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New York Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr and the Wizards found good vibes in summer-league win
LAS VEGAS — This Mojave Desert outpost isn't known as the 'City of Dreams,' but for one night here, the Washington Wizards could allow themselves to envision better days sometime in the future. Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and Will Riley — a large part of the Wizards' young nucleus — did enough Sunday evening to show why the team invested first-round picks in them. Advertisement Johnson, the rookie lottery pick, continued to hit shots. Sarr showed a pulse. Carrington hit a key 3. George did a bit of everything. Riley flashed potential with late baskets. And the Wizards made up for their embarrassing summer-league opener two nights earlier by eking out a narrow 102-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. Let's make something clear: Winning and losing don't mean much in the NBA Summer League. But vibes and confidence always matter, and even though this event is merely an exhibition intended to help inexperienced players prepare for the upcoming regular season, the Wizards still needed a morale boost after the Phoenix Suns throttled them Friday. 'We didn't really talk about it, but everybody knew the energy we were supposed to bring for the second game,' Sarr said. 'After losing the first game, everybody had high expectations of us doing good the second game.' Perhaps no one needed to redeem himself more than Sarr, last year's No. 2 pick, who was outplayed Friday by incoming rookie Khaman Maluach. Sunday, Sarr filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks and displayed a better motor, trying to drive to the hoop. Alex throwin' it down 💥 — Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 14, 2025 If Wizards general manager Will Dawkins decides to sit Sarr, Carrington and George for the final three summer-league games, it would be on a relatively high note. Carrington hit a 3-pointer that extended Washington's lead to 98-94 with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and finished with 17 points. George supplemented his 10 points with nine rebounds, six assists and five steals. Was it perfect? Not even close. Sarr, Carrington and George ranked in the top eight among rookies in total minutes last season, and the most optimistic of Wizards fans expected the trio, armed with regular-season experience, to dominate opponents here. Advertisement They won Sunday, but against the likes of Egor Demin, Tyson Etienne, TJ Bamba, Drew Timme and Danny Wolf, it wasn't easy. The regular season almost certainly will be more challenging. The Wizards will have one of the league's youngest rosters, with veteran point guard Marcus Smart likely to be traded or bought out of his contract in the months ahead and veteran big man Richaun Holmes probably traded or released from his partially guaranteed deal. Those exits would leave Washington with precious few veterans, led by forward Khris Middleton and guard CJ McCollum. Unrestricted free-agent forward Anthony Gill likely will return as the 14th or 15th man on the roster. Johnson, the sixth pick in the NBA Draft last month, is one of the team's promising youngsters. Sunday, he scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting. During his lone season at the University of Texas, he gained a reputation for taking difficult shots but making those attempts. In his first two summer-league games, he has done more of the same. In college, he needed work on the defensive end, and that's the area Wizards officials and coaches have harped on the most. 'None of the coaches or the front office care if I score,' Johnson said Sunday night. 'They just care if I play defense. That's all they talk to me about. That's all they really care about. I've just got to come out and make sure I'm putting (on) my (hard) hat on the defensive end. That's the main part I'm worried about. Scoring really comes easy to me. I've just got to be in the right spots and make the shots. I've just got to be able to guard and defend.' Johnson said he has 'shown improvement' as a defender during his brief time practicing with the Wizards and in his two summer-league games. At Texas, his team needed him to carry the offensive load, and with all that responsibility and extended playing time, his defense often suffered. With Washington, however, he seems to be listening to what team officials want. Advertisement 'Obviously, there's not a lot of really, really good young defenders in this league,' said Wizards summer-league coach J.J. Outlaw. 'So, we're going to have to keep working at it on that end. But he gives maximum effort all the time.' Riley, a wing who was drafted with the No. 21 pick, scored 8 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. 'Both Tre and Will, they're very good scorers,' Sarr said. 'But they can do much more. They make the right play.' Together, everyone did just enough Sunday night. Enough to think they're capable of doing more down the line. (Photo of Alex Sarr: Garrett Ellwood / NBAE via Getty Images)
Washington Post
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Wizards' Alex Sarr sets NBA Summer League record with eight blocks
LAS VEGAS — As rookie guard Tre Johnson put it, the Washington Wizards felt like they got 'punked' in their NBA Summer League opener, a disappointing blowout loss in which their coach said they lacked the required physicality. Sunday night's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets offered a chance to respond, a point second-year wing Kyshawn George emphasized ahead of time. The Wizards set the tone in a morning shootaround, Johnson said, and maintained it in a 102-96 win at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets summer league player grades: Drew Timme drops 30 vs. Wizards
LAS VEGAS -- The Brooklyn Nets were disappointed by their Las Vegas Summer League debut on Thursday when they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in what was a winnable game for the Nets. Brooklyn had the chance to redeem themselves with a matchup against Tre Johnson and the Washington Wizards on Sunday, but the Nets weren't able to come out on top despite some solid performances. The Nets lost to the Wizards on Sunday 102-96 despite center Drew Timme going off for 30 points, five rebounds, and three assists while guard Tyson Etienne had 15 points and three assists. Part of the reason for the loss was Brooklyn being unable to contain Tre Johnson, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as he dropped 21 points and three rebounds. Advertisement Ultimately, the Nets were pretty much in lockstep with the Wizards in terms of the general statistical categories, but Brooklyn shooting just 53.3% from the free-throw line didn't help matters. With that being said, the Nets are now 0-2 in Las Vegas with three games to go so here are the Nets player grades following Sunday's loss to the Wizards: Egor Demin: C+ Demin did not shoot the ball well in this one, but the good news is that he's keeping the confidence to continue taking shots, even if they aren't falling on a regular basis. Demin shot 10 three-pointers and while he was just 4-for-10 from that range, his shooting will be tested during the season so he has to start getting used to the high volume. Demin finished with a solid overall line of 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Tyson Etienne: B+ Etienne had one of the best performances on the team as he caught fire from behind the three-point line and didn't mind getting 12 attempts up over the course of the game, either. Etienne has already earned one of the three Two-Way spots on the team so at this point, he is looking to work on the weaknesses of his game and provide veteran leadership to the younger players on the roster. Advertisement TJ Bamba: C- Bamba drew the start in the wake of the Nets electing to bring Nolan Traore off the bench and not play with three point guards on the floor at the same time within the starting lineup. Bamba did not shoot the ball well, but he provided strong defense while making plenty of effort plays that Brooklyn benefitted from over the course of what was a tightly-contested game. Danny Wolf: A Wolf had the kind of bounceback performance that he was hoping for after Thursday's rough outing in the loss to the Thunder. Wolf stuffed the stat sheet in every way possible against the Wizards as he was efficient shooting the ball from long range while being all over the boards. In addition to that, Wolf was a menace on the defensive end of the floor as he totaled three steals and four blocks. Advertisement Drew Timme: A+ Timme had the kind of outing in this one that might show that he doesn't need anything out of Summer League other than to just pad his stats. Timme had another standout performance as he used impressive footwork to score on whoever was guarding him, even Wizards forward Alex Sarr, who had his own version of a block party as well. Nolan Traore: B- Traore surprisingly didn't start in this one and while he did tweak his ankle in Thursday's loss to the Thunder, he looked fine against Washington and was a blur with the ball in his hands like usual. Traore did not have the kind of efficient outing that he had in his Summer League debut as he struggled to finish over the likes of Sarr as he was waiting at the rim the entire game. Advertisement Ben Saraf: B- Saraf got the chance to have the ball in his hands more than he did on Thursday and the results were up and down throughout the game. Saraf had some nice moments getting to the rim and setting up his teammates with some helpful assists, but he also had some instances where Washington's ball pressure was too much for him to handle. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets summer league player grades: Drew Timme drops 30 vs. Wizards
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Longhorn Tre Johnson makes the most of his NBA Summer League debut with Wizards
On Friday night, Wizards fans got to see Tre Johnson in action for the first time since Washington made him a top-ten pick. In Washignton's summer league game opener, Johnson showed off his scoring touch. Although the Wizards were unable to emerge with a win, Johnson was a bright spot. Against the Phoenix Suns, the Texas native got 28 minutes of action. He made the most of it, scoring 18 points. The talented guard also dished out two assists while adding three rebounds to his resume. For many in Texas, that was the type of performance that they saw from Johnson on a nightly basis. In his only season as a Longhorn, Johnson averaged 19.9 points per game while shooting 39.7 from three-point range. As the Longhorns struggled to string wins together, Johnson was arguably their best player. That was partly why he was one of the most talked about prospects heading into the draft. With the Wizards, Johnson will be counted on to be a key piece of the offense. In the SEC, he thrived with the ball in his hands regardless of the opponent. He also showed an ability to score in bunches, which will be important as he tries to live up to lofty expectations. Advertisement In his summer league debut, Johnson showed that he was not afraid to shoot the ball. His 13 shots were the second most on the team, trailing only Kyshawn George. That is a trend that should continue during the summer league and into the regular season. Although the competition in regular-season games will be more challenging, Johnson showed why the Wizards see him as a foundational piece for years to come on Friday night. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Longhorn Tre Johnson impresses in Wizards debut
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Washington Wizards 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick
The post Washington Wizards 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Washington Wizards were dealt an unlucky hand in May 12's draft lottery, but their front office continues to prove its worth. By Thursday night, they turned the Nos. 6 and 18 picks into Texas guard Tre Johnson, Illinois forward Will Riley, Florida State guard Jamir Watkins, and two future second-round picks. Advertisement The No. 6 selection was the lowest that the Wizards could've gotten in the lottery after finishing with the NBA's second-worst record this past season. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, got the top three picks despite already having stars on their rosters. However, Washington made the most of its situation, and its future outlook is the brightest it's been in years. Here are grades for all three of its picks: Round 1, Pick 6: G Tre Johnson, Texas Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Wizards are still far from contending, which means they need to draft the best players available without worrying about 'positional fit.' That's what they did by adding Johnson to a guard/wing-heavy roster. Advertisement Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, who is the best difficult shot-maker in this class, surprisingly went to the Utah Jazz at No. 5. Utah was in a similar boat as Washington after the lottery, as it also received the lowest pick it could have gotten after finishing with the NBA's worst record, just one game behind Washington in the standings. The Wizards could have theoretically gotten the No. 5 pick if Bub Carrington didn't hit a game-winner on the Miami Heat in the last contest of the season, but Johnson might have a better career than Bailey at the next level. Johnson's game is easily translatable, as it aligns with the modern NBA. The SEC Freshman of the Year is the best overall shooter in this class, as he excels at off-the-dribble, catch-and-shoot, and jumpers off of screens. He shot 41.6 percent on contested catch-and-shoot threes, 38.1 percent on off-the-dribble threes, 44.2 percent on transition threes, and 54.8 percent on threes off of screens with the Longhorns this past year. Those are encouraging numbers for a Washington squad that had the worst offensive rating in a league that collectively finished with an NBA-record 37.6 three-pointers attempted per game in 2024-25, via Basketball Reference. Johnson's elite shooting talent gives him a reliable baseline to thrive in today's game while he improves in other areas. The 19-year-old took just 20 percent of his shots at the rim with Texas, and he averaged just 2.7 assists against 1.8 turnovers. He also took some plays off, which Wizards general manager Will Dawkins brought up during his pre-draft visit with the team, via Monumental Sports Network's Chase Hughes. He said it motivated him 'to be great,' which is the right attitude, but these are all weaknesses he must strengthen to be a premier point guard for Washington. Advertisement Even with those flaws, the Wizards made the right choice by selecting Johnson over Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears, who the New Orleans Pelicans selected No. 7. The 18-year-old has the best handles in the class and gets to the rim at ease, but shot just 28.4 percent from deep and stood at just 6-foot-2.5-inches against Johnson's 6-foot-4.75-inches at the Combine. He could become an electric slasher and facilitator in the NBA, as his 32 percent usage rate was among the highest in the country and took a weak roster to the NCAA Tournament. However, Johnson is a safer bet to succeed due to his shooting chops. The latter player will now combine with Carrington, who set a Washington franchise rookie record with 138 threes made this past season, to form its backcourt of the future. Final grade: A Round 1, Pick 21: F Will Riley, Illinois The Wizards traded back from No. 18 to No. 21 for No. 43 and two future second-rounders before selecting Riley at No. 21. The Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year is a jumbo-sized shot-creator, as he measured at 6-foot-8.25-inches barefoot at the Combine, shot 61.3 percent at the rim, 36.5 percent on contested catch-and-shoot threes, and 30.6 percent on off-dribble threes for the Fighting Illini this past season. Advertisement Riley's 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio also bested Johnson's 1.5, although the latter had a 29.4 usage percentage against the former's 23. Still, it shows that Riley already has reliable playmaking skills for someone his size, which will help keep defenses guessing. However, his defense and rebounding need improving, as he averaged just 0.6 steals and blocks (stocks) along with 4.1 boards. Bulking up might help, as he weighed in at a slender 185.6 pounds at the Combine. Riley could combine with Johnson to infuse life into Washington's offense moving forward, and the former will be a consistent rotational piece if he improves on his weaknesses. Final grade: B Round 2, Pick 43: G Jamir Watkins, Florida State Finding a consistent contributor is a win at this point in the draft, and Watkins has the tools and talent to succeed. Combine those with the second-team All-ACC honoree's track record, and it's hard not to like this pick. Advertisement Watkins spent his first two seasons at VCU before soaring with the Seminoles in his final two campaigns. The latter program converted him into a full-time starter, and he averaged 15.6 points on 45.7 percent shooting as a junior after posting 9.5 points on 41.3 percent shooting as a sophomore. He followed that up with 18.4 points on a 42.7 percent clip this past season, but his defense is what's most exciting for the next level. Watkins averaged 2.2 stocks over his two seasons at Florida State in addition to measuring at 6-foot-5-inches barefoot with 6-foot-11.25-inch wingspan and 8-foot-6.5-inch standing reach at the Combine, which all bodes well for his NBA potential at that end. The 23-year-old's Summer League performance in July will show where he is compared to his peers. Final grade: A- Related: Wizards' GM shares 'serious' assessment of Jamir Watkins after NBA Draft Related: Tre Johnson reveals how he fits Wizards' rebuilding puzzle Wizards' overall draft grade: A-
