doclinkin wrote:But there have been many insightful comments made by other veterans about the Wizards' rookies throughout training camp.
TRE JOHNSON III
McCollum: “Loves the game, hard worker. Obviously, everybody knows about his shooting. More explosive than he probably gets credit for. He’s got a bright future. He asks questions and wants to be great. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
Khris Middleton: “He’s a shooter, man. I mean, he has confidence. He’s going to pull them whenever he’s open and not think twice about it.”
Corey Kispert: “He can shoot it, man. He burns the nets off these rims. To have anybody in the league where if you’re in a bind offensively you can throw it to him and let him work is a luxury. He’s wired to score and he’s wired to put the ball in the bucket. Having guys like that on your team that are a safety blanket really is a luxury for everybody 1-through-12.”
WILL RILEY
McCollum: “I think he’s got some European flair to his game and by that I mean he’s always in the right spots. Great cutter, moves well without the ball. Good pivoting for a rookie. Usually rookies don’t pivot well, they play too fast. He’s got a good jumpshot, always crashes the boards. He looks really good in 5-on-5. He plays really well, he moves well. He doesn’t look lost, he doesn’t look uncomfortable, he doesn’t look scared. I think he’s got a bright future, too.”
Middleton: “I would say his motor [has stood out]. He’s a quiet guy, kind of reserved. But he’s a guy that’s non-stop moving. He’s tough, he can score the ball, he can shoot. He knows how to play, he’s a great cutter. He does a lot of things that you probably wouldn’t have noticed until you sit back and watch film or just watch practice. He’s non-stop moving. And, just like Tre, he picks up things very quickly, also.”
Kispert: “He’s a dog. He works his tail off, plays at 110 percent every possession. Will has gotten a lot of opportunities and looks at the basket and points scored and steals just because he plays harder than anyone else. That’s a lesson that any young guy that wants to play in the NBA or is just getting into the NBA can take, that especially when you maintain it over the course of the season, you’re going to carve a niche for yourself if you just play harder than everybody. That’s been proven over and over again.”
JAMIR WATKINS
McCollum: “Great defender. He asks questions about defense. He was in the cold tub yesterday asking me about [my former Pelicans teammate] Herb Jones and what makes him such a good defender. He was asking me how he got to that point. I was telling him that he cares. He watches film, he makes the extra effort and the body type matches. He’s got a good body - 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6 with long arms, quick enough to guard ones, strong enough to guard threes and fours. He can probably switch onto some fives and then it’s 3-and-D. The league loves that. Guys who can guard all the positions, guys that make quick decisions, catch-and-shoot, can slash one dribble off a closeout but really are out there to guard and guard at a high level. He has ‘lockdown’ written all over him in terms of his future. I think he can guard one-through-five. Jumpshot is already good, which is usually an issue for guys. Usually, the best defenders struggle to shoot. That’s another guy who works, asks questions and knows he’s going to be able to carve out a niche in this league.”
I believe Johnson, Riley, and Watkins are a better group than last season's picks.
Watkins can probably switch up on some fives? That's Kawhi-level defense. CJ McCollum makes him sound like Derrick White.
Will Riley is a a dog, level-headed, stays moving and is a quick learner.
Tre can shoot and is more athletic and explosive than you think. Is a go-to scorer.
Three alphas. These guys will not disappoint.
