Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins had plenty to say during his opening press conference for the upcoming season. Not only did he provide injury timeline updates and thoughts on players, but he also mentioned the future use of the Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
Capital City Go-Go To Be Heavily Utilized By Wizards This Season
Young Core In D.C.
It’s no secret that Washington has built an incredible amount of young depth under Dawkins’ tenure in D.C. From draft nights to trades, Dawkins has brought in nine first-round picks from the last three drafts alone.
He drafted the French duo of Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr in 2023 and 2024, and traded for Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George on their draft night. This summer, he added to the core with three more young prospects: Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins. Not to mention the newly acquired talents over the course of last season and this offseason.
Now, the Wizards and Dawkins must start their grind, and some questions begin to arise. Who gets more minutes? Who gets their opportunities cut? The most important one of them all: who gets to stay on the roster?
Go-Go’s Crucial Role
With all the young players needing to seriously develop, Dawkins has the perfect plan up his sleeve. Finally putting the Wizards’ G-League squad to use. The only player from the active NBA roster to play for the Go-Go is Tristan Vukcevic, but that could change very soon. In remarks captured by Chase Hughes, a reporter for Monumental Sports Network (MSN), Dawkins said:
“I anticipate us using the Go-Go a little bit more, especially early on in the season, probably more so with the depth that we’ll see at the wing spot.”
Hughes provided some additional information, writing:
“Dawkins also told the players there will eventually be opportunities for everyone as the season churns on and both injuries and roster moves open doors. But at least initially, the Wizards plan to run their players through tough, competitive practices and wait to see who rises to the top.”
With this in mind, there are a few players who may start immediately down with the Go-Go before moving up through the rotation and back onto the Wizards’ full roster. So, who’s rising and falling as the season draws closer?
Who’s In?
It’s safe to assume that all of the 2024 picks—Sarr, Carrington, and George—are more than safe from moving down. Sarr and Carrington both made All-Rookie squads to end the year, and George had a phenomenal summer for Canada in the AmeriCup. Cam Whitmore should also easily be safe from moving to the Go-Go; he’s arguably the most capable offensive player out of all the young guys on the roster.
Additionally, Coulibaly is not moving down. He’s got his spot secured in Washington, entering his make-or-break season. The Wizards will give him as many opportunities as possible to see what he is fully capable of and if he still lines up with their aspirations for the future.
As for the 2025 draft, Johnson is the most likely to stay in the Wizards’ rotation. He’s who Washington is banking on to lead the core in the future, and is easily one of the top players on the roster.
Who’s Out?
Assuming all of the above names are accurate, there are a few more guys on the other side of the fence. It’s important to note that being on the Go-Go isn’t a punishment. It’s a great opportunity for the rest of the players to continue to develop and get minutes instead of rotting on the Wizards bench and stunting potential growth. Along with that, the Wizards’ G-League squad could be insanely competitive with all the possibilities.
Vukcevic will almost certainly be featured at some point on the Go-Go. He hasn’t blossomed the way the front office hoped, but with more NBA talent around him, he could surprise everyone.
Additionally, the reigning champ Dillon Jones could easily find himself playing for the Go-Go. He never really impressed during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s run to the title. It’s fair to say he’s not tagged as a franchise guy until he proves he belongs in the league.
The 2025 class featured two players who could find themselves playing solid rotation minutes on the Wizards. However, Riley and Watkins do need extra development before any of that happens. Still, they are incredible assets to have playing for the Wizards in the G-League.
The Last Word
The Wizards and Dawkins have the Go-Go in their back pocket for a reason. It’s time to develop the talent they’ve drafted at all levels instead of dragging the potential on the bench. It’s a dog-eat-dog league, and Washington is about to find out who is willing to work for their shot at greatness.
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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