RADIO
Ish Smith 2019 Player Outlook
5 years agoIt certainly was not the Washington Wizards’ Plan A to open the 2019-20 season with Ish Smith as their starting point guard, but that certainly appears to be the club’s reality. Following not only the injury to John Wall last season -- which is expected to sideline him all season – but also the loss of Isaiah Thomas to a thumb injury, Smith has become Washington’s break glass option. As for Smith, he has the potential to rack up assists to kick off his season, playing the true point to Bradley Beal’s off-guard stylings. While Smith is certainly a late-round Draft selection at best, he likely has a short roster shelf life, as the Wizards are likely to rely upon Thomas returning to his MVP-esque form and will likely provide him with ample opportunities to do so. In the short-term, Smith is worth the flier for assists alone, which he averaged 4.5 per game over 26 contests last season after the All-Star break.
