Bilal Coulibaly’s place in Washington is starting to look shaky, and the reason is simple: the offense has fallen off a cliff.
In the Wizards’ four-point double-overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons, Coulibaly was a -25 in 29 minutes and scored four points. His perimeter defense still holds value, but the rest of his game is no longer balancing out what he gives back on the other end. At this point, the fit with the roster just doesn’t look right.
That’s especially true because Washington’s spacing is already a problem. Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, and AJ Dybantsa are all in the starting lineup and none are elite 3-point shooters.
Coulibaly makes that issue worse, not better. Statistically, he’s been the fifth-worst 3-point shooter in the NBA this season at 13.8 percent.
There’s no question he brings useful NBA traits. The issue is that the Wizards don’t seem to be desperate for the things he does well, while the things they need most are exactly where he comes up short. With Coulibaly heading toward restricted free agency this offseason, Washington should at least think seriously about getting value for him at the trade deadline or before.
When the Wizards drafted him in 2023, the expectation was always that he’d be a project. The tools were obvious, and his draft slot was tied to upside more than anything else. But now he’s in year four, and the offensive growth just hasn’t shown up.
For a wing who can’t shoot, the rest of the package has to pop. The Thompson twins are the kind of example that makes that possible.
Neither one is an outside shooter, but both are All-Defensive First-Team-caliber defenders, strong rebounders, and advanced passers for their position. On top of that, they may be the two most athletic players in the league.
Coulibaly is a solid defender, but he’s not at that level. And because he doesn’t have a standout skill that separates him, the weak shooting becomes too much to absorb.
If Washington were still deep in a rebuild, maybe the patience would be easier to justify. But despite the 4-9 record, the Wizards are trying to make some playoff noise this season.
That’s why a fresh start might be best for everyone involved. Coulibaly isn’t finished, but his time in Washington may be. Teams like the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans stand out as possible fits for a young player on a struggling defensive team.
If the Wizards do move him, they’d want a bench creator in return - someone who can generate offense for himself and for others, especially with the second unit struggling so badly. Jordan Miller from the Clippers, Precious Achiuwa or Malik Monk if the Wizards added salary from the Kings, and Bennedict Mathurin from the Pelicans are names that could make sense in a deal.
Washington’s lack of offense has already been hard enough to manage. With Coulibaly’s scoring issues piled on top of that, the case for a change keeps getting stronger. In the meantime, it would make sense to shift his bench minutes to one or more of Will Riley, Tre Mann, or Khris Middleton.
In Other News...
Wizards Fans Had To Love AJ Dybantsas Response To Scary Hit
AJ Dybantsa gave Wizards fans a little bit of everything in a bruising matchup with Detroit, starting with a scary collision with Cade Cunningham that left him visibly bleeding from the mouth. The moment could have easily taken him out of the game, but instead he stayed on the floor and kept competing, the kind of response that tends to resonate in Washington even in a loss.
Dybantsa finished with five points, eight rebounds and four assists as the Wizards pushed the Pistons deep into extra time before Detroit finally pulled away. Cunninghams huge night powered the Pistons, but Washington had to appreciate the way Dybantsa handled the hit and kept playing through it, a tough-minded sequence that fit the tone of a game that never really let up. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Loss Put Alex Sarrs Role Into Sharper Focus
Alex Sarr gave the Wizards a rare bright spot in a loss to Detroit, turning in one of the more encouraging individual performances of Washingtons season. The rookies scoring burst and work on the glass stood out even as the team kept stumbling, and it added another data point to the idea that his development can still be a meaningful part of the franchises long-term picture.
What made the night more interesting was not just the production, but what it said about how Washington is using him. Sarr has been on the floor plenty, yet his place in the offense has not always matched the value he can bring when he is involved early and often. For a team still searching for traction, giving him a bigger say in how possessions unfold could help answer more than one question at once. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards May Be Reaching A Breaking Point With Deandre Ayton
The Wizards six-game slide has pushed the front office and coaching staff into a difficult spot, and Deandre Ayton is suddenly at the center of it. His role has been shrinking as his production has dipped, and the teams numbers with him on the floor have not helped his case. For a club trying to steady itself after a rough stretch, every rotation decision now feels like a referendum on what still works and what does not.
Brian Keefe has already trimmed Aytons minutes, and the next step could be even more significant if Washington decides it needs a different look in the middle. The Wizards are trying to squeeze more value out of their center minutes as they search for answers, and Aytons place in that equation is far from settled. What happens next will say a lot about how quickly this team is willing to pivot while the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]