Deandre Ayton didn’t arrive in Washington to chase touches. He arrived to fill a different lane, and the early preseason signs say he’s doing exactly that.
In the Wizards’ third preseason game, a 25-minute run against the Brooklyn Nets, Ayton finished with four points, seven rebounds and four assists. That last number stood out for a reason: it’s not the sort of line he was putting up with the Lakers.
He averaged just 0.8 assists per game there and never dished out more than three in a single game. On Monday, he was actively hunting open shooters and moving the ball instead of trying to force his own shot.
That matters because Washington brought him in as a backup center, and the cost to get him was modest - Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks went to the Lakers. The real question was always whether the former No. 1 overall pick would accept a reserve role after not coming off the bench since the bubble in 2020. So far, the answer looks encouraging.
Ayton is playing on an $8.1 million expiring contract, which gives him plenty of incentive to stay locked in. And through three preseason games, the numbers back up the eye test.
He has the lowest usage on the Wizards at 8.9 percent, while averaging 4.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. He’s taken only seven shots in three games, and he’s not forcing awkward floaters or trying to muscle his way into the offense.
Instead, he’s making the simple play. He’s finding the open man.
He’s keeping possessions alive. And he looks more comfortable in that role than fans might have expected after years of seeing him operate as a score-first big.
That’s a notable shift for a player who wanted a bigger offensive role in Phoenix, part of what pushed him out of the franchise that drafted him. His usage rate was 21.3 in Phoenix, then dropped to 20.4 in Portland and 16.7 with the Lakers. Washington has asked for something different, and Ayton appears willing to deliver it.
There’s still plenty of upside in the package, of course. Over his eight-year NBA career, Ayton has averaged 15.8 points per game on 59.9 percent shooting, and his rebounding should translate no matter what unit he’s with. Put that kind of production against reserve centers, and he can be a problem fast - especially if he’s also making the right read.
He hasn’t had more than four assists in a game since 2023, and he had gone years without showing much short-roll passing. But he recorded four assists against Brooklyn, his first game with that many since February 6, 2025. It was preseason, sure, but it still pointed to a different version of Ayton than the one Wizards fans saw elsewhere.
He also looked engaged in the little moments. When the Nets missed a preseason free throw on Monday night, Ayton reacted with obvious energy. It was a small play in a meaningless setting, but it fit the broader picture: he looks bought in.
Ayton said on Media Day that he was ready to embrace any role, and Washington has already used him in different lineups, with two starts in the first three preseason games. Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr are set to start in the frontcourt, but Ayton’s early production has him in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year chatter and, at minimum, the conversation for best reserve center.
For now, the Wizards have a seven-footer who is rebounding, passing and doing the job they asked him to do. That’s the whole point. And so far, he’s delivering.
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That creates a tricky balancing act for Washington as it tries to climb back into relevance. Veterans can stabilize a team that has struggled, but the young core is pushing for real minutes, real touches and a bigger role in the offense sooner rather than later. The Wizards do not have to choose their long-term answer right away, but the way they sort out that hierarchy in the weeks ahead could shape whether this rebuild feels like a shortcut or a true handoff. [Read more 🡒]
Bilal Coulibaly Just Raised The Stakes For A Wizards Decision
Bilal Coulibalys preseason has turned into one of the more important subplots around the Wizards as the regular season nears. The rookie forward got off to a quiet start in camp, but his third preseason game offered a much better snapshot of why Washington values him, with a 19-point night that also included impact work on the defensive end.
Even with that progress, there is still a contract question hanging over the front office. The Wizards have until Monday, the day before the season opens, to sort out long-term deals with their draft prospects, and Coulibaly is among the names still waiting on a resolution. His recent step forward only makes the decision more interesting, because it adds another layer to what Washington has to weigh before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]