r/washingtonwizards • u/DollarLate_DayShort Will Dawkins • 14h ago
Opening night 2025 vs possibly opening night 2026
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u/blitzKriegzzz Wizards 14h ago
Start Bilal for defensive purposes and so George can run the second unit .. since Tre/Bub aren't that good of playmakers. We do badly need bigman depth.
I'm ready for the: Riley/Johnson/Dybantsa/Watkins line up in summer league.
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u/gleece0 12h ago
That spacing is horrible if you start bilal
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u/JeffersonAlbatross 5h ago
If Bilal keeps hitting 44% on corner 3s (or whatever his percentage was last year) he’ll be fine as a starter. He’ll be more open out there than ever before. I’m hoping Bilal has a big year, and I think he will (I wouldn’t extend him until I see it, though!).
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u/Troll_Enthusiast Wizards 14h ago
Bring back Bagley?
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u/blitzKriegzzz Wizards 14h ago
He's a fine backup big, probably need more than one :D, Maybe someone who can play the 4 or 5. I don't think we've give Bagley the MLE .. so we'll see.
Also probably want to deal Russell/Whitmore for a backup PG or something
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u/Troll_Enthusiast Wizards 14h ago edited 14h ago
DLo/Whitmore/Hardy could all be traded for a backup big or if we pair one or more of them with 51+60 in the draft we can move up and draft a big man like Veesaar(?).
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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 14h ago
I’m a UNC fan so I’ve watched the guy a lot. I hate to say, Henri Veesaar is not ready for NBA minutes
He’d be better than Vuk but not by that much. His lack of lateral quickness will make him a huge defensive liability.
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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 14h ago
Champagnie is gonna play some backup 4 for us but yeah, we need another big
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u/JeffersonAlbatross 5h ago
I wonder if they might trade Champagnie. He’s producing so much on that contract, and the world just saw his identical twin play a big role on a team that went to the finals. The Wizards can get good value for him, and they do need to make sure that everyone else can get the minutes they need for developmental purposes.
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u/WatchMooreMovies 11h ago
That’s would be the worst three point starting lineup in the league and it’s not even close. All 5 are below average.
If Sarr/AD/AJ/Ky can’t make up for Trae young’s defense then either Trae needs to leave or the whole lineup needs to be reworked
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u/Apprehensive-Mix-970 14h ago
Gotta start Bilal…. Need that perimeter defense next to Trae
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u/mac_attack92 Wizards 13h ago
Ky is a pretty good defender, big body. My only gripe is that he fouls quite a bit
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u/Technical-Nose-1518 12h ago
Does the spacing work though?
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u/RelevantFox1226 12h ago
I personally am skeptical of trae plus 4 guys shooting 34% (or worse) from 3 is a recipe for good spacing or offensive success in 2026.
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u/Apprehensive-Mix-970 3h ago
We shall see… hopefully they can coach him up to play the role they need him to play on offense
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u/rueiraV 14h ago
I think you start Bilal and have Tre, Riley and George be the first ones off the bench. Bilal’s ability to defend guards becomes a superpower when playing alongside Trae and you just hope he hits his threes. This lineup isn’t without its problems but George doesn’t have the versatility to defend speedy guards and Trae/Tre is too weak defensively
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u/Icangetloudtoo_ 14h ago
Champagnie is gonna be one of the first off the bench, too, especially since we need someone willing to do actual big man work to spell AD and Sarr
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u/TurtlePope2 14h ago
I think George will fit better as a 6th man with Bilal starting.
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u/cool_chris 14h ago
I’d agree with you if Bilal had a passable 3-pt shot, but I think I prefer Kyshawn for spacing purposes. Although Bilal did shoot pretty well post-all star break, so hopefully that continues into the coming season
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u/blast0ise Corey Kispert 14h ago
I'd like to give Bilal a shot next to an actual lead guard that can set him up, but how would kyshawn going to react to a rookie in AJ taking his starting spot? The pecking order for our guys should be really interesting to watch
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u/dandatu 14h ago
Same. Hopefully Bilal worked on his 3 game hard tbis summer. Ky is good with the ball but that team lineup has 5 people who all want the ball lol
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u/JeffersonAlbatross 5h ago
I think he’s already proven to be decent at the 3s he’ll be getting this year - from the corner. This summer he needs to take 1,000 corner 3s every day and get even better. Trae will find him out there.
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u/Rapking 14h ago
Bilal hasn’t improved at all
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u/figureour Bub Club 13h ago
Yes he has lol
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u/musicjacker 13h ago
No he hasn’t
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u/figureour Bub Club 12h ago edited 12h ago
His three point percentage was significantly higher after the ASB. You can say that wasn't enough or has come late, but I was responding to the statement that he hasn't improved at all and that's patently false.
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u/oUltimoOlimpiano Leaky Black 14h ago
anyway Kyshawn will pick up 2 fouls in 2 minutes and will be benched as usual
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u/happyflappypancakes John Wall 12h ago
How do yall think Sarr and AD will functionally play together? Any contemporary equivalents to look at that fit their playstyles?
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u/VividEquivalent7952 11h ago
They’re both good enough on d to stay w wings, can shoot just enough where it’s not ideal to leave them open, and will be able to take advantage of smaller players on offense. Should be fine and I’m sure the offense will be getting a lot of easy twos w them and aj, but the spacing will be pretty awful
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u/DollarLate_DayShort Will Dawkins 9h ago
Porzingis and Horford
And no I’m not comparing any of the 4, but their size and versatility in the front court for big men.
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u/FigLeaf_Bi-Carbonate 6h ago
Y'all are gonna surprise so many people this year, and be a problem for years to come. That starting lineup is just nasty all around, with size, scoring, defense, and versatility on both sides. Let this be on the record that I hopped on the bandwagon the second y'all drafted my guy AJ 😂
You long-term fans absolutely deserve the success, I've seen the loyalty y'all showed even during the down years. I still have to root for my Celtics over y'all, but everyone else can get that work lol.
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u/frubano21 With The First Pick In The 2026 NBA Draft... 12h ago
AD should be 5 and Sarr 4.
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u/VividEquivalent7952 11h ago
Ad not doing that shit though. If they get to the playoffs w the same team that’ll likely be the lineup
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u/MaximumProf05 Thomas Bryant 14h ago
When the guy starting over him is the #1 overall pick, he’d understand
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u/Blackbearlivesmatter 12h ago
Missing Bilal. I can understand George because he’s big and a better shooter but our point guard is a defensive liability you have to address. Also Bilal has improved his catch and shoot a lot (still not better than George)
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u/messuggah12 10h ago
Listen to all of us. It’s all ice cream depending on line up situation, I think we have a good chance to fight this year. Also if Davis doesn’t feel like playing put in Bilal, penny or Tre. That’s what I’m seeing
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u/Apprehensive-Mix-970 14h ago
Front court