The Washington Wizards have used the first half of the season to prove they're nowhere close to contending anytime soon.
As a result, general manager Will Dawkins has made it a point of emphasis to stack young talent on the current roster, and find the right mix of veterans to mentor them as they look to finish the season with a bit of a revamped roster following a very active NBA trade deadline.
With 28 games left in the season for the Wizards, some players on the team will have the chance to prove that they deserve a roster spot to stay put in Washington ahead of what will likely be a busy offseason for Washington.
That said, here's a look at three players that need to take advantage of every opportunity they can over the next couple of months.
AJ Johnson
Washington acquired AJ Johnson prior to the deadline in the deal that sent Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Wizards addition of Johnson was overshadowed by the move to bring in veteran Khris Middleton to D.C.
The former first-round pick is young, and his athleticism makes him an interesting prospect for the Wizards to develop. Although he's a very raw prospect, if he can find a consistent jump shot, he has the tools to be a key piece to the rebuild in Washington.
Tristan Vukcevic
Tristan Vukcevic is a former second-round pick in his second season with the Wizards. The 21-year-old has only suited up in 24 career games for Washington, but in that limited time he's shown flashes of why the team took a chance on him in the 2023 NBA Draft.
With plenty of minutes to spare in the front court, head coach Brian Keefe could look to get the big man more involved to prove that he deserves to stick around in Washington.
Colby Jones
Colby Jones spent three seasons in college at Xavier where he showed improvement each season. In his final year with the Musketeers, he averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists showcasing his potential to be a rotational piece at the next level at the very least.
The guard was selected in the second-round of the 2023 NBA Draft, and in his two seasons with the Kings, he's struggled to find any time on the court to prove he belongs. Landing on a young Wizards team at the deadline, he could finally crack a rotation to show what he has to offer.
However, if he does get a chance down the stretch and doesn't take advantage of the opportunities he's given, he could very well find himself on the move again whether it's via trade or being waived.