Washington Wizards: 3 Goals for Thomas Bryant
By Ethan Smith
Thomas Bryant is back in DC after an impressive first season with the Washington Wizards. Now that he’s got his three-year contract, here are three goals for the upcoming season.
The Washington Wizards have been BUSY this offseason. With the complete restructuring of the front office and the emergence of Monumental Basketball and the roster overhaul, the Wizards have been making headlines all summer. But one of the first moves that set it all off: re-signing Thomas Bryant to a three-year, $25 million deal.
Bryant was one of the few pleasant surprises from last year’s flaming dumpster of a season. In what was essentially his first full NBA season (he played in just 15 games as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers 2017-18 team), Bryant showed flashes as an enthusiastic rim running partner for Bradley Beal. The two formed some quick chemistry, and Bryant soon cemented himself as the team’s top center while Dwight Howard missed nearly the entire season.
It was no secret that the Wizards were making Bryant a priority, and to everyone’s delight, they were able to keep the restricted free agent in Washington for a fairly reasonable price. With an average yearly salary of just over $8 million, Bryant’s deal might be looking like a steal sooner than later.
He’s still got a few things to improve on, though, if he’s to solidify his diamond in the rough status. With Bryant back, expectations are high for the 22-year-old. Here are three things Bryant can do to turn the 2019-20 season into a breakout one.