The Washington Wizards will still have two players unavailable for Sunday's road game against Phoenix, while former Wizards guard CJ McCollum speaks up on departing the organization.
The Washington Wizards are set for first of four consecutive West Coast road games beginning Sunday night with game one set for 8 PM against the Phoenix Suns. Washington enters tipoff as a 13.5-point underdog in the final matchup against Phoenix this season with notes ahead of tipoff, including a classy message following this week's trade.
Injury report...Both Trae Young and Cam Whitmore remain inactive for the Wizards, while both Jalen Green and Jamaree Boulez are inactive for the Suns. Jordan Goodwin, who has battled both an illness and sprained jaw, is ruled available for Sunday evening's contest.
When Young makes his official Wizards debut remains to be seen as the former Hawks guard opened up on his perspective on his return to play.
“I've been playing through some injuries this year, obviously," Young said during his introductory press conference. "And I mean, I'm coming over here, doing these physicals. They want to make sure I'm right and things like that. Obviously, I've been playing through some stuff early on and but I just got to leave it up to them and make sure that - because obviously they want to make sure I'm right and I do too. I don't want to come back and not be myself for this, this team, for the city. So I'll just leave it up to them and make sure they let you know when I'm coming back. Hopefully soon.”
Classy statement...the other side of the Trae Young trade involved the Washington Wizards parting ways with both CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. While McCollum, who will wear three for the Hawks, was always viewed as a potential trade candidate in the Wizards' rebuilding efforts, the veteran's presence was felt both on and off the court while his midseason feedback on the organization on Jeff Teague's podcast shed light on the changes and progress under general manager Will Dawkins and head coach Brian Keefe.
While McCollum now materializes into a division rival with reports the Hawks are interested in a contract extension, the former Wizards guard reflected on the 35 games he played with the organization.
"[I] loved my time in D.C. Organization was great to my family and I. [Team president Michael] Winger and [general manager] Will [Dawkins] did everything they said they would and kept their word from the very beginning. Love the city, and they're doing things the right way over there," McCollum said in a statement to NBA TV.
McCollum averaged 18.8 points per game in Washington, the first time he's averaged under 20 points since his second season in the league, but his presence was felt as much off the court as it was on. Corey Kispert, meanwhile, is not on Atlanta's injury report for Sunday's game against the Golden State Warriors with the former Wizards wing set to make his Hawks debut. In a pair of starts and 19 games this season, Kispert averaged 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting over 39% from three.