Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins said they would “heavily utilize” the team’s G-League affiliate this season. Now, in early November, he’s fulfilling his promise. The Washington Wizards sent rookie Will Riley down to the Capital City Go-Go and will make a valuable impact on the roster.
Wizards Will Riley Going To Make Great Impact In G-League
Riley, drafted by the Utah Jazz at 21st overall in this past draft, was shipped to Washington in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr. With the Wizards needing to play an abnormal amount of young prospects, Riley will see the court much more in a Go-Go uniform than in a typical Wizards jersey. This move shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the benefits could.
Riley’s Wizard Situation
Currently, Riley has only seen a combined 64 minutes this season. Unfortunately, Riley is near the bottom of the depth chart. In terms of minutes per game, Riley is the Wizards’ 12th man, far from an ideal position for a developing talent. Additionally, Riley only seen action in 9 of the Wizards’ 12 total games.
Riley’s Go-Go Possibilities
Now with the Go-Go, Riley will be a true force of nature. He’ll be one of the better players on the roster almost immediately and will receive plenty of playing time to develop. Additionally, the Go-Go have plenty of players Riley should be familiar with.
Leaky Black and Skal Labisserre will be representing the Go-Go, two of the best players from the G-League last year. Both players, among others, were on the Wizards’ training camp roster before being cut. Washington was able to retain all their players’ rights, and they should all make Riley more than comfortable with the team.
Riley’s Upside
Riley has plenty of upside. He’s a crafty wing player who showed plenty of promise both at Illinois and in his preseason appearances. He was a one-and-done player for the Fighting Illini, winning the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award. He provided both a decent output on the offensive end, while being able to hold his own on the defensive side of the ball.
In his preseason showing against the New York Knicks, Riley scored 17 points on over 60% shooting. He demonstrated himself in college to be a capable scorer who fits into Washington’s scheme well. However, he needs further development before he plays sustainable minutes.
However, the Go-Go will most likely give him the keys almost immediately. In his first outing with the team on Friday, Riley scored 25 points and added six rebounds with seven assists. He was the team’s leading scorer and playmaker, while also being third for rebounds. While the team did lose, Riley received the playing time he needs for his development.
Not only will that be a confidence boost for him, but Riley will grow quickly within the ranks of the G-League. It will allow him to adjust to the speed of the NBA without having to sacrifice the growth of players like Cam Whitmore, Kyshawn George, and Bilal Coulibaly.
First Of Many?
Riley may be the first of many young Wizards to be heading to the lower ranks to develop. As mentioned, Washington’s front office is prioritizing its young guys; however, there are lots of mouths to feed. With that being said, Washington has also sent 2025 second-round draftee Jamir Watkins down to the G-League as well. Plenty more could come as well, depending on development levels or injuries.
The Last Word
Dawkins has already proved true to his word. Sending Riley down wasn’t unexpected, and should’ve probably happened sooner. Now, he’ll have a chance to lead a group of young, hungry players looking to crack the Wizards’ rotation as the season progresses.
Featured Image: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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