The Washington Wizards will host the New York Knicks on Friday to conclude the preseason. With the regular season starting in less than a week, Washington has provided a preview of what to expect from Brian Keefe’s young roster in the long year ahead.

That said, the Wizards will have one more game to showcase their early growth. Assuming the starters play longer minutes, this will be the first game we can take something away from.

Alex Sarr has shown promise in his first few games with the Wizards. After his abysmal performance in Summer League, there seemed to be early doubt about the impact the rookie could have in his first season in Washington.

Nevertheless, the big man has shown his versatility on the offensive end and his ability to be a game-changer on defense. Given his size, Sarr is a threat as a shot blocker and willing defender. Additionally, his ability to handle the ball as a seven-footer could be a huge boost to the Wizards’ rollout of a mix of lineups in different matchups.

If Sarr can show he’s ready to be a building block for the Wizards in year one, it could solve any problems for general manager Will Dawkins as he continues to rebuild the team.

Corey Kispert was selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Since joining the Wizards, the forward has shown himself to be a streaky shooter and a basketball player with a high IQ. The Gonzaga product has yet to break out, however, as player Washington hoped he wouldn’t be able to return to college.

However, at the start of the preseason, Kispert has put in impressive performances. Whether it’s due to his offseason work ethic or a bigger opportunity, the 25-year-old appears primed for a big year.

Jordan Poole was given the early honor of being the Wizards’ primary ballhandler to start the season. The Michigan alum has made an impact in a short time, but at other times his inefficiency and lack of desire to get his teammates involved have seemingly stunted his growth as a starting point guard.

The playmaker has shown he has the skills to get the job done, and to do it effectively it’s just a matter of Poole doing it every night. With Keefe’s confidence in his starting guard and the opportunity to learn and grow in a rebuilding year, the combo guard could emerge towards the end of the season.
On Friday he will have an extensive opportunity to show what he has to offer.