Wizards announce Summer League roster

The team consists of all three of Washington’s 2024 draft picks.

The Washington Wizards announced their 2024 NBA Summer League roster on Wednesday, a squad comprised of mostly Wizards and GoGo players.

The 15-man roster includes 12 current Wizards and GoGo players, a rather large number compared to other teams.

Washington’s three 2024 first-round picks headline a talented summer league squad for GoGo head coach Cody Toppert, who will lead this young Wizards team in Las Vegas. Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George should see healthy playing time in their first action as Wizards.

Atop the list is former No. 10 pick and third-year guard Johnny Davis. While most first-round picks stop playing summer league after Year 2, Davis is a rare case in which his first two seasons have gone south and a third stint in summer league could help his development.

Jared Butler, who emerged at last year’s summer league with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will likely start at point guard. Washington saw his potential and signed him off of OKC’s roster last July. Butler played well for the Wizards, earning himself a standard NBA contract after an impressive showing at backup point guard with Tyus Jones injured.

Wizards second-round selection in 2023, Tristan Vukcevic, will play in Las Vegas. The 7-footer recently signed a two-way contract to remain in Washington. Vukcevic flashed his long-range shot at last year’s summer league and will look for more of the same this go around.

Former GoGo standouts Eugene Omoruyi, Justin Champagnie and Jules Bernard will suit up in Vegas. Champagnie is currently on a two-way deal and Omoruyi a standard NBA deal, but Omoruyi’s 2024-25 salary is fully non-guaranteed.

Patrick Baldwin Jr, like Johnny Davis, is a former first-round pick still playing in summer league. Baldwin showed flashes toward the ladder part of last season, draining outside jumpers while using his length to alter shots defensively, but was rather inconsistent for much his 2023-24 campaign.

John Butler Jr. is a lanky 7-footer with a solid shooting stroke, draining 42.7% of his threes with the GoGo. His teammate, 26-year-old Taylor Funk, is a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds with the GoGo last season.

Twelve of the 15 players are currently with the Wizards or GoGo, a heavy contingency of familiar faces. Just three members of the Wizards summer league roster are outside signings: Marquis Nowell, Erik Stevenson and Tyler Robertson.

Marquis Nowell starred at Kansas State during their Elite-8 run in 2023, carrying the Wildcats through multiple close games. Standing just 5-foot-7, Nowell is a crafty guard with excellent court vision. He played last season for the Raptors G League affiliate, averaging 14.4 points and 8.7 assists.

Undrafted a year ago out of West Virginia, Erik Stevenson is a bruising guard with a decent three-point stroke. Stevenson’s physicality is one of his best traits, imposing his will on smaller, weaker guards.

Tyler Robertson, a 6-foot-6, 235 pound guard out of Portland, plays at his own pace. During his senior season, Robertson averaged 16.6 points and 4.5 rebounds on 37% 3pt.

As for the starting lineup, I think Wizards fans could be disappointed, at least early on, by who Toppert trots out there to start each game. Jared Butler likely starts at PG alongside Johnny Davis at the two-guard. It’s possible that Alex Sarr and Tristan Vukcevic start at the four and five to create a formidable front-court duo. That leaves the one spot on the wing, which could go to either Bub Carrington or Justin Champagnie.

With the talent and experience on this Wizards roster, Washington should compete for the top spot at this year’s Las Vegas Summer League.