NBA Preview: Wizards finally have reasons to believe

The Wizards lost 196 games over three seasons in pursuit of this moment. They finally have their reward.

AJ Dybantsa arrived as the No. 1 overall pick in June, giving Washington the type of young centerpiece that can change the direction of an entire organization.

The Wizards also have Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and several other recent first-round picks. After three straight seasons with at least 60 losses, this is no longer a roster designed strictly to collect lottery combinations.

Washington is ready to start winning. How quickly that happens is considerably less certain.

What changed

The Wizards completed their two biggest moves before the offseason, acquiring Young from the Hawks in January and Davis in another trade last season.

Then came the prize. Washington won the draft lottery after finishing 17-65 and selected Dybantsa, a dynamic wing who immediately becomes the most important player in the organization.

The Wizards followed by signing Young to a four-year, $212 million contract, making clear that they view the 27-year-old point guard as more than a temporary addition.

Young’s introductory event in Las Vegas included his family, Dybantsa, Davis and most of the roster. The contract raised eyebrows around the league. Washington’s commitment did not appear tentative.

Khris Middleton, Deandre Ayton and Tre Mann were added to provide experience and depth. They join a young group that includes Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Will Riley.

There is talent here.

There may also be too many players who need the ball, too many big men who need minutes and too many timelines being squeezed into one roster.

The biggest question

Will Davis remain healthy and happy?

The 33-year-old has been traded twice in two seasons and appeared in only 71 combined games over that span. He looked healthy and engaged while working out with the Wizards in Las Vegas this summer, according to ESPN.

Washington and Davis agreed to postpone extension talks until after the season begins.

That gives both sides time to evaluate the arrangement. It also creates an obvious pressure point if the Wizards start slowly or Davis decides he would rather pursue a championship elsewhere.

A healthy Davis remains capable of changing games at both ends. Pair him with Sarr, and Washington could have one of the league’s most imposing defensive frontcourts.

Pairing Davis with Sarr and Ayton is another matter. The Wizards now have three prominent big men, plus Tristan Vukcevic, on a roster supposedly built around Dybantsa and Young. Coach Brian Keefe will need to find minutes without compromising spacing or slowing the development of the younger players.

If Davis is healthy and committed, Washington could make a surprising push toward the play-in. If he isn’t, trade speculation will become part of the season quickly.

The Trae Young gamble

Young’s job is changing. He spent most of his Hawks career as Atlanta’s leading scorer and primary creator. The Wizards want him to lean further into the second part, organizing an offense with finishers at nearly every position.

He once led the NBA with 11.6 assists per game. Washington is betting that he can approach that level again while helping Dybantsa, Sarr, George and Johnson develop.

The concern is that the Wizards may have paid superstar money for a player whose offense has declined and whose defense remains a target.

Young can raise Washington’s floor. The four-year commitment will become a problem if he limits its eventual ceiling.

The X-factor

George won’t receive the attention directed toward Dybantsa, Young or Davis, but he may be the player who makes the pieces fit.

The former No. 24 pick averaged 14.8 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 38 percent from behind the arc last season. His size, versatility and willingness to operate without dominating the ball should make him valuable alongside Washington’s more celebrated players.

Every star-heavy roster needs someone willing to connect everything. George may already be that player for the Wizards.

The outlook

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index ranks Washington 22nd entering the season. That suggests improvement, but not yet contention.

Fair enough. Dybantsa gives the Wizards a real foundation. Young gives them an established offensive engine. Davis gives them star power, assuming his body and patience cooperate.

This season should be about learning how those pieces work together without allowing the veterans to overshadow the prospects who matter most.

After years of losing without much to show for it, Washington finally has hope. The danger now is becoming so eager to escape the rebuild that the Wizards forget who made it worthwhile.