The Washington Wizards are Winning the Westbrook Trade So Far

on

 

(NBA Getty Images)

THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS ARE WINNING THE WESTBROOK TRADE SO FAR


The Washington Wizards through 7-3 record through the first ten games of the season and to me, have been playing the best basketball since the John Wall era. Do the Wizards all of a sudden have title aspirations or are title contenders compared to Russell Westbrook and the Lakers? No, but they’ve been clicking already while missing two very key rotational players in Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant. Coming into the season I had Washington as more of a sleeper team this year that if everything clicks they can be a really solid team, and so far that has come to fruition. 









Amber Searls/USA Today Sports

SO MUCH DEPTH


The first thing that comes to mind with this Wizards team is how deep they are. Bradley Beal doesn't need to drop 40 for them to barely win anymore. Acquiring Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell from the Westrbook trade, those are two key rotational guys to put in the frontcourt alongside guys they already had like Daniel Gafford and Davis Bertans and Deni Advidja. That's not to mention when Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant return form their personal situations. As far as the backcourt and wings, having Spencer Dinwiddie, Raul Neto, Aaron Holiday, Bradley Beal, KCP, and 15th overall pick in the 2021 Draft Corey Kispert is very good. Having so many guys who can have a have a huge impact on any given night is huge. Having Spencer Dinwiddie averaging 16/4/6 playing his best basketball since injury, Kuzma averaging 14/10, Harrell averaging 18/9, KCP averaging 9 points per game shooting 40% from three and Beal leading the heal with 24/5/5 a night is very good. Even Raul Neto who has never been a huge name but has been a huge plus for Washington on the floor has been averaging 8.6 points per game and 3 assists. The Wizards so far have had several games where many players are in double figures. Everyone has a chip on their shoulder and has something to prove. It's only the beginning of the year but watching them play everyone so far seems very unselfish and with a common goal of just winning the game.






Phelan M Ebenhack/AP Photo,Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

COACHING UPGRADE

Another factor into the Wizards having this hot start is the firing of Scott Brooks and hire of former Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. Brooks, more of just an offensive assistant with questionable rotations and play decisions late game. The Wizards so far have been communicating more on both ends, playing hard on the defensive end and have not been a one man show. All of that credited to an upgrade in personal, but also hiring Wes Unseld Jr--son of Wizards legend and late great Wes Unseld-- leading it to execution. 







Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports

REPLACING WESTBROOK WITH DINWIDDIE





As I said prior to the season, obviously Spencer Dinwiddie is not more talented than Russell Westbrook. He's not going to score thirty-four and nine assists a game either every night. But he does not need to. He's going to get to his spots on offensive and get to his spots, or draw enough attention for an assist. Compared to Russ, he's not a better passer but he's a far better decision maker. He's less prone to have a sloppy turnover or a wild miss. Dinwiddie is a far better mid range and three point shooter, making the game much easier for guys like Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell. Throughout Dinwiddie's career he has had a history of hitting huge clutch shots. Spencer and Gafford/Montrezl has been excellent as well so far. It's no knock on Westbook as a player, Washington is just playing smarter basketball with Spencer. 


The Wizards so far have been a very fun and deep team. With reports of Rui Hachimura being close to return as well. No I do not expect them to keep up a pace of 7-3, but I believe they will be a good exciting team competing for a playoff seeding in the East, especially while teams such as the Celtics and Pacers are having to play catch up. I am rooting for guys like Spencer Dinwiddie, coming off an ACL tear playing the best basketball he has since being healthy. Guys like Kuzma, Harrell, and KCP who didn’t quite get the full opportunity with the Lakers but so far have so in Washington. Kuzma so far this year has been amazing and a very well rounded player, averaging the most points since 2019 with 14 a contest and a career high in boards with 8 a game. Kuz has even had a 17 and 17 assist game this year already, going to show him getting his real confidence back with this new team and just being able to do more with more opportunity. As for Russell Westbrook and the Lakers, yes they’re probably a better team when its all said and done but they will take a while to mesh together. 

Comments

Post a Comment