AJ Dybantsa may already look like the Washington Wizards’ franchise cornerstone, but the bigger question is who ends up beside him when this thing really takes shape.
The obvious guesses are easy enough to make. Trae Young and Anthony Davis sit near the top of the list as the most immediate co-stars around the reigning No. 1 overall pick. Beyond that, Washington’s roster has plenty of young talent, with names like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson all making sense as possible long-term partners for Dybantsa.
But one player keeps forcing his way into the conversation: Will Riley.
Riley spent his rookie season turning heads, and the biggest leap came when he earned extended run down the stretch. Over the final month of the regular season, the former first-round pick averaged 18.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field and 23.8% from three.
That stretch showed more than just scoring. Riley gave Washington a look at a crafty offensive player who can put the ball in the basket efficiently and also handle playmaking duties in a way Brian Keefe can trust.
He kept that momentum going on Sunday, finishing with 32 points, six rebounds and three assists on 9-for-14 shooting and 6-for-8 from deep.
The three-point percentage still has room to climb, but the overall package is hard to ignore. Riley’s blend of scoring and creation gives him a ceiling that stands out on this roster, especially in a league where versatile wings keep driving the best teams.
That’s why the idea of Riley as Dybantsa’s future running mate doesn’t sound far-fetched at all. In fact, five years from now, it wouldn’t be a shock if Washington is building around Dybantsa and Riley rather than Dybantsa and Johnson, Dybantsa and George, or even Dybantsa and Sarr.
In Other News...
Wizards Suddenly Face A Defining Anthony Davis Decision
The Wizards are heading into next season with real expectations after building around Trae Young and Anthony Davis, while also trying to bring rookie AJ Dybantsa along as part of the long view. Summer League has already offered a small glimpse of the fit question waiting in the background, because Dybantsas early struggles from deep have only sharpened the conversation about how much shooting this group can afford around its top pieces.
Dybantsa is 1-for-11 from three in his first two Summer League games, and that comes with Davis carrying his own long-running reputation as a shaky perimeter threat. For Washington, the issue is bigger than one rookies cold start. The roster is being built with both present-day ambition and future development in mind, and Davis trade chatter is still hanging over the picture as the Wizards try to sort out what kind of offense they want to commit to. [Read more 🡒]
Will Riley Is Forcing His Way Into A Tough Wizards Debate
Will Riley has spent the summer making the kind of case that can change a front office conversation, and the Wizards have to be paying attention. The second-year wing has looked sharper, more versatile and more comfortable in the flow of the game, capped by a 32-point showing in a recent summer league outing that reinforced how much his game has grown.
What makes Riley so interesting is not just the scoring, but the way he fits alongside a crowded mix of high-profile talent and still finds ways to matter. His ability to handle different roles gives Washington a useful kind of flexibility, and it is starting to look like he is pushing himself toward a more prominent place in the rotation discussion as the Wizards map out their future. [Read more 🡒]