For over a decade, the phrase “belief the method” has divided waters throughout the NBA sphere.
The time period, popularized by the mid-2010s Philadelphia 76ers after they blatantly tanked, refers to a roster-construction technique that emphasizes draft picks and youth whereas de-emphasizing previous, costly veterans.
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The thought is straightforward. By loading up a roster with younger gamers and elite prospects, the chances of somebody popping will increase, versus having a veteran workforce caught within the first spherical of the playoffs yearly, as younger gamers aren’t given an opportunity to develop.
As quickly as a star — or a number of stars — emerges, then groups can recalibrate and push for competition.
If that technique sounds vaguely acquainted, it is as a result of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder adopted the trail of the Sixers and received the 2025 title after half a decade of loading up on younger gamers.
(Philadelphia did discover an MVP in Joel Embiid and has additionally drafted a number of All-Stars. Whereas the 76ers’ course of by no means resulted in a championship, a part of that was additionally because of the league intervening, leaving the venture unfulfilled.)
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Even with longer lottery odds now in a spot, in addition to the NBA putting in as many protected rails as doable to keep away from comparable approaches to roster building, increasingly groups have discovered logic within the strategy.
The Utah Jazz have made no secret of their plans to be completely terrible this coming season to doubtlessly seize a franchise participant within the high three of subsequent yr’s draft.
Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards dunks towards the Brooklyn Nets within the second half of an NBA Summer season League recreation on the Thomas & Mack Middle on July 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures)
(Ethan Miller through Getty Pictures)
After which there are the Washington Wizards, who additionally would very very like to pick out excessive subsequent yr to keep away from relinquishing their choose to the Knicks if it falls outdoors the highest eight. However that is not all of the Wizards are doing.
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Actually, their course of appears extra deliberate and extra cautious, with a heavier emphasis on expertise growth than merely a uncooked quantity of younger gamers.
Goodbye to the previous, good day to the brand new
Two years in the past, the Wizards knew they have been going nowhere. They’d simply accomplished a three-year stretch of 35, 35 and 34 wins with gamers reminiscent of Russell Westbrook, Kristaps Porziņģis, Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma and, after all, Bradley Beal. Nothing was working, and finally they pulled the plug, even when it in all probability ought to have been pulled a yr or two earlier.
Regardless of a no-trade clause, Beal and the Wizards agreed on a framework that may ship the previous All-Star guard to the Phoenix Suns. Porziņģis was despatched to Boston, the place he received the title in his first season there. Westbrook was despatched out in a bundle that introduced again Kuzma, who was traded to Milwaukee in February of final season. Poole ended his Wizards tenure this offseason, as he was traded to New Orleans.
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All in all, the Wizards cleaned home, regardless of not receiving a plethora of picks in return. The worth of their belongings was, at greatest, modest. Whereas most groups aren’t concerned about buying and selling gamers at their lowest level, Washington determined to swallow its pleasure and simply get the offers finished as a way to transfer ahead.
Throughout that course of, the Wizards saved making their draft choices with an eye fixed on the longer term. They selected Alexandre Sarr second total final summer season, and traded for the 14th choose in Bub Carrington and the twenty fourth choice in Kyshawn George.
The yr earlier than, they made a draft-night commerce to safe the rights to Bilal Coulibaly, and this yr they walked away with Tre Johnson and Will Riley as their most important items.
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The Wizards are within the means of loading up on younger expertise, per the trust-the-process playbook. However whereas doing so, they veered off the trail ever so barely by bringing in a number of veterans who’re each expensive and fairly previous.
The wholesome basis
One may assume veterans will block children from evolving. In some circumstances, that is completely true. Within the case of Washington, nonetheless, not a lot.
Khris Middleton, acquired within the Kuzma commerce, is not a 30-minute participant. He is older, he is been via a number of accidents, and his time to ease again has arrived, no matter how good he technically nonetheless is.
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C.J. McCollum, acquired within the Poole commerce, can be approaching his mid-30s. Whereas he can definitely play 30-plus minutes per recreation, he is not a participant who will dominate the ball and take away alternatives from others.
Each gamers are elite locker-room guys who will take youthful gamers below their wings and supply each consolation and encouragement.
This can be a deliberate selection by the Wizards, and one which makes oodles of sense when seen via the lens of participant growth. By putting in two extremely revered gamers who’re former stars and convey the proper of ego to the workforce, there’s an opportunity that accelerates and improves the event of younger expertise.
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Primarily, the Wizards made a name on establishing a tradition the place accountability and having the proper of management are prioritized.
Will it work?
In fact, there are not any ensures on this enterprise, even when your strategy to a brand new course of is adopted to the tip.
Sarr won’t become the multi-tooled All-Star huge he was billed as. Coulibaly, who is anticipated to overlook the beginning of the season after thumb surgical procedure, may high out as an excellent starter and by no means make an All-Star workforce. Carrington may discover himself as an everlasting combo guard who can by no means discover a everlasting spot. Johnson may turn into the following Jordan Hawkins as an alternative of the brand new Ray Allen.
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A great deal of points and problematic developments may pop up. There are not any ensures the Wizards, regardless of their greatest efforts, will flip this course of into something sustainable.
However a minimum of they’re making an attempt.
No less than they determined to pivot and make an actual effort to go down a unique path. No less than they have not resigned themselves to years of irrelevance just like the Chicago Bulls. No less than they’re making an attempt to sort out their very own story and lay the inspiration for a future with hope.
We’ll see within the coming years how the whole lot will unfold. However make no mistake about it: The Washington Wizards lastly deserve our consideration.
