It's well documented how much the Washington Wizards' bench has struggled this season. There haven't been many consistent figures outside of Tre Johnson, and the team as a whole is in need of someone to come off the bench with the ability to break the paint and make plays.
Tre Mann could be the solution. He has been overlooked throughout most of his NBA career, but he looked like a real NBA contributor in his first two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.
After the midseason trade, Mann averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 45.3 percent shooting. Then, the following season, he averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 43.5/40/90.5 splits, but he only played in 13 games.
It's confusing how he hasn't been given a real chance after a back injury derailed what was an extremely promising start to his 2024-25 campaign. So far this season, he's only played one minute for the Wizards, but his skill set could be exactly what the doctor ordered to rejuvenate this bench unit.
Tre Mann is worth giving a chance to
The person blocking Mann for minutes, Bub Carrington, has struggled to produce this season. Carrington has been the same player since his rookie season. He's an electric 3-point shooter when he has it on, but when he doesn't, he fails to provide much else.
The issue with Carrington is that he's way too jump-shot-dependent. He struggles to both break the paint and finish at the rim. This is something that Mann would greatly improve on when it comes to the bench unit. Getting into the paint is so important for running an effective offense, and all of the guys on the team who do it consistently are in the starting lineup.
Johnson and Carrington both operate exclusively on the perimeter; Khris Middleton isn't getting past anyone in his current form, and the only other two guys who offer good paint production are Bilal Coulibaly and Deandre Ayton. The issue with them is that they don't provide any value from the perimeter.
Mann might be the only player on the team who can offer skills both from three and in the paint. He's a positive rebounder for his position and has proven he has the playmaking chops to be a lead guard in a pinch during his time in Charlotte. He's not a slouch on defense either, and that versatility is something the bench as a whole is void of.
Maybe Mann isn't the same player he was before his back injury, but it doesn't hurt to see what he has. The current bench hasn't been consistent enough, and the Wizards are hoping to take the jump to a playoff team. Tre Mann could be an underrated piece to give that unit some stability.
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