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How former OKC Thunder staffers Michael Winger, Will Dawkins are 'building up' Wizards
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- How former OKC Thunder staffers Michael Winger, Will Dawkins are 'building up' Wizards
Kyshawn George thought he knew what to expect.
The then-20-year-old prospect out of Miami , who's a basketball sponge at his core, had spent a week soaking up all he could during the 2024 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago . He'd gone through countless drills, shaken countless hands of those who potentially held his future and answered countless questions throughout extensive team interviews.
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But he wasn't prepared for his meeting with Washington . George was expecting three or four members of the Wizards ' front office to be in attendance, just like every other team he'd talked to. He instead walked into a room filled with about 12 people, equally eager to absorb every drop of information they could wring out.
"That's the one (interview) that stuck with me the most," George told The Oklahoman . "It just gave me that sensation of like, 'Oh, this is serious. They're really looking into the players.'"
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That attention to detail is the calling card of former OKC Thunder staffers Michael Winger and Will Dawkins . They're the proverbial pocket aces in Washington 's hand after it reshuffled the franchise.
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Winger, who served as OKC's assistant general manager from 2010-17, became the president of Monumental Basketball in May 2023. It's a division of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards. And Dawkins, who spent 15 years with OKC and served as its vice president of basketball operations from 2020-23, was hired as Washington's general manager that same summer.
The Wizards have had seven straight losing seasons dating back to 2018-19, which is the longest streak in the NBA. But Winger and Dawkins are determined to create sustained success, and it starts by setting a foundation of winning habits.
"We have a project as a team and as an organization," George said. "And it's all about depositing what it means to be a Wizard and just building up from where we are now."
Winger and Dawkins changed the landscape of the Wizards as soon as they arrived. Literally.
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An early change was the landscaping outside of the team's practice facility in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C. And the duo continued to weed out anything that didn't meet its standard, whether it was giving the walls a fresh coat of paint or creating cleaner hallways.
Winger and Dawkins also changed the way the Wizards travel for games. More accommodations are now made for family members who wish to make the trip, and fresh food is provided for players before tipoff.
A pasta bar was stationed outside of Washington's locker room prior to its 127-108 road loss against OKC on Thursday. Roasted chicken, steak and shrimp. Penne and spaghetti pasta. An array of sauces, toppings and vegetables to choose from. The combinations were endless, and they were all prepared on the spot by a chef wearing Wizards attire.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 29: (L-R) General manager Will Dawkins, Alex Sarr #12, and Bub Carrington #17 address the media as the Washington Wizards introduce their 2024 draft picks at Union Station on June 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
"Everything changed when (Winger and Dawkins) showed up," Wizards forward Corey Kispert told The Oklahoman . "It adds up to a lot. Ultimately, the little things are what make the player experience special. ... A lot of organizations do the same things across the board, but it's that little stuff in the margins that make the difference."
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Kispert is one of only two players who was on Washington's roster before the arrival of Dawkins, who also made big changes to the roster. After being hired on June 5, 2023, Dawkins' first trade came just 13 days later when he sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns .
The Wizards moved on from Beal, who was entering Year 2 of a five-year, $251 million contract that had a no-trade clause. And they received Chris Paul , Landry Shamet , four first-round pick swaps and six second-round picks. It's a deal that gave them financial flexibility and a solid return of future draft capital, considering their lack of leverage.
Washington then sent one of those second-round picks to the Indiana Pacers when it traded up in the 2023 draft to select Bilal Coulibaly at No. 7. The 6-8 forward is a high-processing prospect with great length and versatility, all of which are traits Dawkins has prioritized when reconstructing the Wizards.
Coulibaly led Washington with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists during its loss to OKC on Thursday. He also shined on defense, where he racked up three blocks and one steal.
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Coulibaly is one of the many young defensive standouts on the Wizards, who could have a Thunder-esque storm brewing.
There's also Alexandre Sarr , a 7-foot shot blocker who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. There are shades of Chet Holmgren in his game. And then there's George, a 6-foot-8 Swiss Army Knife who was selected with the 24th pick in that same draft. Similarities can be seen between him and Jalen Williams .
It's a good foundation for a group that hopes to one day be as defensively dominant as Winger's and Dawkins' former team.
"The communication is crazy," Coulibaly said of OKC's defense. "They're all talking to each other. ... They want you to take more 3s than paint touches. They've been doing a great job packing the paint, and that's what we're trying to do here, too."
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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 29: (L-R) General manager Will Dawkins, head coach Brian Keefe, Alex Sarr #12, Kyshawn George #18, Bub Carrington #17, and President of Monument Basketball Michael Winger stand for a photo as the Washington Wizards introduce their 2024 draft picks at Union Station on June 29, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Washington also added some offensive firepower when it selected Texas' Tre Johnson with the No. 6 pick in this past year's draft. The 6-5 bucket getter was named Mr. Basketball by Dave Campbell as a senior at Dallas ' Lake Highlands High.
It's a fitting title for Johnson, who lives his life within the lines of the court. He'll sometimes listen to music from rappers such as Veeze or J Cole, and he recently got a book called "The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself" by Michael Alan Singer. But for the most part, Johnson just sleeps whenever he isn't playing basketball.
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CJ McCollum shook his head and laughed as he recalled that fact during the Wizards' Media Day on Sept. 29. The 34-year-old guard is the oldest player on a Washington team with an average age of 24.1 years, according to NBAage.com . It's the fourth-youngest roster in the league.
McCollum says he has since preached to Johnson about the importance of having a hobby. Locking yourself in the gym may help a player's game, but everyone needs an escape to survive a season.
That sort of guidance is where the value of vets can really be seen. As much as Winger and Dawkins have focused on bringing in the right young players, they've also prioritized adding locker room leaders such as McCollum and Khris Middleton . Washington traded for both 34-year-old pros this past summer.
"I think it's just to do the things that I've done historically throughout my career," McCollum told The Oklahoman when asked about his role. "Play at a high level. Lead by example. Be consistent with my approach and work ethic. Be able to give feedback on the things that I'm seeing across the organization from staff, down to players and up to the types of food that we eat on a day-to-day basis."
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There's still a lot of work to be done for the Wizards, who are 1-7 to start this season.
They need to continue to develop their young core. They need to hit in upcoming drafts starting in 2026, where their first-round pick is top-eight protected. And they need to capitalize in free agency once the combined $64 million worth of contracts between McCollum and Middleton expires this summer.
But Winger and Dawkins have set the foundation in Washington. Some walls are even starting to go up, too.
And they'll be freshly painted.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com .
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: These former OKC Thunder staffers are changing the Wizards' culture
