Last season, the Washington Wizards were executing the first phase of a reload strategy articulated by general manager Tommy Sheppard. They jettisoned veterans and snapped up youngsters with potential on the cheap while they waited for John Wall to rehab his torn Achilles.
The plan took a turn when Wall decided he wanted out and Sheppard was able to trade him to the Houston Rockets for former MVP Russell Westbrook, who wanted to leave Houston.
Other than the departure of Wall, who’d missed at least half the team’s games due to injury over the past three seasons, and the addition of Westbrook, the Wizards made only minor roster changes.