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The Wizards took multiple pre-draft looks at Wagner a stretch big-man selected 25th overall in 2018 coming out of Michigan. Washington made savvy use of a trade exception by acquiring 2018 first-round pick Moe Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jermerio Jones (and a 2022 second-round pick) this summer from a Los Angles Lakers organization clearing money for Anthony Davis. Hopes for a fast start were busted, however, when the Wizards announced Tuesday that Brown would miss a month after suffering a calf strain during workouts.

Brown must earn his minutes - and showed he could last season once given a chance.įactor in the current roster and even Brooks must recognize the importance of seeing whether the rebuilding squad strikes it rich with the kid from Las Vegas. Eventually, after Washington traded away pieces and focused on avoiding the luxury tax, the coach relented for the final 22 games. Mild ankle sprain aside, Brown, the 15th overall pick was the lone exception despite Washington’s struggles.įor largely inexplicable reasons Brooks repeatedly bypassed the 6-6 wing with lead guard vision. Four of those five suffered a significant injury or played behind a stacked rotation. Of the top 20 selections in the 2018 class, only five played fewer than 1,000 minutes as a rookie. Until then, the speed threat with an improved jumper lands a long-desired opportunity. Smith returns to the second unit whenever Wall is ready. No definitive point-guard-of-the-future exists on the roster. The injured John Wall remains months, if not the entire regular-season away from returning from his surgically-repaired ruptured Achilles. That changes this time even with a healthy Thomas. Though the 6-foot guard started 142 games including a career-high 53 during a 2015-16 season split between the Pelicans and 76ers, the longtime reserve never entered a season as the starter.

The team total does not even include separate stints with Philadelphia or a training camp stop with Washington in 2015 before signing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Wizards in July. How about Ish Smith? Playing for 11 teams in nine seasons defines journeyman. The ex-Celtic gets a chance to the rack up shots off the bench when he does.įor now, Thomas and Miles fill the annual role of “new addition suffering an injury before the season starts” previously filled by Ian Mahinmi, Alan Anderson and Dwight Howard.

Thomas, already a low-cost, high-risk addition after hip issues sapped his speed and swerve-ability, might not return to action until November following thumb surgery. The 32-year-old is also coming off a quiet season and faces a career tipping point with one year left on his contract. Miles goes from nemesis to teammate, but the small forward is recovering from foot surgery. This opportunity dovetails perfectly for a player entering the final year of a two-year, $14.5 million contract. Bertans’ new coach, Scott Brooks, has a history of playing veterans whenever possible and Washington’s offense lacks proven outsider shooters beyond Bradley Beal. There’s a strong chance Bertans smashes those numbers even with the presence of first-round pick Rui Hachimura. He’s a 40.4 percent career 3-point shooter who has never started more than 12 games in any season or averaged more than 21 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10 perimeter forward from Latvia turned into a viable reserve for the San Antonio Spurs over the previous three seasons. The uniforms say “Wizards” across the chest, but the reality is this group is Team Opportunity. New general manager Tommy Sheppard cobbled together a group of guys broadly defined by youth or hunger rather than overtly pushing for the playoffs. One person did utter those words to The Athletic, but conceptually there are no wrong answers. Consider the player whose situation is such that this opportunity talk rings true. Now think about “opportunity” regarding the reconfigured Wizards roster entering the 2019-20 regular season.