NEW YORK — Washington Wizards Coach Brian Keefe has used the preseason as a chance to experiment, testing on-court combinations as his team gets closer to the games that count.
Keefe rolled out his third starting lineup in as many games, inserting Bub Carrington, Corey Kispert and Marvin Bagley III alongside established starters Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole.
Carrington, a rookie drafted 14th, had eight points on 3-for-8 shooting to go with five rebounds.
“I thought he was aggressive, trying to get us into sets, [get] the pace going,” Keefe said. “... I thought he played pretty well defensively in the first half. Second half, the whole team was not [good defensively].”
Last week, Carrington spoke openly about the challenges of transitioning to the NBA, noting the physicality and speed are “nothing like you’ve seen before.” His early numbers reflected that adjustment. He entered Monday shooting 30.8 percent in the preseason but said he remains confident in his shot selection. He was 2 for 3 from beyond the arc against the Nets, including a pull-up three early in the shot clock.
Carrington also flashed his passing ability, which Keefe praised after Washington’s preseason win over Toronto last week. He had one assist in 25 minutes Monday. But before training camp, General Manager Will Dawkins said the team will use potential assists, defined by NBA.com as “any pass to a teammate who shoots within one dribble of receiving the ball,” to evaluate their personnel.
Carrington got two of those on one possession Monday. He caught a pass on the move and drove into the paint, drawing defenders, before kicking out to Justin Champagnie for an open three-pointer. Champagnie missed the shot, but Carrington grabbed the rebound and flicked a pass to Jared Butler for another open but missed three.
“It’s a process — you can get the best shot, [but] it’s not always going to go in,” fellow rookie Kyshawn George said. “... By playing the right way, finding the right shot, the potential assist, that means we’re on the right path to be successful down the road.”
Outpaced, out-spaced
The Wizards, who led the league in possessions per 48 minutes last year and have been open about their desire to play fast again, scored just seven fast-break points against the Nets. Brooklyn had 26.
“Unfortunately, [the Nets] were laying the ball in ... too much. ... It’s hard to run on makes,” Keefe said.
The Wizards also handily lost the three-point battle: Washington shot 7 for 39 (17.9 percent); Brooklyn made 13 of 36 (36.1 percent).
“Just missed them. They were great shots. I have great faith in my guys. We got great shooters on this team,” Keefe said.
Exhibit 10 deals
The Wizards made more moves around the edges of their roster, waiving forward Leaky Black and guards Kira Lewis Jr. and Erik Stevenson. Washington signed forward/center John Butler Jr. and forwards Taylor Funk and Mouhamadou Gueye to Exhibit 10 contracts, nonguaranteed one-year deals worth the minimum salary that can be converted to two-way deals between the NBA and the G League before the regular season begins.
Funk and Butler played for the Capital City Go-Go last season. Funk, 26, was on the court for five minutes Monday and scored two points. He got to play in front of his parents, who traveled from Lancaster, Pa.
