Washington Wizards president Michael Winger believes the franchise will take a noticeable step forward once Trae Young takes over at point guard next season, even as the organization continues to embrace a long-term rebuild.
“With Trae Young on the basketball team and the development of our young players, we are going to be better next season than we are this season,” Winger told Gene Wang of The Washington Post. “How much better remains to be seen, but Trae by himself will put us in more competitive basketball games.”
The executive stressed that he has not set a specific win-total goal for the 2026-27 campaign. Instead, he expects a full season of Young, a four-time All-Star, to lift the team’s baseline level of performance while younger pieces mature.
Patience still the plan
Despite adding a marquee player, Winger said the Wizards are not ready to “floor the accelerator.” He described the Young acquisition as a move “with gas-pedal implications,” yet emphasized that the front office will stay opportunistic rather than chase immediate results.
“We are not pursuing short-term success,” he explained. “We believe that mediocrity is frankly easily achievable, but there’s a very low ceiling of hope.”
Evaluating talent and preserving flexibility
The organization intends to spend the next six to 18 months assessing which young players can become long-term contributors. Maintaining salary-cap flexibility is a parallel priority.
“Whatever we do with that cap space, it might evaporate in the next two weeks,” Winger said. “We just don’t know, but we’ll do something creative.”
Support for Brian Keefe
Winger also voiced confidence in head coach Brian Keefe, citing his impact on player development and locker-room culture despite the team’s current struggles.
For now, Washington views Young as the catalyst for a brighter on-court product, while the broader rebuild proceeds on the franchise’s own timeline.
Source: Hoops Wire
