Bleav in Wizards

In the episode, Matt Modderno and Nick Kalinowski (@kalidrafts) covered NBA draft prospects who are currently playing at schools in the greater DMV area. We break down their games and the likelihood of them making it onto an NBA roster. Find more detailed DMV basketball coverage on our separate Bleav in DMV Hoops feed: https://bleav.com/shows/bleav-in-dmv-hoops/ Virginia: Reece Beekman, Ryan Dunn Maryland: Julian Reese, Jahmir Young, DeShawn Harris-Smith Outside the DMV: Malik Mack (Harvard), Bub Carrington (Pittsburgh) Georgetown: Jayden Epps, Dontrez Styles Virginia Tech: Hunter Catoor George Mason: Keyshawn Hall, Darius Maddox, Amari Kelly, Woody Newton George Washington: Darren Buchanan, Garrett Johnson, James Bishop IV, Maximus Edwards JMU: Terrence Edwards, TJ Bickerstaff Howard: Bryce Harris, Shyheim Odom, Seth Towns, Marcus Dockery American: Matt Rogers, Matt Mayock VCU: Max Shulga Richmond: Jordan King ODU: Chaunce Jenkins Towson: Christian May UMBC: Dion Brown Mount St. Mary's: Dakota Leffew Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno covered: -the Lakers game and any positive takeaways -whether Jordan Poole has turned the corner & his fit next to Tyus Jones -what the team needs from Kyle Kuzma moving forward -the positives of Marvin Bagley's game -Is Deni Avdija on the best contract in the NBA? -pregame routines based on an article from Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports -the Wizards giving Johnny Davis every opportunity to show something -what to expect in the Clippers game -Jahadi responds to Charles Barkley's comments on load management Chase's article: https://www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com/article/The-numbers-behind-Corey-Kispert-and-Tyus-Jones-pregame-shooting-routines Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno react to the All-Star game, share what they'd do to fix it, and discuss what the top Wizards-related ASG moment is. They weigh in on Jordan Poole being moved to the bench and his post-game comments about the move, while also reviewing the Denver game as a whole. For the last half of the show, new member of the BIW team Laura Shaughnessy joins the show to ask Jahadi and Matt listener questions from the mailbag. Thanks to all who submitted them! Also, please follow the show on all social media platforms (@bleavinwizards). Presented by betonline.ag!

Eran Soroka (@sorokman) of Sport5 in Israel (@sport5il) and the Osim NBA Podcast (@OsimNBA) joins the show to talk about Deni Avdija's breakout and what that means for the Wizards moving forward. Soroka has seen Avdija play from a young age so he's particularly well-suited to point out the areas that he's improved in. We discuss Avdija’s growth, whether his defense has fallen off with his increased offensive role, which lineups best maximize his skills, his pairing with Kyle Kuzma, his coverage in Israel, and just how good he can actually get. We also talk about the team-building strategy of the Wizards' front office and how Avdija fits in with their long-term plans. Plus, which player is most likely to represent the Wizards in the All-Star Game next? Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Eran’s initial reactions to Deni Avdija’s recent development 2:35 - Was Kuzma really taking away Deni’s shots? 5:06 - Will we see another performance like this from Deni again this season? 7:30 - Is Kuzma holding back Deni? 9:06 - “The problem wasn’t always just Kuzma, it was Kuzma and Poole.” - Eran Soroka 11:34 - Ad reads 12:14 - Who is the next Wizard we’ll see representing the team in the All-Star game? 15:00 - “When they have an All-Star it means that the team is in the right direction.” - Eran 17:25 - Wes vs. Keefe’s impact on Deni’s progression 18:54 - Cementing Deni’s place on the team post-trade deadline 21:30 - Keefe’s strategy for minimizing Poole’s losses 24:15 - Matt talks Deni as a focal point for an offense 27:02 - “[Deni] doesn’t have any consequences in the team’s fate.” - Eran Soroka 26:50 - “To move from the third option to the first option is a big jump in any NBA team no matter what.” - Eran Soroka 28:13 - Will the Wizards stick with Keefe? “The next coach of the Wizards will have to be somebody who puts an emphasis on developing players.” - Eran Soroka 30:29 - What is Deni’s long-term ceiling? 33:56 - “Most of the players you see aren’t as strong or as quick [as Deni].” - Eran Soroka 36:04 - Eran speaks on Deni’s offensive arsenal 38:16 - “Landing on 39 to 40 percent from three will definitely change his outlook, and the Wizard’s outlook as well.” - Eran Soroka 39:04 - “When [Deni] shoots more, the efficiency goes up.” - Eran Soroka 39:38 - Deni’s newfound confidence in taking shots 42:21 - “In the NBA, they’re not punishing teams for losing.” - Eran Soroka

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno discuss the Wizards buy out of Delon Wright and what that means for their rotation and Johnny Davis moving forward. The Wizards also reportedly gave Kyle Kuzma a choice on whether he would be traded or not. Are these types of actions an attempt by the front office to rehab the image of the Wizards organization throughout the league? They also address Deni Avdija's recent break out, what it means for the team moving forward, how he and Kyle Kuzma can best co-exist and play off each other, and why the Wizards would benefit from more balance on offense. Plus, they cover the overthinking they've seen from Bilal Coulibaly recently and how he can move past that. Jahadi also tells us what it's like for players to finally make it to the All-Star break and how they use the time. To close the show, new member of the Bleav in Wizards team Jonas Evans (@JonasEvansTV) jumps on to introduce himself to listeners! Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Jahadi’s take on the team’s improvements under Keefe 1:45 - Jahidi speaks on better ball movement & utilizing more players 2:26 - “Well, we need that.” - Jahadi on Shamet stepping up the other night 3:35 - “It’s inevitable, they have to do it.” - Jahadi on moving on from Delon Wright 6:00 - Delon Wright’s shift in game this season 7:15 - Why haven’t the Wizards been more of a front office destination? 8:00 - Jahadi on Delon Wright's downfall, Kuzma’s hand in trade talks 8:45 - “That information was out there because they wanted it to be out there.” - Jahadi speaks on the front office releasing information on Kuzma’s trade decision “I’ve never seen a player that was on the trading block get the option to stay or go.” - Jahadi 10:24 - “If they wanted to trade him and they liked the package he would’ve been gone.” - Jahadi on front office talks pt. 2 10:55 - What options are out there for the Wizards long-term? 12:22 - “In his situation, any grass is greener.” - Jahadi on Delon Wright trade 13:42 - Delon Wright buyout: “His value dropped.” - Jahadi 16:14 - Is there somebody else to give Wright’s minutes to? “If a vet is not offering you anything, it’s always a better trade to get a younger guy.” - Jahadi 17:35 - Does Johnny Davis have a future in this organization? “Give Johnny Davis minutes. Let’s really evaluate what we have.” - Jahadi 19:05 - Johnny Davis’ defensive strength vs. his offensive struggles: “Everybody gets acclimated to offense. The more they play, the more they get comfortable.” - Jahadi 20:40 - Deni Avdija’s career night: How much does Avdija benefit from Kuzma’s help? 21:57 - Should Deni be getting more touches after his performance? 22:49 - “Deni is overqualified right now, he’s perfect for the Wizards.” - Jahadi on Avdija “The number one guy he trusts on the team is Deni. They run a good two-man scheme together.” - Jahadi on Deni & Kuzma’s chemistry 24:10 - “If he gets those extra shots, we get more efficiency.” - Jahadi on Deni 25:00 - “I like Kispert better than Poole out there.” - Jahadi on Kispert “Kispert’s not one of our best defenders at all, and he plays 10 times better defense than Poole.” - Jahadi 26:30 - “We need to build the team, but I don’t think we’re too far away” - Jahadi 28:39 - Is this the worst defensive backcourt the Wizards ever had? 29:57 - “I don’t know how long we’re gonna keep trading great defense for no offense with Coulibaly.” - Jahadi 30:36 - Coulibaly’s offensive & confidence struggles: “It’s too much thinking and not enough doing.” - Jahadi 32:07 - How can the Wizards build Bilal back up again? 33:42 - Is the rookie wall a real thing? 38:26 - Jahadi shares a memory of practice with Allen Iverson & what the Wizards need to learn from it: “It’s gonna take certain things to buy-in.” - Jahadi 41:02 - Jahadi talks about speaking up for the ball on offense to combat bad shot-taking 43:45 - As a teammate, how do you effectively communicate when someone isn’t shooting well? 45:35 - “If every player plays within himself, we really will be balanced.” - Jahadi 45:40 - “That means you’re a good player when you can score off one or two dribbles at most.” - Jahadi 46:30 - Jahadi reminisces on T-Mac & his ability to play in the motion of the game 48:24 - How much of a relief is the All-Star break for a player?: “Even the players who play in the All-Star, they need this week. Every player needs this week so bad, and this week before All-Star, you’re counting it down.” - Jahadi 51:43 - How different are players’ staminas on a team? Are there guys in significantly better shape than others? 57:48 - Guest appearance from Intern Jonas Evans

Wizards forward Deni Avdija has a career night against the Pelicans and Wizards superfan Will Clayton (@WillCIayton) joins the podcast to discuss! Avdija recorded 43 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. He was 13-24 from the field, 6-10 from three, and 11-13 from the free throw line. Yes, the Wizards lost the game 133-126, but who cares? Just let us enjoy our nice moments when we can get them! Presented by betonline.ag! 0:30 - Intro 1:00 - What was working for Deni Avdija tonight? 3:38 - “Of all the things that Wizards fans can point to and be happy about, Deni’s gotta be at the top of the list right now.” - Will Clayton 6:45 - How can Avdija keep this momentum going? 9:00 - Avdija’s “quickness” as a player 10:20 - Deni’s offensive struggle in the past 12:15 - Kuzma’s impact on Avdija 14:00 - “He’s a winning player, and he’s the kind of player that winning teams look for.” - Will Clayton 15:10 - What’s next for Avdija after his career night? 16:35 - What makes Deni such a multi-tool player? 18:45 - “The thing with Deni has always been the consistency.” - Matt 19:45 - “Sometimes shooting a lot isn’t selfish…sometimes the team needs you to do that.” - Matt 20:05 - Will’s takeaways from the Pelicans game 20:25 - Avdija finally had his “signature” night - Will 21:15 - OKC’s playing philosophy & what the Wizards can learn from it 23:30 - Kudos for Kispert 24:40 - Is Deni the best player on the Wizards right now? 28:35 - “We all want him to be better, and it’s tough to see him struggle.” - Will about Jordan Poole 30:00 - The Wizards’ record vs. their growth: Does it really matter? 30:37 - “As far as I’m concerned, tonight was a win." - Will “We’re supposed to lose this and see growth, this is what we want.” - Will 31:22 - “From the minute we let this guy design his own hat, he’s been going apeshit.” - Matt 33:40 - Will’s final thoughts: “Embrace the process and enjoy it.” - Will Clayton

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno react to the Wizards deadline trade that sends Daniel Gafford to Dallas and brings back Richaun Holmes and a late first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. They discuss why the Wizards likely made the deal, what they get back in Holmes, the value of a late first in this year's reportedly weaker NBA Draft, and what that means for the rotation. They discuss potential buyout candidates, whether Tyus Jones re-signs this offseason, free agent options like Killian Hayes, which players we are most happy they kept, and a summary of the new front office's moves to date. We also address a listener comment about rumors that Deni Avdija wants to be traded. Plus, Jahadi also fills us in on what it's like to be traded and they have a frank discussion about Jordan Poole's play in the Cavaliers game. Best of luck to Daniel Gafford in Dallas! Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 - Daniel Gafford trade reaction, including Jahadi’s thoughts on Richaun Holmes, and more trade deadline discussions 34:00 - Future moves for Washington, and reactions to Wizards that weren’t traded, including Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, and more. 43:00 - Wizards front office evaluation 45:30 - Futures for Tyus Jones and Kyle Kuzma 49:00 - Reactions to Deni Avdija trade rumors 54:00 - Jordan Poole’s recent struggles 59:00 - Should Ten Leonsis get involved? 1:02 - First-round center prospects

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno discuss Bradley Beal's return to DC, what reception to expect from fans, what Beal is likely feeling, predictions on how the game, and who will step up for the short-handed Wizards. Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones are the subject of lots of trade rumors these days so we discuss their likelihood, what would be a worthwhile return, and what other players might also get moved. Jahadi, a former Wizards center, weighs in on the status of the Wizards' current center rotation. Plus, some love for Bilal Coulibaly to close out the show. Presented by betonline.ag! TIMESTAMPS: 0:30 - Intro & high school basketball talk with Jahadi 3:00 - Brian Keefe’s early influence: Any improvements? 8:00 - Bagley’s added contributions to the team 10:00 - Wizards’ jump to top 15 in offensive rebounds & second chance points 12:30 - Kuz on Keefe’s “mental discipline” heavy practices 15:00 - Bradley Beal's reception: Are fans mad at the wrong person? 26:00 - Jahadi’s predictions for the Sun's game 27:00 - Injury report from Matt 30:00 - Poole expectations 31:00 - Kispert talk 36:00 - Kuzma’s injury timing: Coincidence or trade omen? 41:00 - Kuzma's potential trade value 44:00 - Tyus’ trade value & contributions 53:00 - Evaluating the Wizards' center rotation 57:00 - Coulibaly’s impact in facilitating offense & named Rookie Rising Star 1:06:00 - How much winning in college comes into play when drafting a player?

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno go more in-depth on what caused the Wizards to move on from Wes Unseld Jr. now and what we should take away from the comments made by the front office and the players. They also discuss the promotion of Brian Keefe to interim head coach and whether he's likely to get the job longer term. Jahadi provides from really great insight in what type of head coach would be the right fit for this group and which key player needs to step up and lead more. They address several potential candidates: Juwan Howard, Gilbert Arenas, JJ Redick, and Jerry Stackhouse. They also praise the play of Marvin Bagley III so far. Matt closes the show with a rant about the state of the media coverage surrounding the Wizards. Presented by betonline.ag!

Osman Baig joins the podcast to discuss the Wizards moving on from Wes Unseld Jr. as head coach. We discuss the timing of the move, what caused it, what his new front office role will look like, his overall job performance, and whether the development of Bilal Coulibaly played any role in this move. Lead assistant Brian Keefe has been named interim head coach so we discuss his background and fit with this group. We also discuss whether he's got a chance at keeping the job long term. We close the show by hitting some listener comments from the chat about Wes and how his tenure will be remembered. Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno recap the Marvin Bagley trade briefly to start before getting into the latest trade rumors and reporting regarding Wizards players like Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, and Daniel Gafford. They discuss who is likely to be traded, who is actually on the block, what they could potentially get back in return, and who they would prefer to see stay. They also discuss Daniel Gafford's head injury and who is likely to fill the void in the interim. Plus, Jahadi gives some insight into what players are doing to build their skills during the season and what kind of player development is likely happening. Presented by betonline.ag!

The Washington Wizards are trading Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Detroit Pistons. In return, they will receive Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and two second-round picks. Bryce Simon of Motor City Hoops and the Pistons Pulse podcast joins to dissect the move. He tells Wizards fans what to expect from Bagley and Livers and we address which picks are coming over as well. Presented by betonline.ag! Check out Bryce's podcast for more details on the trade as well! https://www.youtube.com/live/foWJ3fQFHoI?si=YGFLHk_NfBgRumcV

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno discuss Ryan Rollins being waived by the Wizards and the reporting by Josh Robbins of The Athletic about Rollins being accused of shoplifting. Jahadi talks about seeing weird behavior from some teammates in the past but neither of us remember anything quite like this. Hamidou Diallo has been signed to a 10-day contract to fill the open roster spot so we break down that addition. We also give our thoughts on the trade value of Tyus Jones and Kyle Kuzma and whether they will be moved at the deadline. Additionally, we cover Jones's elite pick-and-roll offense, Bilal Coulibaly's offensive usage and defensive impact, changes to the starting lineup, drafting more French players, and Jahadi's role in the SyFy movie "Showdown at Area 51." Presented by betonline.ag!

Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board, Locked on NBA Big Board, and NBA Draft Junkies joins the podcast to break down all of the names for Wizards fans to know in the lottery range, plus a few sleepers later on. Prospects covered: Nikola Topic, Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Ron Holland, Ja'Kobe Walter, Tyler Smith, Rob Dillingham, Stephon Castle, Isaiah Collier, Tidjane Salaun, Reed Sheppard, Jaylon Tyson, Ajay Mitchell, and Keyshawn Hall. Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno open the show by breaking down what happened in the Wizards' blowout loss to the Cavaliers, specifically keying in on their defensive shortcomings. Have the players and coaches already thrown in the towel on the season? Jahadi then provides a player's perspective on whether the Wizards moving to a shiny new arena would help them recruit better free agents in the future. They round at the show by discussing the results of a fan poll that asked who the Wizards' best player, best defender, best newcomer, most improved player, best veteran, and best young fringe player has been. Jahadi also tells a story about playing with Michael Jordan when he bounced back from a career-low 6-point game with 51 points. Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno are back to catch up on all things Wizards! Rookie Bilal Coulibaly's usage has been trending downward recently and Wes Unseld Jr. seems unconcerned. We weighed in on if this could potentially limited Coulibaly's long-term development and if fans should be worried. Jahadi also explained what's missing from this team from a mentality standpoint and what the mood is probably like in the Wizards' locker room with a 5-25 record. We also covered the team's effort levels, which players have impressed us recently, Kyle Kuzma's tweet referencing the Pistons' struggles, and Kuzma's award recognizing his work in the community. We close the show by giving our New Year's Resolutions for each player on the Wizards and some insight into the Wizards' scouting department. Presented by betonline.ag!

Matt Modderno runs down the holiday gifts he would give to each member of the Wizards. Some of them are a little tongue-and-cheek but most could actually help, or at least make Wizards fans feel a little better. After that, we include an older conversation that Matt had with former Wizard Sam Dekker on February 11, 2023. Dekker provides a lot of valuable insight that could help his fellow Wisconsin Badger Johnny Davis, and I think his suggestions are still applicable today almost a year later. For anyone who didn't catch this episode the first time, I think you'll find it relevant to several younger Wizards but specifically Davis. Happy holidays! Presented by betonline.ag!

Longtime Wizards insider Troy Haliburton joins the podcast to address the Wizards' potential move to Virginia. Troy wrote a great piece on his Substack (link below) about the move and what, if any, responsibility Ted Leonsis had to the District of Columbia after taking their money to support various projects throughout the years. We covered the series of events that led to this, why this move is good for Monumental's bottom line, who is to blame for the move, what this will do to traffic in the area, whether "crime" was actually a factor in the move, what this will do to the DC economy, the Entertainment and Sports Arena basically being abandoned by Monumental Sports after the DC government paid for most of it, and why this accelerates the timeline of the Wizards' rebuild. Plus, we end on a positive note with lots of praise for rookie Bilal Coulibaly. Presented by betonline.ag! Troy's article: https://troyhaliburton.substack.com/p/when-capitalism-meets-stewardship

Bleav in Wizards Draft: Matt Modderno is on the road this week and was able to check out a couple of intriguing mid-major prospects during the Utah State at Santa Clara game. Adama Bal, a 6'6 French wing, is the go-to guy for Santa Clara, a program that recently produced Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski. Could Bal be next? Matt shares his perspective after seeing him live. He also gives a scouting report for Johnny O'Neil, a 6'9 wing for Santa Clara who transferred in from American University, and Utah State's Ian Martinez, a 6'3 guard that transferred from Maryland. Matt closes out the show with some thoughts on Utah State forward Great Osobor, who has a great name and a great throwback game (sorry, couldn't help it!). Presented by betonline.ag!

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno start the show by recapping the Nets & 76ers game and talking about the impressive flashes by rookie Bilal Coulibaly. Jahadi also gives his take on Coulibaly’s equally, if not more so, impressive comments in an article with Chase Hughes about learning the game and film study. They also talk about Kyle Kuzma's mentorship of Coulibaly. From there, they weigh in on what they’d like to see Wes Unseld Jr. do differently, potential schematic changes, rotation changes, personnel moves, how players could change their games to better serve the team, and how they think the next quarter of the season will play out. Who needs to step up and hold everyone else accountable? Presented by betonline.ag! Chase Hughes's article on Coulibaly: https://www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com/article/Changes-to-shooting-mechanics-have-helped-Coulibaly's-hot-start