Under first-year manager Blake Butera, the Nationals are playing polished, professional baseball, and the modern approach of the new regime appears to already be paying dividends. The trio of wins over the Brewers, which improved the Nationals’ record to 7-8 on the season, marked Washington’s second series win already over a 2025 National League playoff team.

The Nationals are still a ways from being legitimate contenders, but for the first time in years, there’s real cause for optimism in the nation’s capital. With the first 15 games in the books, here are three pleasant surprises that have fueled that optimism, and a pair of disappointing developments that need to be addressed.

Pleasant surprise: The lineup is hitting for power

2025 marked the fourth consecutive year that the Nationals finished 23^rd or worse in baseball in team slugging percentage (.389). Led by former hitting coach Darnell Cole’s antiquated philosophies, Washington batters had long been allergic to launch angle. While the rest of the league embraced the importance of slugging, the Nats were stuck skulling hard grounders and hoping to string enough base hits together to generate offense.

Though the sample size this season is minuscule, that all has changed dramatically under the new regime. The Nats have fully embraced technology and analytics, and new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte has the lineup firing on all cylinders through five series.

Borgschulte came to Washington from Minnesota, where he served as the Twins’ hitting coach last season. Though the production of his 2025 squad was mundane across the board, he’s a part of the Nationals’ new way of thinking, and the organizational changes have helped produce a .427 team slugging percentage, good for fourth-best in the MLB thus far.

Behind James Wood (5 HR) and CJ Abrams (4 HR), the Nats have belted 17 home runs (third-most in the National League) and slapped 27 doubles (tied for fifth in the NL). As a whole, Washington has scored the second-most runs in baseball (89), with a young lineup that continues to keep the Nats competitive, even as the pitching staff has hit its fair share of speed bumps.

Disappointment: The bullpen

Speaking of speed bumps, the Nats’ bullpen has been one giant mess to begin the season.

Washington’s pen has a 5.78 ERA through 15 games (third worst in the MLB), and that number is somehow a stark improvement from where it was heading into the Milwaukee series.

In just 15 games, the Nationals’ relievers have already relinquished late-inning leads six times. And even the “clean” outings — like Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Brewers in which closer Clayton Beeter allowed a lead-off home run in the bottom of the ninth and then loaded the bases before tightrope-walking his way to a nail-biting save — have been far from stress-free.

No one expected the Nats to have a dominant bullpen this season, and there’s likely not a single reliever in the current pen who will still be around by the time Washington returns to contender status. But the current output from the ragtag group of fliers and journeymen has been close to the worst-case scenario. The last thing that the new President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, wanted when he put together this bullpen was for it to be actively sabotaging the confidence of the young lineup by turning should-be wins into demoralizing losses.

The first two games against the Brewers, in which Washington’s relievers allowed just one run in 7.2 innings, provided a glimmer of hope. But the pen needs to be better.

Pleasant surprise: Foster Griffin

A 2014 first-round pick by the Royals, Foster Griffin reinvented himself in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he was a 2025 All-Star with a 2.75 ERA for the Yomiuri Giants.

The Nats took a chance on the 30-year-old lefty, bringing him back to the United States on a one-year, $5.5 million deal, and the early results are incredibly promising. Griffin has a staff-best 1.76 ERA in a team-high 15.1 innings of work through three starts, and he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Brewers on Saturday evening.

While his stuff doesn’t blow anyone away, Griffin keeps batters on their toes with a seven-pitch arsenal, and he’s succeeded against three incredibly tough lineups so far. In outings against the Phillies, Dodgers, and Brewers, Griffin has yet to allow more than two earned runs while getting through the fifth inning each time he’s taken the hill.

Pleasant surprise: CJ Abrams

CJ Abrams has been known to get off to hot starts, and he’s delivering another monster April in 2026.

The 2024 All-Star has a .969 OPS in 14 games and is second on the team in home runs with four. Butera has moved Abrams down in the lineup this season after the shortstop spent most of the past few years at the top of the order, and it seems that was just what he needed. With more opportunities to drive in runs, Abrams already has 16 RBI (tied for third-most in the MLB) as Washington’s usual five-hole hitter.

Abrams reportedly arrived at Spring Training early to test out Washington’s new Trajekt pitching machine, which simulates MLB pitchers, and the extra work seems to be paying off. The question now is whether Abrams is proving himself to the new regime or simply boosting his trade value. Either way, Abrams, who has already accumulated 0.8 WAR, is playing like an All-Star once again.

Disappointment: Miles Mikolas

The Nationals did next to nothing in free agency this offseason, but they did bring on one semi-big name in Miles Mikolas, signing the 37-year-old vet to a one-year, $2.25 million deal.

Though Mikolas hadn’t posted an ERA below 4.78 since 2022, Washington expected him to be an innings-eater in the vein of Trevor Williams and an experienced leader in the clubhouse.

Instead, Mikolas has been a complete liability. With a 12.41 ERA, he’s only managed to work past the fourth inning in one of his three starts, putting unneeded stress on an already taxed bullpen.

It’s hard to imagine that Mikolas will get too many more chances to work things out. There’s not much use in having an ineffective arm, especially one who isn’t a part of the organization’s future, taking the mound every fifth day when there are younger options in the farm system who could use big-league experience.

On Wednesday afternoon, in trading for oft-injured yet bona fide superstar Anthony Davis, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins announced to the NBA that Washington’s darkest days are finally in the rearview mirror.

Though the move is generating mixed reviews, here are three reasons why Wizards fans should be ecstatic about Washington’s Trade Deadline blockbuster:

This year’s tank remains intact

When reports of the Davis trade first broke, the news that Washington had shipped ‘two first-round picks’ to the Dallas Mavericks sent shivers down the spine of every Wizards fan. The 2026 draft class — chock-full of franchise-changing talent and highlighted by Darryn Peterson — is one of the best in recent memory, and Washington (assuming they don’t drop out of the top eight, which would send their selection to the New York Knicks) is set to have a juicy pick near the top of the board.

Losing this year’s pick would’ve been a colossal mistake. But Washington didn’t trade its 2026 first-rounder. In fact, Dawkins didn’t give up a single one of the Wizards’ own picks, instead putting together a package centered around Oklahoma City’s 2026 first (currently 30^th overall), Golden State’s top-20 protected 2030 first, and three second-rounders courtesy of Phoenix, Chicago, and Houston.

The package for Davis, which also includes Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III, doesn’t involve any of Washington’s top young talent or any of its most valuable draft capital. The sheer number of picks and players involved might turn heads, but in reality, Dawkins gave up next to nothing to acquire a 10x All-Star.

Further helping this year’s tank, Davis, like Trae Young (whom the Wizards acquired in another stunning move a month ago), is currently dealing with an injury, and it was announced Friday that the team would be shutting down their new big man for the rest of the season. So, by shipping away key contributors in Middleton, Bagley, and Johnson (who was quietly averaging 15.5 points over his last two games), Washington betters its chances at a top pick, all while stockpiling a future Hall-of-Fame player for next season.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward gamble

Critics will point to Davis’s robust injury history as a reason to be pessimistic about the move, and it is true that keeping the 32-year-old on the court will be a real challenge. Over the past seven seasons, Davis has played more than 60 games just twice.

Here’s a breakdown of the lengthy list of ailments that have sidelined Davis since he helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship:

• Missed 36 games in 2020-21 due to a calf strain and Achilles tendonitis

• Missed 42 games in 2021-22 due to an MCL strain and a sprained ankle

• Missed 26 games in 2022-23 due to a foot injury

• Missed 31 games in 2024-25 due to a detached retina and an adductor strain

• Has missed over half this season with a calf strain, groin injury, and his current ligament damage in his hand

Yet, Davis is still a valuable addition at the bargain price that Dawkins paid at the Trade Deadline. The Wizards have no shortage of picks at their disposal, thanks to a Magnus Carlsen-like string of moves that turned Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma into a complete overhaul of Washington’s resources, and a young core that is clearly ready to start contending sooner rather than later.

Even if Davis plays less than half of his games in Washington, his veteran presence and mentorship of Alex Sarr will be invaluable. But if the Wizards get lucky and Davis plays to 80% of his 2020 form, Washington will have an All-Star-level, shot-blocking, 20-point-per-game scorer to plug in alongside its young nucleus.

Davis is the most accomplished basketball player in Washington since Michael Jordan

Whether or not the risk pays off, Davis brings a resume to the franchise the likes of which Wizards fans haven’t seen since Michael Jordan roamed the Nation’s Capital from 2001 to 2003.

A 6-foot-10, 10x All-Star from Chicago, Illinois, Davis emerged as the No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2011 while playing at Perspectives Charter School. His generational combination of shot-blocking and scoring acumen quickly translated to the college game, where he led Kentucky to the 2012 National Championship while earning Naismith College Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

His unparalleled one-and-done season with the Wildcats led to his No. 1 overall selection by the then New Orleans Hornets in the 2012 NBA draft, and Davis has since put together a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume in 13 professional seasons. An NBA champion, 4x All-NBA First Team selection, and 3x All-Defensive First Team selection, Davis has averaged at least 20 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in every season since 2013-14.

Having a winner like Davis in the building, injuries aside, legitimizes the contender that Dawkins and company are trying to build in Washington. And it seems Davis might be on the verge of buying into the vision.

“At this point in my career, I want to compete for a championship,” Davis told The Athletic on Friday. “Whether that’s here or elsewhere, I have no idea. It’s been phenomenal, everything they’re saying. Everything they’re showing me is nothing short of phenomenal. Now it’s about having an actual conversation about the team.”

In a perfect world, Davis will roam the paint alongside Alex Sarr to create the most dangerous defensive frontcourt in the league, operate in a potentially lethal two-man game with Trae Young, and use his gravity to give sharpshooters Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George room to operate. Maybe nagging ailments continue to keep Davis off the court. Maybe the former top pick’s best days are long behind him. But at the price Dawkins paid, Davis isn’t the be-all and end-all of the Wizards’ rebuild. The young core of Sarr, George, Johnson, Carrington, and Coulibaly is still at the center of Washington’s future; Davis is just a sign that it’s time for expectations to level up.

When the news first broke, I was confused and a little angry. I’ve seen enough Hawks basketball over the past few years to know that Trae Young can often be a very unappetizing watch, and it wasn’t immediately apparent how he fits into a Wizards roster that should still be fully in rebuilding mode.

But after some time to digest the move, I can see the blurry outline of General Manager Will Dawkins’s vision. Washington needs to thread a pretty small needle, but if they can, Young could be the first domino to fall, setting in motion an expedited end to the tank and a path to contending sooner rather than later.

My most pressing concern with the trade was that Young, despite his many flaws, is a good enough player to will the Wizards out of the league cellar. Young’s Hawks have lived in the play-in contention zone on a yearly basis, and that purgatory of mediocrity is the last place Washington needs to be.

This is especially true in a year when the Wizards’ first-round pick is only top-eight protected. If Washington were to win enough games to drop out of the top eight of the lottery, their pick would be sent to the Knicks. Losing their pick thanks to Trae Young would be a complete and utter disaster, and it would be a borderline fireable offense for Will Dawkins, given how strong this year’s draft class projects to be.

Fortunately, reports are that Young might not actually suit up much, or at all, in Washington this year, as he’s nursing MCL and quad injuries that have limited him to just 10 games played so far this season. And if that becomes reality, I’m much more on board with the move.

The Wizards have sneakily won 7 of their last 13 games, and CJ McCollum (despite his dreadful start to the season) has been a major part of their recent success. The vet, who Washington acquired in exchange for Jordan Poole this past offseason, has averaged 19.3 points per game over his last 10 while shooting 48.3% from the field and 38.1% from three. Flipping him for Young — assuming the latter stays off the court for a while — is actually a pro-tank move, and it allows rookies Tre Johnson and Will Riley to take on larger roles.

Looking further down the road, Young is also beneficial due to his bloated contract. He has $95 million left on his current deal, including a $49 million player option for next season. Young’s value on the open market isn’t what it once was, so he’s almost certain to opt in for next season.

With his $49 million on the payroll heading into 2026-27, Washington won’t have to bring on more of the Khris Middletons and CJ McCollums of the world just to reach the salary floor. The young core of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, and the upcoming first-round pick can fully take the reins. And without the looming threat of losing a protected first-round pick, the Wizards won’t have to worry about manipulating their rotations to ensure losses next season. Winning can finally become the goal again.

And that’s where Trae Young really comes into play. The fifth overall pick in 2018, Young is the first bona fide star in Washington since Bradley Beal was traded away. A four-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection in 2022, Young has his flaws, but he averaged over 24 points per game in six-straight seasons from 2019 to 2025 and was the NBA’s assists leader last season.

My concerns with his style of play remain. Young is one of the most ball-dominant guards in The Association, and he consistently ranks among the league leaders in usage percentage. The last thing I want to see is creative young playmakers like Kyshawn George reduced to ball-watching spot-up shooters while Young pounds away at the rock and launches step-back threes.

Young’s potential to unlock Alex Sarr, however, is mouth-watering. Sarr has taken a gigantic leap forward in year two, averaging 17.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the floor and swatting over 2 shots per game on defense. With Young — who once made Clint Capela look like a stud — running the pick and roll, it’s not hard to imagine Sarr elevating his game to All-Star status.

The biggest ‘if’ with Young then becomes what he wants out of his time in Washington. The Wizards, rather bizarrely, were his ‘preferred destination’ (though whom he preferred the Wizards over, given the overall lack of interested trade partners, remains unknown). But why? Does Young see Washington as a playground where he can average 30-plus points per game without the stress of winning? Or is he looking to truly reinvent his image, to become a leader for the young guns, and to be the veteran presence that oversees the Wizards’ first real attempt at the playoffs in years?

Young’s reputation has always been shaky. His consistent lack of defensive effort sticks out like a sore thumb, and he’s never been known as a team-first guy. But maybe a change of scenery is just what he needs to unlock a new side of himself. After all, the talent is undeniable. This is still the same player who dragged Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Danilo Gallinari to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

Only time will tell how impactful Young is in Washington. But, at the very least, his arrival signals a new era for the Wizards and a more definitive timeline for reaching the light at the end of the dark tunnel that has been this rebuild.

Washington fans have already been in mock draft mode for months. But with the regular season finally in the rearview mirror, draft season is officially underway for the franchises that missed the playoffs.

One potential fit for the Commanders at No. 7 that’s gaining traction online is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Love satisfies a position of need for Washington, and he fits Dan Quinn’s desire to pound the rock — a philosophy that was evidently at the core of his disconnect with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who mutually agreed to part ways with the team on Tuesday.

A Heisman Trophy finalist who dominated college football for the second-straight season, Love would be one of the flashier names that Washington could go with in the first round. Jersey sales would shoot through the roof, Jayden Daniels and Jeremiyah Love edits would flood TikTok, and the selection would be just the wave of excitement needed to rejuvenate a dejected fanbase.

But using the seventh-overall pick on Love would reek of the Dan Snyder/Bruce Allen days that haunt Washington’s not-so-distant past — an era when hype and excitement dominated its draft decisions. Selecting Love at the 1.07 would not be a sound football move, and I can’t imagine the new regime (no matter how much confidence we’ve lost in Adam Peters and company over the past six months) stooping to that level.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Love is an electrifying talent who would undoubtedly succeed next to Daniels. The 20-year-old from St. Louis finished his 2025 campaign with 199 carries for 1,372 rush yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three scores through the air.

There’s a reason Love was seated beside Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, and Julian Sayin in New York City at the Heisman ceremony a few weeks ago. He possesses a rare combination of power and explosiveness that necessitates early first-round rumors, and some analysts have him graded as the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

But drafting a running back at the top of the first round is almost always a myopic decision, and the Commanders’ roster isn’t in nearly a good enough place to be the exception.

There have been three running backs selected in the top ten of the draft since 2018: Ashton Jeanty by the Raiders last year, Bijan Robinson by the Falcons in 2023, and Saquon Barkley by the Giants in 2018. None have been busts, Barkley and Robinson are two of the most dominant players in the league (and Jeanty might soon join that tier), and yet there’s an easy case to be made that all three were the wrong picks for their franchises at the time.

After selecting Barkley fourth-overall in 2018, New York increased its win total from three to a whopping five games in 2019 —and they’re the biggest winners of the bunch. Atlanta matched its seven-win 2022 with a seven-win 2023 after adding Robinson with the eighth-overall pick. And Las Vegas finished the season with a league-worst 3-14 record after using the 1.06 on Jeanty last April.

In the 11 cumulative seasons following the selections of Barkley, Robinson, and Jeanty, the Giants, Falcons, and Raiders have combined to make the playoffs just once. Teams that draft highly usually do so because their rosters are rife with holes. And as the free-agent market has shown over the past half-decade, running back is far from the most important position when rebuilding a team.

This isn’t to say that Washington doesn’t need to address the running back position in the coming months. But thanks to some big ‘win-now’ swings on veterans like Laremy Tunsil last offseason, the Commanders have just five picks in this year’s draft (tied for the fewest in the league). Unless they trade back to acquire more picks, using the 1.07 — or any of their draft capital, for that matter — on an RB should not be the plan.

Personally, I’d love to see Bill Croskey-Merritt given the opportunity to be a major part of Washington’s backfield next season. The seventh-rounder out of Arizona finished his turbulent rookie season with 805 yards on 175 carries (4.6 YPC) and eight touchdowns.

While Bill struggled at times in pass protection and fell into a bit of a midseason rut, he managed to finish with the second-best YPC among qualified rookie running backs and scored the second-most touchdowns despite working with the fifth-most carries.

A home run hitter who proved that his game translates to the NFL despite falling to the last round of the draft, Bill also fits the ‘younger and faster’ narrative that Quinn and Peters hammered home to the media earlier this week. He registered the 15^th fastest speed of any player this season, hitting 21.62 MPH on his 72-yard Christmas Day touchdown run against Dallas.

Externally, Peters has a layup opportunity with free-agent Rachaad White. While there are bigger names in the free agent pool (Breece Hall), White is openly campaigning to land in Washington and would be the perfect, affordable complement to Croskey-Merritt.

White, who recently changed his Twitter profile picture to him and his former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels, is a 26-year-old unrestricted free agent who spent the past four seasons in Tampa Bay.

An excellent receiving back and pass blocker, White had 572 rushing yards and 218 receiving yards this season while operating behind starter Bucky Irving. As a veteran presence who still has juice left in the tank, White would perfectly fill the Austin Ekeler role in the Commanders’ offense while saving cap space for some much-needed defensive additions.

It was the fourth time in Washington’s past five games that its opponent has topped 135 points, as the Wizards fell to an NBA-worst 1-11 on the season. It’s been a miserable first month of action for Washington, which is yet again creeping toward the franchise record of 16-straight losses (a mark that has been tied on three separate occasions by the Wizards over the past two years).

But this isn’t at all surprising. In fact, it hardly counts as news — losses were expected this season. Being a contender in 2025 was never the plan. What wasn’t expected, and what was certainly not part of the plan, was former Wizard Deni Avdija turning into a bona fide All-Star candidate in Portland.

While the young ’Zards were getting thrashed in Houston on Wednesday night, Avdija was working on his third 30+ point performance of November, leading the Trail Blazers to a 125-117 win in New Orleans. The 6-foot-8 Israeli point forward would finish with an efficient 33 points (12-18 FG, 4-8 3PT) along with a steal and a pair of assists in 35 minutes of action against the Pelicans, raising his season averages to 26.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

Avdija’s performance continued what has been an incredible breakout season thus far, and it served as yet another gut punch for a beaten-down Wizards fanbase. The 24-year-old from Beit Zara was selected by Washington with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft but was shipped off to the Trail Blazers by Wizards GM Will Dawkins on draft day in June of 2024.

In return, the Wizards received veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon along with Portland’s 2024 first-round pick (which Washington used to select Bub Carrington), its 2029 first-round pick, and its second-round picks in 2028 and 2030. What seemed like a solid haul at the time has turned into a nightmare as Avdija has come into his own as a prospect.

With injuries clearing the way for Deni to take on a larger role toward the end of last season, signs of the breakout began to show as he averaged over 28 points per game in Portland’s final eight contests. And after a solid offseason in which he averaged 24.0 points per game while leading Team Israel to a Round of 16 appearance in FIBA EuroBasket 2025, Avdija’s momentum and confidence have carried over.

This season, the fifth-year pro sits inside the top 15 in the league in scoring and ranks in the top two among Western Conference small forwards in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. Often operating as Portland’s primary ballhandler, Avdija is flashing the elite combination of size and playmaking ability that made him such a fascinating prospect in 2020.

Just as frustrating as Avdija’s on-court breakout is his incredibly team-friendly contract (which he originally signed with Washington). Deni is in year two of a front-loaded four-year, $55 million deal, meaning Portland will owe their budding superstar just $24 million over the next two years (roughly 7% of the salary cap per season). If Avdija were performing as just a league-average starter, he would still be a huge bargain. For a potential All-Star, his deal is a frontrunner for the best contract in the league from a team’s perspective.

And at only 24 years old, Avdija would have fit right into Washington’s desired timeline. His playmaking on offense is exactly what the Wizards are missing. And his ability as a two-way player with length and defensive smarts is just what Dawkins and company have sought out during the rebuild by investing in players like Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. Trading Avdija strangely went against the core principles that Dawkins has established in Washington.

Compounding the issue is the surprising regression of Bub Carrington, the centerpiece of Washington’s return for Deni. After averaging 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 40.1% from the floor in his promising rookie campaign, Carrington has taken a noticeable step back in year two. While his rebounding and playmaking numbers have plateaued, Bub is down to just 6.5 points per game on 31.5% shooting in his sophomore season.

I’m not ready to give up on Carrington, but the hope was that he could solidify his role as the Wizards’ point guard of the future. Instead, point guard is quickly becoming Washington’s most pressing position of need as we rapidly head back into mock draft season. As for the rest of the haul, Brogdon (who was never supposed to be a long-term solution) has since retired, and the final three draft picks are still multiple years down the road.

A roster overhaul as drastic as Washington’s could never be seamless. Mistakes are unavoidable. But shipping away a then-23-year-old on a team-friendly contract is a head-scratcher. Washington could (and, honestly, might) lose every game for the rest of the season, but Avdija’s ascension into stardom would still be the more crippling punch in the gut for success-starved Wizards fans.

To get you set for another bone-chilling prime-time showdown between Dan Quinn’s Commanders and one of the NFL’s best squads, here are five ghosts threatening to reign terror on Washington’s chances of a win this Sunday.

5. Terry McLaurin’s quad

After re-aggravating his quad injury on a fantastic diving catch late in the third quarter of Monday’s loss in Kansas City, Scary Terry was ruled out earlier this week for Sunday’s matchup with Seattle. It’ll be the fifth game McLaurin has missed this season after playing in all but three games through the first six years of his NFL career.

Monday night showed just how critical McLaurin is for the Commanders’ offense, as the veteran wideout finished with three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, including a pair of jaw-dropping circus catches that kept Washington in the fight.

The Commanders have had their top three wideouts together for just two games this season, and without McLaurin, Kliff Kingsbury’s offense lacks a true downfield threat and a go-to target when in need of a chain-moving play.

In his absence, the Commanders need to get more creative than they’ve been of late, and Kingsbury needs to find as many ways as possible to get the ball into Deebo Samuel’s hands. This is a Seattle secondary that can be exploited — the Seahawks have allowed over 230 opposing passing yards per game, 10th-most in the NFL — but a heavy dose of Chris Moore and Jaylin Lane just isn’t going to cut it.

4. Marshon Lattimore

The Commanders’ defense responded to the week-seven massacre in Dallas by coming out with renewed energy in the first half on Monday night in Kansas City, forcing two turnovers and holding the Chiefs to just seven points through the first 30 minutes of action.

Then, Washington got Mahomes’d in the second half. Kansas City marched right down the field on each of its first three possessions after the break, scoring a trio of touchdowns to take an insurmountable 28-7 lead.

Ironically, Marshon Lattimore, usually the main ghoul of Washington’s inept defense, had his best game of the season on Monday. His first-quarter interception of Mahomes was reminiscent of the Lattimore that Commanders fans thought they were getting when Adam Peters sent three picks to the Saints for him at last year’s trade deadline. And he also finished the game without allowing a reception while posting an impressive overall PFF grade of 89.0.

Lattimore will face an all-new monster on Sunday night, however, in the form of Seattle’s potent offense. Sam Darnold — who apparently no longer sees ghosts — has continued his career renaissance in the Emerald City this season, steering the Seahawks’ offense to 27.6 points per game (sixth-best in the league). And it’s Seattle’s aerial attack that has been the catalyst — the Seahawks are passing for over 244 yards per game (eighth highest in the NFL), and over their past three contests, that number has risen to 275.

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Darnold continues to be undervalued despite a second-straight MVP-caliber campaign, but it’s hard to discount the impact of having an elite outside weapon at his disposal. Last year, it was Justin Jefferson for Darnold on the Vikings, and this year it’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seattle.

Daron Payne might not know his name yet, but Smith-Njigba has the potential to be a game-wrecker versus the Commanders’ D. A third-year wideout from Ohio State, JSN began to break out over the back half of last season. But with Darnold under center, Smith-Njigba has taken his game to a whole other level, leading the NFL in receiving yards with 819 through seven games. Darnold isn’t shy about utilizing his go-to receiver. JSN leads the league with a 38.3% target share, and on 50 receptions this season, he’s averaging 16.38 yards per catch with four touchdowns.

JSN was primarily used as a slot receiver to begin his career, but with the addition of Cooper Kupp this past offseason and a different system under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Smith-Njigba has become more of an outside target — and he’s putting the league on notice. The shift outside means he’ll be seeing a lot more of the aforementioned Marshon Lattimore on Sunday night, a terrifying proposition for Washington’s defense.

2. Jayden Daniels’s hamstring

Washington’s franchise quarterback missed Monday night’s loss to the Chiefs after injuring his hamstring in the second half of the Dallas game. But after logging a full practice on Thursday, Jayden Daniels was announced by the team as Washington’s starter against Seattle.

With number five under center, anything is possible, but the Commanders will still face an uphill battle to pull an upset against Seattle. Keep an eye on how often Kingsbury calls on Daniels to use his legs. Sunday night is just about as close to a must-win for Washington as you can have in early November, but the health of Daniels is still the most essential long-term factor for the franchise.

With that said, the narratives surrounding Daniels’s injury-riddled sophomore campaign are getting a little out of hand. Yes, he’s missed three games already this season, but many are quick to forget that the LSU product played in all 20 of Washington’s games last season. Still, there’s no doubt we’ll all be holding our breath every time Daniels takes a hit on Sunday inside Northwest Stadium.

1. The national spotlight

To save its season, Washington will have to overcome its ghastly history when the lights are the brightest. Since 2008, the franchise has gone just 15-36 in primetime games, and the Commanders are already 0-3 in such games this season with an average margin of defeat of over 10 points per game.

With Daniels back under center, Dan Quinn and company better be ready to exorcise their primetime demons. Otherwise, Hallo-weekend might mark the end of Washington’s 2025 playoff hopes.

But I’ll be honest, Tuesday night’s loss hurt. For three quarters, Washington went toe-to-toe with an undefeated Philadelphia 76ers (4-0, 2-0 Away) squad — albeit one with a limited Joel Embiid, who’s on a minutes restriction after offseason knee surgery. The Wizards’ young guns looked the part of ‘the best young corps in the league,’ shots were falling, defense was being played, and Washington had built a 19-point second-half lead. Then, the fourth quarter happened, and we were all reminded that — for now, at least — they’re still the same old Wizards.

With that being said, let’s break down the highs and lows from Washington’s 139-134 overtime loss to Philly.

High: the first three quarters

Like I said, the Wizards were rolling for most of this game — giving the fanbase a dangerous dose of hope. Washington took a 72-68 lead into halftime thanks to an exceptional start from Alex Sarr (more on that in a minute) and came out of the locker room even stronger, opening the third quarter on a 23-8 run to take a 19-point lead with 7:40 left in the period.

Seven different Wizards got in the scoring column in the third quarter alone as they knocked down a combined 5 of 9 three-point attempts, got to the free throw line eight times, and shot over 60% from the floor overall.

But it wasn’t just what the Wizards were doing in the third quarter that caused so much optimism; it was how they were getting it done. Washington relied heavily on Kyshawn George (7 points in the third), Alex Sarr (6 points), and Bub Carrington (5 points) — a large portion of the young corps whose success is most important long-term. The Wizards handed the reins to their future, and it was working.

Low: the fourth quarter and overtime

Then, the fourth quarter started, and from the jump, any seasoned Wizards fan could tell where things were headed. Washington began playing not to lose rather than maintaining the intensity that had built its lead in the first place. On defense, the Wizards got handsy rather than moving their feet, leading to seven fouls. And on offense, they sat back on their heels, trying too hard to drain the clock rather than staying in attack mode — a strategy that led to four turnovers and a 29.2 field-goal percentage.

The result was a 32-16 fourth quarter in favor of the 76ers that vaporized Washington’s lead. With just over two minutes to play, the Wizards were still up by 10. But a quick 10-0 spurt on four buckets by Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes erased it as Washington was unable to get the last couple of stops it would’ve needed to hold on.

Overtime followed a similar script, with the Wizards taking a brief five-point lead before Maxey scored nine of the game’s final 15 points to secure the win.

Low: CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton in the clutch

After building a sizeable lead primarily on the backs of the young corps, Washington decided to hand the keys to the offense over to CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton down the stretch. The vets — who were, in part, brought to town to help teach the Wizards’ young nucleus what it takes to build a winning culture — combined to go 2 for 12 (16.7%) from the floor in the fourth quarter and overtime.

In the final 30 seconds of regulation, the Wizards needed just one more basket to all but put the game away. Instead, Washington’s final two possessions consisted of a blocked McCollum layup and a bricked Middleton isolation fadeaway as time expired.

There’s no doubt that the Wizards are going to lose a lot of games once again this season, so it doesn’t make sense to rely on McCollum and Middleton in the clutch. The vets aren’t part of the long-term plans for this franchise, and they’re not the type of difference-makers who could lead Washington to the playoffs this season either. So, there’s no reason not to let guys like Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson learn how to handle the responsibility of having the ball in their hands late in close games. Sure, the young guns will have their fair share of poor crunch-time performances, but it’s better to let them gain experience now than to continue wasting time with dead-end vets.

High: Alex Sarr

The 20-year-old Frenchman delivered one of the best performances of his young career on Tuesday, finishing with 31 points (13-23 FG, 3-7 3PT), 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks.

It was a truly historic night for Sarr, who became the youngest player in franchise history to score 30+ points and have 10+ rebounds in a game and just the third player in NBA history aged 21 or younger to have a 30+/10+/5+/2+/2+ performance (joining Victor Wembanyama and LeBron James).

Sarr, who had 20 points and seven rebounds in the first half alone, looked the part of a franchise cornerstone against Philly. He was dominant in the paint, stepped out to knock down three triples, and played like a true defensive anchor against a solid 76ers’ frontcourt.

For all the negativity surrounding Sarr following the slow start to his rookie season, I’m not sure there’s another player in the 2024 draft class that Washington would rather have. Through four games this season, the 7-footer is averaging 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the floor and knocking down 36.4% of his attempts from distance.

People were quick to forget that Sarr entered the league at just 19 and clearly needed time to grow into his body. With just one full offseason to get stronger and develop his offensive game, we’re already seeing major strides out of last year’s second-overall pick.

High: Kyshawn George

After George’s 34-point double-double against the Dallas Mavericks, the hype train got a little too out of control surrounding Washington’s second-year forward, and the letdown came in the form of a six-point outing on Sunday against Charlotte.

But the 2024 24^th-overall pick responded beautifully against Philly on Tuesday, finishing with 20 points (8-17 FG, 4-7 3PT), nine rebounds, seven assists, a pair of steals, and a block in 40 minutes of action. George got off to a slow start, going scoreless in the opening quarter, but he began to turn things around with back-to-back threes in the second quarter and a strong performance after halftime.

After showing flashes of brilliance during his rookie campaign, George has taken a gigantic leap in year two, and Brian Keefe clearly trusts him with the ball in his hands. George’s usage rate has jumped from 15.7% to 22.9% this season, and he’s being utilized as a playmaker instead of just a spot-up shooter.

With a refined handle and increased strength added to his already smooth outside jumper, the Wizards have the makings of a star in the 21-year-old out of Miami.

It’s yet to be determined if a defensive-oriented approach is the surest path to success for a modern NBA rebuild. But with the foundation of the defense in place after selecting Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr with their first picks in each of the past two drafts, Dawkins and company were finally able to target a pure scoring threat this past June, drafting Texas Longhorns’ shooting guard Tre Johnson with the sixth overall pick.

Standing at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Johnson isn’t lacking in length himself, and he had his moments on the defensive end at Texas. But no one’s going to make the case that his draft profile was built around anything other than his uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket — a trait that was on full display in the Wizards’ season-opening 133-120 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

Johnson — who finished with 16 points (5-11 FG, 4-8 3FG), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 26 minutes of action off the bench — delivered the highest-scoring NBA debut for a Washington player since 1992, immediately flashing the scoring acumen that made him a lottery pick.

“Obviously, you can see what [Johnson] can do putting some pressure on the defense with his shooting ability [and] his off-ball movement,” head coach Brian Keefe said after Wednesday’s loss. “I thought he was aggressive — that’s what we want him to be. [It was a] good first game.”

Johnson, who estimated that Wednesday night was his first time coming off the bench since “like fifth grade,” was the first reserve to see the floor behind starters Bub Carrington, CJ McCollum, Kyshawn George, Khris Middleton, and Alex Sarr.

“[I was] just trying to remember what I did in warm-ups, layup lines — trying to remember the same touch I had,” Johnson said about how he was able to rediscover his form after coming off the bench. “[Because] I was shooting good then. So, I feel like if I just did the same things, I’d be all right on the court.”

Johnson was able to jog his memory and get into the scoring column for the first time in his NBA career with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter, knocking down an open elbow jumper off a nice two-man game with Marvin Bagley. After seeing the ball go through the net, Johnson erupted for nine points on three triples in the opening four minutes of the second quarter — two open corner looks sandwiching a nifty pump-fake and side-step to create space.

Johnson’s second-quarter outburst was not surprising for anyone who watched any Longhorns basketball last season, given that as a true freshman at Texas, Johnson led the SEC in scoring with 19.9 points per game while knocking down 39.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc. And Johnson rarely had the luxury of open corner threes. After pouring in 29 points in his collegiate debut (and following it up with 28 in his second game), Johnson quickly became the focal point of opposing defensive schemes, forcing him to find creative ways to score. From three-point range on the season, Johnson shot 40.8% on catch-and-shoot opportunities, 38.4% off the dribble, and 44.2% in transition.

Johnson wrapped up his debut on Wednesday night by knocking down another triple and a pair of free throws in the third quarter, finishing with a true shooting percentage of 67.3 and providing a reason for optimism despite the prospect of another long losing season in the dog days of this Wizards’ rebuild.

But this is what the 2025-26 season is largely going to be about for Washington — ignoring the inevitably mounting losses and isolating the performance of the young corps to determine who the building blocks can be for the future.

Though the Wizards dug themselves an early hole, giving up 40 first-quarter points on Wednesday, it was Johnson’s spark that helped steady the ship as Washington would go on to outscore the Bucks by four points through the remaining 36 minutes.

“I liked the change,” Keefe said. “The thing that matters most is that I like the character in our room. We made a mindset shift [after the slow start] and we saw what we’re capable of doing. We’ve got to do that the whole game.”

Alongside Johnson, 2024 second-overall pick Alex Sarr and do-it-all forward Kyshawn George certainly fall into the building block category, and they each delivered noteworthy season-opening performances in Milwaukee. Sarr registered his eleventh-career double-double with 10 points (5-10 FG) and 11 rebounds, while George stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

The Wizards return to action tonight in Dallas against first-overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. Johnson, a Garland, Texas, native who played most of his high school career at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, will look to expand on his exciting debut in front of his friends and family. Tip-off is set for 8:30 PM EST.