Coach Unseld Jr. is expecting a big leap from Kispert and Avdija
By Cem Yolbulan
As the Washington Wizards retooled their roster and changed their organizational vision this offseason, there has been intrigue surrounding the team. What role Jordan Poole is going to play, which young players will take a step forward, or what the overall plan for the franchise is are fascinating questions not only for Wizards die-hards but for basketball fans in general. Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. gave an interview to NBA.com to shed light on some of these topics.
There are plenty of interesting soundbites from the interview but the one that matters the most for Wizards fans is the confidence Unseld Jr. seems to have in the development of Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija.
On two separate occasions in the interview, the coach mentions a “big step forward” for Avdija and Kispert. When asked specifically “Which of your players do you anticipate taking the biggest leap this season?”, Unseld Jr. was pretty certain about his response.
"“Corey Kispert is a guy to keep an eye on. Deni is another one. Two guys who’ve been with me for a couple years. Have had great summers. Hopefully, they’ll stay healthy but both those two should take a giant leap.”"
This is significant for a variety of reasons. It gives us a better idea about the priorities of the team in terms of which young players they covet. Deni Avdija is up for a contract extension, and his future in Washington may be uncertain. The coaching staff’s faith in him signals that Avdija might be a Wizard long-term.
It’s also nice to see Kispert getting the attention he deserves. His impressively efficient season has gone under-the-radar last season and there was some concern about whether he is lower on the pecking order for the Wizards with the incoming prospects. Yet, this doesn’t seem to be the case. If anything, this suggests that Kispert is the favorite to start at small forward and take a big step forward. If he can improve his inside-the-arc game, playmaking, and defense, he could be a very valuable long-term piece in the NBA.
Let’s hope Unseld Jr. is correct about his players because if Avdija and Kispert indeed take major leaps forward, it could significantly change the future of the franchise.
