Overview

• Washington finished 18-64 last season with the NBA’s worst offensive rating and a bottom-tier defense.
• The roster features 12 recent first-rounders, headlined by 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr plus 2025 lottery guard Tre Johnson.
• Offseason moves brought in CJ McCollum, Cam Whitmore and Malaki Branham, with departures including Jordan Poole, Marcus Smart, Saddiq Bey and Malcolm Brogdon.
• Oddsmakers list a 21.5 win over/under, reinforcing expectations that player development will be prioritized over short-term results.
• Veterans Khris Middleton plus McCollum are cast as stabilizers as Keefe defines roles for a crowded prospect group, with stalled growth cited as the primary risk to the rebuild.