The Washington Wizards have a ton to sort out before their regular season opener against the defending champion Celtics on Oct. 24. This is not uncommon for a rebuilding franchise. They are trying to figure out how to maximize Alex Sarr and their other young talents. Washington must decide their rotation and who remains on their roster too.
The Wizards have 16 players under contract plus three training camp invites already. They will have to cut it down to 15 for opening night. Multiple players will be let go with some catching on with the franchise’s G League affiliate.
Nothing is set in stone in the nation’s capital. Head coach Brian Keefe has a plan, but it could quickly fly out the window. These four players must impress during training camp to make the regular season roster and potentially earn a nightly rotation role.
4. Anthony Gill
The Wizards have to cut someone on a standard contract, and Gill averaged the fewest minutes per game in 2024 at 9.3. He turns 32 before the start of the regular season and does not fit the timeline of the rebuilding franchise.
Gill is entering his fifth season in Washington, and he played in 18 of the team’s final 20 games in 2024. Finding a 6’7 wing is never easy, which is why the veteran has appeared in 109 contests over the last two seasons. Gill has also rated above league average by win shares per 48 minutes in three of his four NBA seasons.
The odds are against him being part of the nightly rotation, but Gill has experience with the franchise and may find a way to sneak into the mix.
3. Leaky Black
The 6’9 wing was on a two-way contract last season, so he split his time between the Hornets and their G League affiliate. Black was waived in August. He played just 284 NBA minutes as a rookie and his G League numbers do not jump off the screen.
The 25-year-old is a role player capable of defending multiple positions. His offensive game is a work in progress, and Black is more likely to make an impact on the Capital City Go-Go. He signed an exhibit-10 contract and will have a shot to prove he fits with the Wizards in training camp.
2. Kira Lewis Jr.
The 2020 lottery pick has struggled to find his place in the NBA. It is rarely easy for undersized guards, especially ones that struggle to separate with the ball in their hands. Lewis Jr. was traded three times in 22 days last season and has not averaged more than ten minutes per game since 2022.
The Wizards have an opening behind Malcolm Brogdon and Bub Carrington. Lewis Jr. will compete with Jared Butler to be the team’s third option. It could become a backup role if Brogdon is traded before the deadline. Lewis Jr. is only 23 and could leap.
Fans should not count on him being part of the rotation, but the potential remains. Kira Lewis Jr. is still young and offers upside. Did last season’s trades help him unlock the best version yet? Improvement is certainly the key to seeing him stick in the nation’s capital.
1. Jaylen Nowell
The 6’4 guard has the best shot of the camp invites to crack Washington’s rotation. He played a nightly role in Minnesota for two seasons, and the 25-year-old is no stranger to fighting his way into minutes.
The Wizards have plenty of options on the wing. Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, Carrington, Johnny Davis, and Kyshawn George will all be battling for playing time. Their new front office has invested heavily in versatile wings, and Nowell could be another option for the franchise.
The 25-year-old must improve his shooting and defense to join the Wizards rotation. Those are massive asks, but working your way into a rotation is never easy.
The Washington Wizards will enter training camp with positions up for grabs, and it will be on the talent to seize those opportunities. Players without guaranteed contracts could crack the rotation. The franchise's focus isn’t on winning, but finding an undervalued talent is a fantastic way to build out a roster. It will all be about who makes the most of their opportunity.