Wizards lottery pick Johnny Davis hasn’t looked sharp in Summer League action and an injury could be to blame, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes.
Summer league coach Zach Guthrie said Davis is dealing with back tightness, which could explain why he’s struggled to get past defenders and hasn’t been driving to the basket.
“That’s a question for Johnny, and I’m sure if you asked him, he’d say no,” Guthrie said. “That’s the type of kid he is. He’s a no-excuses, tough-nosed type of player.”
Davis tried to downplay the issue. “It doesn’t impact me at all,” Davis said. “I just make sure I keep the heat pack on it and make sure I’m not sitting down so it doesn’t get tight on me.”
We have more on the Wizards:
- Monte Morris, acquired from the Nuggets to solidify the point guard position, says he’s embracing a leadership role, as he told Ava Wallace of the Washington Post. “I’m not going to be scared to speak up. I’m not going to be scared to give my experience with me playing a lot of playoff games,” Morris said. “… Guys are going to be looking at me to speak up and give my knowledge because I’ve played in the playoffs every year I’ve been in the league.”
- The other major addition at the point, free agent acquisition Delon Wright, said he’s looking forward to an expanded role after backing up Trae Young in Atlanta last season, Robbins relays in a separate story. “(There’s an) opportunity to grow with the franchise,” Wright said. “Over the past couple of years, I’ve been playing behind All-Star point guards, so it’s been hard to kind of show everything I can do. So initially that was something that I wanted to get out of free agency: somewhere where I can go and just spread my wings more.”
- Wright’s teammate in college, Kyle Kuzma, was pivotal in convincing him to sign with Washington, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes. “He knows what I can do. That was his recruitment pitch,” said Wright, who signed a two-year, $16MM contract.
Johnny davis has looked exactly as he did in the scouting process, in my opinion. He hasnt been able to drive past defenders b/c that’s not his game. He is more of a midrange/post up guy that is a competitor, and defends against guards. Has to work on his handle to get into the paint/finishing against stronger/longer defenders, as well as his playmaking, his outside shot/catch and shoot. I like his competitiveness, but I seriously questioned this pick. I felt he was overrated. I only really considered him in the middle to late in the first round b/c of his competitiveness, defense against the guard spot, and the way people talked about him. I had him going either 17th to Houston or their later pick at the end of the 1st round, and thought Washington should take Tari Eason…although there were players on the board at that time I didnt expect to be there either
I also thought he would wind up lasting longer once thought about carefully, and be available at #14, and be a good option for Cavs… (but not the best).
I think he was taken to be popular with Beal, to not get rejected, instead be a role model. That’s why I thought Davis a good pick there, to get the defense and teamwork. However these things are not yet on a schedule to play out. Right now what is most visible is his weakness in driving, and unfortunately, a sore back, if there’s an issue there.
This is a bust pick from day one, but I wish the man all the best luck. I’m rooting for him.
The Wizards can’t develop players. They draft high character, low ceiling guys. They like players who do many things well, though they excel at nothing. And they like Euro League players with length. Look at their drafts over the past twelve years, since John Wall in 2010 (a no-brainer). Every pick other than Bradley Beal falls into one of these categories. Oh, except for Jordan Clarkson in 2014. Drafted by the Wizards in the 2nd round (46th pick) of the 2014 NBA Draft. Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash. Sixth man of the year candidate seemingly every year.
What they do and how they operate makes little sense.
They took avdija at 9, who I had in the 20-24 range somewhere (cant remember, and I had Maxey there at that spot, although he ended up falling to 20 somehow himself, so they werent the only ones to pass on him. I had Hachimura at 18 the year they drafted him at 8 or 9, but I had them taking Doumboya, Little, or an outside possibility of PJ Washington, so unless they took PJ, that wouldnt have been all that different, as of now
I liked the Krispert pick though. They badly needed 3 and D wing help for a long time