The Washington Wizards starting rotation is pretty set for the start of the season. That is, with the exception of one position. They are unusually stacked at the small forward position this year and will have to answer plenty of questions regarding team identity and structure with that position.
The other positions are all but secured for other players with Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford all being miles ahead of the competition. However, the starting three spot is a toss-up between two players who are the solar opposites of each other.
Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija will compete for the Washington Wizards’ starting role
One being a spot-up shooter who moves incredibly well off the basketball and one being a defensive specialist who can move the rock in spectacular fashion. The two young forwards competing for the starting role will be the story of the summer for the Washington Wizards.
The decision will come down to Wes Unseld Jr, head coach of the team who has to decide what style of basketball he wants this team to play next season. Of course, this relies on him actually choosing a style of play and not just giving the ball to the best players and seeing what happens like last season.
It’s incredibly close and both players fit with the rest of the starters in different ways. Both players are perfectly viable options for the coaching staff but could drastically change how the season goes for the team.
With all that out of the way, let’s get into it.
Corey Kispert has a great case for starting small forward of the Washington Wizards
Corey Kispert is a gifted scorer when given the opportunity. With an elite three-point shot, off-ball cutting skills, and impressive leaping ability, he has the tools to be a 15+ point per game scorer.
He can easily play off of the main three players in the starting unit, providing space for Poole and Kuzma to operate. He can also find gaps off the ball for Tyus Jones to find him on a cut. Running the floor is also one of his strengths as if he can get ahead of the defense a highlight dunk is just waiting to happen.
He is also more than willing to make the extra pass as last season, he passed the rock more than he had it passed to him. This is an odd stat for players like him who typically don’t get the ball much unless it’s to shoot the ball or in a set play.
The only setback in Kispert’s game is his weakness on the defensive end of the floor. While he is far from the worst defender in the league, he isn’t a plus on that end either. With Jordan Poole in the starting group, having Kispert on the floor could create a plethora of scoring opportunities for opposing wings.
Deni Avdija has an equally strong case to start for the Washington Wizards
A great defender who has yet to exert himself enough to become an elite one just yet, Deni Avdija is almost the exact opposite of Corey Kispert in almost every way.
His shooting is underdeveloped as he only shoots around 30% of his career and he doesn’t really stray far from that mark in individual seasons. However, this is really his only major weakness other than the fact that he isn’t overly comfortable going left.
Problem is, with the way he plays, he almost needs some sort of jump shot to have any positive impact on the offense on a night-to-night basis. He’s not athletic enough to jump over defenses, his handle isn’t good enough to weave through a crowded lane, and he’s not enough of a post player to rely on playing back to the basket.
The positive for Avdija on offense is the fact that he has completely rebuilt his shooting form this offseason while training in his home country of Israel. If this translates into a 35-37% mark from beyond the three-point line, the Wizards will be dangerous as soon as next season.
His playmaking is also far more advanced than Kispert’s but is incredibly limited by the fact that defenses don’t respect his ability to put the ball in the basket. If he shows the ability to draw attention from the defense on literally any level on offense as a scorer, his entire game will come together.
If he hits his threes the starting spot will be guaranteed for him, but until then, there is still a solid shot Corey Kispert comes in and steals it from him.
While I believe the starting spot will eventually go to Deni Avdija, it is still a hotly contested position for the time being. This is definitely a storyline to monitor for the Washington Wizards in the coming months.