2023 Washington Wizards Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert NBA Picks
The Washington Wizards finally let Bradley Beal go in search of his first career NBA title and have hit the reset button on the franchise. Their 23.5-game win total is the lowest in the league, and it is very clear how the oddsmakers expect this team to do. Not good. Can Jordan Poole elevate this franchise out of the basement, or the Wizards be in full on tank mode by the midway mark of the season?
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Washington Wizards Offseason Recap
The Washington Wizards traded away franchise icon Bradley Beal to the Suns, and they got quite the haul in return. They acquired 6 future second-round picks, 4 future first-round pick swaps, and Chris Paul. Washington then flipped Paul for Jordan Poole, a first and a second, giving them an adequate return for a player of Beal’s caliber. Beal will be missed in Washington, and his 22.1 PPG he scored throughout his 11-year career with the Wizards will not be easy to replicate.
Poole is ready to lead the Wizards into the next chapter of their franchise, and the confident young star is set to explode for a career year. After spending 4 years under the wing of the ‘Splash Brothers,’ Poole will relish the opportunity to take as many shots as he desires. He is always ready to pull up from deep at a moment’s notice, and he scored a career high 20.4 PPG last season, while being the 3rd or 4th option on the floor for a majority of his minutes. They also picked up Mike Muscala, Danilo Gallinari, and Tyus Jones in their offseason moves, and these guys will be able to provide leadership for the raw talent they have entering their lineup.
As part of the Beal trade, the Wizards moved up in the draft to select Bilal Coulibaly. Coulibaly will slot straight into the starting lineup at small forward and is capable of making an instant impact in his first year in the league. He excels at finding the open space on the court and is a very well-rounded player on both ends of the floor. He’s a great pickup for this sneaky good Wizards squad.
Washington Wizards Season Expectations
Expectations are understandably low in Washington, and their 23.5-game win total should tell the story about how well this team will be doing this season. Poole is a great scorer, but he is far less polished in several areas of the floor compared to Beal. He has the potential to breakout for a 25+ PPG season with the shot opportunities we'll be getting, but unlike in Golden State, he’ll be tasked with getting past the opposition's best perimeter defender, rather than being an afterthought on offense.
Kyle Kuzma will be joining him in the backcourt, after he put together a solid season last year. His 21.1 PPG was the best of his career, but he too will be facing the issue of an increased defensive presence whenever he has the ball in his hands. While his 3.7 Assists per game from last season was a career high, he still lacks the vision to be one of the elite point guards in the league.
Washington has a well-rounded, more experienced lineup than the other basement dwellers and will be able to outsmart their opposition in the lower tier matchups. However, against the top dogs, they lack the raw explosivity needed to consistently get stunning upsets. It’s going to be a long season for a disjointed Wizards unit.
Washington Wizards Schedule Breakdown
Washington plays 7 of their first 10 games on the road, but they are not facing off against the stiffest opposition. In their first 10 games, they have very winnable contests against the Pacers, Nets, Raptors, and a pair against the Hornets, so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see them 4-6 or even 5-5 after the first 10. In early February, they face their toughest tests, as they play 11 playoff teams from last year in a 14-game span, and the three against non-playoff teams are against the Thunder, Mavericks, and Pelicans, so it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see them go 0-14 or 1-13 in that span. They follow up that span with 10 home games out of 11 matchups, which will allow them to right the ship, and go for a late season push for their win total.
Washington Wizards Odds
The Wizards don’t have many playable lines in the betting market, as their +1225 odds to make the playoffs ensure their +30000 odds to win the championship don’t come anywhere near to cashing. In the in-season tournament, their life gets no easier as they are squaring off against the Bucks, Knicks, and Heat in Group B, with +1400 odds to top the group. There will be no easy paths to silverware for the Wizards, but there is plenty of money to be made on their rock bottom win total of 23.5 wins.
Washington Wizards 2023-24 Season Predictions
I expect these Wizards to do better than expected and will be betting accordingly. Poole and Kuzma have a few dynamic stars around them, and a 23.5-game win total is disrespectful. They’ll have 2-3 20+ PPG scorers and will be able to occasionally get hot from deep and steal games. Not only do I expect the Wizards to sail past their win total with a 30-52 season, but I’ll be playing the +310 odds on them to get 30+ wins too. They have the proven talent in their squad the other weaker teams lack. They are in the first year of their full blown rebuild. And while motivation may come into play in the tail end of the season, every player on the court is still playing for their roster spot, and multi-million dollar contract that goes with it. I’m not calling for anything close to a Wizards play-in tournament appearance, but I am expecting them to exceed expectations. Don’t bother wasting your bankroll on a Wizards longshot, but instead play it smart, and take advantage of this rock bottom price on offer for their win total.
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