Washington Wizards: 3 winners and 3 losers from Summer League
There were many highs and lows this year for the Washington Wizards in the Summer League. Some players greatly outperformed their expectations and some withered under the new spotlight.
For the most part, the Wizards showed many signs of growth, both in player personnel and how the franchise approaches player development. There were goals and expectations with every game, not something we saw too often at this level in the past.
light. Related Story. Washington Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic showing finesse in the Summer League
However, there were still questions regarding certain players’ abilities that may force them to the G-League or Europe instead of the Wiz roster. The Summer League is used both for G-League players to fight their way onto the roster, and for high draft picks to show off. This means that sometimes, a player can get overly aggressive and rush shots.
Bilal Coulibaly looks like a future Washington Wizards legend as winner #1
To get the obvious winner out of the way, Bilal Coulibaly was a monster in the Summer League, especially as he became more comfortable with the pace of American basketball. He was easily one of the best two-way players of his draft class by the end of their final game against the Chicago Bulls.
His defensive presence is strong despite only being six-foot-six. He mixes his unreal athleticism and impeccable timing to turn himself into a multi-faceted defender that can do anything on the defensive end of the floor.
What’s even crazier is the fact that he is not content with his impact and has said so himself. If he continues to grow defensively, he could become one of the greatest defenders of all time.
Even better is the fact that he was much farther along on offense than anybody thought. His handles and jump shot aren’t quite there yet, and the decision making could be better, but his feel for creating plays for himself and others are developed far beyond his years.
He looks like he will be the first legitimate two-way superstar the Washington Wizards have had in a long time. Only time will tell if he can live up to his potential.