Bleav in Wizards

NBA Draft prospect Dischon Thomas completed a workout with the Washington Wizards on Monday afternoon and joined the podcast today to talk about his experience. Thomas is a 6’9, fifth-year senior forward that averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1 block per game for Montana. He shot 41% from three-point range on four attempts per game and 79% from the free-throw line. He walks listeners through the structure of the workout, how it was run, how it differed from other workouts, how many other players were involved, and who ran it for the Wizards. If you're at all interested in the pre-draft process you'll want to check this out! Presented by betonline.ag! Here is a link to our Draft Night fundraiser where we'll be raising money for the MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/bleav-in-wizards Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Modderno is joined by NBA Draft analyst Ersin Demir of edemirnba.substack.com to discuss forward prospects who could be interesting to the Wizards in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Players covered include: Matas Buzelis, Tidjane Salaun, Kyshawn George, Ryan Dunn, Pacome Dadiet, and Dillon Jones. Presented by betonline.ag! Here is a link to our Draft Night fundraiser where we'll be raising money for the MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/bleav-in-wizards 4:00 - Matas Buzelis 14:00 - Tidjane Salaun 20:00 - Kyshawn George 25:00 - Tyler Smith 30:00 - Pacome Dadiet 38:00 - Dillon Jones Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Modderno is joined by NBA Draft analyst Ersin Demir of edemirnba.substack.com to discuss guard prospects who could be interesting to the Wizards in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Players covered include: Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, Nikola Topic, Devin Carter, Jared McCain, Isaiah Collier, and Carlton "Bub" Carrington. Presented by betonline.ag! Here is a link to our Draft Night fundraiser where we'll be raising money for the MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/bleav-in-wizards 2:00 - Reed Sheppard 7:00 - Stephon Castle 14:00 - Rob Dillingham 21:00 - Nikola Topic 30:00 - Devin Carter 40:00 - Isaiah Collier 47:00 - Carlton "Bub" Carrington Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Modderno covers five forwards he thinks are undervalued in this year's NBA Draft: Ryan Dunn, Keshad Johnson, Tristan Enaruna, Enrique Freeman, and Isaac Jones. Presented by betonline.ag! Here is a link to our Draft Night fundraiser where we'll be raising money for the MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/bleav-in-wizards Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Broom and Osman Baig of Bullets Forever joined Matt Modderno for a live mock draft of the top 40 picks! Presented by Betonline.ag! Here is a link to our Draft Night fundraiser where we'll be raising money for the MS Society to fight Multiple Sclerosis: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/bleav-in-wizards Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - intro 2:00 - The Celtics win the NBA Championship 10:00 - Players who have worked out for the Wizards 15:00 - Favorite options for the #2 pick and how the Wizards should build their team, including Alex Sarr, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, and Zaccharie Risacher 51:00 - The Wizards are headed to Mexico 55:00 - RIP Jerry West Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Modderno covers five wings he thinks are undervalued in this year's NBA Draft: Justin Edwards, Pelle Larsson, Jaylen Wells, Isaiah Crawford, and Blake Hinson. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this bonus episode of Bleav in DMV Hoops, Matt Modderno talks to American University star forward Matt Rogers. Rogers is also a Wizards fan and current intern for the Washington Mystics so we thought his experience may be interesting to fellow Wizards fans as well. American University forward Matt Rogers returns to the show to talk about his decision to return to AU for a 5th season. Roger is a true student athlete and talks about how the AU education, the program's family atmosphere, and their unfinished business from last season all led to his decision to run it back. We talk about the influence of head coach Duane Simpkins on the program, which returning players are likely to take a jump this season, what they learned from last year, how he's grown on and off the court, and what the offseason is like for a D1 basketball player. Plus, AU's biggest rivals, his toughest matchups, and who the Wizards should take with the #2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. If you want to go behind-the-scenes on what it's like to be on a college basketball team, this is the episode for you! Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - intro 2:00 - Danny Hurley to the Lakers? 7:00 - Brian Keefe named new Wizards head coach, Will Dawkins's comments 17:00 - Emphasis on player development 22:00 - Keefe's role in the pre-draft process & being aligned with the front office 37:00 - Nikola Topic with the #2 pick despite injury concerns 47:00 - Draft philosophy and dealing with sketchy agents 51:00 - NBA Finals predictions Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Since we have a lot of Maryland basketball fans that listen to the show, I'm including an episode of Bleav in DMV Hoops with former Maryland center Damonte Dodd here as well. Make sure to subscribe to the separate DMV Hoops feed if you want more local college basketball coverage! On this week's Bleav in DMV Hoops, Maryland Basketball alum Damonte Dodd joins to talk about his years at Maryland ('13-'17) and now his multi-year professional career overseas. Dodd shares some great stories about playing for Mark Turgeon, playing alongside guys like Melo Trimble and Jake Layman, their NCAA Tournament runs, putting in work over the summers, and having fun off the court with things like the Running Man Challenge. He has a lot of great stories about playing in the BIG10 Conference and shares who the worst fanbases were, who he liked playing against the most, and who his favorite teammates were. Since graduating, Dodd has played in countries like Mexico, Poland, Czech Republic, Kosovo, and Japan. We talk about his favorite places he's played in, what he's learned from playing across the globe, having teammates who don't speak the same language, what the food is like, and so much more! This is a can't-miss episode for Maryland fans! Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Modderno is joined by NBA Draft analyst Ersin Demir to discuss the center prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft. In this episode, they cover options for the Wizards with the #2 pick: Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan. They also break down bigs who could be in play with the 26th pick: Kyle Filipowski, Yves Missi, Zach Edey, Kel'el Ware, and DaRon Holmes II. They close with other names who could be options at 51 or undrafted: Adem Bona, Oso Ighodaro, Ulrich Chomche, PJ Hall, Izan Almansa, and Jonathan Mogbo. Presented by betonline.ag! Check out Ersin's work at: https://edemirnba.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Washington Wizards have officially announced Brian Keefe as their head coach! Jahadi White and Matt Modderno are back to discuss the hire and what that means for the team moving forward. They also explain the importance of how Keefe fills out the rest of his staff and the types of coaches they'd like to see added. Next, they cover rumors that Alex Sarr could be available for the Wizards at #2 and lessons they can learn from past highly selected big men like Marvin Bagley and Kwame Brown. Matt asks Jahadi about why Kwame didn't pan out in Washington and Jahadi also provides some advice to their future picks. Plus, Bilal Coulibaly grew another inch, Corey Kispert is a top off-ball shooting threat, and a few words on Bill Walton's impact on the game. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno break down rumors of Kyle Kuzma being on the trading block and what potential deals would even be worth considering. Also, does it make sense for the Wizards to try to trade down from the #2 pick? There's also a young player on a current playoff team who would be an intriguing trade target that they discuss. Matt gets Jahadi's reaction to his take that Tyus Jones will be back on the Wizards next season and they react to what that could mean for Jordan Poole's continued development. They also talk about some coaching staff additions and whether JB Bickerstaff should be a head coaching candidate in Washington. Plus, who is the current Wizard with the best chance of eventually making it into the Hall of Fame? Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NBA Draft and college basketball analyst Ryan Hammer (@ryanhammer09 on X) joins Matt Modderno to discuss who the Wizards should take with each of their draft picks. He also shares some of his winners from the NBA Draft Combine and prospects he's higher on than consensus. We covered all of the likely candidates at #2 plus Isaiah Collier, Carlton "Bub" Carrington, Kyshawn George, Nikola Djurisic, AJ Johnson, Ajay Mitchell, DaRon Holmes II, Yves Missi, Kel'el Ware, Zach Edey, Baylor Scheierman, Devin Carter, Bronny James, and many more! Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno react to the Wizards getting the #2 pick. They talk about their options with the #2 pick, which types of players they'd prioritize, and how it influences the Wizards team-building strategy. They analyze the comments of Wizards CEO Ted Leonsis and Wizards GM Will Dawkins as well as Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram trade rumors. Plus, Jahadi gives his perspective on Bilal Coulibaly basically calling out Pascal Siakam. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Washington Wizards will have the #2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft lottery! Matt is joined by Brendan Smith (@threezustrist) of the Wizards of Gallery Place podcast to react to the lottery. They talk thru the likely candidates with the pick, their personal favorites, and possible scenarios that could play out. They discuss Alex Sarr, Nikola Topic, Zaccharie Risacher, Donovan Clingan, Rob Dillingham, and others. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno talk about the impending NBA Draft lottery on Sunday night, what the Wizards' odds are, and the type of players they should be prioritizing in the draft. They also discuss what is going on with the Wizards' coaching search and the types of candidates they should be interviewing. Topics also include Corey Kispert's improvement based on the front office's guidance and whether teams complaining about officiating actually helps them. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - Intro 2:59 - Cleaning house in the front office & hosting draft prospects 20:34 - Jahadi on comradery among players when losing 22:45 - Michael Winger’s comments on the team’s improvements 29:56 - Analytics for the season: shooting around the rim & three-point shooting 46:35 - Deni Avdija’s improvement & MIP voting 51:07- Jahadi’s take on Jontay Porter’s betting woes & referee Tim Donaghy 1:02:22 - Poole & Beal named in poll of most overrated players in the league 1:13:29 - Outro Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - Intro 1:21 - Rode on his master’s degree & Liberty education 2:07 - Kyle’s takeaways & experience at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament 10:40 - Transitioning from the college 3pt line to the NBA line 12:02 - Communication with NBA scouts and execs 13:12 - What role can Rode play on an NBA team? 14:27 - Developing his passing abilities 15:56 - Kyle’s versatility on the court 17:11 - Targeting the rim when shooting 19:24 - Maintaining loyalty in the transfer portal era 21:06 - Rode talks about Liberty's Coach McKay 22:11 - Toughness at the college and NBA level 23:36 - Growth & improvement post-college 25:10 - The impact of spacing on shooting 26:17 - Rodes’ relationship with Brogan Parsons 29:04 - Rapid fire questions 33:55 - Social media plug Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - Intro/Season overview 3:22 - Coulibaly & Vukcevic: Is this the Wizards’ best two-person rookie class this century? 12:37 - Coaching staff’s takeaways from the season 21:24 - Front office attempts to rebuild the organization’s reputation 27:00 - Team chemistry 32:43 - Keefe’s reception from players 34:06 - Players’ exit interviews, expectations for next season 40:27 - What happens to Tyus Jones this offseason? 43:26 - Is Jordan Poole the starting point guard next year? 48:56 - What it takes to maintain a loyal fanbase amid a losing season 52:13 - Are Avdija and Kispert knockdown shooters? 54:33 - Closing thoughts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Playoff watch 4:12 - Matt & Jahadi’s “grades” for the season 14:19 - How is the rebuild really going? 25:26 - Jared Butler’s new contract 27:08 - Selling high on younger players 29:20 - Does Wes Unseld Jr. deserve to be the scapegoat? 37:35 - What must be done to effectively lay out roles & expectations for players? 47:33 - Who stays for the Wizards’ long-term future? 58:53 - Has Brian Keefe done enough to earn his head coaching job beyond this year? 1:04:55 - Kentucky coaching search 1:10:41 - Outro Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk about the emergence of rookie Tristan Vukcevic, whether they've found a diamond-in-the-rough in Jared Butler, and if Jordan Poole has finally turned a corner. We also talked about Deni Avdija's recent play and how he's been the Wizards' best player the last few months. Also, Matt asks what the benefit there is from playing Anthony Gill over some of the young guys, if any other young players have a chance to contribute long term, and gives a recap of the Capital City Go-Go's playoff elimination. We close the show by discussing Ted Leonsis's failed move to Virginia. Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 - Intro 1:08 - Season overview 1:33 - Jahadi talks Tristan Vukcevic 4:34 - International vs. NBA playing styles 6:06 - Gilbert Arenas's comments on Nikola Jokic 9:48 - Vukcevic’s rookie breakthrough 15:28 - Why play older guys over the young guys still? 18:04 - Gill & Vukcevic dynamic 18:48 - Will Vukcevic’s emergence impact the Wizards’ drafting strategy? 21:09 - Poole’s progress: Has he finally turned a corner? 29:04 - Jared Butler’s development 33:07 - Roster adjustments 41:48 - Keeping the Wizards in the District 55:33 - Outro Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

American University head coach Duane Simpkins joins the podcast this week. Simpkins provided his perspective on how American's season went, having some key players returning for next year, bringing out the best in his players, and the type of program he wants to build and style of play he wants to implement. He also talks about playing at the University of Maryland for Gary Williams and what he's learned from other coaches he's worked for in the past. Simpkins provides some really detailed insight into what his team is looking to do on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball as well as what he learned in Year 1 as a college head coach. He also shares a story about playing for Boston Celtics great Robert Parish in the USBL and why the DMV is the best basketball area in the country. Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 - Welcoming American head coach Duane Simpkins 0:36 - Off-season expectations 2:48 - Takeaways on Simpkins’ first season 4:22 - Defensive struggles & offensive strengths 7:21 - Matt Rogers, Lincoln Ball, Colin Small’s fifth-year returns & incoming recruits 9:16 - The value of obtaining an American Univ. degree 11:46 - Simpkins’ overseas experience 13:34 - Recruiting in the DMV 16:39 - Rogers’ improvements, maximizing team efforts 20:05 - Trusting team roles & building relationships off-court 22:25 - Incorporating old with the new like Flex offense wrinkles 24:03 - Simpkins talks playing under coach Gary Williams at Maryland 28:19 - American’s playing style & expectations for next season 29:56 - Impacts of playing a no-middle defense 32:00 - Simpkins’ memories with USBL coach and Celtic great Robert Parish 33:15 - Fun facts about Simpkins 34:33 - Where will American Basketball be in 5 years? 38:10 - What sets DMV basketball apart from the rest? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Domo (@Domo8186 ) of the Wizards of Gallery Place podcast joins Matt Modderno this week to talk about NBA Draft prospects the Wizards could take with their three 2024 draft picks. With the NCAA tournament coming up, this episode is primarily focus on guys who are competing in March Madness this year so Wizards fans will know who to keep an eye on during the tournament. Prospects covered include: Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Cody Williams, Stephon Castle, Ja'Kobe Walter, Dalton Knecht, Donovan Clingan, Kel'el Ware, Ryan Dunn, Kyshawn George, Carlton "Bub" Carrington, D.J. Wagnerm Justin Edwards, Zach Edey, DaRon Holmes II, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylon Tyson, Ajay Mitchell, Trey Alexander, Baylor Scheierman, Tyrese Proctor, Aaron Bradshaw, and more. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno break down what they want to see from the Wizards the rest of the year and what they need to address to improve next season. They also talk about the late-season addition of Tristan Vukcevic. Jahadi gives advice to Vukcevic and they go over things the Wizards can do to help him acclimate more seamlessly. Jahadi explains how a young center can improve his defense and rebounding, the two biggest areas for growth in Vukcevic's game. Additional topics will include: Deni Avdija's rebounding, prioritizing Bilal Coulibaly's development, Jordan Poole's confidence, potential coaching staff additions, the importance of defensive communication, Washington as a free agency destination, playing in the NCAA Tournament, and much more! Presented by betonline.ag! 0:00 Intro 1:30 Current team evaluation 8:00 Vukcevic signing reaction 21:00 Jahadi explains the importance of defensive communication 26:00 Deni’s rebounding has helped Washington in multiple ways this season 34:00 Jordan Poole Check-In 44:00 Coaching Candidates 55:00 Wizards Free Agency Appeal 57:00 Jahadi talks about playing in March Madness Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Osman Baig (@Obtoojiveforyou) of Bullets Forever joins the podcast today. We basically just gush about Bilal Coulibaly for the first third of the show and share some interesting stats to support our love affair with him. The Wizards seemed committed to moving the ball more against Philadelphia and that's a trend we'd like to see continue. Next, we addressed whether the Wizards' rumored interest in the Bulls' Patrick Williams actually makes any sense. We close the show by discussing the Wizards waiving John Butler Jr. and promoting the Capital City Go-Go's leading scorer, Jules Bernard, to a two-way contract. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno address what happened in Wednesday's Magic game, including the lack of rebounding, the porous perimeter defense, and the forwards playmaking more than the guards. They also cover Kyle Kuzma's reaction to tweets about trading him, Kuzma and Bilal Coulibaly's comments about the team's defense, and Jordan Poole's comments about being atop opponent's scouting reports. From there they answers questions from fans about trading Kuzma, biggest surprises with Coulibaly's game, the usage of the young players, Wes Unseld Jr.'s coaching job, top draft targets, who deserves more minutes, how long a rebuild could take, the all-time Georgetown starting five, and much more! Plus, predictions for Friday's Magic game. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Keyshawn Hall of George Mason Men's Basketball is currently averaging 17.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal for the 5-1 Patriots. He was recently named A10 Co-Player of the Week for his performance, including a game-winner in a 73-71 win over South Dakota State. Hall went from not having any D1 offers out of high school and recently lost 60 pounds to now he's excelling in college basketball and finding himself in NBA Draft conversations. He talks about what motivates him, getting himself into better shape, having guard skills at 6'7, playing for Mason head coach Tony Skinn, what college basketball players do for Thanksgiving, his Key'd Up video series, and much more. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Broom of Bullets Forever and the #SoWizards Podcast joins Matt Modderno for a live reaction podcast after the Wizards' 136-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. They give their thoughts on the game and what went wrong, assess the Wizards defensive deficiencies, and answer listener questions. They evaluated the play of Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, and Landry Shamet specifically. Kevin also provides some really good insight into how the Wizards' offensive compares to other teams around the league. Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jahadi White and Matt Modderno recap the Wizards game against the Bucks, including the glimmers of improvement they saw from Jordan Poole and the high praise the Bucks' stars had for Bilal Coulibaly. They also discuss which players are most likely to get traded first, why the national media only seems to be focused on the negative things going on with the Wizards, and Matt sort of compares Bilal to Giannis. They close the show by saying what they're thankful for from each member of the team so far this season. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Presented by betonline.ag! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.