When the Washington Wizards set out to take on the 2023-24 NBA Season most anticipated the team would likely win around 20 games.
25 wins was just about the top of the ceiling most predicted for the Wizards and with just 21 left to play, they've won nine.
Not only has the team failed to win even 10 games out of 60+, but Washington has lost 15 in a row after Monday night's meltdown against the Utah Jazz.
In a league that doesn't guarantee reward for being the worst in a given year, the Wizards are doing everything in their power to ensure rookie guard Bilal Coulibaly welcomes a new teammate early in the NBA Draft, and teaching the league something along the way.
"Remember when, for about three months, this dishonorable mention belonged to the Detroit Pistons," NBA.com's Shaun Powell asked in a recent column stating the Wizards are the team facing the biggest rebuild. "Since then, very stealthily (and certainly regrettably in Washington) the Wizards have become the (slightly/arguably) Team At The Bottom."
"At least the Pistons have a few long-term keepers. The Wizards appear ripe for a major overhaul and there’s probably not a future All-Star on the roster or anyone who will command a max contract."
Powell wraps up his accurate analysis of Washington basketball by sharing the No. 1 overall pick odds silver lining this terrible season is carrying with it, but that's little consolation at this point.
Earlier this season the potential shown by Coulibaly and the efforts and desire of forward Kyle Kuzma to stay with the team were enough to help soothe growing pains.
The play of forward Deni Avdija was energizing fans through the hard times as well.
But if winning cures everything, losing disqualifies anything, and fans are rapidly losing faith in the process, the people running it, and the future.
The good news is the folks at the controls will get more than one disappointing year, and the fan base has proven their loyalty to the extent that if 2025 brings growth then faith will be restored.
It's going to be a long road to get to that point, however, and maybe an even longer one to get Washington winning again.
You can follow David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
Keep up with all Washington Wizards news on the SI.com Washington Wizards team page
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