Editing Washington Wizards (section)

====2014–15====
[[File:Bradley Beal Wizards cropped.jpg|thumb|Bradley Beal in 2013]]
After the departure of [[Trevor Ariza]], the Wizards signed veteran small forward [[Paul Pierce]] to a two-year contract.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11208931/paul-pierce-washington-wizards-agree-two-year-deal|title=Paul Pierce to Wizards on 2-year deal|work=ESPN|date=July 13, 2014|access-date=December 16, 2022|last=Stein|first=Marc|archive-date=December 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216053709/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11208931/paul-pierce-washington-wizards-agree-two-year-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> Pierce's veteran leadership proved to be a major factor on and off the court in the team's improvement. On November 12, 2014, the Wizards defeated the Detroit Pistons 107–103, extending their record to 6–2 for the first time since the 1975–76 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wall's 27 points lead Wizards over Pistons 107–103|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141112/DETWAS/gameinfo.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 13, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915014140/http://www.nba.com/games/20141112/DETWAS/gameinfo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The following game three days later, the Wizards defeated the Orlando Magic 98–93 as they won their third straight and moved to 7–2, their best start since opening 7–1 during the 1974–75 season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Valentine|first=Harvey|title=Bench key as Wizards defeat Magic 98–93|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141115/ORLWAS/gameinfo.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=November 15, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417004050/http://www.nba.com/games/20141115/ORLWAS/gameinfo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> With a 104–96 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on December 12, the Wizards moved to an 11–2 record at home to start the season for the first time in franchise history.<ref>{{cite news|last=White|first=Joseph|title=Wall, Wizards end Clippers' 9-game streak, 104–96|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141212/LACWAS/gameinfo.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=December 13, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=April 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416082328/http://www.nba.com/games/20141212/LACWAS/gameinfo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They would struggle throughout the later months of the season but the Washington Wizards would finish the season with a {{Win-loss record|w=46|l=36}} record, their best record since the 1978–1979 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wall-less-wizards-are-on-target/2015/04/08/59d0102e-de37-11e4-a500-1c5bb1d8ff6a_story.html|title=John Wall sits, but red-hot Wizards roll to 119-90 win at Philadelphia|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=December 16, 2022|last=Castillo|first=Jorge|location=Philadelphia|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204155627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wall-less-wizards-are-on-target/2015/04/08/59d0102e-de37-11e4-a500-1c5bb1d8ff6a_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They played the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and won in four games, marking their first sweep in franchise history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/400790931|title=Bradley Beal steers Wizards into 2nd round with sweep of Raptors|work=ESPN|agency=The Associated Press|location=Washington|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=December 16, 2022|archive-date=December 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216053708/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/400790931|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the victory over Toronto, the Wizards next had to play the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks. The Wizards managed to take the first game in the series, but suffered the loss of Wall due to a fractured wrist.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 8, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/12841935/john-wall-washington-wizards-fractured-left-wrist-hand|title=Wizards' John Wall has fractures in left wrist, hand|access-date=December 16, 2022|work=ESPN|location=Washington|first=Ohm|last=Youngmisuk|archive-date=December 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216053737/https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/12841935/john-wall-washington-wizards-fractured-left-wrist-hand|url-status=live}}</ref> Although small forward Paul Pierce made several big shots throughout the series, the loss of Wall proved too much, and Atlanta took the series in six games.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 16, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/400793786|title=Hawks off to East finals for first time; Paul Pierce game-tying 3 ruled too late|access-date=December 16, 2022|work=ESPN|agency=The Associated Press|location=Washington|archive-date=December 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216053708/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/400793786|url-status=live}}</ref>