Former All-Star guard Jeff Teague just threw down a wild take: he believes the Washington Wizards could actually lose multi-time All-Star Anthony Davis and still be competitive enough to reach the Playoffs in the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. Ahead of what’s shaping up to be a super challenging season in the Eastern Conference, that’s a statement that should turn some heads.
Teague’s Bold Claim on Wizards’ Depth
Teague, no stranger to playoff contention from his time with the 2015 Atlanta Hawks, broke it all down on his Club 520 Podcast. He wasn’t just spitballing, either, he laid out his reasoning clear as day. Teague pointed directly to Trae Young, arguing that Young “did more with less” during his tenure in Atlanta. The former All-Star thinks the Wizards’ current roster has way more going for it than people realize. He name-dropped Alex Sarr as a “capable player,” shouted out D. Ayton coming off the bench, and highlighted “a bunch of young wings” on the squad. For Teague, the strategy is simple: “You put the ball in Trae’s hands and let him cook as he did in Atlanta. Because Atlanta, this is basically an Atlanta Hawks team,” he explained. That’s a pretty significant comparison for a team that’s trying to make some noise.
Wizards Building a Foundation With or Without AD
The Wizards have definitely been making some promising developments and they’re loading up a talented squad, even if people aren’t fully aware of the depth they’ve got. While Davis and Young are the big-name, multi-time All-Stars, it sounds like Davis isn’t quite as integral to their long-term plans as you might think. Trade rumors are following him everywhere, and Teague’s take reflects that. Davis is undeniably talented and a proven winner, but his injury history could be a major turn-off. The Wizards, meanwhile, clearly believe Trae Young is the foundation for their franchise’s success, and that’s where their focus is. Young and Davis are already excited to have AJ Dybantsa on the roster, who aims to lead the team to the Playoffs in his first NBA season and eventually become an All-Defensive player. With Cameron Boozer having the Rookie of the Year edge over Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the competition for these young guys is already intense.
This upcoming season is shaping up to be incredibly challenging thanks to the sheer abundance of talent in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards’ goal has to be succeeding in the regular season, and they are clearly setting themselves up to be competitive for the first time in a long while. The situation surrounding Davis’ trade availability is something to watch closely, but as Teague pointed out, the Wizards can be dangerous with or without him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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