In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 30th team we will review is the Washington Wizards.
The big news in Washington in the offseason was the fact that the franchise traded their star point guard Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers also received three second round draft picks, while the Wizards acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Isaiah Jackson. You could make the argument that this deal between the Wizards and Lakers was the biggest offseason transaction in the entire NBA summer.
Of the four players traded from Los Angeles to Washington, Caldwell-Pope will be a starter at the small forward position. Last year he had 1107 fantasy points*, including 653 points.
The top Wizard to choose in fantasy is without a doubt Bradley Beal. The 28-year-old from St. Louis had 2438 fantasy points in 2020-21. He was second among small forwards, and third among shooting guards, making him the most valuable swingman in all of fantasy basketball. At small forward, Beal was only behind Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who had 2531 fantasy points, and at shooting guard, Beal was only behind Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (2924 fantasy points), and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks (2899 fantasy points). In 2021-22, Beal had a field goal percentage of .485, free throw percentage of .889, 130 three-pointers, 1878 points, 283 rebounds, 265 assists, 69 steals and 187 turnovers.
Where Beal has his biggest impact is in total points. Last year he was fourth in the NBA in scoring with 1878 points. Beal was only behind Curry (2015 points), Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers (1928 points), and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets (1898 points).
Other Wizards could be considered in the later rounds. They include Kuzma, Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrezl Harrell. Due to the fact Kuzma and Harrell are not considered starters, and Dinwiddie only played three games all of last season in Brooklyn, there are significant question marks with these players when it comes to fantasy.
*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).
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