Bilal Coulibaly’s place in Washington is suddenly worth watching.
He has started full-time for the Wizards over each of the past two seasons, but those years came with a team that wasn’t really pushing to win, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. With Washington now trying to be more competitive, Coulibaly’s role looks less settled than it did before. That showed up in the preseason opener, when he came off the bench and managed two points on 1-of-7 shooting with five rebounds in 19 minutes.
The timing matters, too. Coulibaly, the No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft, is eligible for a rookie scale extension through October 19.
Robbins notes that the 22-year-old’s defensive ability is already clear, but his offense is still developing, which could weigh on extension talks. If the sides do strike a deal in the next 10 days, Robbins speculates the average annual salary would likely come in below the numbers Washington gave Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert when they signed rookie scale extensions in 2023 and 2024, respectively - $13.8 million per year for Avdija and $13.5 million for Kispert.
Elsewhere in the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo kept drawing praise after another strong preseason showing. After seeing him against Toronto, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra compared his play-making to Magic Johnson.
Against New Orleans on Thursday, the 31-year-old saw less crowding in the paint and responded with 18 points in 17 first-half minutes during Miami’s second straight preseason win. Spoelstra said, “You could feel more of his force tonight,” and added, “I think he could sense that it was a slightly different coverage.
And night to night, it could be that. That’s what the great players require when you’re scouting against them.
Usually, it’s something different or different little nuanced schemes and scouting reports. But he was definitely assertive, getting to his spots quickly, downhill.
So that’s more of what we were expecting than making plays to wide-open shooters time and time again.”
In Chicago, Norman Powell is already making his presence felt with the Bulls. Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the veteran guard has become a leader in the room, and rookie forward Caleb Wilson called him a “vocal leader” who “holds everybody accountable and pushes everybody to be better.”
Wilson also said, “He’s talked to me a lot about just his journey,” and added, “It’s impressive to me, I mean coming from playing in a couple G League games to winning a championship, and also just playing in the NBA and becoming an All-Star last year, he’s told me a lot of good things. A lot of tricks and tips both mentally and physically.”
And in Cleveland, preseason rotation details were worth noting even with the usual caution that one game can mislead. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com pointed out Thursday night that Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas, the No. 34 pick in June’s draft, got early minutes ahead of backup guards Tyrese Proctor and Craig Porter Jr.
Thomas finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals in 23 minutes in the 11-point loss to Boston. Proctor had five points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 21 minutes, while Porter put up five points, three rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 16 minutes.
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 🡒]