7 Questions for the New-Look Washington Wizards
By Caleb Sarvis
2. What will the Washington Wizards do with Deni Avdija?
I’ve brought it up several times now on this website, and while I don’t want to beat a dead horse, the question remains alive and well: what does all of this mean for Deni Avdija?
Last year’s regime parked him in the corner on offense, which never made much sense considering Avdija’s poor track record as a shooter. He was touted as a playmaker with above-average court vision coming into the draft, something Wizards fans only got to see flashes of. However, with a new coach coming in and a roster loaded up on shooters, the Wizards have an opportunity to experiment with Avdija in ways more suited to his style of play.
If they choose to cement him as a wing, he becomes redundant, expendable, and not a great fit for the Bradley Beal timeline. Developing a reliable shot takes time, something this iteration of the Wizards doesn’t have as they enter the last season Bradley Beal’s contract. He currently has a $37 million player option for the 2022-23 season.
But if Tommy Sheppard and Wes Unseld choose to view him as a playmaker, he becomes the asset teams like Brooklyn believes him to be. If the Wizards treat and coach him as a guard, maybe there are no more moves to make this season.
Still, if Bradley Beal is and Spencer Dinwiddie are their number one and two stars, respectively …
3. Do the Washington Wizards need a “third” star?
Brooklyn has their big three. The Lakers have their big three (and plenty of others). Milwaukee has Holiday, Middleton, and Antetokounmpo. Is there a third out there available to the Wizards for the right price?
It’s hard to say. Joe Ingles and Tobias Harris were made available by their respective teams. Jerami Grant is viewed as a prize among Wizards fans but is probably excited about playing next to Cade Cunningham next season.
Outside of that, is anyone out there worth the price of giving up our newfound depth? Is that the kind of move that will elevate this Wizards team to championship contention? Probably not.
Rui Hachimura showed incredible improvement this season and got a taste of the star experience while leading Japan’s national team in the Olympics this summer. Perhaps he makes the proverbial leap this year. Maybe Kyle Kuzma becomes the player he believes himself to be.
That would be the Wizards’ best hope: someone outperforming their contract and living this team to new heights.