What Michael Young can bring to the Wizards

The Washington Wizards signed Michael Young to a two-way contract last week. The contract means that Young will spend most of his rookie season in the G-League, but he can spend up to 45 days with the Wizards next season. More importantly, he can stay on a two-way deal for an additional two seasons as the Wizards start up their own G-League team and try to develop him.

Now that the Wizards have signed Young, it is time to take a closer look into his game. In his senior season at Pitt, he averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. In 33.2 minutes per game on the floor, he shot 45.3 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from deep. Now lets take a closer look into some of his film.

With his big, 6’9 frame, he can score inside:

He also showed improved touch this season. He made 42 threes in his senior season after only making 19 in his first three seasons combined. The ability to shoot the ball from deep opened up lanes for him to take it to the basket and create off the dribble as a senior.

He also showed an improved ability to make good passes when he was double-teamed and find the open man on a pass.

Young struggled in his Summer League debut, missing his first five shots from the floor and going 3-13 from the field. He finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. The bright spot for Young came on the defensive end, where Young recorded two blocks, including this one in the closing minutes.

With a year or two of work in the G-League, Young could develop into an NBA contributor. He has all the tools to be a effective scorer in the NBA, especially if he can continue to add to his shooting range.

The big thing he needs to be focusing on right now is his defensive game, like he did in his Summer League debut. He’s not going to make in the league being the focal point of an offense like he was at Pittsburgh. That said, he has the physique and tools to be a skilled, versatile defender, who can be effective on the perimeter and down on the block. If he can add more substance to what he showed in the closing minutes of Saturday’s game against the Grizzlies, there’s a spot for him in this league.