Wizards 2016-17 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
The Washington Wizards didn't make major moves this offseason from a roster standpoint, striking out on signing hometown star Kevin Durant like many of the other teams in the NBA, but the Wizards were certainly busy.
For the team's full schedule, be sure to check out NBA.com.
In particular, the team added solid depth. It brought aboard Trey Burke to back up John Wall at point guard. Andrew Nicholson will provide valuable depth at forward behind Otto Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris. Center Ian Mahinmi is a difference-maker on the defensive end and will give the team another solid center behind Marcin Gortat.
More importantly, the team re-signed shooting guard Bradley Beal to a a five-year, $128 million deal, keeping the dynamic duo of Wall and Beal together for the foreseeable future. That commitment automatically comes with a new pressure to perform, though Beal isn't worried.
“It’s always going to be pressure," he told J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic in July. "It’s kind of automatic. It’s a two-way relationship. They put the trust in me to bless me with a max contract. I have to be able to produce on the floor. It’s that simple. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get it done.”
The team also retained Marcus Thornton, meaning the Wizards can go two deep at every position, with Kelly Oubre Jr. looking to take the next step at small forward after a quiet rookie campaign.
Developing players like Oubre while finding the right rotational balance will be the task of new head coach Scott Brooks, who takes over a Wizards team that underachieved and went 41-41 in 2015-16. If the Wizards can stay healthy, the team should be in position to return to the postseason.
But can the Wizards stay healthy?
Beal has had injury issues consistently in his short career. Wall missed the end of last season with knee issues and had procedures in both knees this offseason. The team, in general, battled throughout injuries, namely at the beginning of last season.
A healthy Wizards team that adjusts well to Brooks' philosophy has the roster in place to reach the postseason. Whether they stay healthy and adjust well to Brooks will be the main storyline of their 2015-16 season.
2015-16 Details
Season Opener: Thursday, Oct. 27 at Atlanta Hawks
Championship Odds: According to Odds Shark, the Wizards have 70-1 title odds.
Full Schedule: NBA.com
Top Matchups
First Home Matchup: Friday, Nov. 11
Realistic or not, the goal for the 2016-17 season for the Wizards is to reach the NBA Finals and win a title. And in the Eastern Conference, all roads go through Cleveland.
Last season, the Wizards fared decently against the Cavs, going 2-2 in the team's matchups. The Cavaliers were a different team in the postseason, of course, but Washington's games against Cleveland will be an excellent barometer for how the team stacks up against one of the NBA's elite franchises.
No, the Wizards don't have anyone tailor-made to slow down LeBron James. Kevin Love isn't an easy matchup for Morris, while Wall and Kyrie Irving are a fantastic matchup. Wall and Beal give the Wizards a chance against any team, of course, and the Wizards may be one of the few teams in the East with a starting lineup capable of causing Cleveland problems.
So much will be learned from these games from Washington's perspective. If the Wizards well against Cleveland in the regular season, it will not only be an indication they can make noise in the postseason, but it should be a confidence-builder as well.
Because the Eastern Conference is wide open below Cleveland, Washington could emerge as a top contender. How the Wizards fare in these matchups will be an indication of whether they are a realistic threat in the East.
Atlanta Hawks
First Home Matchup: Friday, Nov. 4
If the Eastern Conference is wide open below Cleveland, the Southeast Division is completely up for grabs.
The Miami Heat took a step back after losing Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng in free agency. The Charlotte Hornets kept Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams and added Marco Belinelli, Roy Hibbert and Ramon Sessions but also lost Al Jefferson, Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin. They don't seem particularly better or worse. The Orlando Magic dramatically altered the look of their roster, and it remains unclear how all of their new pieces will jell.
That makes the Wizards and Atlanta Hawks feel like the most legitimate contenders to win the Southeast this season.
Atlanta lost Al Horford, yes, but did sign center Dwight Howard, a defensive presence who will bolster the team's rebounding and shot blocking. Horford was probably the better scorer at this point in both players' careers, but Howard will once again get to be the centerpiece of a team.
The Hawks also sent Jeff Teague packing in a trade that netted them an additional draft pick this summer, and they drafted Taurean Prince and DeAndre Bembry with their first-round picks, players who should make an impact this season. Moving Teague also allowed for Dennis Schroder to ascend to the starting point guard role, and the team re-signed Kent Bazemore to pair him with Schroder in the backcourt.
The team is solid at forward, with sharpshooter Kyle Korver at the 3 and Paul Millsap—the team's best player from a year ago—at the 4.
That gives the Hawks a strong starting five, and while there will be an adjustment period for them, they should still be amongst the teams in the second tier of contenders below the Cavs in the East.
The Wizards and Hawks split the season series a year ago, 2-2, and they should be tight again this year. These matchups could very well determine which team secures a top-four seed in the playoffs and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Record Prediction
In a wide-open Eastern Conference, the Wizards have both the starting five and the depth to return to the postseason. They have a coach in Brooks who regularly made the postseason with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have a legitimate star in Wall, a proven sidekick in Beal and plenty of talent surrounding them.
No, they aren't realistic title contenders in 2016-17. It's hard to make a case for any teams outside of the Cavs, Golden State Warriors and maybe the San Antonio Spurs when it comes to winning a championship next year.
But barring another rash of injuries, the Wizards have no excuse to miss the postseason for a second straight year. No, they didn't land Durant or another star to complement Wall and Beal. But they still have enough talent in place to potentially win the Southeast and at least be competitive in the postseason.
Prediction: 45-37
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