On Nov. 18, Wizards fans were feeling good. The Wizards had just drafted the Israeli Premier League starDeni Avdija, the ninth overall pick. Avdija brings tremendous talent as a lengthy perimeter shooter who has great experience from his three years in the Israel pro league. 

“We don’t check passports when we draft players, we look at talent,” Wizards GM Tommy Shepard said about drafting Avdija, in an article in the Baltimore Sun. With the addition of a talent like Avdija ahead of the Wizards and their 32-50 record season behind them, things were trending upward. 

Two weeks after the draft on Dec. 5, news broke that the Washington Wizards had agreed to a trade with the Houston Rockets. The Wizards would give up John Wall and two protected 1st round picks for Russell Westbrook. While this trade served its intended purpose, to shift up the roster in hopes for a run in the playoffs, Wizards fans were heartbroken with the loss of John Wall. 

John Wall meant so much to the city of Washington D.C. because his impact went beyond basketball. He became an icon, one that was ingrained in the culture of the city. He went from hitting clutch-game winners and screaming “this is my city” after big wins to helping the community in any way he could. For Wizards fans, this offseason was one big gut punch, seeing off a franchise player who’s been loved for the past 10 years was soul crushing.  

Though this trade was rough to come to terms with, it still awarded the Wizards an NBA superstar. Russell Westbrook is just two years removed from the three straight seasons in which he averaged a triple double on the season. 

Wizards GM Brian Sheppard took copious note of this. He knew he had the all around star power with Bradley Beal, lights out three point shooting from Davis Bertans and athletic down-low play from Rui Hachimura, but knew he was missing someone. 

That someone is the pass-first, playmaking point guard Russell Westbrook. Along with the acquisition of Westbrook, Sheppard took note of the Wizard’s lack of a deep and talented bench. 

Signing both Yoeli Childs and Robin Lopez gave depth to the Wizard’s forward and small forward positions. Adding Raul Neto and Garrison Matthews certified a strong duo of PG and SG coming off the bench. 

The Wizards made all these decisions and acquisitions with hopes of getting over the hump that is making and advancing into the playoffs. With all of the depth the Wizards have, they seemed poised to make a run in the playoffs, but just as the Wizards have rebuilt and reloaded, so have many other teams in the Eastern Conference.

Last year’s Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat, didn’t lose any key starters and look ready to defend their crown. The always offensively stout Milwaukee Bucks added Jrue Holiday, which only made them deadlier, the Charlotte Hornets drafted Lamelo Ball and traded for Gordon Hayward, which makes them title contender’s too. 

Whether or not the Wizards succeed in their pursuit for the playoffs will have major implications for the team’s roster next year. The lack of a playoff spot or a playoff series win will most likely send Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook packing. The Wizards are one year removed from a full-blown rebuild and Beal and Westbrook would be the first key pieces to leave. 

2020 has been hard, especially for the city of D.C. and now more than ever, they  need the Wizards to succeed. For both Bradley Beal’s career and the entire city of Washington, it’s championship or bust for the Wizards.