Washington Wizards: Caleb Homesley’s Summer League performance good enough for a roster spot

As we all wait for the start of the NBA season,  it is now the season of over-reaction. All over Twitter, NBA fans can be seen calling their second-round pick that had a 20-point Summer League game the future of their franchise or calling a Top-10 pick a complete bust after a subpar showing in the exhibition games. In the case of Wizards fans, all eyes are on Corey Kispert, the team’s 15th overall pick. However, another bright light that some have noticed is Caleb Homesley, a name that a lot Wizards fans have not heard much of until recently.

In the span of four summer league games, Homesley averaged 2.3 assists 4.8 rebounds 12 points per game, most notably finishing as the team’s top scorer after their debut game against the Sacramento Kings. In that game, he ha 17 points over 25 minutes of play.

While many fans may not have had Homesley on their radar, it is very obvious that the Washington Wizards have a very strong interest in Caleb Homesley. After graduating from Liberty University as a four-year player from 2015 to 2020 (one year being a redshirt year), Homesley was not picked in the NBA 2020 Draft, but was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract by the Washington Wizards. He was waived shortly after training camp. He then went on to play for the Erie BayHawks, the Wizards’ temporary G-League affiliate after when the Go-Go declined going to the NBA Bubble in 2020. As a BayHwak, Homesley averaged 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.

Strong showings during the Summer League games prove Caleb Homesley would be a worthwhile addition to the Washington Wizards.

In his five years at Liberty, Homesley out-performed the expectations that his coach had for him, who intitally suggested Homesley transfer to a Division II program. Rather than transfer, Homesley embraced his coach’s doubts and went on to stay with the Flames his entire collegiate career. Eventually, he led them to their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2019, scoring 30 points in an upset victory over Mississippi State.

In May of this year, the Wizards unexpectedly announced the signing of Caleb Homesley to a multi-year contract:

However, on August 5, the Wizards waived Homesley without him playing a single game for the team. While some may see that as the team cooling their interest in Homesley, it was probably more of a product of needing open roster spots to pull off the blockbuster five-team trade that brought Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Wizards’ doorstep.

Even with all that influx of talent from the five-team trade, the Washington Wizards are still lacking guards. Keep an eye on Caleb Homesley. It is obvious that Tommy Sheppard and his staff are intrigued by this young player. Do not be surprised if another contract, possibly a two-way, is signed between the two parties before this season gets underway.