The Washington Wizards have swam in the deep and dark pool of endless mediocrity for a long time now and the fans deserve better than what they have been getting.
While the 2024-25 season has not gone according to plan, there is one bright spot to all this madness. It's the rookies. Usually, that is not something most teams can say. For rebuilding teams like the Wizards, they'll take any compliment they can get.
What strikes me the most about my favorite team is their lack of ability to bring in talent through free agency. I know what you're thinking. The Wizards play in a small market city and it's not a super attractive destination for free agents to come play, despite the fact that it is located in the nation's capital.
One way to offset a potential lack of success in the open market has been building through the draft. One thing I will say about this is that two of our recent draft picks Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdjia are both thriving on other teams, but that is another story for another day. Back to building through the draft. The Wizards should get more credit for their ability to scout out talent.
In the 2024 NBA Draft, Washington took a chance on Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George. In a way, these three players have become like a big 3 of young talent. Let's take a look at each of them individually and see what makes them a great new addition to the overall roster for now and the future.
Alex Sarr
Alex Sarr is a 7-footer who plays like a big, but also wants to be a guard. A young guy who's skillset stretches beyond the arc and in the restricted area, and if developed properly, can be as dominant as any starting caliber center in the league. His star comparison in my eyes is Joel Embiid for the simple fact that he can score on all three levels and play on both sides of the ball.
They both can mix things up in the paint, be a rim runner, and shoot pick and pop threes from the top off the arc coming off a screen.
Obviously, he is not as forceful and/or dominant as the 76ers big man just yet, but he has shown flashes of that potential in his short career so far. Yes, this may seem like a ridiculous take, but I truly believe that his game translates to the modern game like Embiid's does and they play similar styles to one another, however one displays his dominance more outgoingly than the other.
This season, Alex Sarr has been scoring and defending from everywhere for the Wizards.
From dunking while being guarded by Spurs sophomore center Victor Wembanyama, to blocking a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo layup attempt, to blocking a hook shot from Jrue Holiday, to hitting a contested jumper over Alperen Şengün, to hittng a corner 3-ball over the long awaiting arms of Jarret Allen, he has shown he can really do it all on the floor.
With a little bit of development and avoiding a sophomore slump, he can be a great all around swingman, and it's not like he isn't that already.
One move I see him pull off many times in all the games I have watched this season is the fadeaway mid-range 15-foot jumper after catching a pass from a teammate and posting up his defender. His movement without the basketball and his ability to make split second decisions based on reading not only his defender, but the whole court is impressive for a rookie.
During every sequence, Sarr will catch a pass from the point guard, take a couple dribbles to gain position, feel his defender's hand on his back, spin around and shoot a high arching fade towards the basket. It's very Joel Embiid-esque. What's great is that he can get this shot off on his own when it comes to his isolation plays, making him a double-threat on the offensive end of the floor.
His mid-range game is pretty polished for a rookie and in a league dominated by the necessity to launch threes like they are rockets from NASA, keeping the in-between game in his arsenal is gonna make him stand out from the pack. The way he shoots 3s and the way he attacks the rim is also similar to Embiid, yet his signature shot falls in the mid-range zone.
Kyshawn George
Moving on to Kyshawn George now. He may not be an on the ball threat, but his ability to be in the right place at the right time off the ball makes him dangerous. His ability to weave his way around the court like Steph Curry and be in the right place for a catch and shoot jump shot, or be streaking to the basket as a cutter make him a nightmare for opposing forwards.
George has really been a "plug me in here, there, or anywhere" type of player for the Wizards and that is a great asset to have for a team that is still trying to figure out its true offensive identity. Whether he is the recipient of a scoring opportunity or he is the facilitator, George is dangerous with the ball, but especially without.
It is because of this unique skillset that makes George not have a signature move, because he can really be anywhere at any time out on the court. However, there is one thing I see him do often that sums up his offensive arsenal.
Let's break it down. In one of their NBA Cup Tournament games against the Chicago Bulls, Malcom Brogdon was taking the ball down the court when he looks up and spots George sprinting down the left wing.
When Malcom sees this, he immediately swings the ball over to him. Once George catches the ball, he sees that his defender Nikola Vucevic is preparing to close out on a potential 3-point attempt. George notices this and he uses his pump-fake to get Vucevic in the air. He then blows right by him for a tough contested up and under finish at the basket against Zach LaVine and Matas Buzelis.
That play right there illustrates George's ability to be in the right place at the time, read the defender's position, and make the smart play based on what the defense is giving him.
It sounds textbook, but in a league full of players wanting to go one on one against a favorable matchup, George doesn't need the ball on a string to be effective. Like LeBron James said on JJ Redick's podcast, this is not "Jordan vs Bird Nintendo". This is a 5 on 5 sport.
Bub Carrington
And finally, let's discuss Carlton "Bub" Carrington. Out of the three star rookies the Wizards have this season, Bub may be the most effective offensive threat in terms of his passing and his scoring ability. He can flip a switch from being a playmaker to a scorer with a snap of his fingers and within a split second moment of a tight game coming down to the wire.
Bub was taking the ball out during an inbound play against the Cavs at home in DC. He quickly found fellow rookie Alex Sarr at the top of the key to start the action. Sarr quickly found Keyshawn George at the free throw line extended.
As this was happening, Bub snuck behind the defense unoticed and parked himself underneath the rim. George saw this and he whips the ball down low to the waiting Bub Carrington.
Instead of taking the open layup like George Niang was probably expecting, he drew Niang into the paint to make sure Bilal Coulibali would remain open in the right corner. When Niang fell for the bait in the paint, Bub swung him the ball in the corner pocket and Bilal made quick work of those 3 points.
When it comes to scoring, Bub can be just a dangerous for opposing defenses. On the road against the Magic, his shifty style of play was put on full display. Jordan Poole started the play by lobbing the ball to Alex Sarr who was on a post up in the long 2 range of the mid-range. Poole sets a screen for Bub who immediately uses it and gets the ball near left wing.
He gathers his dribble, and then proceeds to weave his way through the paint, before shooting a high-arcing hook off the glass over the outstretched arms of Goga Bitadze. He could have easily shot a more wide open mid-range fadeaway, but instead he chose to take a more difficult shot in the teeth of the defense. Bub really has no fear.
These three rookies combined all bring new and unique skillsets to the table that are innovative, diverse from one another, and most importantly, very coachable. Why do I think these three players make up the best collection rookie talent in Wizards franchise history? It's because the three of them don't play like rookies.
I have never seen a collection of not 1, not 2, but 3 different guys, all in their first year, show flashes of stardom at the exact same time within the exact same season.
I know that sounds cliche'. But in an era of analytics, these three players play the game in a way that shows they understand schemes as well as some of the true superstars of the NBA. The team's record does say a lot, but at the end of the day and as talented as they are, they are rookies.
The rooks have a lot of room to grow, and with former NBA champion guard Jordan Poole at the helm, the Wizards have a bright future as long as the development of Bub, Keyshawn, and Sarr continues to run on the right course.