It's been a rough year on offense for Bilal Coulibaly, and that might be underselling it. While the perimeter defense is still solid, the offense has hit a new low, and his fit with the rest of the team just isn't working. In the Washington Wizards' four-point double-overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons, Coulibaly was a -25 in 29 minutes and finished with four points. Simply put, it might be time to turn the page.
The Wizards' spacing is questionable as it is with guys like Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, and AJ Dybantsa, who all aren't elite 3-point shooters, in the starting lineup. Coulibaly, however, has been the most detrimental player on the roster in terms of spacing. In the NBA this season, he's statistically the fifth-worst 3-point shooter by percentage at 13.8.
He provides valuable NBA skills, but the things that he offers are things the Wizards aren't desperate for, while the things he lacks are what they need. With Coulibaly entering restricted free agency this coming offseason, it would make sense for the Wizards to try to get some value for him at the trade deadline or before.
The Bilal Coulibaly experiment just isn't working out
When he was drafted in 2023, it was always known that he was going to be a project player. All of the tools were there, but the primary reason he was drafted so high was solely because of his potential. He's now in year four, and there hasn't been much development, especially on offense.
In order to survive in the league as a non-shooter on the wing, you need to provide top-tier skills in other areas. The Thompson twins are great examples of this; neither of them is an outside shooter, but they're All-Defensive First-Team-caliber defenders, as well as advanced rebounders and passers for their position. Not to mention, they might be the two most athletic players in the league.
Coulibaly is a good defender, but not All-Defense caliber, and because he doesn't have any skills that clearly set him apart, the lack of offense becomes too detrimental. It would maybe be a different story if the Wizards were still in the early stages of a rebuild, because he's still only 22, but despite the 4-9 record, the Wizards are trying to make some playoff noise this season.
A change of scenery is needed for both parties
It's not over for Coulibaly, but it's looking to be over in Washington. There are a few young rebuilding teams struggling defensively that make a ton of sense for Coulibaly. The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans come to mind. In return, the Wizards would benefit from a bench creator who can make plays for himself and others, given how poor the offense has looked off the bench.
Some players on those teams who could make some sense in a Coulibaly return are Jordan Miller from the Clippers, Precious Achiuwa or Malik Monk (if the Wizards added salary) from the Kings, or Bennedict Mathurin from the Pelicans.
The complete lack of offense on a team that already struggles there has just been too much to overcome, and in the meantime, it would make a lot of sense to see his bench minutes given to one or multiple of Will Riley, Tre Mann, or Khris Middleton.
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