"The Washington Wizards rebuild has taken over headlines this offseason. Not only because of the talent the team already had on the roster entering the offseason, but also because of the abundance of talent general manager Will Dawkins has added over the course of the last couple months. With the likes of Tre Johnson and Will Riley joining an already young and talented squad headlined by Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and even AJ Johnson."
"However, the most important duo heading into next season, may be the one that nobody expects. That duo? CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. Over the last year, Washington has made it clear that adding veterans would be a focal point of their rebuild. Between the short tenure of Jonas Valanciunas, nightmare Malcolm Brogdon experiment and quick stint for Marcus Smart, the Wizards haven't found the right vets to add to their combination yet."
"Despite that, it could all change this season with the newfound veteran duo of CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. Obviously, both vets are far past their prime and it's unrealistic to think that they'll be able to lead the Wizards into the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference this season. But, the impact the duo could have on the Wizards rebuild could be far more important than anything else this season."
Washington's rebuild features a young core including Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, AJ Johnson, Tre Johnson and Will Riley, plus offseason acquisition Cam Whitmore. General manager Will Dawkins prioritized accumulating prospects and veteran pieces. Several pairings — Bub Carrington with Tre Johnson and Cam Whitmore with Alex Sarr — offer immediate intrigue. Prior veteran additions produced limited returns, with short tenures for Jonas Valanciunas and Marcus Smart and an unsuccessful Malcolm Brogdon experiment. The veteran pairing of CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton could provide leadership, stability, and mentorship that accelerates prospect growth even if playoff contention remains unlikely this season.
Read at Wiz of Awes
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