Wizards bring in former lottery pick for shot to fill playmaking void

The Washington Wizards are in a full-scale rebuild. They made three first-round picks in 2024 and have a plan to develop each into a building block. Washington hopes Alex Sarr becomes a superstar, but the franchise is years away from contending. The Wizards are focused on talent development and asset accumulation.

The front office is getting creative in building their roster. They acquired Malcolm Brogdon in the Deni Avdija trade. The Wizards signed Jonas Valanciunas in free agency and are not afraid to add veterans who can help their young talent develop. There are also hidden opportunities to find undervalued talent.

They took their shot on Aug. 28 by signing Kira Lewis Jr., Leaky Black, and Jaylen Nowell to exhibit-10 contracts. They are virtually training camp invites with a bonus for sticking with the Wizards G League franchise if released. These no-risk moves brought a former lottery selection to the nation’s capital for what might be his final NBA shot.

Kira Lewis Jr. will have a shot to earn minutes during training camp

The 13th overall pick in 2020 is off to a rough start in the NBA. The 6’1 guard is undersized and had defensive issues coming in. The Pelicans hoped his quickness would be enough to make him a problem, but it has not happened. Lewis Jr. has dealt with injuries, including a torn ACL in 2021, and has not played more than 54 games in a season.

The 23-year-old was traded three times in three weeks around the 2024 deadline. He went from New Orleans to Indiana to Toronto to Utah. The 6’1 guard was given minimal opportunities at each stop but still has potential. He will never be a start. The Wizards hope they can turn him into a bargain rotation option.

In 2023, Lewis Jr. produced a 0.1 value over replacement player (VORP) and a 0.122 win shares per 48 minutes, which is well above the league average of 0.100. It was only in 25 games and just 235 minutes, but shows his potential.

Tyus Jones departed in free agency, and the Wizards need a playmaker. They got Brogdon, but the veteran may be on a new team before the deadline and has significant injury concerns. Rookies Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr will join Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole as the team’s other primary creators. Carrington is the closest to a traditional point guard, and Washington could certainly use some creative juice.

There will be an opportunity for Lewis Jr. to earn a backup point guard role, but his first four NBA seasons should create plenty of doubt.

The Washington Wizards took three no-risk gambles in filling out their training camp roster. All three are 25 or younger and have shown some promise. Kira Lewis Jr. was a lottery pick just four years ago. The Wizards hope he improves dramatically, but there is no risk if they must cut bait. It will be on the 6’1 guard to prove he is ready for a consistent role in the NBA.