Washington Wizards Report Cards for the First Trimester

Daniel Gafford: B

Gafford has taken clear strides as a player this season, especially as a defender and rim protector, averaging over 2 blocks per game. He has been effective as a roll man in the pick-and-roll, going up for alley-oops and rim finishes. He has been rebounding the ball well on the offensive end.

However, his inconsistency continues to plague him. His assertiveness waxes and wanes as he regularly gets in foul trouble. He is not a good defensive rebounder and has difficulty matching the size and strength of opposing bigs at times. He is still the only solid center on Washington’s roster, but whether he has done enough to prove himself as a starting-caliber center remains to be seen.

Tyus Jones: B+

Tyus Jones has been as advertised: a steady floor general who doesn’t make mistakes. He continues to have one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the league while hitting career-best percentages from the field. Over 50% from the field with some of the deadliest floaters and creative finishes around the rim is impressive for any point guard, let alone for an under-athletic 6’1 guard.

Jones comes with defensive limitations. He doesn’t have the physical or athletic tools to have any sort of defensive impact. The backcourt combination of him and Poole is one of the primary reasons why the Wizards are the worst defensive team in the league. Yet, he provides much-needed offensive competence, setting up his teammates, running pick-and-roll, and making plays for himself and his teammates. His grade could be even higher if he is able to increase his usage rate going forward.

Fringe players who haven’t done enough to receive a grade

Three players on two-way contracts; Eugene Omoruyi, Jules Bernard, and Jared Butler have simply not played enough to receive a grade. Butler and Omoruyi have looked solid in limited minutes, mostly during garbage time, but unless they become a consistent part of the rotation, they will continue to be difficult to evaluate.

Anthony Gill is similarly in and out of the rotation, not playing enough minutes to get a grade. It has been disappointing that Patrick Baldwin Jr hasn’t been able to crack the rotation despite the team needing his skill set. Ryan Rollins has been dealing with an injury for most of the season. They were, therefore, not a part of this exercise.