The Wizards are betting that Anthony Gill can do a lot more than fill out the roster.
In a season where Washington is trying to climb out of the wreckage of the 2023-24 campaign, Gill stands out as the kind of veteran every young team needs: steady, familiar, and able to keep things from drifting off course. He’s been in Washington for seven seasons now, which means he has lived through the better stretches, including the 2020-21 playoff season, and the nightmare stretch that followed, when the Wizards went 15-67 and posted one of the worst records in NBA history.
That kind of background matters for a team trying to reset. Washington is looking to Gill to be a voice in the room and a presence on the floor, even if his biggest impact comes away from the box score.
Gill’s value starts with familiarity. He has worked under Scott Brooks, then Wes Unseld Jr in 2021, and now Brian Keefe.
This season will be his 3.5th with Keefe, matching his longest run with any head coach. That kind of continuity should make him especially useful to younger players trying to get comfortable with the system on both ends.
The Wizards are expected to lean into a more organized half-court approach, with Trae Young helping drive the offense. That can be a tricky adjustment for young players used to having the ball in their hands.
AJ Dybansta and Will Riley, among others, spent last season working on-ball, and that shift could bring some early friction. Gill gives Washington someone who can smooth that over before it becomes a problem.
His usefulness isn’t limited to the offensive side, either. Washington needs help on defense, and rebounding was a glaring issue last season.
Gill, now 33, may have physical limitations, but effort has never been the problem. He has consistently attacked the glass, and the Wizards will be hoping that attitude rubs off on the rest of the group.
That matters because the frontcourt isn’t exactly overflowing with proven rebounders. Neither Deandre Ayton nor Alex Sarr has a track record of consistently attacking the boards, and Anthony Davis’s effort has often waned with his health. If Gill can help push that group toward better work on the glass, his roster spot will be doing real work.
There’s also the bigger picture in Washington, where the locker room figures to be complicated. The Wizards have a blend of older stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis alongside a younger, unproven core that includes Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Riley, and others. That mix can create tension, especially when possessions and touches start getting sorted out.
Young and Davis have both been moved before, in part to open up opportunities for younger players. In Washington, though, both are expected to want the ball, and that can create friction if teammates are hunting shots they don’t like.
Gill’s value is that he can speak to both sides. He has the experience to connect with Young and Davis, but he also has enough history in Washington to have built real relationships with the younger players. If he can help keep the group aligned, he’ll be a meaningful asset for Keefe and his staff.
That’s the assignment for Gill: not to be a headline, but to be a stabilizer. Washington is counting on him to help guide a team that is trying to find its first winning season since 2017-18.