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Wells, Beaubois to play for Wizards in 2015 Vegas Summer League

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The Washington Wizards didn't waste any time after the draft ended securing players for their Summer League roster. According to multiple reports, Dez Wells and Rodrigue Beaubois will be on the Wizards' Vegas Summer League team.

Maryland fans will undoubtedly be excited by the news, but according to CSN Washington's J. Michael, Dez Wells may be getting more than just a quick run with the team in Vegas (emphasis ours):

Wells, a 6-4 shooting guard who averaged 15 points as a senior for the Terrapins, is expected to make the 15-man roster for the 2015-16 season because of his ability to score and it fills a need off the bench.

Now I know what you might be thinking: Why are the Wizards going to use a roster spot on an undrafted rookie, even though they're probably not going to use a roster spot next season on Aaron White, their second round draft pick? Let's walk through the logic:

  • Financially, you can't sign someone to a cheaper deal than an undrafted rookie. In a year where the Wizards don't have much wiggle room, the difference between paying an undrafted free agent and the first year of a contract for a second round pick makes a difference.
  • Given the Wizards' depth down low, it would have been hard for White to crack the rotation this season. On the other hand, it only takes one injury to make things complicated on the perimeter. Let's not forget Will Bynum played fourth quarter minutes in the playoffs this season. In case of an emergency this season, the Wizards are more likely to use Wells than White.
  • Dez Wells is a relatively safe option, as far as undrafted free agents go. The Wizards won't have to wait for the 23 year old to develop. If they need him in a pinch next season, he'll be set.

For what it's worth, it also probably helps that Dez Wells is tight with John Wallaccording to Jorge Castillo:

Wells is uniquely familiar with the Wizards. He grew up with Washington point guard John Wall in Raleigh, North Carolina. The two were teammates at Word of God Academy for three seasons and remain close friends. Whether he sticks around to be Wall's teammate again come the regular season remains to be seen.

NBA fans will probably remember Rodrigue Beaubois from his time with the Dallas Mavericks. He burst on the scene with the Mavericks in 2009, starting 16 games his rookie year and averaging over 7 points in just 12.5 minutes per game. He had a PER of 18.5 that season. Unfortunately, it's all been downhill for Beaubois since then. He's been hampered by injuries and has spent the last two seasons in France.