Ahead of the NBA Summer League kicking off, the Washington Wizards recently went thru a short ‘Summer League Minicamp’. The developments from that minicamp, combined with the moves the Wizards made in free agency and on the trade market, make for some interesting notes in the short term.
Most of the buzz will naturally center around the Wizards first-round draft pick, guard Johnny Davis. That is inevitable, and Davis will do his part to give fans reasons to be excited throughout the summer league.
Davis is going to be the headliner of the group all tournament long, but there are a few other players that could make waves. At the Wizards camp, a few players stood out just in terms of their names, talent or resume.
Kris Dunn, who was the most recognizable name to casual NBA fans from the camp, stood out to a lot of people. While he won’t be playing in the actual summer league, Dunn getting an opportunity to work with the group and in front of the Wizards makes a lot of sense.
It could certainly lead to a partnership at some point down the road. The Wizards are lacking a third point guard for depth purposes right now and while a third point guard isn’t always needed, it’s something this Wizards group should have.
The two guards on the roster are both guys who have played behind certified starters for the strong majority of their careers. While there are many reasons to believe they could thrive in a more relied upon role, nothing is guaranteed.
Not only that, but Dunn brings exactly what the Wizards are lacking as a roster right now. He was a lottery pick for a reason, and that reason was his defensive skill set. In his NBA career, Dunn has averaged 1.5 steals per game despite only averaging 24.1 minutes per game. He is both a havoc wreaker in passing lanes and a pest to opposing guards.
Other Notable Names that Attended Wizards Summer League Camp
- Vernon Carey Jr., F/C
- Isaiah Todd, F
- Devon Dotson, G
- Pierria Henry, G
- Chinanu Onuaku, F/C
- Jaime Echenique, C
The first two players here, Carey Jr. and Todd, have NBA contracts with the Wizards already. They were both selected in the final picks of the second round in their respective draft classes. Carey Jr. was acquired in the Montrezl Harrell trade with the Charlotte Hornets. They are young bigs who are in need of a good showing during the summer league and offseason. The Wizards arent deep at the five right now.
Dotson has recently spent time with the Chicago Bulls G-League affiliate. He was a highly regarded prospect entering college a few years back and was productive in his time at Kansas. Dotson has appeared in 22 NBA games over the last two seasons.
Pierria Henry is an interesting flier for offseason camps. He has moved around the EuroLeague for a number of years now. He has proven himself as a very good player on the defensive end. The scrappy guard may be a longshot to get real NBA run anytime soon but there’s no reason to not look into players with skillsets like his.
Onuaku and Echenique are a couple of big centers that could be longshots to fill out a final roster spot if they play well. Onuaku was taken with the 37th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft but has appeared in just six NBA games since. Echenique was with the Capital City Go-Go last season, where he averaged a double-double.