One of the benefits of the Wizards‘ fast start is showing Bradley Beal that he can be part of a winning team in Washington, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. At 5-1, the Wizards are tied for the best record in the league after beating the Celtics in double overtime Saturday. Beal, who has been the subject of trade speculation for years, sounds as committed as ever to remaining with the franchise.
“I always say I want to win. I want to be productive and I want to win in D.C.,” he said. “We’ve done that, obviously, so far. Granted, we’re only scratching the surface.”
Washington shook up its roster over the offseason, trading Russell Westbrook to the Lakers in exchange for three players and signing Spencer Dinwiddie in free agency. The Wizards have a deeper team than they’ve fielded for several years and could be solidly in the playoff mix all season. With Beal eligible for an extension but also on the brink of free agency, it’s a good time for the franchise to be off to its best start in 16 years.
“It feels amazing, man. I tell these guys all the time, they can be a part of a lot of history over here,” Beal said. “Just from the way we’ve been doing things to the opportunity we have to create and mold our culture. We always talk about what a culture is and I always emphasize at the beginning of the year, it’s what we make it.”
There’s more from Washington:
- One of the connections to the Wizards’ last 5-1 start is new head coach Wes Unseld Jr., who was in his first year as an assistant with that 2005/06 team, Hughes adds. “That’s actually a stat I didn’t know,” Unseld said. “It’s great. There’s hopefully a lot of firsts this year.”
- Unseld had good news about center Daniel Gafford, who suffered a right quad contusion on Wednesday, Hughes adds in a separate story. “He’s much better. Still a bit tender. He got him right in the sweet spot,” Unseld said before Saturday’s game. “He’ll be out tonight, I think it’s more give him another day, day and a half to get his strength back. He got treated this morning and was moving a lot better.”
- There’s still no clarity on Rui Hachimura, who was given a leave of absence for personal reasons in September, according to Quinton Mayo of Substack. Multiple sources tell Mayo that Hachimura hasn’t been in the practice facility at the same time as his teammates since the leave began.
hey Arthur, FYI substack is a blog site and not a specific website. Good article though!
Well you know nothing about the wizards. Thats their insider. Follow him on twitter and you will see his post game breakdowns on twitch. If you really want to comment on something you have no clue about.
He actually reported the Dinwiddie deal before Shams or Woj……….
He’s wrong about just about everything. The report on Hachimura is flat out wrong
Troy Haliburton from The Washington City Paper seems to refute the blogger yet again.
“Rui is progressing daily and comes to the facility regularly. He is working on conditioning and putting in court time – all part of a return to play plan that Wes refers to each time asked.” – A front office source with DIRECT knowledge of Rui’s situation with the Wizards.”
I remember ALL the Dinwiddie Deniers ……
This is for ALL for you. Own It …….
Dinwiddie 2021 Stats — 31 mins per gm
20 pts, 6 ast, 5.5 reb, .42% FG, .41% 3PT,
.95% FT .
Wizards 5 – 1 top East Conference.
I agree with post. The Wizards are a deeper team.
But the Lakers still won the trade by getting Westbrook, right?
For a guy obsessed with the word WINNING. You are with the wrong team. Neither is winning a ring imo. But Lakers will have a better shot at it. You do remember I’ve always liked Westbrook. I said it back when they moved CP3. They should of moved Harden instead.
And my post is for the Dinwiddie Deniers. Has nothing to to do with the trade.
IMO Wizards have a chance now to build around Beal. Dinwiddie is a solid PG that fits team better. With Kispert, Rui, Avdija they have solid youth. Start Kuzma at SF with Harrell. Bertans is a guy they can move to fill out this team. They have a decent bench. Now this is a playoff team. This can be a solid playoff team. But I doubt you win a ring with this team.
Everyone is a contender after 6 games, even the wizards. Beal still hasn’t signed that extension.
I’m sure the Rockets, Thunder, Pistons, Magic think that way too. You should be a motivational speaker. You got the talent.
The pretenders like the wizards the Knicks tease their fanbase the teams you mentioned tanking with honesty.
Yeah ok you know ball. You really going to eat those words. Although by niw you are probably used to it. Knicks were a 4th seed. And got better with Real talent. And still a young team. And you think that’s a tease. You must never get some lol. You definitely don’t get any.
That sounds a little too personal there telling someone they “definitely don’t get any”. Just a piece of advice: when you get older, like some of us here, the youthful obsession with “getting some” becomes far less important in one’s life.