In the third year of the Wizards’ rebuild, it is clear that improvement is needed.
“Last year, a lot of stuff was given more than earned—this year, that can’t be the case, “ said Will Dawkins on Wednesday.
Many players are fighting for second contracts and a spot on the Wizards future plans, but some veterans have entered the mix. With just a few weeks leading up to the season, who will be the starters for this year’s Washington squad?
Guards
The three main contenders for the two starting spots are CJ McCollum, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson. McCollum will likely get the shooting guard spot. He’s widely regarded as the Wizards best scorer and will bring a sense of veteran leadership. McCollum has averaged over 20 points for the last eight seasons, and his bucket-getting will be vital on a Washington squad that lost its leading scorer in Jordan Poole.
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The incoming rookie Tre Johnson will also step into a premier scorer role. Johnson nearly averaged 20 points per game on amazing splits in his freshman year at Texas.
Unfortunately, Johnson will likely be on the bench to Bub Carrington early on. The Poole trade opened up more minutes for Carrington, as Will Dawkins has put a lot of faith into the sophomore guard. Carrington is also a workhorse, playing all 82 games and starting 57 of them last season.
Forwards
Another vet in Khris Middleton is an obvious pick to start to open this season. Middleton started all 14 games he appeared in with the Wizards last season, despite playing just 22 minutes a game. Middleton will also be a lead scorer for Washington.
Kyshawn George projects to get the other starting spot to open the season. George started sporadically in the first half of last season, before getting a permanent job in late January. George could have a big year two, with even more responsibility and his late-season growth.
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Bilal Coulibaly could mix up some positions early in the year. Coulibaly will likely miss the first 1-2 weeks due to a thumb injury suffered in the EuroBasket tournament. Despite the injury, Coulibaly has been a consistent starter since March 2024 and led Washington in average minutes last season.
Coulibaly could force Middleton or George into the 6th or 7th man role once healthy. Cam Whitmore could shake up minutes if he puts his potential together, but he won’t be a threat at a starting job to start the season.
Center
Alex Sarr will undoubtedly be the starter for the entire season for Washington. The 2024 No. 2 pick showed loads of potential last year, and continued his flashes in Summer League and EuroBasket appearances over the summer.
Tristan Vukcevic and Marvin Bagley will battle for the backup center spot in training camp. Bagley has proven himself more, coming into his eighth season, but Vukcevic’s offensive game should not be discredited.
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Opening Day Starters
The very likely opening day starting lineup is Bub Carrington, CJ McCollum, Khris Middleton, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr. While vets like McCollum and Middleton could have their roles decreased as the season progresses and focus becomes more on development, having two talented veterans on the roster is needed for such a young team.
Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson will also likely contest for starting gigs throughout the season, but some good battles should occur as this team continues its encouraging path.
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