Former Heat guard offers much-needed upside for Wizards

For about three months, the Washington Wizards have seemingly had one goal: to find a versatile backup guard. 

From its heavy interest in Russell Westbrook to its involvement in the Demar Derozan sweepstakes, Washington’s desire for depth at the position has been obvious. With young, streaky scorers like Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington in its guard rotation, the team seemingly wants a steady hand at the position. 

That area of concern is unlikely to be fixed before the season begins, with the Wizards’ roster now set. But the team made a move on Thursday that could help. 

The Wizards signed former Miami Heat guard Trevor Keels to an Exhibit 10 contract, earning him the right to attend training camp, per Spotrac's Keith Smith. The 23-year-old averaged 20.2 points and three assists per game over 27 contests for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat G League affiliate) last season on 45.5-40-74.4 shooting splits. 

On paper, Keels seems like just another training camp name. However, the 2022 second-round pick stood out in Summer League for the Heat this year, highlighted by a 32-point performance against the Orlando Magic on July 11. He averaged 20 points, 2.8 three-pointers made and two steals over four contests.

If Keels can recreate his summer when camp starts, he could be a real depth piece for Washington. 

Keels can be a stabilizer on offense

It’s clear upon one watch of Keels that he’s different from DeRozan and Westbrook. He doesn’t have the open-floor burst or even the playmaking skills of an older Westbrook, and his efficiency from the mid-range area is nowhere close to DeRozan’s. 

Nevertheless, Keels offers the ability to serve as connective tissue. His proficiency at cutting off-ball has always stood out, showing bursts of athleticism in the half-court. But he also showcased some talent as a passer throughout his Summer League run. 

The assist numbers for Keels didn’t jump off the page, averaging three dimes. What was impressive, though, was his willingness to make the extra pass.  On many drives where the former Heat guard would’ve previously tried to score, he showed impressive court IQ. 

Given the playmaking struggles of Johnson and Carrington last year, Keels could provide the team with a unique strength. His patience and decision-making on offense this summer directly contrasted with some of the rushed, inefficient possessions led by the two aforementioned guards. 

Keels’ passing isn’t the only way he could benefit the team on offense. He also thrived on the glass, due to his large frame for a guard. 

At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, the new addition has a muscular build, allowing him to overpower other guards on the glass. It’s a skill set Washington doesn’t have in the backcourt, operating with multiple guards who are on the lighter side (Trae Young weighs 164 pounds; Johnson and Carrington weigh 190 pounds). 

For a Wizards team that ranked just 26th in the league in rebounds per game a year ago, Keels’ contributions could be a huge boost. In order to have a viable offense, the team must create extra possessions on the glass, a talent he has flashed. He averaged a career-high 3.1 boards over 34.3 minutes last season. For reference, Johnson averaged 2.8 over 24.1 minutes (60 games), although that was at the NBA level.

By providing two skills Washington desperately needed last season, Keels could become a surprising contributor for this squad. 

Could Keels be a positive on defense?

While Keels has flashed his offensive abilities throughout his early career, his defense has been a bit of a roller coaster. Even in the G League, he struggled to keep up with quicker guards, consistently getting beat off the dribble.

This summer, though, Keels looked more stout on the defensive end. He would often leverage his strength as a guard, especially when matched up against smaller players like Orlando’s Jase Richardson. 

If he wants to factor into Washington’s rotation, Keels has to improve on the defensive end. The team has too many skilled young offensive players for him to crack the rotation if he can’t offer some upside on defense. 

With the flashes of physicality he showed this summer, there is a chance Keels can beat the odds. He certainly has the athletic acumen to be a strong player on defense. 

As a player with upside on both ends of the floor, Keels will be a name to watch as the Wizards enter training camp this fall.

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