Wizards big man Alex Sarr will be a partial participant when training camp opens next week, general manager Will Dawkins told reporters on Thursday, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, according to Dawkins, there’s still an expectation that Sarr will be ready for the start of the regular season on October 21.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Sarr underwent surgery in June to repair a fracture in his right foot. The injury occurred during an offseason workout, and reporting at the time indicated that he was expected to make a full recovery by opening night.
Sarr was limited to 48 games last season due to toe, adductor, hamstring, calf and ankle injuries, but he was productive when he suited up, averaging 16.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game.
Sarr is expected to be a key part of a revamped Wizards frontcourt – which will include newcomers Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton – as the team aims to return to the postseason after winning between 15 and 18 games in each of the past three seasons.
Asked on Thursday about the area where the Wizards have improved the most since last season, Dawkins singled out the frontcourt depth (Twitter video link), referring to Davis as a “starting-level center” and Ayton as “probably the best backup” in the NBA.
Here are a few more items of interest from Dawkins’ media session:
- Dawkins declined to specifically address the decision made by the Wizards and Davis to postpone contract extension talks, but he said Davis is “in a great frame of mind” and expressed optimism that a bounce-back season is on tap for the 10-time All-Star. “I would say he’s very much a motivated player right now,” Dawkins said. “And I expect AD to remind the basketball world who he really is.” Health issues last season limited Davis to just 20 appearances, all with Dallas.
- What will the Wizards’ biggest strengths be in 2026/27? Dawkins singled out player development, depth, youth, and positional size, tweets Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network.
- Dawkins says he has “full confidence” in head coach Brian Keefe’s ability to continue developing the Wizards’ young players and to “take us into the next phase of Wizards basketball” (Twitter video link). The general manager also expressed excitement about hiring Steve Clifford as an advisor and Patrick Ewing and Cody Toppert as assistant coaches, describing the coaching staff as “better” and “deeper” heading into 2026/27.