Wizards' young core is trending in the right direction

Early in the season, the Washington Wizards have a 2-14 record. Though the win column may not reflect it, Washington has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. 

Player development is the franchise's primary focus for this season, and the early returns have been positive. 

After a rocky first year with the team, Jordan Poole has made significant strides in improvement. He currently contributes 21.2 points per game, a career-high and the most on the team. Poole also leads the team in assists and steals per game. His most impressive performance this season has been a 42-point outing against the Spurs earlier this month. Poole has cemented himself as a reliable scoring option, a role he could continue to hold in future seasons.

Bilal Coulibaly has seen a noticeable jump in production in his second NBA season. The seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft has increased his contribution in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. 

Coulibaly was widely praised for his defensive abilities when he entered the league, and this strength is only becoming more evident. He ranks second on the team in steals per game (1.3) and third in blocks. On the offensive end of the floor, Coulibaly is finding his footing as well, with his 13.9 points per game being the third-highest on the team.

The Wizards' most recent batch of draft picks is shaping out well so far this season.

Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has showcased his defensive upside. Sarr's 1.9 blocks per game rank fifth in the league. While there were concerns about his scoring ability following the 2024 Summer League, he is putting up a modest 10.6 points per game. He has shown flashes of high-scoring potential, highlighted by his most recent matchup against the Chicago Bulls, where he scored 20 points while shooting 80 percent from behind the arc.

The Wizards' other 2024 draft selections, Carlton "Bub" Carrington and Kyshawn George, have also shown flashes of potential on both ends of the floor.

Carrington leads all rookies with 1.3 steals per game, tying him with Coulibaly for second most on the team. He is emerging as a playmaker as well, leading all rookies with 4.6 assists per game.

George isn't far behind Carrington, as his 2.8 assists and 0.8 steals per game rank fifth and ninth among rookies, respectively. 

Carrington and George are currently averaging 9.5 and 8.6 points per game, respectively. While these numbers don't particularly stand out, both players have put together respectable scoring outputs throughout the season. With more experience, their contributions could become more consistent.