Ryan Rollins

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wasatemperly

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;– The Washington Wizards announced today that they have waived guard Ryan Rollins.&nbsp;

Rollins averaged 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 6.6 minutes in 10 games for the Wizards this season. He was originally acquired by Washington in a trade with Golden State on July 6, 2023.&nbsp;

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Wizards Waive Ryan Rollins

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2023 Wizards Training Camp: Day One

Luke Askew

The 2023 Las Vegas NBA Summer League has officially come and gone. From July 7-17, all 30 NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards, were in Las Vegas battling hard in front of the entire basketball community.

While winning Summer League is a goal for all players and coaches in Las Vegas, the main focus is on player development. It's a chance for fans to get first glimpses of their favorite team's incoming rookies or another look at some returning young players.

For the Wizards, who finished Summer League with a 2-3 record, there were a lot of intriguing storylines in the player development category. Fans saw Johnny Davis return for his second Summer League run. They saw Bilal Coulibaly, an 18-year-old top-10 pick from France make his debut in a Wizards uniform. And they got first glimpses of two fresh faces, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins, who only joined the Wizards on July 6 after coming over via trade from Golden State.

Now that things have settled, let's take a look at four main takeaways from the Wizards' 2023 Summer League.

The last 13 months have been a wild ride for Wizards guard Johnny Davis. After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Davis went to Las Vegas to compete in the 2022 NBA Summer League. Like a lot of rookies, Davis struggled to find his footing in that setting. In three games, he averaged 8.3 points on 27.6% shooting from the field and 33.3% shooting from deep to go along with four boards, 1.7 assists and 2.7 turnovers.

After a full season of going back and forth between Washington's G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, and the Wizards, Davis looked much more comfortable in his second Summer League. He saw increased production and improved shooting splits across the board while cutting down on turnovers. Check out his averages from this Summer:

In his fourth and final game, Davis exploded for a team-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting from deep to go along with three assists, two boards and one block. He was consistently aggressive and in control, using his strength to finish through defenders at the rim.

"The great thing about Johnny, especially today like I told him after the game, is that he stayed aggressive regardless of how it was going," said Wizards Summer League head coach Landon Tatum after Davis' outstanding performance. "Trying to get downhill, create for himself and others, as well. And for him to have that type of confidence throughout the entire game was great to see."

Now, Davis will shift his focus to the 2023-24 regular season as he looks to keep building on the solid foundation he's established this summer.

When the Wizards agreed to trade for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly, the seventh overall pick, he was relatively unknown among American hoops fans. He didn't play college ball in the States or take the G League route into the NBA. Instead, he came over from France, where he began playing professionally in 2021. Now, after four awe-inspiring Summer League games, Coulibaly has become a household name for basketball fans in the DMV.

When Coulibaly was in France, he spent most of his time with the Metropolitans 92 under-21 team before being called up to the senior team. When playing with the junior squad, he was able to showcase creation skills with the ball in his hands. After being promoted to the senior team, he operated primarily as a defensive stopper and transition athlete for a Mets 92 team that made it to the LNB Pro A championship.

In Summer League, Coulibaly put all of his skills together, and while his offensive production was cause for celebration (12.3 PPG, 2 APG), his defensive prowess is what left Wizards fans drooling with anticipation for his rookie season.

At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coulibaly's frame alone makes it difficult for opposing ball handlers to create offense when he's the primary defender. But his lateral quickness, hoops IQ and leaping ability made him one of the top defenders in Las Vegas. He frequently met opponents at the rim and erased shots that originally looked like bunnies.

Coulibaly averaged 2.3 blocks per game in Vegas -- a phenomenal mark for an 18-year-old perimeter player.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. came to the Wizards via trade on July 6. After being drafted with the 28th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, he spent time with both the Golden State Warriors and their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

For Wizards fans who may not have watched Baldwin with the Warriors, Summer League was their first chance to get a feel for his game.

In four games, Baldwin averaged nearly eight points per game on 35.5% shooting from the field and 27.3% shooting from deep. Those numbers don't jump off the page in a great way, but they also aren't an accurate indicator of Baldwin's shooting abilities. He's a dynamic three-level scorer with a super pure jump shot. He was just plagued by a couple of cold games in the unique Summer League environment.

That's why when analyzing Baldwin, you have to look beyond the numbers and check out his feel for the game.

At 6-foot-9, Baldwin has the length to shoot over anybody at any given moment, but he does a nice job of not forcing shots that aren't there. In Vegas, he played within the flow of the offense and often operated as a connector in the middle of the floor. He also has a knack on both offense and defense for being in the right spot at the right time. It's a skill that can't be measured but is impossible to miss when watching him play.

"Pat's ability to shoot, whether he's making shots or missing shots, is going to always affect the game," said Coach Tatum. "He's very versatile in the fact that he's able to come off of quick pin downs and get open looks and shoot over the defense. And defensively, he actually has really solid length and he uses his smarts."

At just 20 years old, the future is bright for Baldwin.

Another youngster who came over from the Warriors via trade on July 6 is point guard Ryan Rollins. Like Baldwin, Rollins split time during his rookie campaign between the G League and the NBA.

At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Rollins has unique length at the point guard position and it shows. During Summer League, he used his length, athleticism and instincts to wreak havoc on the defense end of the court, deflecting passes and forcing turnovers at a high rate. In his four games, he averaged 2.3 steals in just 24.8 minutes per contest.

As awesome as his defense was, Rollins' ability to run the show on offense is what stood out most in Vegas. He was tasked with being the primary ball handler and setting up the offense -- a responsibility that isn't easy in Summer League when playing with relatively new teammates. Still, Rollins dished out five assists per game while also averaging 14 points. To put it simply, when he had the ball in his hands, things seemed to work out.

In game two of Summer League, the Wizards played a talented Celtics team and Rollins was the best player on the court, scoring a team-high 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field while dishing out nine assists, tallying five steals and only turning the ball over once.

"I'm coming in as a young guy just hungry for an opportunity and just taking the opportunity and making the most of it," said Rollins. "I know what I'm capable of and my ability, so I'm gonna go out there and prove what I got."

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Washington Wizards: 4 big takeaways from 2023 NBA Summer League

The Washington Wizards (1-2) are preparing for their fourth Summer League game in an afternoon battle against the Thunder (2-1). Can the Wizards level their record and get back to .500 in Las Vegas? Here's everything you need to know.

WHERE: Cox Pavillion (Las Vegas, NV)WHEN: 4:30 p.m. ETTV: NBA TV, NBCSW

Wizards' rookie Bilal Coulibaly has made a nice impact on Summer League thus far. Offensively, he's made some solid plays, including when he drilled the game-clinching jumper in the Wizards' lone win. But defensively is where he's shone brightest.

At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coulibaly is physically capable of making plays that most guys in Summer League can't make. This has led to an onslaught of jaw-dropping blocks in Las Vegas. As the opposing player gears up to shoot the ball, it appears as though Coulibaly won't be an issue. Their natural basketball instincts make it seem as though they're open for a free shot. But then, out of nowhere, Coulibaly has a knack for coming in and spiking the ball off the backboard or sending it in reverse.

In three Summer League games thus far, Coulibaly has already totaled five blocks. That's an exceptional number for a perimeter player.

JOHNNY DAVIS AND RYAN ROLLINS SETTING THE TONE

Summer League tends to be dominated by guards. There are always exceptions, but usually, the guys with the ball in their hands are the ones making things happen. Since everyone is still trying to figure each other out and each player is trying to showcase their individual talent, guards have the upper hand. That makes Ryan Rollins and Johnny Davis essential to the success of the Wizards in Summer League.

In three games, Davis has shown he has the ability to get downhill and either finish at the rim or stop on a dime and hit floaters from various angles. He's averaging a cool 14.3 points per game. Rollins has been more of a playmaker and defensive disrupter. He's averaging 13.6 points per game to go along with 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals.

It's clear that Davis and Rollins are the guys setting the tone for the Wizards. They'll be crucial in Washington's efforts to take down the Thunder on Friday.

Chet Holmgren was drafted by the Thunder with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season due to injury. Now, he's back healthy and looking fluid on both ends of the court.

Whether it's rebounding, blocking shots, running in transition, or putting the ball on the deck and making plays, Holmgren has shown he's capable of making a huge impact on the game. In two contests thus far in Vegas, Holmgren has averaged 20.5 points on 56% shooting from the field to go along with 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.5 blocks.

If Holmgren suits up (lineups are subject to change at the drop of a hat during Summer League), it'll be fascinating to see how the Wizards attempt to limit him.

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Preview: Wizards battle Thunder in fourth Summer League game

In Tuesday night's final Summer League game, the Washington Wizards took on the San Antonio Spurs. It was a hard-fought four quarters, but ultimately, Malachi Branham and the Spurs' offense was too much down the stretch.

Wizards starting point guard Ryan Rollins picked up right where he left off on Sunday evening and got this game started with a bang. He connected on a pull-up three, punishing his defender for going under a screen, and finished a crafty left-handed layup to ink the Wizards' first five points.

As the game wore on, it was clear this was going to be a grind-it-out, slugfest style of basketball game. Neither team was able to create much separation, and the offenses were struggling to find a rhythm. At halftime, the game was tied at 46 apiece.

In the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, Spurs guard Malachi Branham took over and got his team's offense moving. He used his three-level scoring ability to control the pace of the game and ultimately finished with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 shooting from deep in 28 minutes of playing time.

For the Wizards, Xavier Cooks led the way with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in 21 minutes. Rollins was right behind him with 13 points. Johnny Davis and Bilal Coulibaly were the only other Wizards in double figures, tallying 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Next up is a Friday-night showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Recap: Wizards fall 85-96 to Spurs in game three of Summer League

The Summer League Washington Wizards (1-1) are coming off an impressive, high-action win over the Boston Celtics. Now, they're looking to make it two wins in a row as they gear up to face the San Antonio Spurs (1-1).

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)WHEN: 10:30 p.m. ETTV: NBA TV, NBCSW

Here are three things to watch in Tuesday night's game.

The biggest difference between the Wizards' first Summer League game and their second Summer League game was the pace. In game one, the Wizards were trying to feel things out -- trying to get a read on their team and Summer League action as a whole. In game two, they looked comfortable, and they knew what they had to do: push the ball in transition.

In game one, the Wizards scored 11 fastbreak points. That's a fine number, but it clearly wasn't an area they dominated. In game two, that shifted dramatically as they tallied 15 steals and scored a whopping 28 fastbreak points.

Bilal Coulibaly was flashing his athleticism in the open court. Johnny Davis was pushing whenever he saw an opportunity arise. Tristan Vukcevic was showing his versatility in transition. And most importantly, Ryan Rollins was always looking to push.

Rollins has been operating as the starting point guard for the Wizards in Summer League, and his ability to control the game is starting to take shape. He was good in game one, but game two was when he really took command, scoring a team-high 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with nine assists, five steals and only one turnover.

As Rollins racked up steals, the offense started to flow. He wasn't content with slowing things down and setting up the offense. He wanted to catch the defense on their heels and get the Wizards' athletes out running in the open floor. It worked to near perfection as the Wizards' soared to a high-octane victory.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. has been one of the many bright spots for the Wizards so far in Summer League. After coming over from the Warriors via trade on July 6, he's made an immediate impact in Las Vegas.

In his first game, Baldwin scored 13 points off the bench, while adding four rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal. Then, he got the starting nod in game two and went for 10 points on an efficient 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 shooting from deep.

While Baldwin's basketball IQ and defensive versatility have been wonderful to see, his silky smooth jumper is what has stood out the most. Whether it's a self-created three off the dribble or a catch-and-shoot opportunity, Baldwin rises up with ease and it always feels like the ball will find its way through the hoop.

Watching a high-level jump shooter is one of the most fun things to witness in a basketball game, and Baldwin brings that every time he's on the floor.

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Preview: Three things to watch for in Wizards-Spurs Summer League contest

On the second night of a Summer League back-to-back, the Washington Wizards used defensive intensity and transition offense to outpace the Boston Celtics 103-98.

The first half of Sunday night's game was tightly contested. Both teams were getting up and down the floor and you could tell it would be a competitive game from start to finish. At halftime, the Celtics held a slight 52-51 lead.

The third quarter is where the momentum shifted in the Wizards' direction as they forced turnover after turnover and piled on the points in transition (more on this soon). At one point in the second half, the Wizards built their lead up to 14 points and looked ready to run away with the game, but the Celtics never quit.

With 27 seconds left in the game, Jordan Walsh capped off a 7-0 run by the Celtics with a rim-rattling three to cut the D.C. lead to just three points. The Celtics opted not to foul, playing the possession straight up and hoping to force a turnover or a miss. Only, Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly had other plans.

Coulibaly caught the ball on the right wing with 10 seconds left in the game (seven on the shot clock) and took two power dribbles toward the baseline before stepping back for a mid-range pull-up jumper. Nothing but net. Onions.

The rookie from France finished the game with 11 points and five boards. He also had a slick no-look pass that led to an easy dunk.

Here are five takeaways from the Wizards' first win of the 2023 NBA Summer League.

Throughout Sunday night's game, the Celtics would switch in and out of a zone defense, which can be tricky for any team to conquer, let alone a Summer League squad without much shared experience. Of course, one surefire way to beat a solid half-court defense is to never let it get set.

The Wizards' best offense in this game was their defense. They had active hands and pressured the opposing ball handlers relentlessly, doing everything they could to force turnovers. In turn, that led to easy opportunities for the offense.

The Celtics turned the ball over 23 times (15 came by way of steals from the Wizards) and Washington was masterful in transition, scoring 28 fastbreak points.

In Saturday night's loss to the Pacers, the Wizards looked disjointed at times, which is completely normal for a team of youngsters playing together for the first time. As the game wore on, it looked like the chemistry was improving, but the real test was always going to come 24 hours later on Sunday night against Boston.

Right from the jump, guys were moving off the ball and the rock was zipping around, finding the open man. Washington finished the game with 25 assists on 37 made shots -- an impressive number for a 40-minute Summer League game. This helped lead to seven Wizards players scoring in double figures.

A big part of the Wizards' offensive success tonight was point guard Ryan Rollins, who came over via trade from the Golden State Warriors on July 6.

In 27 minutes of playing time, Rollins scored a team-high 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field while dishing out nine assists and only turning the ball over one time. Oh, and remember how defense was the Wizards' best offense tonight? Well, Rollins was also taking cookies on Sunday, coming away with five steals.

Tristan Vukcevic, the Wizards' second-round pick out of Serbia, had some positive moments in the Wizards' first Summer League game (the loss to Indiana). But on Sunday, he was a huge difference-maker in just 23 minutes of action.

Whether it was running in transition, popping out beyond the three-point line or nimbly moving through the paint, Vukcevic looked awesome, scoring 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He also hauled in eight rebounds, dropped one dime, blocked one shot and grabbed one assist.

In just two Summer League games, Johnny Davis has looked ultra comfortable and played consistent basketball. In the first game, he scored a team-high 17 points while adding five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Tonight, he followed that performance with another good one.

In 30 minutes of playing time, Davis scored 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field to go along with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and only two turnovers. Once again, a steady showing from the second-year guard.

The Wizards are now 1-1 in the 2023 NBA Summer League. Their next game is on Tuesday night against the Spurs.

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Washington Wizards: Five takeaways from the first Summer League win

NBA Summer League provides a unique look at talented players looking to make their mark on the league. Over the course of an 11-day event in Las Vegas, NBA teams will trot out their Summer League squads in a competitive, national setting.

Like many teams, the Washington Wizards have loads of unique young talent on their Summer League roster. Here's a detailed look at some of the key guys to keep an eye on.

The Wizards made a big draft night trade with the Indiana Pacers, getting the draft rights to the seventh overall pick, Bilal Coulibaly from the Metropolitans 92. Coulibaly spent a good chunk of last season with the Mets 92 junior team before being called up to the senior squad where he and his teammates, including no. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, made a run to the LNB Pro A championship game.

Having played professionally overseas, Wizards fans may not be familiar with Coulibaly's game. Summer League is the perfect opportunity for fans in the DMV to learn what Coulibaly can do on the court before the 2023-24 season tips off.

At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coulibaly has elite length that will serve him well on defense in Las Vegas. He can blow up ball screens, contest shots from anywhere on the court and is extremely difficult to get around. Offensively, he'll be looking to showcase his skills with the ball.

"As best we can, we're gonna try to put Bilal in a lot of different situations," said Wizards Summer League head coach Landon Tatum. "Since he's been here, he's been great on the floor, asks questions, does everything with patience. You can see why he was drafted. He's gonna give us great length and a lot of versatility on offense to handle the ball, come off of DHO's -- things like that. But defensively, we're gonna challenge him. He's gonna be able to get after some of the best guys, and we're gonna see what he can do."

After agreeing to trade for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly in the first round, the Wizards weren't done on draft night. They were on the clock with the 42nd overall pick and selected Tristan Vukcevic from KK Partizan Belgrade of the Adriatic Basketball Association.

The 7-footer had a wild draft night experience as his KK Partizan team had just won the ABA Championship a couple of hours before receiving the phone call that the Wizards had drafted him.

"I expected to win and to be drafted," said a smiling Vukcevic. "It probably will be the best night of my life... It's been crazy, [but] not really exhausting. It's part of the job. I get paid to do what I love. I'm just embracing everything."

When asked what he's looking forward to showcasing in Summer League, Vukcevic emphasized that he wants to show a little bit of everything on both ends of the court.

"I just want to show what I can do," said Vukcevic. "I'm from Europe. People haven't really seen me play, so I just want to show people my abilities and how I can help the team win and just make my teammates look better and make my team look better. On offense, I can space the floor as a five-man. I can shoot the ball. Give the extra pass to my teammates. And on defense, just being the help guy. I'm long, so I'm willing to use my size and block shots [and] steal some balls."

The magic of the NBA Summer League is guys with one year of professional experience are all of a sudden veterans of the process. For the Wizards this summer, Johnny Davis is one of those guys. After going through an entire NBA/G League season in 2022-23, Davis is ready to take strides in Vegas.

"Just being a little more comfortable in knowing the stuff," said Davis when asked about the biggest differences between last year's preparation and this year's preparation. "Offense, defense, strategies, techniques, plays. I would say just going in, I think I'm way more prepared."

In the final 10 games of the 2022-23 regular season, Davis came on strong and showed that he has the ability to get into the paint and create plays for himself and his teammates, averaging 12.6 points and 2.4 assists in just under 30 minutes per game. In that same stretch, however, he struggled from behind the arc, shooting 26.2% from deep. Since the season has ended, improving his shooting has been a major point of emphasis for Davis, and he's excited to display that in Summer League.

When asked what he's added to his game over the summer, Davis responded confidently, saying, "Shooting." He went on to say, "Just being more confident in my shot. Getting it off quicker. Having my feet squared before I catch the ball... I think the shooting is going pretty well. That's something I've been focusing on a lot."

Another guy who's considered a veteran in the Summer League ranks is Wizards two-way guard Quenton Jackson.

"I'm coming in this year with a lot more confidence," said Jackson when asked about being a Summer League vet. "Not just in my game, but in the team and how I know things should flow. It comes with a lot more wisdom, a lot more knowledge... I  feel like the coaches and everybody have a lot more trust in me and so it makes it easier to kind of go out there and play with a free mind and a free spirit."

Jackson has only played in nine NBA games (6.2 PPG on 45.2% shooting), but his impressive G League accomplishments show why he commands a certain level of respect at Summer League. In 29 games with the Capital City Go-Go, he averaged 15.6 points on efficient .538/.400/.778 shooting splits to go along with 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. That level of experience goes a long way during Summer League.

"Just being kind of a general on the floor," said Jackson when asked what he's ready to show in Las Vegas. "We got a lot of young guys this year. Me coming back, it's only my second year. So I'm kind of new to it, but I'm more advanced than some of the other guys. You know, just kind of being that floor general for the young guys. Making reads, getting them involved in the game, making sure everything flows smoothly... A lot of decision-making, a lot of ball handling."

Patrick Baldwin Jr. is one of the newest additions to the Wizards' Summer League roster. He joined the Wizards on July 6 via trade from the Golden State Warriors.

Baldwin was drafted by the Warriors with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. He played in 31 games for the Warriors and averaged nearly four points per game. He also spent some time with the Warriors' G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. In 11 games in Santa Cruz, Baldwin averaged 14.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

At 6-foot-9, Baldwin will give the Wizards' Summer League squad some extra length and playmaking on the perimeter.

Ryan Rollins is another new addition to the Wizards' Summer League squad. He joined Baldwin in the trade with the Warriors that was announced on July 6.

Rollins was selected with the 44th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and similar to Baldwin, spent limited time with the Warriors' NBA club while excelling with their G League affiliate.

In 12 games at the NBA level, Rollins averaged 1.9 points in only 5.2 minutes per contest. In the G League, however, he put up prolific numbers, including 19.5 points per game to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

A 6-foot-4 point guard, Rollins will look to add additional ball handling and playmaking to the Wizards' Summer League squad.