With training camp starting Tuesday, here are storylines heading into a critical week that will serve as the foundation for the 2018-19 Wizards season. Building the chemistry During Scott Brooks first two seasons as head coach, the Wizards held training camp in Richmond. This season, with the new MedStar Wizards Performance Center only a few miles from Capital One Arena, the Wizards will be holding a local training camp. Some teams like to go elsewhere for training camp, but Brooks is excited to utilize the new facility. “I love the fact that we get to open up our new practice facility – it’s world class,” Brooks said on the Off The Bench podcast on Monday. Training camp is all about building chemistry. The Wizards have four new key additions – Dwight Howard, Austin Rivers, Jeff Green, and Troy Brown Jr. A good portion of the team’s rotation will likely be different this season, and training camp is the first step to figuring out a player’s spots, how they play defense, and more. “Training camp is the foundation of the season,” Brooks continued. “We have to integrate a bunch of new faces and we have to basically put our style of play and have an imprint during training camp. I’m looking forward to these next seven days.” Howard (back) considered day-to-day Howard is day-to-day heading into training camp after experiencing some back soreness. He was recently in China traveling for business purposes, but his injury is considered very minor. “I’ve been having to do a lot of traveling with shoe companies and stuff like that in China,” Howard said at Wizards Media Day on Monday. “Just from training, traveling – airplanes weren’t made for tall people.” “It’s just a minor setback, but it shouldn’t take that long for me to get back on the court. I’ve been feeling great all summer.” Brooks reiterated that the Wizards and Howard will take it slow to make sure he’s ready to go for opening night on October 18. “We’re in no rush,” Brooks said. “With training camp, you have three weeks to get ready for the first game.” Organizational consistency With the inaugural Capital City Go-Go season near, the Wizards and Go-Go will be working closely to maintain a consistent strategy, routine, and regiment. Two-way players Devin Robinson and Jordan McRae and training camp invitees Lavoy Allen, Chris Chiozza, Chasson Randle, and Tiwian Kendley are all expected to play a big role in the Go-Go season. Those six will be able to get added experience and value by playing with the Wizards during training camp. Troy Brown Jr. and Thomas Bryant, both of whom will be fighting for playing time, will look to impress during Wizards camp as well. Quick notes John Wall is healthy and feels great after having a summer of working on his body…Bradley Beal is coming off his first All-Star appearance and has put in a lot of work while balancing the birth of his son…Otto Porter Jr. feels great after rehabbing from his calf injury in the playoffs and spoke about becoming more aggressive this season…Markieff Morris called his summer “night and day” from last summer and he’s in great shape…Dwight Howard is looking forward to bringing a defensive presence for the Wizards…Tomas Satoransky and the Czech Republic qualified for the FIBA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history…Austin Rivers’ playmaking and isolation scoring has players and coaches excited heading into training camp…Kelly Oubre Jr. said he cannot wait for the most competitive training camp he’s been a part of…Jeff Green is excited to be home and said the transition has been easy…Ian Mahinmi is in great shape and should bang down low with Howard during practice…Troy Brown Jr. is impressing everybody with his basketball IQ on the court and his maturity off the court for a 19-year old.<doc-sep>This season isn’t the prelude to the summer of 2016, when the team had the money and the heart to chase after prime free agents. Instead, this is just the collision of coincidence. The Wizards happened to a) sign players to short-term deals; b) acquire players in the last year of their contracts; and c) in the case of key rotation players Markieff Morris and Kelly Oubre Jr., just have expiring contracts at the right (or wrong) time, depending on how you see it.<doc-sep>In 2011, Allen was drafted 50th overall by his hometown Philadelphia 76ers during the crest of the team’s rebuilding project but later found a niche as a backup forward for the Indiana Pacers (2014-17). Last season, the 29-year-old Allen played in China before returning to the United States for 10 games with the Northern Arizona Suns, the G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns.<doc-sep>
WASHINGTON, DC – Washington Wizards Training Camp presented by MedStar Health will take place at the new Medstar Wizards Performance Center beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The Wizards’ 20-man roster includes two-way players Devin Robinson and Jordan McRae (who was officially signed to a contract last week), LaVoy Allen (who was selected by the Capital City Go-Go in the G League expansion draft), Chasson Randle (who was acquired by the Go-Go via trade last month) and recent camp signees Chris Chiozza and Tiwian Kendley. McRae, a 6-5 guard, will spend his time during the season with both the Wizards and Go-Go as a two-way player. He has played 59 total NBA games with Phoenix and Cleveland, averaging 4.4 points and was originally drafted by the Spurs with the 58th overall pick in the 2014 Draft out of Tennessee. Allen, a 6-9 forward, has averaged 4.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 388 career games with Indiana and Philadelphia. He was originally selected in the second round (50th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by Philadelphia out of Temple and played with the Northern Arizona Suns of the G League last season. Randle, a 6-2 guard, has appeared in 26 career games with Philadelphia and New York, averaging 5.3 points and was recently selected to play on the 2018 USA World Cup Qualifying Team. He has also spent time with Delaware and Westchester in the G League and spent last season with Real Madrid. Chiozza, a 6-0 guard, was undrafted out of Florida, where he finished as the Gators’ all-time leader in assists while leading the SEC in assists as a senior and in assist-to-turnover ratio as a junior and a senior. He played for the Wizards during the Vegas summer league, averaging 4.8 points and 7.4 assists in five games. Kendley, a 6-5 guard, was undrafted out of nearby Morgan State, where he was the fastest player in school history to reach 1,000 points. He was named to the All-MEAC First Team as a junior and played for the Wizards during the Vegas summer league, averaging 9.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in four games.