1 Wizard With Everything To Lose After Washington’s Blockbusters

The Washington Wizards completed an entire roster flip in just over a month, with trades for former All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young. Now past the trade deadline, a few of Washington’s young standouts will no doubt be feeling the pressure to perform well. In doing so, one can claim a position in the next era of Washington basketball. On the flip side, playing poorly may grant you a one-way ticket out of D.C. In this dog-eat-dog world, none feels the pressure as much as the sophomore guard Bub Carrington.

1 Wizard With Everything To Lose After Washington’s Blockbusters

Carrington seems to be in a secure position for now. With that being said, he could be the odd man out going into the offseason and the 2026-27 campaign. The second-year guard may find himself falling into a bench role next season.

In the Davis trade, Washington acquired D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum, and Jaden Hardy. While positive additions, it overcrowded the guard positions. Carrington may have the youth to his benefit, but in the world of competition, it could be best to go with experience.

Carrington’s Play

Carrington’s rookie year wasn’t overly impressive, but it did land him a spot on last year’s All-Rookie Second Team. He did show flashes of what a unique combo guard he could become. Carrington has great playmaking and scoring abilities, but he couldn’t keep his performances consistent.

He finished the season averaging 9.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 40.1% from the field and 33.9% from three. Like fellow draft mates Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, Carrington needed to make a sizable jump in the offseason. In doing so, he could be looked at as a long-term piece for the Wizards. However, unlike the two mentioned, Carrington missed an opportunity they were granted. Sarr and George both participated in FIBA tournaments over the summer while Carrington remained stateside, missing out on crucial development time in competitive environments.

With 50 games down in the 2025-26 season, Carrington’s play has improved. However, is it enough to keep sizable minutes next season? The guard has averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds this season. He has improved his three-point percentage, shooting over 40% from behind the arc. This season, he’s been a very steady contributor to a team lacking a true primary guard after trading CJ McCollum for a currently-injured Young.

While he’s made great strides in his game, is it enough to outplay Russell, Exum, and Hardy?