Brandon Scott here, the host of the daily Locked On Wizards podcast, with your daily Locked On Wizards newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wizards and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
It was a wild night in DC sports and with plenty of lessons to be learned.
Oh, what a night for Washington D.C. sports. The Commanders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to advance past the Wild Card round and face the top-seeded Detroit Lions. Long-time Wizards great John Wall returned to Capital One Arena and was greeted with cheers and a tribute video. How things have changed since he was last here. The Wizards got destroyed by the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder by 41 points and John Wall had a front-row seat to M-V-P chants for Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There are lessons to be learned though. Two to be exact, let’s talk about it.
The first lesson is, John Wall needs to come home. For good. He is still loved by Washingtonians and his successes and failures should be an example to young players, such as the young players who form the young core of the Wizards future. His effective playing days appear to be over but he should be brought on as an advisor and maybe he could switch to the coaching side of things to stay in the game but Washington should give him his next, and probably last, chance to stay in the show. He has earned that right.
The next lesson to be learned is from the football team that resides in Landover, Maryland, The Washington Commanders, just like the Wizards, have a new Front Office, a new coaching staff, and a beautiful mixture of veterans and young players. They’re where the Wizards want to be and will be in due time. It’s been over 20 years since the last time the Commanders have not only been in the playoffs but have found success. The Wizards haven’t won an NBA title since 1978 and have had plenty of playoff success but still haven’t won the last game of the year. If the Commanders are to teach one lesson to the Wizards fan base, it is this. It comes down to timing, competency, and culture. The Nats struck gold in 2019 and the Commanders are headed in the right direction but the question is, how long till the Wizards have that parade after the last game of the year? They’re headed in the right direction but don’t take my word for it. Commanders fans will tell you, it takes time and time is the one thing we have. HTTC.
Monday movers: Isaiah Collier and the resilient Pistons
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) lays the ball up against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Delta Center. | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Isaiah Collier
If you thought tracking incremental improvements was just for teams, think again. Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier had himself a game on Sunday, with a career-high 23 points, seven rebounds and assists, plus a block, in 37 minutes on the floor. It was Collier’s longest sustained playing time this season.
I covered Collier over his McDonald’s All-American weekend in April 2023. As a USC signee he was in the shadow of Bronny James, also in the same “McDAAG” class. Collier was quiet, polite, and a little shy off the floor, on the floor, all those traits inverted. When I’ve circled around to check on how Collier’s been doing this season I haven’t been surprised to see him taking a secondary role. Sometimes the best thing for a rookie is to have a working balance between competitive pressure and developing at their own pace. What I have been surprised by is how much Collier, up to now, has been flying under the radar.
He had a sixth-sense for the game in high school, in his knack for passing, knowing where teammates would be, and dictating the pace of the game — a rarer thing for a young athlete. It showed it again in his single season at USC. The Jazz don’t necessarily want Collier to be the one deploying these things, they have Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George as a backup for them, but when Collier’s been trusted by the team to handle the ball it’s paid dividends.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Wizards’ performance against the Thunder reveals key areas for improvement, highlighting turnovers and defensive gaps. Statistical breakdowns offer strategic insights into how the team can enhance its gameplay.
Preview In an upcoming clash, the Wizards face the Timberwolves. Key matchups and player performances are analyzed with a focus on strategies to secure a win. (Bullets Forever)
Trade Proposed trades that every NBA team should consider include potential moves for the Wizards to strengthen their lineup and improve season performance. (Bleacher Report)
Watch Roundball Rock is (almost) back. Giannis, Jayson Tatum, and Wemby star in NBC’s NBA promo. (NBC Sports)
Analysis Amid struggles, what’s the end game for the Suns? (NBA.com)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Waiver Wire Wisdom: Navigating Fantasy Basketball’s Ever-Changing Landscape
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) passes the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we dive into Week 13 of the NBA season, it’s crucial to approach your fantasy basketball strategy with a keen eye on both the present and the future. The key is to play for the short term while keeping long-term potential in mind.
Donovan Clingan is an interesting addition. With Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams out, Clingan started and showed promise. However, his value may be limited when Ayton returns. This could be an opportunity to sell high on Clingan if you believe his current performance isn’t sustainable.
Noah Clowney and Nikola Jovic are two players with more long-term value. Clowney’s minutes may fluctuate, but he’s worth rostering for potential future gains. Jovic, despite coming off the bench, has shown promise and could see consistent minutes moving forward.
Click the button below to see which under-rostered players need to find their way onto your team.
