MMBets: The Wizards Attempt Good Basketball

The Washington Wizards have spent the last few seasons doing exactly what a rebuilding team should do. They lost a ton of games, added young players, took swings in the draft, and waited for something that could actually change the franchise’s direction.

That finally happened.

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Washington landed the No. 1 pick and used it on AJ Dybantsa, who I think has a chance to make the same kind of immediate impact Cooper Flagg had in Dallas last year. They also enter this season with Trae Young and Anthony Davis available after acquiring both last season, while Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Will Riley give them one of the more interesting collections of young talent in the East. NBA.com specifically pointed to Washington’s mix of established veterans and young players as the reason this should finally be the year the win total starts moving upward.

Washington Wizards: Over/Under 35.5 wins

Over: -105
Under: -120
To win NBA Championship: +15000
To win Eastern Conference: +6500
To win Southeast Division: +1700

Last season: 17-65, 15th in the East

Key additions: AJ Dybantsa, Deandre Ayton, Tre Mann, Khris Middleton, Felix Okpara
Key losses: Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore

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The case for the over

I love a lot about this Wizards team.

For the first time in years, the roster actually feels like it is starting to fit together instead of simply being a collection of young players waiting for the next draft.

Dybantsa is obviously the biggest reason why. Washington took him first overall after his one season at BYU, and I think he is ready to help immediately. He is 6-foot-9, can create his own shot, attack the rim, defend across positions, and play with or without the ball. He scored 27 points in his Summer League debut and followed that with 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks two games later before Washington shut him down.

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I do not think this is a normal rookie who needs two or three years before he affects winning. I think he is that good.

The fit with Trae Young is also really interesting. Trae gives Washington something every…

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Publish date : 2026-10-09 09:00:00

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