Washington Wizards should sign this Summer League star
By Cem Yolbulan
Now that the Las Vegas Summer League is over, teams will be making important decisions on their remaining roster spots and finalizing their squads for the 2023-24 season. This can take the shape of signing players to two-way contracts or moving pieces around to open up roster spots to sign players who impressed with their Summer League play. One such player who the Washington Wizards need to consider is Dominick Barlow.
Barlow is a 20-year-old power forward who played on the San Antonio Spurs summer league team after spending the last season with them on a two-way deal. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who deserves a guaranteed contract after his performance in Las Vegas.
The 6’9 forward who went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft after a season with Overtime Elite, averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block in four games in Las Vegas. He had a solid performance in their win against the Washington Wizards as he finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds on 9 of 15 shooting. He can finish around the rim, has a soft touch, and can hit mid-rangers.
Perhaps more impressive than his offensive production is his ability to guard multiple positions. Despite being undersized for a big, he makes up for it with very quick feet, a high effort level, and good defensive instincts.
His combination of speed, athleticism, shooting, and finishing makes him a very intriguing two-way prospect.
Barlow was able to demonstrate his modern skillset during his time with Austin Spurs of the G League last season. In 18 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks on 56% shooting from the field.
If this all-around contribution translates to the NBA, Barlow could be a solid rotation player for a long time. He showcased that potential in his limited minutes in the NBA last season as he averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes in the 28 games he played for the big club in San Antonio.
Barlow might be squeezed out of the roster crunch in San Antonio. The Spurs have plenty of young players in their frontcourt and might not have a spot for Barlow. This could be a golden opportunity for the Wizards to swoop in and sign a player with a lot of upside.
The Washington Wizards could use as many young, talented players as they can. And they can’t afford to not take a chance on a potential like Dominick Barlow.
