Tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz engage in the epic grudge match the world has been waiting for. The two teams fought? competed?…well…something to win the top pick in this year’s draft.
The Jazz tanked less ethically — sitting 23-year-old Walker Kessler repeatedly for “rest,” and then — when the league imposed a fine and ordered Utah to stop sitting healthy players — letting Kessler jack up threes despite there existing no evidence of competence.
Utah “won” by finishing with the NBA’s worst record but failed in their quest to get the first pick. They landed fifth, which was their worst possible outcome. Washington’s reward for trying to win (and actually winning) games: finishing with the the second worst and failing in their quest to select first. They got the sixth pick, which was their worst possible outcome.
So much for ethical tanking, I guess.
Will Dawkins, perhaps channeling his internal Han “Never tell me the odds” Solo, picked Tre Johnson, who might help turn the team’s fortunes around.
Neither team could be accused of dominating Summer League. Utah is one of six teams without a win in Las Vegas. Washington is 1-2 but with Summer League’s second worst scoring margin. (The Jazz were 3-0 in the Utah Summer League, for whatever that’s worth.)
I’m not going too deep on the “who to watch” portion since it’s hard to say who’s actually going to play for either team. What I’d like to see:
- More Tre Johnson. He played well in the first two games and then sat last night with a reported hamstring injury.
- Alex Sarr — when last seen, he set a Summer League record with eight blocks. He sat last night too.
- Jamir Watkins — Against the Nets, he had a Summer League record eight steals, plus three blocks. Only Brooks Barnhizer from Oklahoma City has more steals in Summer League so far.
- Ace Bailey — While I want to see him play, he’s been declared out with a hip flexor injury.
- Walter Clayton Jr. — I was intrigued with Clayton in the draft, and Utah traded with Washington to select him. He’s out tonight too with an ankle injury.
- Isaiah Collier — I’m sure there are reasons to want to see Collier play, and I have nothing against him at all. If I’m being honest, I don’t care whether he plays or not, but I wanted to have someone on this list who might actually play.
Where to watch
The game will be broadcast on ESPN. You can also join me (Kevin Broom) on Playback for tonight’s event. We’ll talk draft, Wizards, basketball history, movies, trivia, and other stuff, including the game.
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Wizards Summer League Roster
- 5 — AJ Johnson, G, 6-5
- 7 — Bub Carrington, G, 6-4 **
- 12 — Tre Johnson, G, 6-5 **
- 17 — Leaky Black, W, 6-6
- 18 — Kyshawn George, W, 6-7 **
- 19 — Kadary Richmond, W, 6-6
- 20 — Alex Sarr, C, 7-0 **
- 27 — Will Riley, F, 6-8 **
- 30 — Jamir Watkins, F, 6-7 **
- 31 — Liam Robbins, C, 7-0
- 33 — Dillon Jones, W, 6-5
- 35 — Zeke Mayo, G, 6-4
- 47 — Akoldah Gak, F, 6-11
- 55 — Keshon Gilbert, G, 6-4
- 59 — Jonathan Pierre, F, 6-9
** = Wizards draft selections
Jazz Summer League Roster
- Max Abmas, G
- Ace Bailey, W
- Walter Clayton Jr., G
- Isaiah Collier, G
- Steve Crowl, C
- Kyle Filipowski, C
- Jaylan Gainey, F
- Dane Goodwin, W
- E.J. Harkless, G
- R.J. Luis, W
- Cameron McGriff, W
- Selton Miguel, G
- J’Wan Roberts, W
- Adama Sanogo, F
- Jaden Spinger, G
- John Tonje, W
- Cody Williams, W