Bub Carrington Doesn't Need to Request Trade From Wizards

Bleacher Report recently released an article naming five NBA players 25 and under who should request a trade, with Washington Wizards point guard Bub Carrington among those on the list.

The article argues that Bub Carrington could find himself squeezed out of Washington's plans because of the Wizards' increasingly crowded roster. With Trae Young now serving as the team's clear starting point guard, the author says Carrington's days as a starter are out of the question. That was already inevitable. Young is a four-time NBA All Star, and he was always going to start over Carrington.

The article also argues that Carrington could be competing with Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, Tre Johnson, Tre Mann, Kris Middleton and Justin Champagnie for minutes off the bench. However, Carrington is the only true point guard among the group.

Yes, George has shown he can handle the ball, but he will likely remain in the starting lineup at shooting guard. Riley has also flashed ball-handling ability, though he profiles more as a point forward and can play at the three. Johnson is primarily a shooting guard, while Coulibaly is more of an off-ball wing. Middleton, Champagnie and Mann, meanwhile, appear more likely to serve as depth pieces.

The Wizards still need a true point guard who can run the offense off the bench. Of the options available, Carrington is arguably the best fit. He knows Washington's system well and has already gained valuable experience with the team. Over the last two seasons, he has made 105 starts in 164 games.

The Wizards' new-look roster doesn't automatically make Carrington expendable. He has already proven he can handle the ball and run the offense, which makes him a valuable piece of the second unit. His ability to step into a larger role when Young is off the floor gives Washington something it shouldn't overlook.

That's why trading him away doesn't make sense. The Wizards are building a deeper roster, but they still need reliable players who understand the system and can contribute when called upon. Carrington is still young, has valuable experience and fills a position Washington will continue to need. There's no reason to believe he needs a fresh start somewhere else simply because his role is changing.

Instead of viewing his move to the bench as a reason to leave, it should be viewed as an opportunity for Carrington to become a key piece of a deeper roster.