The NBA 2026 offseason took another twist as the Los Angeles Lakers traded their starting center, Deandre Ayton, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032.
With this latest move, the question is obvious—did the Wizards just turn themselves into a playoff team in the Eastern Conference?
Solid Frontcourt for the Washington Wizards
Despite the memes surrounding their flaws, the Wizards have quietly built a very solid frontcourt heading into the 2026–27 NBA season with this draft’s No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis, and now, Deandre Ayton.
Sarr, the former second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has been steady as the team’s starting big man. In his first two years, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, Davis, a former No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, has battled injuries over the past few seasons. In the 29 games he played with the Dallas Mavericks since the 2024–25 season, he averaged 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 0.9 steals per contest. He even appeared in two Play-In Tournament games in 2025 before joining the Wizards this year.
Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, started 72 games for the Lakers last season, averaging 12.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block per game.
Sure, Davis is injury-prone, and both Ayton and Sarr have not fully lived up to expectations, but together, they give Washington a frontcourt that can rebound, finish easy put-backs, and disrupt shots—enough to tilt games in their favor.
Three Number One Overall Picks and Trae Young
Further reinforced by Dybantsa, the Wizards now boast three No. 1 picks in the BYU product, Davis, and Ayton.
Complementing them is former Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young. The fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft gave fans in D.C. a glimpse of his impact last season, suiting up for five games and averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting 59% from the field.
Dybantsa has already shown his potential in the collegiate ranks, Davis has proven he can complement any star, Ayton remains a steady contributor in the paint, and Young continues to evolve into one of the league’s elite playmakers.
With that mix of talent, it’s hard not to imagine the Wizards finally returning to winning basketball this season.
Are the Washington Wizards a Playoff Team Already?
With their current roster, it’s fair to say they are at least Play-In bound.
They also have support from other starters and key bench players such as Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly. This group is beginning to shed the “young and developing” label that once defined them.
The Wizards may still make another trade or two before the season begins, but with the way things are shaping up—and with the right chemistry—fans should not be surprised if Washington makes the playoffs in 2027.
