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Bilal Coulibaly Can Step Up For Washington After Watkins Injury
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- Bilal Coulibaly Can Step Up For Washington After Watkins Injury
(Soobum Im-Imagn Images)
The Washington Wizards were dealt a tough blow on Thursday afternoon after the team announced that Jamir Watkins underwent surgery for what could prove to be a season-ending torn ACL, an injury suffered in the opening quarter of Summer League while guarding Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson.
Watkins now marks the second Wizard who is unavailable this summer alongside Alex Sarr , who underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot. It marks a notable blow for a Wizards team that has prioritized defense ahead of the 2026-27 regular season, an area that Watkins made a clear role for himself for having challenged Bilal Coulibaly as the team's top defender.
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It's what also helped Watkins finalize his future with the organization after agreeing to a two-way deal back in early July, but now, how the Wizards fill his void is a question mark.
The good news is general manager Will Dawkins still has a roster spot to work with, while the Wizards have been reportedly evaluating veteran DeMar Derozan while Russell Westbrook has been linked as a free agent to potentially open the door for a second stint with the franchise. Could Washington turn to an available piece in free agency to mitigate the weakness and potentially upgrade the team's perimeter defender?
Bruce Brown 's calling card has been on the defensive end of the floor during his NBA career where the former second round pick remains an available free agent, while Gary Payton II remains a free agent to add intrigue to a potential second stint in Washington after playing in 32 combined games between 2018 and 2020. Then there's Reece Beekman , the hopeful bounceback NBA who proved in Summer League that he can become a spark defensively after he registered three steals in a pair of games. Though it's thin, options are available for the Wizards to turn to mitigate the emerging concern.
Yet the absence of Watkins also puts an added emphasis on the presence of Bilal Coulibaly, who joined Cam Whitmore as the first players eligible for a new contract this summer. Talks of contract talks progressing has yet to emerge this offseason for Coulibaly, who comfortably owns the title as the team's top defender.
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If Coulibaly ultimately enters the regular season without a new deal, then the chance for the fourth-year wing to build on a profile that still offers more optimism than production on the offensive end allows him to elevate his role within the rotation. Coulibaly is among a perceived candidates to become the starter at the two alongside Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson among others, but year four could cement his value in the Wizards' organization.
But will it be enough? The presence of Alex Sarr paired with Anthony Davis adds to the rim protection in the starting five while Deandre Ayton 's arrival adds that to the second unit.
