Now that the free agency moratorium is over, all the agreed-upon signings and trades are being made official today in the NBA. This includes the Washington Wizards’ acquisitions of Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, and Patrick Baldwin Jr. Team released a statement announcing the trade officially today. They added that both Rollins and Balwin Jr will be part of the Wizards Summer League roster.
This increases the summer league roster to 13 players and gives them two key developmental pieces that Washington is hoping to make into long-term rotational pieces.
Rollins and Baldwin Jr failed to crack the Golden State Warriors rotation last season as rookies. Baldwin Jr was the 28th overall pick while Rollins was drafted in the second round with the 44th pick.
Both players spent a significant part of last season with Golden State’s G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors. Baldwin Jr averaged 14.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while Rollins averaged 19.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game at the G League.
Baldwin Jr was a consensus five-star recruit as a high-schooler and was one of the best prospects in the country in 2021. His injury-plagued lone college season, then a one-year stint with the Warriors may have lowered his stock, but he is still a talented player. He is only 20 years old and has the potential to be a knockdown three-point shooter. That is a very valuable skill to have at 6’9.
Rollins was also expected to be selected higher in the draft than he ended up getting picked. He was seen as a potential sleeper in the draft but didn’t get a chance to showcase that last season in the Warriors’ stacked backcourt rotation. He has good size and length for his position and can handle the ball, make plays, and score.
Baldwin Jr and Rollins are likely going to be behind Johnny Davis and Bilal Coulibaly in the Summer League pecking order. Yet, they will both get their chance to shine and secure themselves a spot in the Wizards’ rotation in the 2023-24 season.