15/2025

Washington Wizards predictions Khris Middleton

The Washington Wizards have gone 33-131 in the last two seasons, and their horrendous run of form is unlikely to come to an end this year, either. The Wizards are in the middle of a deep rebuild after missing the playoffs in four straight seasons, and this year’s focus will be on developing their team rather than winning basketball games. There are a few bright spots on this roster, but the Wizards' fan base is preparing for another unwatchable season. Can Washington pull off a miracle and sneak into the play-in tournament, or will it be another year in the basement for the Wizards?

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Washington Wizards Offseason Recap

The Wizards were very active in the offseason, making a flurry of moves to help strengthen their roster. The most impactful move was trading for CJ McCollum from the New Orleans Pelicans. Washington received McCollum, Cam Whitmore, and Kelly Olynyk for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey. On the surface, this appears to be a puzzling move from Washington. Once we dig deeper, it gets even stranger. Poole is still only 26 years old and was the prized asset in this trade. While Poole’s shot selection needs work, he still has room to grow and could turn into a quality NBA point guard down the road. He has championship experience with the Warriors, but the Wizards elected to turn to 34-year-old CJ McCollum instead. 

There is nothing wrong with McCollum, but the reality is he just wants one more paycheck from the Wizards before hanging up his shoes. McCollum has had ongoing injury problems in recent seasons and isn’t getting any younger at 34 years old. Not only was McCollum only able to suit up for 56 games last year, but his 37.3% clip from deep was the lowest mark of his 11-year NBA career. A consistent 20+ PPG scorer in Washington will be refreshing, but trading away future assets for current production is not what the Wizards need. They also got Olynyk in the deal, who is also 34, while trading away the promising 26-year-old Saddiq Bey. Cam Whitmore has been a below-average prospect during his two years with the Rockets, and unless he turns into a future All-Star, this is certainly a head-scratcher from the Washington front office. 

In the NBA Draft, the Wizards were unlucky with how the lottery turned out and had to settle for the sixth overall selection. Tre Johnson is a pure scorer who drips with confidence anytime he takes the court. He can make clutch shots whenever he is called upon, and is one of the real sharpshooters from the 2025 NBA Draft. There are valid concerns about his defense, but the Washington coaching staff will have time to mold the 19-year-old this season. He is unlikely to be an opening night starter with Bub Carrington still in the mix, but there is no doubt Johnson will have a significant role to play this season. 

Washington Wizards Season Expectations

McCollum and Khris Middleton can be productive, but this is the age where we usually see NBA veterans start to tail off. Their veteran leadership for the next generation of Wizards will be useful, but it’s hard to envision that translating to tangible on-court success this season. On the inside, Washington has a pair of nice pieces with Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, whose development will be the measuring stick for this year’s success. If Sarr and Coulibaly continue to make the strides they did in the tail end of last season, the Wizards will consider this year a success. The expectations are understandably low in Washington this season. 

Washington Wizards Schedule Breakdown

Wins will be few and far between for the Wizards this season, and navigating their early-season schedule will be crucial if they hope to be in playoff contention this season. Of their first ten home games, nine of them come against Eastern Conference opposition. The East is full of mediocre teams only slightly better than the Wizards, so a few early upsets could boost the confidence of this young team. A pair of road games kick off their season before they welcome the Hornets and 76ers to town. Both of which are winnable matchups. Washington’s young core will be home for the holidays, as they have just one road game between December 24th and January 6th. 

Washington Wizards Odds

The Wizards have a win total this year of 20.5, and are expected to be in the Eastern Conference basement again this season. They have fallen short of 20 wins in back-to-back years, but there is reason for some optimism in Washington. The front office’s puzzling moves could keep this team relevant in the second half of the season. However, a playoff spot is unlikely, as the Wizards have +2500 odds to make the playoffs and +1600 odds to make the play-in tournament. In the NBA Cup, the Wizards have the toughest group in the conference. They are with the Cavaliers, Hawks, Pacers, and Raptors in East Group A, and have +2200 odds to come out on top. 

2025-26 Washington Wizards Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Wizards are going to be bad, but they won’t be as bad as the NBA odds suggest. A record of 25-57 is well within their reach, especially given the offseason moves their front office made. Sacrificing their future for present-day results is a bad long-term move, but it will help them gain some respect this season. Once you couple that with a weak Eastern Conference, the Wizards will be able to pull off minor upsets on a regular basis. 

 

Don’t go crazy, but a +1600 sprinkle on a play-in tournament position could be worth a look in addition to over their standard win total. Chasing long odds is a great strategy for season-long futures, and it is not as if the East is brimming with other contenders. Washington could easily finish ahead of the Nets and Hornets, and they then just need a few injuries or tank jobs from elsewhere to sneak into the play-in. Sub-40-win teams consistently make the play-in in the East, and we may even see a record in the range of 32-50 get in there with limited opposition. It’s worth a sprinkle, but most of your wager should be on the standard line. 

Top Pick: Washington Wizards Over 20.5 Wins -110

Pick: Washington Wizards to Make the Play-in Tournament +1600

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