It sounds like it may have been a bit of a relief for forward Davis Bertans to have been traded from the Wizards to the Mavericks at last week’s deadline.
After all, the Wizards started slumping in a major way after a 10-3 start, and unity appeared to be an issue.
“It’s tough to have team chemistry when every single day, the team is basically fighting with each other about ‘I want to get more minutes’ and ‘I want a bigger role,'” Bertans told reporters, via Jack Maloney of CBS Sports. “That was probably the biggest part of struggles for most guys during the season.
“That kinda early on that doesn’t show up because everybody’s trying to figure out what’s going on. Once it starts going downhill, it’s really hard to turn around and start going up again.”
The Wizards made a major trade in the offseason, sending Russell Westbrook to the Lakers in a four-team deal that brought back forward Kyle Kuzma, shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, forward/center Montrezl Harrell, guard Spencer Dinwiddie and point guard Aaron Holiday. They also brought in first-time head coach Wes Unseld Jr.
But along with Bertans, Harrell (Hornets), Holiday (Suns) and Dinwiddie (Mavericks) have already been traded away. Making matters worse, star shooting guard Bradley Beal was lost for the season with a wrist injury.
So yes, it appears the Wizards are beginning again. And it seems as if Bertans is happy he no longer has to worry about it.
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