Alex Sarr is back in the mix for the preseason, and Brian Keefe has made that official ahead of Washington’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons. That puts Sarr right in the middle of a tough first test, with Jalen Duren standing on the other side as a major interior presence.
For Wizards fans, though, the more revealing parts of Sarr’s return may not come from the box score. The real focus should be how Washington uses him on both ends, especially in the half court.
On offense, the pick-and-roll is the big storyline. Sarr has not had the benefit of working with a guard who can run it well, and he also has room to grow as a screener.
That changes now that Trae Young is in the fold. Young had just four assists in the last game, but he still helped keep the offense moving while working on and off the ball.
When he’s controlling things, the question is simple: how often does he go to Sarr in pick-and-roll action? That one connection could go a long way toward pushing Sarr toward an All-Star level season.
Young isn’t the only one who can create chances that way. AJ Dybantsa is also the type who likes to use a screen, turn the corner and get downhill.
With Dybantsa splitting on-ball reps as well, he could lean on Sarr to generate some easy scoring chances. And there’s also the possibility that Anthony Davis runs the pick-and-roll with him too.
Defensively, Sarr has a chance to raise the ceiling even higher. Washington’s interior work against the New York Knicks last game was already solid, but Detroit presents a different kind of challenge. The Pistons are exactly the sort of team you want to keep out of the paint, so where Sarr lines up will matter.
The key is whether he’s functioning as help defense or serving as the primary force inside. If he’s coming over as help, his shot-blocking should pop as he rotates in for clean rejections from the side.
If he’s the main enforcer, then the question becomes how he handles that heavier burden. Last game, Davis wasn’t asked to carry the full interior load, and that helped the defense as a whole.
However it plays out, this is a useful measuring stick for where Sarr stands after his foot injury. His presence alone changes the look of the team. What matters now is how Washington deploys him.
In Other News...
Wizards Face An Early Test Their New Mix Needs To Pass
The Wizards opened the preseason with a win over the Knicks, a nice first look at a roster trying to sort out its new shape before the games start counting. Next up is a home date with the Pistons, another useful measuring stick for a group that is still learning how its pieces fit together, especially on a bench that struggled in the first exhibition and needs a cleaner showing against a Detroit team that likes to pressure offenses in different ways.
All of that makes the injury report worth watching as much as the matchup itself. Alex Sarr and Khris Middleton are both in game-time territory, which leaves Washington waiting on more clarity before tipoff, while the Wizards are already down Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins. For a team trying to build momentum early, the chance to get a more complete look at the rotation matters almost as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Face One Huge Anthony Davis Decision With Real Risk
Anthony Davis arrival in Washington has shifted the conversation around the Wizards in a hurry, even if the partnership is still in its early stages. After Dallas sent him out in the blockbuster chain reaction that began with the Luka Doni trade, the Wizards suddenly found themselves with a player whose talent changes the ceiling of any roster and whose presence instantly makes them more relevant in the leagues long view.
There is still real uncertainty attached to the move, though, and Washington is not rushing into a long-term commitment. Davis and the Wizards are both weighing what comes next, with extension talks expected to happen during or after the season, and the franchise is trying to balance the upside of keeping him around with the risk that always follows a player whose recent availability has been a major concern. [Read more 🡒]
Deandre Ayton Gets A Fresh Wizards Chance He Desperately Needed
Deandre Aytons arrival gives Washington one of the more intriguing reclamation projects on its roster. The 2018 No. 1 pick is now with his fourth team in five seasons, and the move comes with the kind of low-pressure, high-clarity setup he has not always had elsewhere. For the Wizards, it is another swing at finding a useful veteran presence in the frontcourt while trying to steady a rebuild that still needs more dependable production around the paint.
Ayton is not being asked to carry everything or force his way into a centerpiece role right away. Instead, this looks like a chance to lean into the parts of his game that can matter most for Washington: defensive rebounding, efficient scoring near the rim and giving the team a steadier option when the front line is short-handed. If he can settle into that lane, the Wizards could get more than just depth - they could get a player who helps them inch toward something closer to a turnaround. [Read more 🡒]