What to Watch in Washington Wizards Second Summer League Matchup

The Wizards' opening game of the Las Vegas Summer League gave fans plenty to be excited for. Between a few electrifying moments from AJ Dybantsa in his 27-point performance and a Wizards win, there were some very positive outcomes.

Here's some things to watch for in game number two, against the Sacramento Kings:

AJ Dybantsa, Obviously!

It's safe to say folks were impressed by the top pick in the draft. His 27 point performance tied a summer-league record for points scored by a number-one overall pick.

He did plenty well -- including showcasing his innate ability to beat defenders off the dribble and pressure the rim. Dybantsa shot eight free throws, but that number is smaller than what it would be on a normal night because of the one-shot free throw rules that are implemented for the Summer League.

There's plenty of room for growth. That's what makes this whole thing so exciting. Dybantsa shot 0/5 from downtown. Coming out of BYU, his three-point shot was his number one shortcoming as a prospect. Despite being prolific as a midrange shooter in college, his shots came up a bit short in his debut.

Dybantsa shot 2/13 on shots outside the painted area, so a bounce back in that department could be encouraging to see.

It was interesting to see how often Dybantsa initiated the offense. He had the ball in his hands often. Will that remain the same in game two? Will Dawkins has said multiple times they view Dybantsa as a big guard, and the early impression indicates as much.

Watching Dybantsa experiment in some off-ball roles might be something to look out for. Based on previous Wizards' Summer League experiences under the current regime, this may be Dybantsa's final game, but that's not confirmed at this point.

More Felix Okpara Please!

The Wizards made it clear they will take their time developing the 46th overall selection from this draft. Okpara started and played 20 minutes against Utah.

In his minutes he compiled four points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. One thing that stuck out was his defensive versatility, seeing him occasionally switch on to quicker players on the perimeter. 

Additionally, Washington ran offensive sets that featured Okpara as a primary ball screener up top. One of his skillsets at Tennessee was his ability to serve as a lob threat.

Jamir Watkins Is Likely To Not Play. Who Steps Up on Defense?

If the casual NBA fan didn't know who Jamir Watkins was before Thursday night, they probably will remember who he is now.

Watkins used all the fouls you can get in the Summer League, compiling nine over the course of the evening as he made it his mission to negate Darryn Peterson. As the primary defender on Peterson, he forced him into six turnovers and held him to 4-11 shooting.

Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported that Watkins is unlikely to play against the Kings after tweaking his knee early in the game against the Jazz. Watkins' injury is considered day-to-day, according to Robbins.

Who steps up as a primary on-ball defender? Seth Trimble and Reece Beekman, who both joined the team for the Summer League, could be the answer.

Both of them showcased heavy ball pressure in their minutes against the Jazz. For these two, Summer League can be the difference in getting a two-way contract with the team or not. They are going to hustle and play hard; I'd expect the same through the remainder of the games.

The Kings boast one of the best guard prospects from the draft class, Darius Acuff Jr. He's had a strong start to his summer campaign, and he's not afraid to shoot it. Recently, he compiled 19 points, three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block in 28 minutes against the Clippers.

The Wizards and Kings tip off at 8:00 p.m. on Amazon Prime.

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