From Day 1, Washington Wizards rookie big man Alex Sarr will have a lot of doubters.
Some people are simply trolls, getting their kicks off of making jokes about others. Others will question whether he’s right to see himself as more of a power forward than center. However, most will think back his play in Summer League, the first chance many American basketball fans saw him play live.
To some degree, there’s merit to the concerns. Yet, it hasn’t been known whether the Wizards front office shares them. At least, not until Wizards general manager Will Dawkins, who is entering his second year on the job, readily fielded questions about the Frenchman in a recent appearance on Sports Junkies.
Wizards’ Top Pick Alex Sarr Defended By Will Dawkins
“He’s (7-foot-1). He’s a defensive player first, and I think we saw that,” Dawkins says bluntly, albeit a little defensively.
“Would he like to have some of those games back in Summer League, yeah. It was five months since he played 5-on-5 last, in February, so we’re not going to be too wrapped up into four games in Summer League. Especially when you saw and you actually break down the tape, the good things he did: how he got to his spots, how he moved the ball, (and) found people.”
We’re not too worried about that,” he reiterates, downplaying potential concerns. “The offense is going to come. I’m excited for what he’s going to be 3-4 years down the line, we’re not too worried about those 3-4 games in Summer League.”
“The professional habits he has, we’re going to improve upon those. But someone who wants to take the chance to leave home at 14… he’s got a lot of different experiences and a lot of confidence… He just knows how to prepare for his body. He knows what goes into winning, like he’s a vocal defensive player.”
“I wouldn’t put limitations on (Sarr’s rookie season), to be honest with you,” Dawkins adds summarily. “I think he’s someone that by the end of the season you’ll be like ‘OK, that was different.’ He’ll have his moments throughout the beginning of the year, both negative and positive. But the stuff he can do on the floor long-term, I think you guys will be pretty excited about.”
The Forest or The Trees
Sarr’s Summer League performance has been poured over by myriad fans, analysts, and media members. By all accounts, his play in Las Vegas was a letdown. It’s not often that a top-three draft pick —one that might’ve been drafted No. 1 had he been willing to audition for the Atlanta Hawks —has an 0-15 shooting night. He surely never went to a casino, but he proved that he was a gamble nonetheless.
However, the fixation on Sarr’s scoring wasn’t just because he couldn’t find the ocean from inside a boat. It’s a general trend among NBA fans, with many valuing offense —in particular points —more than defense.
So, Sarr’s three blocks in that game has been ignored. His defensive playmaking, including his fluidity, has generally is being disregarded. His ability to set-up his teammates has been swept under the rug. Even his ball-handling has been treated like a mundane skill.
Again, Sarr didn’t help himself against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Him going 9-47 from the field and 2-17 from 3 in Las Vegas looked about as bad on the screen as the stat sheet. Nonetheless, focusing on the forest caused a lot of people to miss the trees. Especially when considering that he wasn’t placed in the best position to succeed, his teammates either inexperienced or ineffective as pick-and-roll operators.
The Last Word on Alex Sarr
Ultimately, there’s a lot for Sarr to work on.
Like teammate and countryman Bilal Coulibaly, he needs to get stronger. He doesn’t seem to have a go-to move in the low-post, despite his towering height. He also needs to improve his shooting touch. His mechanics are fluid, but accuracy requires more than a smooth-looking stroke.
If Dawkins has done his job, then Sarr will be surrounded by people who will help him improve. Nutritionists, player development coaches, and leaders. A head coach that believes in his potential. Perhaps even an unbiased party for him to air out his frustrations or admit his concerns.
After that, the rest is on him.
