Washington Wizards: 3 still-available free agents to sign for the minimum
By Cem Yolbulan
Kennedy Chandler
The 6’1 point guard out of Tennessee was the 38th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, Kennedy Chandler predictably failed to crack the deep backcourt rotation behind Ja Morant and Tyus Jones. He still showed a lot of promise during his time in the G League with Memphis Hustle, averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 assists in his seven games there.
The Grizzlies had a surplus of young players they drafted that they were trying to develop, while also trying to contend for a championship. Chandler, as a second-round pick, got squeezed out and was waived before the end of the regular season. He hasn’t signed with a team since then.
In the limited minutes Chandler played, he displayed his ability to run an offense. He is fast, quick, and has an explosive first step. He can hit a variety of shots inside the arc including runners, floaters, and mid-rangers. His three-point shot is not super consistent so far but he has shown an ability to hit an above-average mark in college. He is undersized but makes up for it with his wingspan. He will never be a great defender but you don’t need that from your backup point guard anyways.
Chandler is only 20 years old and he didn’t get enough of a chance in the NBA to demonstrate what he is capable of. He deserves another chance, and the Washington Wizards are the perfect team to give him that opportunity. If Delon Wright is traded, there will be a hole in the backup point guard spot in Washington. Chandler could fill that role and show what he can do for the young Wizards.