‘Getting closer’: Wizards general manager feels optimistic after another woeful campaign

The Washington Wizards aren’t close to contention. General manager Will Dawkins will be among the first to admit that. He insists that there are reasons for hope, though.

“While we understand we’re not close, we are closer,” Dawkins said at Thursday’s end-of-season press conference. “I feel like we laid some bricks for the foundation this year.”

Dawkins arrived equipped with countless stats and analytics. Those are a necessity when you’re defending another losing season — 18-64 this year — to a fan base that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2021.

“We’re slowly starting to climb,” Dawkins said. “This season was meant to be one of exploration, and with that comes a lot of the unknowns, a lot of discomfort, a lot of the growing pains that you expect. We felt a lot of those throughout the year.”

Casual observers would be reticent to call the Wizards’ 2024-25 season a success. They finished with the second-worst record in the league and strung together two 16-game losing streaks.

This season was more about development than wins and losses, according to Washington’s front office.

The Wizards notched more starts by players aged 21 or younger than any other team in the league. Rookies Alex Sarr, A.J. Johnson, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George routinely joined second-year player Bilal Coulibaly on the court, getting their feet wet in their first NBA action.

Washington’s leadership still refuses to put a timeline on the rebuild.

“We’re pouring into the future. We’re pouring into those young guys. We expected it to be a little rocky,” Dawkins said. “We stumbled a really good amount out of the gate, but I do think we found a little bit more of a rhythm towards the end of the season.”

The long-time executive had the stats to support his youngsters. Among NBA small forwards, George ranked in the 91st percentile for effective field goal percentage, in the 91st percentile for blocks and in the 81st percentile for deflections, his general manager said.

Carrington played in all 82 games and was the only rookie to average more than four rebounds and four assists per game. Sarr’s versatility — averaging 13 points, 1.5 blocks, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists — impressed the Wizards front office and coaching staff despite inefficient shooting numbers.

“Alex had a tremendous season,” Dawkins said, while showering praise on each of the rookies. “We love that people still want more for him, because we know he can do it, but he’s well on his way.”

Only one Wizard — 32-year-old guard Malcolm Brogdon — is on an expiring contract. Dawkins said he plans to continue a conservative approach in free agency, directing his focus to the upcoming draft.

As the second-worst team, the Wizards are tied for the top odds to land the No. 1 selection in June’s NBA draft. Washington has a 14% chance of winning the lottery, tied for the best odds in the league. A lucky draw could send Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, the unanimous top prospect, to the District.

The Wizards will also watch Friday’s Western Conference play-in game with great interest, as the Memphis Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks with a playoff berth on the line. A Grizzlies victory would send Memphis’ first-round pick to Washington.

A Mavericks win would allow the Grizzlies to keep their top selection, instead shipping second-rounders in the next two drafts to the Wizards.

The Wizards will slowly build out a draft plan over the coming months. Prospects have until April 26 to declare for the draft, though they can withdraw at any time before June 15. Potential draftees will gather in Chicago for a combine from May 11-18, with the lottery scheduled for May 12.

“It’s a good draft, not as internationally focused as it was last year. You’ll see a little bit more American talent,” Dawkins said. “We’re going to be happy to add another good young piece.”

Until then, Dawkins said he’ll take a deep breath. The long-time executive plans to spend time with his family away from basketball. He’ll even watch the Capitals as they open the NHL playoffs on Monday night. He encouraged his staff to do the same.

“You really do need to decompress. It’s a long season,” Dawkins said. “Breathe for a little bit, revisit what we’re trying to do, and then fully invest in it.”