NBA Preview: Rookie Bradley Beal best hope for Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards

Placing last season: 20-46 (14^th in Eastern Conference)

Key moves: The Wizards kicked off the offseason by trading away Rashard Lewis to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, who immediately make the team better, but apart from that only first round draft pick Bradley Beal is a real addition to the club.

Challenges ahead: Several years of upper draft selections have not benefitted the Wizards in the way that they have other clubs have. John Wall, first pick two years ago, must push forward, having taken a step back in his second season.

It’s hard to see where the scoring is going to be coming from for the Wizards if Wall is planning on playing facilitator.

Reason to be positive: Draft pick Beal has a lot to offer and if they can get a solid rookie season out of him it will at least give Wizards fans hope of a brighter future in Washington.

Signing Okafor and Ariza gives the Wizards cap room and makes them better but this is still a team that will want to grow through the draft and another losing season might not be the worst thing in the world.

Prediction: 27-55 (14^th in Eastern Conference)

image: © Keith Allison

Jason Torquato

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Jason Torquato has always been passionate about sport and has played golf and tennis from a young age. In recent years, he has mostly enjoyed sport from his sofa, which has allowed him to accumulate knowledge and good understanding of numerous disciplines, with a special focus on American sports. Jason can’t fall asleep or wake up without listening to a sport podcast.