Two things are going to tell us a lot about the Washington Wizards this preseason: where AJ Dybantsa fits in the pecking order, and whether this roster can actually stretch the floor.
That’s a pretty good place to start for a team entering a new chapter. Washington finally has real talent to sort through - multiple All-Star and All-NBA-level players, plus a young core led by No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
After years stuck near the bottom, there’s actual intrigue here. And even if preseason can tempt fans into wild conclusions, it still gives you clues about what the Wizards are trying to build.
The first thing worth watching is how quickly Dybantsa gets pushed into the offense. Normally, a top pick walks in and is immediately one of the primary scoring options.
This situation is different. The Wizards were “buyers” at the trade deadline last season, but the two players they brought in only combined to play five games - by design, since the team was clearly positioning itself to land Dybantsa.
Now those two pieces, Anthony Davis and Trae Young, are healthy and set to be the first and second options. That leaves the real question: where does Dybantsa land?
He obviously has to be featured because of the upside he brings, but does he sit third in line? Fourth, behind Alex Sarr?
That part still has to be sorted out, even if the overall setup around him is unusually strong for a No. 1 pick.
The other issue is the one that could shape the whole offense: spacing.
There’s a real case for being optimistic about the Wizards if their best players stay on the floor. In fact, the sense here is that they could be a top-eight seed. But the biggest concern is how consistently this group will create room to operate.
Trae Young gives them elite spacing when he has the ball, which he will. Kyshawn George is a legitimate shooter at 38.1 percent from three.
After that, things get murkier. Dybantsa is a dangerous scorer, but most of his damage comes attacking the rim and working in the mid-range, not from the arc.
And both Davis and Sarr are still more theoretical stretch bigs than proven ones. Davis has hit 29.5 percent of his career threes, while Sarr shot 33.3 percent last season.
If the floor isn’t going to get cramped, a couple things have to click. Tre Johnson needs real minutes, because he may be the best pure shooter on the roster and can help by living off catch-and-shoot chances.
And the Wizards also need to unlock the pick-and-pop game with Young and the bigs. That’s where some of the spacing issues can start to loosen up.
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Already Puts A Huge Wizards Decision In Focus
Anthony Davis is heading into his first full season with the Wizards, and even before the games start counting, his long-term future is already hanging over the franchise. The fit is obvious on paper, but the contract picture is anything but, especially with Washington balancing Davis injury history, his age, and a payroll that already has major commitments built into it.
What makes this situation so tricky is that the real conversation is likely to wait until after the season, when both sides can better judge where things stand. If Davis plays well and stays healthy, the Wizards will still have a major decision to make about whether to meet his price or pivot elsewhere, and every step of the season will only sharpen the pressure around that choice. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Gives Wizards Hope As One Big Threat Lingers
Anthony Davis has already given the Wizards something they have badly needed around a roster in transition: a reason to believe the fit can work. His enthusiasm about joining Washington, along with his praise for the groups balance, offers a useful counterpoint to the skepticism that usually follows a franchise trying to reset around a veteran star.
The bigger question, though, is whether the story stays about basketball long enough for Washington to benefit from it. The Wizards have made clear they want to keep Davis, but the trade chatter is unlikely to disappear, especially with the deadline drawing closer and Davis still trying to put recent injury issues behind him. Until he gets on the floor and settles into his new team, the speculation will remain part of the package. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Fans May Need Patience With AJ Dybantsa After This Rookie Warning
Preseason always has a way of humbling even the most celebrated rookies, and this years opening slate offered a reminder of how messy the first steps can be. Around the league, young players like Darryn Peterson and Keaton Wagler had uneven debuts, the kind of nights that can look alarming in a box score but are really part of the learning curve for anyone adjusting to NBA speed, size and defensive pressure.
For Washington, that context matters with AJ Dybantsa, because the Wizards are banking on more than just scoring to make his arrival meaningful. Even before his offense fully catches up, he has the tools to help right away with defense, paint pressure, ball-handling and leadership, which is why the early rookie growing pains elsewhere should serve more as a warning against impatience than a reason to doubt his fit. [Read more 🡒]