{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"Bradley Beal makes an All-NBA team","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/BEAL_B_USATSI_14242608.jpg","credit":"© Kyle Terada -- USA Today Sports Images","published":1607347957,"caption":"

A big reason why Bradley Beal didn’t make an All-NBA team despite averaging over 30 points and six assists per game was his team’s success. The Wizards finished with the 10th-best record in the East last year and Beal was punished for it when All-NBA and All-Star voting went down.

The Wizards figure to be a much better team this year, however, and Beal should be able to contribute more on the defensive end of the floor now that he doesn’t have to do practically everything on offense. It’ll be hard to leave Beal off the All-NBA teams if he’s as efficient as last season with a good team to show for it.

"},{"title":"Russell Westbrook averages a triple-double","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Westbrook_R_USATSI_13834425_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1607348381,"caption":"

Westbrook took a year off from averaging a triple-double in Houston after three-straight seasons of doing so in Oklahoma City. Now with a Wizards team that has a need for rebounding and surrounded by more shooting than he’s accustomed to, Westbrook should be able to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis.

Playing next to Bradley Beal should also help boost his assist numbers.

"},{"title":"Deni Avdija makes All-Rookie first team","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/AVDIJA_D_USATSI_12172847.jpg","credit":"USA Today Sports Images","published":1607348596,"caption":"

With a lack of obvious star power at the top of the draft, All-Rookie honors could end up going to the rookies with the biggest impact on good teams rather than the players putting up big numbers on terrible ones.

Avdija fills a need on the wing for the Wizards and could turn into a major contributor depending on how quickly he adjusts to the NBA game and how well he’s developed his jumper. A first-team All-Rookie selection isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

"},{"title":"Davis Bertans hits 250 threes","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/BERTANS_D_USATSI_14125546.jpg","credit":"© Kyle Terada -- USA Today Sports Images","published":1607349679,"caption":"

Bertans was on pace for 300 triples last season before getting injured in late December. He missed a total of 19 games last season and still made 200 threes, joining Bradley Beal and Gilbert Arenas as the only Wizards to hit that many shots from behind the arc in franchise history.

The franchise record is 223, and there’s a good chance Bertans cracks that despite a shortened regular season.

"},{"title":"Wizards finish with a top 10 offense","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Hachimura_Rui_USATSI_14670268.jpg","credit":"USA Today Sports Images","published":1607349830,"caption":"

For a significant portion of the 2019-20 season, the Wizards had one of the best offensive ratings in the NBA to pair with the worst defensive rating in the NBA. Washington eventually fell to the 16th-ranked offense while maintaining their place in the NBA’s basement for defense.

With Russell Westbrook alleviating the offensive burden on Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans back on a five-year deal and Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown Jr. ad Rui Hachimura one year older, this team could certainly boast one of the more efficient offenses in the league. Defense will once again be the major question, though.

"}]}

Five bold Wizards predictions for the 2020-21 NBA season