CJ McCollum just showed why every rookie needs a veteran like him

Years down the road, the Washington Wizards could look back and realize the move to land CJ McCollum may have been the most impactful decision of the team's entire rebuilding process.

The veteran guard landed in Washington at the start of the offseason in one of the first blockbuster trades of the summer,

McCollum was sent to the DMV alongside Kelly Olynk in exchange for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and draft compensation.

Offloading Poole's lucrative contract seemed like the driving force behind this deal for the Wizards front office, but the chance to land McCollum, who's widely known as one of the best veterans in the league, made the deal even better.

Following the failed Malcolm Brogdon experiment in Washington, it was clear that the team's front office was prioritizing an adequate veteran addition this offseason, especially general manager Will Dawkins, who's made it clear that surrounding his young squad with vets to learn from is a central focus on his rebuilding strategy.

Since arriving in Washington, McCollum has taken no time to make an impact both on and off the court,

In the team's preseason opener, the veteran playmaker looked like arguably the best player on the court proving he still has plenty left in the tank.

However, not only is he in position to make an impact on the court, but the Lehigh product is also already making his presence known off the court.

McCollum taking 30-40 minutes of his time just to teach a young prospect like Bub Carrington about how to be a professional in the NBA just shows how important his addition in D.C. will be when it's all said and done.

The 34-year-old seems more than willing to take on the role of a mentor with the Wizards, which is a concern that some had when Washington made the bold move to take a swing on yet another veteran on the backend of their career.

Between his IQ, work ethic, the way he prepares and his skillset on the floor, there's a number of ways that McCollum can leave his mark on the young core in Washington and arguably the most important aspect of the whole thing is that McCollum's more than willing to play that role for the Wizards.

McCollum being a player that has taken the time to buy-in to the role of a veteran leader on a rebuilding team instead of being focused on chasing a ring says a lot about both his love for the game and his character.

All that to say, the Wizards guard is proving exactly why more young players could use a veteran to learn from like him.