The Wizards basketball season has begun once again. In Washington’s first game of the 2022-23 season, Bradley Beal and the rest of the Wizards team will travel to Indianapolis’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take against Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers. The game will take place tonight.
Wes Unseld Jr., the head coach of the Wizards, has been playing his cards very close to the chest in terms of the starting lineup. There is a good chance that Bradley Beal, Monte Morris, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma will all be on the floor when the game begins, but who will fill the fifth spot? There are a number of candidates to choose from.
Will Barton is a natural choice for the role. He has more than ten years of experience in the league, making him a seasoned veteran. He is a reliable wing player who can play off the ball, can span the floor offensively, and understands where to be defensively.
Deni Avdija is an additional candidate for the one and only open starting place. He was sidelined with a groin injury while playing at EuroBasket, so he didn’t get any playing time in the preseason. However, after rehabilitating the ailment throughout training camp, he is now off the injury list and is prepared to play. Will Unseld Jr. immediately incorporate Avdija into the starting unit as soon as possible?
Last but not least, Rui Hachimura is an excellent possibility. During the preseason games, he was outstanding, and his addition to the starting lineup would inject a significant amount of roughness. However, it is probable that Unseld Jr. may decide to bring Hachimura off the bench in order to provide the second unit with an offensive boost.