"Dawkins has made it a point of emphasis to add veterans to the roster since taking the job as the shot caller in the Wizards front office. Seeking adequate veterans may not seem like the most bullet proof plan for a team that's looking to stack young talent in order to climb into contention sooner rather than later. Despite that, Dawkins believes a veteran presence could pay dividends to the development of the young core and could be the X-Factor in the team's rebuild."
"In 25 minutes, the Lehigh product put together a statement debut proving that not only can he be the veteran the Wizards need, but that he has plenty left in the tank. McCollum led the Wizards in scoring, finishing with 19 points, while shooting 7/14 from field goal range and 5/9 from beyond the arc. In addition to his scoring burst, the playmaker grabbed five rebounds and dished two assists during his time on the floor."
"Following a failed Malcolm Brogdon experiment, it's clear that the Wizards haven't had the best of luck when it comes to landing that reliable veteran presence yet. Nonetheless, following McCollum's preseason debut with the Wizards, he's already making Washington's front office look brilliant. In 25 minutes, the Lehigh product put together a statement debut proving that not only can he be the veteran the Wizards need, but that he has plenty left in the tank."
Will Dawkins prioritized adding veteran players to the Washington Wizards roster as part of the rebuild, aiming to pair experienced mentors with young talent. The strategy faced skepticism after a failed Malcolm Brogdon experiment and concerns about adding older players to a youthful core. CJ McCollum delivered a strong preseason debut, scoring 19 points in 25 minutes while shooting 7/14 and 5/9 from three, plus five rebounds and two assists. McCollum's professionalism, work ethic, and on-court ability position him as the veteran mentor for incoming rookie Tre Johnson and a potential X-factor for player development.
Read at Wiz of Awes
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