National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards' Young Core Sparks Newfound Excitement For Franchise

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards have built a young core around John Wall and Bradley Beal, creating a newfound excitement the franchise has lacked for years.

My mother used to work at a community center for the elderly. Occasionally, she would ask me to pick her up from work.

Whenever I opened the door to the front entrance, there was an immediate feeling I got while entering the building. It’s indescribable. It’s almost as if I put on a century-old Christmas sweater.

This past season, the Washington Wizards‘ locker room was like a senior citizen’s home. It was pleasant, sure. If you looked hard enough, you could find hard caramel candies underneath the furniture. But that environment lacked excitement. Washington’s veteran-filled locker room had sucked all of the energy out of the team.

Now, the Wizards are different.

In the summer, Ernie Grunfeld said goodbye to all of the veterans, parting ways with Nene, Drew Gooden, Garrett Temple, Alan Anderson, Jared Dudley and Ramon Sessions.

The veterans and the feeling that came with them are no longer in the nation’s capital.

Washington has a new head coach, a revamped roster and some fresh carpet in the locker room, as Marcin Gortat made sure to point out during media day.

The team might have the same logo, the same general manager and the same arena, but make no mistake about it: this year’s version of the Washington Wizards is unlike any of the previous.

Grunfeld and the rest of Washington’s brass embraced a youth movement in the off-season, replacing the battle-tested players with unproven, developing players.

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The likes of Trey Burke, Andrew Nicholson, Tomas Satoransky and a couple of players that are under non-guaranteed contracts have taken their place.

John Wall and Bradley Beal, the heads of the snake as they call themselves, don’t have any veterans to rely on anymore.

The keys to the franchise have been handed to the backcourt and the additional spare keys are gone.

Wall and Beal, both maxed men, don’t have Paul Pierce‘s shoulder to cry on anymore.

They can’t count on Dudley to start player meetings.

It’s on them.

But, they do have a cast of players that will be right there relying on their talents to prosper in their own right.

Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter both have the potential to become elite small-forwards. Scott Brooks is convinced that the two wing players, if properly developed, are capable of having long and successful careers in D.C.

The old coach, who often acted as the warden, cannot bog down their development. The “development guy” is now in charge of leading the way. The person who actually believes in making players better will put his faith into those who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten chance to play.

And everyone is aware of the change, too.

The firing of Wittman has lifted an undetectable weight off every young players’ chests. Burke, Satoransky and Nicholson weren’t in the locker room last year, but those who were have been quick to cite the noticeable difference, including the veterans.

Washington has suddenly rejuvenated the entire feeling of the franchise. There’s room for improvement and the players recognize the need to develop. Oubre and Satoransky – two players with ridiculous physical tools – will have the opportunity to blossom along side the Eastern Conference’s most talented young backcourt.

That, in itself, is exciting.

Enthusiasm has permeated the Washington Wizards’ locker room. Those who’ve covered or followed the team know how rare that feeling is in Washington. Finally, the Wizards can take the old Christmas sweater off and embrace the short-shorts.

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