The Washington Wizards, alongside the Atlanta Hawks, obtained the top two picks in the draft. With those picks, they obtained impressive talent, and the Wizards also got other talented rookies further into the draft. The Wizards rookies all have their strengths, but they do have questions in their games that they need to address. Here is a question that each of the rookies on the Wizards has to answer during the 2024-25 NBA season.
One Question For Each Washington Wizards Rookie
Alexandre Sarr
Question: Can Sarr improve offensively?
The Washington Wizards selected French center Alexandre Sarr with the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The former Perth Wildcat is a talented defensive big who has the athleticism and fluidity to be a versatile defender guarding across multiple positions. At Summer League, Sarr put his defensive ability and physical gifts on full display as he had numerous defensive highlights. He proved he is a great shot-blocker, rebounder, and overall defensive presence.
The rim protection, mobility, rebounding, and athleticism were all evident, however, Sarr’s lackluster offense was also apparent. One of the biggest issues for Sarr in the pre-draft process was how raw his offensive skills were. So, the biggest question for Sarr going into the season is whether or not he can improve offensively. The most important areas Sarr needs to focus on for improvement are his strength and shooting. Improving upon his strength will help him battle against bigs in the post. Adding an effective three-point shot can give him more options against defenses. This will be an important developmental year for Sarr, and if he can improve offensively, it will raise the ceiling of what he can be as a player.
Carlton Carrington
Question: Can Carrington improve his three-point shooting?
The Wizards acquired the 14th overall pick Carlton “Bub” Carrington from a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that sent back Deni Avdija. The Pittsburgh guard’s talents lie in his ability to score from anywhere on the court, providing solid defensive contributions, and being an effective playmaker for others. Carrington showcased his skills to full effect at Summer League, where he impressed many with his play.
Carrington has a well-rounded skill set for a guard and showed it off in Summer League, however, improvements can still be made. Particularly, Carrington can stand on improving his three-point shooting consistency. While Carrington can shoot from range and has upside as a shooter, he isn’t the best three-point shooter, which was one of his weaknesses as a prospect. If Carrington can become an adequate three-point shooter, it will really open up the court for himself and others. It will make him an even deadlier scorer than he was before. Carrington can really take advantage of this coming season to improve as a shooter.
Kyshawn George
Question: Can George improve as a perimeter defender?
The Wizards received the 24th overall pick Kyshawn George in a trade with the Knicks. George is an impressive three-point shooter, especially for his size at six-foot-seven, and a good playmaker. His shooting particularly stood out at Summer League, as he was generally efficient in knocking down shots from beyond the arc in most of the games he played. Offensively, George showed that he can be a threat from the wing position.
While George had an impressive offensive showing at Summer League, his defense is still a work in progress. George isn’t a bad defender, and he has great positional size, but it is less polished than some of his other skills. So, the biggest question for George is whether or not he can improve as a defender, especially on the perimeter. If George can improve moving laterally on the perimeter, it will help him stay in front of smaller, quicker guards. Improving his defense would make George the perfect 3-and-D wing for the Wizards. If George can take this season to further develop his defense, it will go a long way for his future.
