Look, there’s no easy way to say this. The Washington Wizards have not been competitive at all this season. They are 2-11 while ranking 29th in offense and 30th in defense.

It’s bad.

So there won’t be many eyeballs naturally staring at them, at least not unless they’re forced to. That’s really fair. I can’t tell people to look at a bad product.

That being said, Washington’s Bub Carrington deserves some attention.

The 19-year-old is productive, racking up the box score at a rate of 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, while boasting decent efficiency (TS of 55.9%) for someone in his situation. At 6-foot-4, the combo guard offers quite a bit of interchangeability, something that will undoubtedly help him as his NBA career progresses. He is able to play on the ball, running the show for long periods of time, while also moving around off the ball looking for holes in the defense.

He’s probably a little too perimeter-oriented at this point, rarely getting to the rim and rarely getting to the foul line. That’s fine if he eventually becomes an elite shooter from both outside and mid-range, but seeing him expand his offensive arsenal should be a focus as the 2025 calendar approaches.

Extra encouraging is the fact that he has been able to play a lot of minutes, as Malcolm Brogdon has missed eleven of the thirteen games. Now that the veteran is back from injury, it will be interesting to see how the rookie can benefit from having a veteran on the floor.

After all, they share many traits. Brogdon is also a big guard who can play on and off the ball. He has experience starting and he has experience as a sixth man. Carrington could see a similar career pattern, and let’s be honest: If he becomes a healthier version of Brogdon, that’s a damn fine career.

So, what’s the plan for now?

For the final month and change, it would be wise to stay with Brogdon as much as possible, to fully absorb his teachings. When 2025 rolls around, it might be time to step a little out of the comfort zone he’s been working on for the first half of the year, if only to accelerate his own development.

It would be a mistake not to expand. He’s too important long-term for the Wizards not to lean in his favor.

Unless otherwise stated, all statistics are via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the glass or Basketball reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All opportunities thanks to FanDuel Sportsbook.