Washington’s 2025-26 training camp roster is exceptionally young, signaling a deliberate rebuild. 21 players, 14 with three or fewer NBA seasons, point to a youth-first approach under Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger and Wizards GM Will Dawkins. The front office is weighing two-way and Exhibit 10 paths, with several players likely headed to the Capital City Go-Go for G League seasoning as the rotation narrows before opening night.

Bilal Coulibaly's 2023 draft stock gets a fresh re-positioning, with a path to higher ceiling shaded by defense and explosive tools, even as shot-making and consistency linger. The exercise reshuffles Amen and Ausar Thompson, Dereck Lively II, Brandin Podziemski and a host of peers, illustrating how a deep class can bend to fit and opportunity. The Wizards' potential do-over haul could look different, but Coulibaly remains a core two-way prospect with upside.

Bilal Coulibaly underwent surgery on a right-thumb ligament, a move that likely sidelines him at the start of the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old No. 7 pick averaged 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in Eurobasket, flashing development after a breakout sophomore year (12.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG). Washington’s brightest young core—Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley—now faces an early-season rise in responsibility, joined by Cam Whitmore and other first‑round hopefuls. Veteran help from CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, plus a reshaped rotation after Poole’s move to New Orleans, keeps playoff odds distant ( +3000 ) but not impossible if the youth flourishes.

The Wizards’ 2023-24 and 2024-25 narratives converge: minimal recent wins, a hopeful pipeline, and a front office embracing youth with a veteran bridge. The injury compounds uncertainty around opening-night lineups, tempo, and scoring balance, but it also sets up late-season momentum if Coulibaly returns healthy and the rookies hit their marks. The margin remains thin, but the path to relevance for Washington stays open with the right development arc.