Washington Wizards: 4 players that could replace Davis Bertans

Devin Vassell

Devin Vassell definitely would be the most intriguing route for the Washington Wizards to take if they have to go about replacing Davis Bertans mainly because no one has ever seen him play at the NBA level.

However, Vassell – who has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft – showed an impressive blend of offensive and defensive ability during his two years in the NCAA.

Vassell, a 6’7″ wing with a 6’10” wingspan, has what the Wizards need. Defense. And he fits the sort of tweener/positionless mold that the Wizards have proven to like over the past couple drafts. Both Troy Brown Jr and Rui Hachimura – the team’s last two first-rounders – are each versatile, something the Wizards hope to use to their advantage as they mold and develop their young core.

But if the Wizards are to replace the Latvian Laser properly, then Vassell has something else they’ll need. Outside shooting. As a freshman at Florida State University, Vassell shot the three at an impressive rate, hitting 41.9 percent of his outside shots. But his volume was low. He averaged less than 11 minutes per game and, consequently, shot less than two threes per game.

His sophomore season, however, Vassell’s volume boomed as he became a permanent starter. His playing time more than doubled, up to 28 minutes per game and his shooting wasn’t hindered at all. He still shot 41.5 percent from the arc, but he let it twice as often.

While Vassell’s outside shooting might not translate immediately, his talents on the defensive end should shine through fairly quickly. Adding him to the mix with Troy Brown Jr and Isaac Bonga would give the Wizards a nice stable of solid on-ball defenders.