Wizards GM: Thomas Bryant not expected to be ready for start of season

Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard provided updates on Spencer Dinwiddie and Thomas Bryant, who are both recovering from partially torn ACL’s.

Dinwiddie, who is further ahead of Bryant, is set to progress to 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 workouts. Meanwhile, Bryant is running right now. But, Sheppard says he “can’t see Thomas necessarily being in our first game,” per Fred Katz of The Athletic.

Dinwiddie suffered his injury in the third game of the 2020-21 season while with the Brooklyn Nets. He missed the remainder of the season but was medically cleared to return to basketball activities in June.

Last week, Spencer Dinwiddie signed a three-year, $62 million deal with the Wizards. He is expected to start at point guard alongside three-time All-Star Bradley Beal following the trade of Russell Westbrook.

Meanwhile, Thomas Bryant suffered his injury in January in a game against the Miami Heat. He underwent surgery in February. He was seen running earlier this summer. It’s unclear how much of the start of the season Bryant is expected to miss.

The Wizards have added depth behind Bryant. Daniel Gafford, who Washington acquired in a trade last season, is looking to step into the starting center role. Washington also has Montrezl Harrell, who the Wizards acquired in the Westbrook trade from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant was off to a career-year before his injury. In 10 games last season, he was averaging 14.3 points while shooting 64.8% from the field. That included 42.9% from three — which at the time was the highest three-point shooting percentage of any center in the NBA.

Bryant can space the floor with his range. He also can attack the basket from the high-post and rolling off picks, which should allow him to be on the court at the same time with either Harrell or Gafford.

However, Wizards new head coach Wes Unseld Jr. will have to wait a bit longer before he can mix and match Bryant’s skill set.