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When you’re in charge of a group project, your main goal and objectives are to get everyone to buy into your plan. You want everyone to believe in you and the direction you have or even envision for the team to be successful. As the Washington Wizards have struggled this season, one rookie in particular has expressed optimism about the team's future.
Bub Carrington is a player who is highly valued by the Wizards. He has shown a deep commitment to the team already in just his rookie season.
He understands good things take time. He understands that to be great, you have to put in the hard work and dedication, and that there is a true need for patience.
Carrington was very optimistic when it came to a question he was asked regarding the future of Wizards basketball.
If you're a Wizards fan, you NEED to listen to this answer from Bub Carrington about when the team's rebuild comes to fruition one day. So much passion & drive in the talented rookie's voice.
— Alex Flum (@AlexFlumTV) April 10, 2025
What Will Dawkins is building here has serious potential.@WashWizards @DCNewsNow pic.twitter.com/rKxhik3Bl5
When asked about the rebuild the Wizards are currently going through, he replied, “It makes me feel good.” Indeed, that is already a positive sign that he is in a good mood with the current state of the team.
Carrington went on further to say that, “It makes me feel like when I’m 38 and then doing podcast and stuff in the NBA, I have great stories to tell. I started out losing, I got eight championships. It makes me feel good just to know we've got a journey ahead of us.”
It appears the rookie guard has fully bought into the plan that general manager Will Dawkins and Wizards ownership have in place for the team.
Carrington went on to state, “We know where we’re at, but we also know what we’re capable of.” After those remarks, it is nearly impossible not to feel good about the future of Wizards basketball.
More must-reads:
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- Insider offers opinion on Lebron James' thoughts on Lakers
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Lakers Receive Massive Jarred Vanderbilt Update Ahead of Upcoming Season
The Los Angeles Lakers will seem to enter the upcoming season with virtually the same roster, minus some key additions. More news: Lakers Insider Urges Team to Make Major Change to Starting Five The Lakers have only lost one player this offseason and added three new players who could play vital roles for the team. While that is the case, the core remains intact, led by the likes of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. Whether the current roster is enough to compete in the loaded Western Conference remains to be seen. The Lakers' top three are as good as it gets in the NBA; however, the questions lie more with the others for the purple and gold. The Lakers' depth is not as strong, which is one of the primary reasons they fell short in the first round of the playoffs last season. One of their key players who didn't step up when needed most was forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who has had difficulty staying on the court. Injuries for the last two seasons have riddled Vanderbilt, but it appears that they are no longer affecting him, at least this offseason. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Vanderbilt is healthier now than he's been for the past handful of offseasons. “I’m also hearing Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point last season, which will naturally spark hope that the versatile forward seems like an offseason addition himself when training camp opens in late September.” More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Has Reportedly Already Agreed to Massive Contract Extension With LA The Lakers traded for the defensive-minded forward in February 2023. He came out of the gates hot in the purple and gold and established himself as a fan favorite. However, after the 2022-23 season, Vanderbilt was dealing with a severe foot injury heading into the 2023-24 season. That season, he was held to 29 games with six starts. Vanderbilt missed the back half of the season and the playoffs. As for the 2024-25 season, the 26-year-old was held to 36 games after making his season debut in January 2025. While he was on the court, it was clear that he was not the same player that the Lakers had traded for in 2023. Vanderbilt will now enter the second season of his four-year, $48 million contract with the Lakers. More news: Lakers’ Shake Milton Already Finds New Home Days After Release, Signs 2-Year Deal For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
Stars rival pulls off huge trade, sending first-round pick to a conference opponent
Stars' division rival Colorado Avalanche swings trade with Sharks, moving former first-rounder Oskar Olausson. The Dallas Stars will be watching closely as the Colorado Avalanche reshaped their roster with a move that could impact the Central Division playoff race, trading former first-round pick Oskar Olausson to the San Jose Sharks in a prospect swap that sends Daniil Gushchin to Colorado. This trade, announced on Friday, is viewed as a classic "change of routine" deal for two young forwards who needed fresh opportunities. For the Avalanche, it's a chance to add Gushchin, a skilled Russian winger who has a lot of potential. For the Sharks, it's a shot at reviving Olausson's career in a system that's still rebuilding and has a ton of young players. Olausson, drafted by Colorado in the first round in 2021, has struggled to secure a full-time NHL role. Last season, he scored 11 goals and 26 points in 61 games with the AHL's Colorado Eagles. In San Jose, he's expected to see a much bigger role. How the Oskar Olausson trade between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks could affect the Dallas Stars Gushchin, meanwhile, has been a bright spot for San Jose's development system. The 5-foot-8 forward has tallied 105 points in 112 AHL games over the past two seasons and earned 12 NHL games this year. One Western Conference scout told reporters, "Both these guys needed new homes, and this could quietly be one of those trades that pays off in a year or two." For the Dallas Stars, this swap might not seem like headline news now, but it could tip the balance in the Central Division if Gushchin quickly earns NHL minutes in Colorado's middle six. I think Dallas will be watching closely, because any added scoring punch for the Avalanche means the Stars may need to tweak their own depth to keep pace.
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