What Competing Looks Like in 2026 by Setting Realistic Playback Goals

For the first time in years, the Washington Wizards aren’t chasing ping pong balls—they’re chasing progress. After two seasons of rebuilding through the draft, prioritizing player development, and establishing a new team culture, the 2026 campaign marks a shift in their focus. This season isn’t about tanking because now it’s about showing what they learned from last season and how they grew together from it. After winning just 33 games over the past two years, Washington is done with bottoming out. With a talented and feisty young core led by 2025 first-rounder Tre Johnson, and the rest of their young core in Alex Sarr, and Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards now enter the next phase of a proper rebuild: turning promise into production. What does success look like for a team that’s still young, yet too talented to keep losing?

The 2025 season was filled with growing pains. While players like Coulibaly and Sarr showed flashes before the All-Star break, the team managed only nine wins in their first fifty-four games. It was post-break when something started to click. The Wizards went six-and-six over their next 12 games, hinting at a more cohesive identity. Sarr found his rhythm, Kyshawn George earned more minutes following the Kyle Kuzma trade, and Bub Carrington began to show real signs of growth. 

What can we expect in 2026? The Wizards may not be ready to compete for the playoffs, but with a foundation in place, the additions of C.J. McCollum and Khris Middleton should provide both guidance and production. If development continues on track, a 25 to 30-win season feels realistic. Reasonably, the goal should also be within the top 20 in defensive rating as well as within the top 25 in offensive rating. This would be an improvement from last season, where they ranked last in offensive rating and 27th in defensive rating. 

As teams like the Thunder, Pacers, and even the Pistons have shown, building through the draft requires patience, but with time and consistency, it pays off. Even the Hornets, a team in a similar spot, are positioning themselves for long-term success by sticking with their young core and giving them room to grow. The Wizards need to follow this same trajectory and maintain a growth mindset. Believing in their young core and trusting that they’ll reach their potential with time. Fans can sleep well at night knowing that the future is bright in Washington.