Ok. We are only 13 games into the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, and there is a ton of basketball still to be played. However, so far the Washington Wizards must be extremely ecstatic from the overall production of the players they acquired in their offseason blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On August 6, 2021, the Wizards received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday. Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Todd for Russell Westbrook, the triple double machine. At first glance Washington management needed to be questioned for making the move and trading one of the best players in the game today. But sometimes, teams win trades even though they are not acquiring the best player, and in this case, the Wizards seem to be better without Westbrook on their roster.
So far after 13 games, Kuzma, Dinwiddie and Harrell are all averaging in the double digits in points per game. Kuzma is averaging 14.5 points per game, Dinwiddie is averaging 17 points per game, and Harrell is second in the Wizards in scoring with 18 points per game. Caldwell-Pope meanwhile is averaging just below 10 points per game at 9.7. Kuzma leads the Wizards with 9.1 rebounds per game, and Dinwiddie leads the Wizards with six assists per game.
But most importantly, the Wizards are winning basketball games. With a record of 10 wins and three losses, they have the best record in the Eastern Conference. A season ago after their first 13 regular season games, the Wizards were at three wins and 10 losses.
The Lakers meanwhile have just been ordinary this season. At eight wins and seven losses, they are in seventh place in the Western Conference. It is clear that the Lakers cannot win with just Westbrook and Anthony Davis. They need LeBron James too. The King has only played six games this year after suffering an abdominal strain.
For FREE!
