Three Wizards rotation questions to monitor

In mid-August, we’re still a little far away from nailing down precisely how the Wizards will set up their rotation. The question remains as to how the Wizards will fill their final roster spot, whether with DeMar DeRozan, Anthony Gill, or somebody else.

But with a new-look roster likely featuring three new starters, there are some interesting questions lingering about how the Wizards will align their rotation. They are now attempting to toe the tricky line of rising up the standings quickly while also empowering a group of young players.

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Let’s talk through some of the most interesting questions.

Depending on Johnson’s development, this question could quickly become a defining one for this era of the Wizards. It is harder than ever now in the NBA to put two small guards who are below-average defensively on the court together for heavy minutes. 

Young’s defense comes and goes, to be charitable, and Johnson faces an uphill battle to reach a passable level on that end given his slight frame. But Johnson is also likely too good to be shunted off to play only when Young sits, which might only be for around 15 minutes a game. 

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The most interesting (temporary) solution here is stealing a few minutes each game where Young and Johnson play alongside as many good defenders as the Wizards can muster at a time. This could even mean pulling a Cleveland Cavaliers and pairing the two guards with the two star bigs, though with Johnson coming off the bench, it could be difficult for Brian Keefe to organize the rotation that way.

Still, the idea of Johnson playing alongside a distributor like Young is an intriguing one. Johnson often worked off the ball last season as a movement shooter, coming off pindowns and dragging his defender around. By heavily staggering the two, Johnson would naturally step into a role as the backup point guard, which could orient him away from his strengths as a shooter.

There is a crowded group of Wizards that need and deserve minutes off the bench. I wonder if Carrington and his unusual set of strengths and weaknesses could be minimized.

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The central question of Bub…

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Publish date : 2026-08-21 16:00:00

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