Alex Sarr played for the first time this preseason, including his first minutes alongside Anthony Davis. "Nice to see Alex back in action," Wizards coach Brian Keefe said, pointing to early chemistry between the two: in the second half, Davis found Sarr for a corner 3.
Starting two big men means the Wizards' offense will take time, coach Brian Keefe said on Oct. 10, because some of the starters have never played together and are still learning to share the floor: "we're playing 2 bigs. They're learning how to space off each other."
Felix Okpara and Reece Beekman were part of the group that closed the Wizards' overtime game on Oct. 10, and coach Brian Keefe and Will Riley both credited that lineup's physicality and defense. "I was really pleased with that group that finished the game," Keefe said.
Asked about Trae Young's role, Brian Keefe answered by naming the Wizards' other ball handlers: Kyshawn George and AJ Dybantsa, with Will Riley and Bub Carrington handling the ball off the bench.
Alex Sarr is "trending the other way" for Oct. 10, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said, with more on him to come. Khris Middleton will be evaluated before that game: "they're getting closer." Anthony Davis is back on the court; Keefe called him the defensive "anchor communicator."
Kyshawn George is not locked in as the Wizards' fifth starter, Brian Keefe said, because no lineup decisions have been made this early in camp. Citing the strength George has added, Keefe said: "We're definitely going to put the ball in his hands to make decisions."
"It kind of makes life easy. I don't got to take 1,000 dribbles to go score." AJ Dybantsa on being the Wizards' third option. He had 4 steals and held his own guarding OG Anunoby one-on-one. On his college defense: "It was just kind of me just being lazy in college."
Justin Champagnie "can play with almost any lineup," Wizards coach Brian Keefe said, crediting "the intangibles, things that he does": chasing down rebounds off his team's misses, cutting to the basket and making hustle plays.
AJ Dybantsa says having Deandre Ayton and Anthony Davis lets him be more aggressive on the ball: "if I do get beat, I know I have 2 guys that... go block my shot." His Wizards preseason debut was his first game with Davis and Trae Young after about two months together.