The Wizards waived him after he shoplifted, and now he's an emerging talent

"Check the transaction logs. The Wizards traded for Rollins in 2023, soon after Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins took over the team. That summer, Washington dealt Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns and received Chris Paul as part of the return. It promptly flipped Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package headlined by Jordan Poole and footnoted by Rollins, a 2022 second-round pick out of Toledo who at that point had logged just 62 NBA minutes."

"Despite the limited showing as a rookie, the Wizards saw something in Rollins. Perhaps it's what has made him one of the favorites for the league's most improved player award this season. Rollins is averaging 17.7 points, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals and shooting efficiently. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters that across his 13-year NBA career, he doesn't think he has ever seen a jump in play like Rollins's."

"But he is playing alongside Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks rather than in Washington. The Wizards waived Rollins in January 2024 after he was charged with multiple counts of petit larceny. Rollins was accused of shoplifting less than $1,000 worth of goods seven times between September and November 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count, receiving a 30-day sentence that was later suspended and paying a $94 fine, per court documents."

Ryan Rollins is a 23-year-old guard known for shooting, passing and tenacious defense, fitting the Washington organization's rebuilding timeline. Monumental Basketball leadership acquired him in 2023 during a multi-team transaction that involved Bradley Beal, Chris Paul and Jordan Poole; Rollins was a 2022 second-round pick from Toledo with minimal rookie minutes. Rollins has since produced strong numbers — averaging 17.7 points, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals — earning praise for a dramatic improvement. Washington waived Rollins in January 2024 after petit larceny charges; he pled guilty to one count, received a suspended 30-day sentence and paid a $94 fine.

Read at The Washington Post