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Wizards 2016-17 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
- Updated: August 12, 2016
The Washington Wizards didn’t make major moves this offseason from a roster standpoint, striking out on signing hometown star Kevin Durant like many of the other teams in the NBA, but the Wizards were certainly busy.
For the team’s full schedule, be sure to check out NBA.com.
In particular, the team added solid depth. It brought aboard Trey Burke to back up John Wall at point guard. Andrew Nicholson will provide valuable depth at forward behind Otto Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris. Center Ian Mahinmi is a difference-maker on the defensive end and will give the team another solid center behind Marcin Gortat.
More importantly, the team re-signed shooting guard Bradley Beal to a a five-year, $128 million deal, keeping the dynamic duo of Wall and Beal together for the foreseeable future. That commitment automatically comes with a new pressure to perform, though Beal isn’t worried.
“It’s always going to be pressure,” he told J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic in July. “It’s kind of automatic. It’s a two-way relationship. They put the trust in me to bless me with a max contract. I have to be able to produce on the floor. It’s that simple. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get it done.”
The team also retained Marcus Thornton, meaning the Wizards can go two deep at every position, with Kelly Oubre Jr. looking to take the next step at small forward after a quiet rookie campaign.
Developing players like Oubre while finding the right rotational balance will be the task of new head coach Scott Brooks, who takes over a Wizards team that underachieved and went 41-41 in 2015-16. If the Wizards can stay healthy, the team should be in position to return to the postseason.
But can the Wizards stay healthy?
Beal has had injury issues consistently in his short career. Wall missed the end of last season with knee issues and had procedures in both knees this offseason. The team, in general, battled throughout injuries, namely at the beginning of last season.
A healthy Wizards team that adjusts well to Brooks’ philosophy has the roster in place to reach the postseason. Whether they stay healthy and adjust well to Brooks will be the main storyline of their 2015-16 season.
2015-16 Details
Season Opener: Thursday, Oct. 27 at Atlanta Hawks
Championship Odds: According to Odds Shark, the Wizards have 70-1 title odds.
Full Schedule: NBA.com
Top Matchups …
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