The Washington Wizards lose steam in the fight for Cooper Flagg

The Washington Wizards are no longer at the bottom of the league. Following Saturday night's impressive victory over the Denver Nuggets, they have surpassed the Utah Jazz for the worst record in the NBA. With a month remaining in the season, they have turned their season around, but now they risk harming their chances of getting into the lottery. Why has the tank dissolved? And more importantly, is this recent stretch of good games a sign of what's to come in Washington next season and beyond?

The tank race for Cooper Flagg is on. The Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans are officially out of the play-in contention. While the Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets are not yet eliminated, at this point in the season, they would need a lot of things to go right. The other three teams have embraced the tank, but the Wizards are not heading into the offseason without a strong push. It is worth noting that the three teams with the worst records will have equal odds of securing the top spot in the overall draft order. The Jazz have not won any games in March, and the Pelicans have only won two games, but the Wizards are on track to have their best month of the season. The Wizards' solid play recently may be due to several reasons.

March was supposed to be a decent month for the Wizards if they wanted it to be. Throughout the month, they have shown they can beat lower-level competition and compete in higher-level games. Going 1-1 against the Detroit Pistons and defeating the Nuggets on Saturday night amidst a seven-game road trip is an impressive mark. The team hasn't just been playing well; at times, they have looked like a team vying for a playoff spot. Overall, the Wizards are 5-3 in March, a significant improvement from their season record of 15-51. The schedule is not too tough, as they will only play three more games in March against teams with over a 50% win rate. With nine games in March and five at home this month, the tank is at risk of being overturned.

The young players have been playing as if they're ready to make a serious leap next season. Bub Carrington has been playing solidly but hasn't made a serious leap like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. Carrington has shown improvement in his playmaking role. His assists numbers in March are above what they have been, with 5.1 in eight games, a good improvement over his season average of 4.1.

Sarr has been proving to everyone that he could be the next elite big man for the Wizards. Sarr has had a great month so far. Averaging 14.9 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3 assists is a great sign heading into the final month of games. On Saturday night, Sarr set a career-high with 34 points against the Nuggets.

Recently, George broke the franchise record for threes made by a rookie. George's play has shown that over time, he could be considered last year's draft steal. He has averaged 12.4 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists this month. Defensively, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks are two great numbers for any player.

While his three-point shooting percentages are not very good, it is certainly an area they can work on heading into the offseason. Low shooting percentages are also natural for most rookies. Looking ahead, the next season should see considerable improvements in the shooting category.

The Contribution of Veterans

When a team is looking to tank, veterans are usually the least used, sitting on the bench and serving as mentors to the younger players, who get plenty of playing time. However, the Wizards have taken a different approach by trading two veterans at the deadline.

Marcus Smart has not had the best playing days since his time in Boston. At the start of the season, Smart was on pace to have one of the worst shooting seasons of his career. Now, in Washington, his percentages stand at 46.6% from the field and 39.4% from three, the best of his career. He is playing the least amount of time since entering the league, with just under 20 minutes per game. Smart, when on the court, is having a strong offensive impact compared to his younger self, who was primarily known for defense.

Khris Middleton has an intriguing situation for the remainder of the season. He is currently eligible for the NBA's Player Participation Policy. Being an All-Star in 2021-22, he is in his last year of eligibility for this rule. Therefore, Middleton must play if he is healthy. Otherwise, the team would be subject to a $100,000 fine.

The Jazz were recently fined for sitting Lauri Markkanen. Middleton is a piece contributing to the team's turnaround this season. While his averages are not incredible, he has been solid, averaging 12 points with 4.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds along with 1.5 steals per game with the Wizards. Despite being in a support role offensively, he has been forced to be on the court, indirectly helping them secure some of these recent wins. Surrounding the Wizards' young players with quality veterans will greatly benefit their development.

With the recent success, there is a final price to pay. Flagg's arrival in Washington could be in jeopardy; however, the Wizards are showing they could do well without him. Furthermore, with flattened lottery odds, the Wizards still have a solid chance to land Flagg or another top-three pick. Between the draft and free agency, the Wizards could make a playoff push next season as long as the young players continue to play well and the veterans contribute, the momentum will grow. Ultimately, the future looks bright in Washington.

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