Wizards Tank Could Fall Apart After Recent Kings News

Washington’s Problem

As of now, Washington is in the clear. However, the team is under some major new spotlights after their back-to-back blockbuster acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis. With that, the league will be closely monitoring the stars, as both are out for the foreseeable future while they recover from injuries. Once (or if) they are cleared to return, the Wizards’ tank could experience major problems when the wins begin coming in.

The Wizards no doubt want those top three odds, as that secures them their 14% at number one, but also 52.1% chance of landing inside the top four. If D.C falls outside the top eight, their pick will be transferred to the New York Knicks.

With the new era of competition that Wizards basketball is about to enter, the last thing the franchise wants to do is give a potential playoff matchup a top-eight pick in a draft like the 2026 class is.

Wizards’ Major Tank Matchups

With NBA action set to resume, Washington has a few crucial matchups they must take advantage of if they want to secure their position in the standings. Coming out of the All-Star Break, the Wizards will play the Pacers back-to-back nights at home. Indiana and Washington are tied in league standings, and the Wizards need to lose at least one game in order to stay in the bottom three.

Additionally, Washington will face Utah twice before the end of the season, while seeing the Pelicans and Nets once more. The Wizards already proved that they are willing to shrink the lineup against Brooklyn, and if the All-Star duo is out, these teams may walk all over D.C. Bad to watch, but good for the tank. Washington will no doubt empty the bench early against these teams, even if the league office has shown it’s willing to crack down on tanking efforts.

The Last Word

These last few months of the season may be brutal for Washington fans. However, if it’s in efforts to claim a talent like Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, or Darryn Peterson, it should be a worthy investment. One thing is for sure, though, expect every team listed to keep losing, and the fines to begin piling up as each franchise tries to find new ways to sit their players.