What do the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards have in common? Both have spent the last decade in relative anonymity, racking up losses at an alarming rate. That is, until the Pistons accomplished a remarkable turnaround to go from bottom dwellers to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Washington Wizards’ Trae Young and company could be poised for a similar rise.
The Washington Wizards Are Ready To Make Moves In The Eastern Conference
Despite being the doormat of the NBA for what feels like forever, the Wizards have reason to be optimistic going into the 2026-27 season. A large part of that optimism revolves around a burgeoning young core of talented athletes combined with a group of All-Star-caliber players.
During the winter of 2026, the Wizards made two key trades, acquiring Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks and Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks. Then in July 2026, the Wizards sent Jade Harvey and a couple of draft picks to the Lakers for veteran big man and former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.
The Wizards have also been able to make moves through the NBA draft. That’s not surprising considering their record over the last decade. In 2024, the Wizards selected Alex Sarr with the No. 2 overall pick. And just a month ago, they used the No. 1 overall pick to take BYU’s AJ Dybantsa in what was considered one of the deepest draft classes in decades.
All this to say that the Wizards have done an outstanding job using both the trade route and draft to shore up their talent level with a mix of young athletes and veteran All-Stars.
Washington Wizards’ Trae Young And Company Can Be The New Lob City
The LA Clippers of the 2010s were dubbed “Lob City” and were must-see TV. Chris Paul was busy throwing alley-oops to anyone who could jump, notably Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. What if the Wizards are the new “Lob City”?
Young now has a plethora of talented big men to distribute the ball to. Sarr (7’ 1”), Davis (6’ 11”), Ayton (7’ 0”), and Dybantsa (6’ 9”) could all potentially have All-Star years thanks to Young throwing dimes to them.
Are The Washington Wizards The New Detroit Pistons?
There are similarities between the Pistons and Wizards over the decades. Detroit went from 14-68 in 2023-24 to 44-38 a season later. They then made another giant leap, going 60-22 this past season, good enough for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Pistons’ last winning record was 2015-16. They went 44-38 and lost to the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs.
The Wizards finished the 2025-26 season in last place. In fact, their last winning record was in 2017-18 when they went 44-39, losing to the Raptors in the first round.
Of course, the Pistons’ turnaround began with establishing an identity as a tough-nosed, gritty defensive-minded team. The Wizards should also start at the defensive end. They have height, length, and athleticism in the frontcourt now and can use that to establish their defensive brand of basketball.
Fresh Beginnings All Around
The 2026-27 season marks a new beginning for players like Young and Davis. Both are coming off injuries that significantly limited their playing time last year. Can they remain healthy for the 2026-27 season? That remains to be seen, but their potential appears to be limitless.
Sarr, the second overall pick in 2024, showed flashes of great play last season, but with two All-Stars now on the roster, the burden should be lifted. With little pressure, he could have a breakthrough campaign.
By adding a rising superstar in Dybantsa, they could have the makings of a playoff team in 2027. For inspiration, all they have to do is look at their Eastern Conference counterparts, the Detroit Pistons.
