In a surprise move, Washington has moved on from the second-year guard
According to Joshua Robbins of The Athletic, the Washington Wizards are planning to waive guard Ryan Rollins. The team has since confirmed this report.
The Wizards are planning to waive guard Ryan Rollins this evening, a source told @TheAthleticNBA.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) January 9, 2024
Rollins, a second-year guard out of Toledo, was sent to the Wizards as part of the Jordan Poole-Chris Paul trade back in July. Golden State drafted Rollins with the 44th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he never cracked the rotation.
Rollins was on a standard contract with the Wizards this season, but went back and forth between the NBA and the Capital City Go-Go (the Wizards G League affiliate). Averaging 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, Rollins held his own in five games with the Go-Go.
At the NBA level, the former Toledo guard flashed some potential on both ends, swiping away passes with his long wingspan and finishing strong around the rim. With the Wizards (granted most of his minutes were in garbage time), Rollins averaged 4.4 points and almost a steal per game while making 66% of his threes. Not eye-popping numbers, but he only played in 10 games and averaged under 7 minutes in those stints.
A very surprising move to say the least, as Rollins was slated to see increased playing time once the veterans above him in the depth chart were moved at the trade deadline. We’ll know more soon as to why Rollins was let go, but certainly a head-scratching decision from GM Will Dawkins and company.
Washington now has an open roster spot that they’re expected to fill in the coming days.