Why the Washington Wizards finally deserve our attention

For over a decade, the phrase “trust the process” has divided waters within the NBA sphere.

The term, popularized by the mid-2010s Philadelphia 76ers when they blatantly tanked, refers to a roster-construction strategy that emphasizes draft picks and youth while de-emphasizing old, expensive veterans.

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The idea is simple. By loading up a roster with young players and elite prospects, the odds of someone popping increases, as opposed to having a veteran team stuck in the first round of the playoffs every year, as young players aren’t given a chance to develop.

As soon as a star — or multiple stars — emerges, then teams can recalibrate and push for contention.

If that strategy sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because the Oklahoma City Thunder followed the path of the Sixers and won the 2025 title after half a decade of loading up on young players.

(Philadelphia did find an MVP in Joel Embiid and has also drafted multiple All-Stars. While the 76ers’ process never resulted in a championship, part of that was also due to the league intervening, leaving the project unfulfilled.)

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Even with longer lottery odds now in a place, as well as the NBA installing as many safe rails as possible to avoid similar approaches to roster construction, more and more teams have found logic in the approach.

The Utah Jazz have made no secret of their plans to be absolutely awful this coming season to potentially grab a franchise player in the top three of next year’s draft.

And then there are the Washington Wizards, who also would very much like to select high next year to avoid relinquishing their pick to the Knicks if it falls outside the top eight. But that’s not all the Wizards are doing.

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In fact, their process seems more deliberate and more careful, with a…