From being waived, spending countless hours in the G-League hoping to impress one of the 30 teams in the league and finally getting the call to show what he has to offer in D.C., Champagnie has a chip on his shoulder that only drives him to prove he belongs. However, proving he belongs isn't where his journey comes to an end and if it is, it would only go to show the chip on his shoulder wasn't big enough.
Washington has been aggressive this offseason and with plenty of roster shake up courtesy of general manager Will Dawkins' decisions, the Wizards will look vastly different when the regular season begins. With the additions of CJ McCollum and Tre Johnson in the backcourt, there's plenty of hype surrounding how good the Wizards' new-look backcourt could be. And while that's a fair thought to have, the team's retooled backcourt could be overshadowing just how impactful the team's new-look front court could be.
Giddey put together an impressive season during his first year in Chicago, looking like a player the Oklahoma City Thunder hoped he could become when they selected him in the lottery a few years back. The Australian product proved to be a savvy passer, underrated scorer and a player that could simply boost an offensive system in more ways than one.
Jonas Valanciunas has been missed since the NBA trade deadline in February, mainly due to how much of a consistent force he was on the court and the good vibes he brought in the locker room. Richaun Holmes still has teammates that wish he remained in Washington beyond this offseason. However, when it comes to the departure of Kyle Kuzma, there hasn't seemed to be any regret or remorse about the forward's departure.
The Washington Wizards have plenty of young talent on the roster to be excited about heading into next season. Between the incoming rookie class headlined by Tre Johnson, the offseason addition of veteran guard CJ McCollum and the underrated acquisition of former first-round pick Cam Whitmore, Washington's depth has quickly turned them into one of the most fun teams to watch heading into next season.
However, the French product's recent comments following a recent FIBA AmeriCup matchup made it clear who he'll miss arguably the most next season: "I love him, I love Rich. He's probably the hardest player I've played with," Coulibaly said in a postgame interview with Giorgos Kyriakidis of BasketNews. "I'd love to be with him on the court. I think he's going to fit well with this team. So, good luck to him."
There's no doubt that over the years, the Washington Wizards have made many head scratching decisions. Whether due to impatience, mismanagement or just poor evaluation, the Wizards have become notorious for digging themselves a whole one way or another. Between giving Kristaps Porzingis up for minimal return, sending Chris Webber to Sacramento in what will forever be looked at as a huge loss for the organization.
Craig Hoffman has been appointed as the Senior Director of Basketball Identity and Integration for Monumental Basketball, signaling a proactive approach to reshape the narrative for both the Washington Wizards and Mystics.
Richaun Holmes has made the decision to pause his NBA career and sign a contract to play for Panathinaikos in Europe next season, marking a new chapter in his professional journey.
