Wizards to cut Glen Rice, Jr., continue poor development

Glen Rice, Jr. is expected to be released by the Washington Wizards on Wednesday afternoon, according to Shams Charania and many other NBA sources.

While it appears that the main factor in this roster move is based on a rift between Rice, Jr. and head coach Randy Wittman, the move continues a trend that has followed the Washington Wizards organization for many years: the inability to develop young players and draft well.

More from All Over The Hill

Glen Rice, Jr. was a second round pick out of Georgia Tech by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013 and was traded to Washington that night.

He spent time last season injured and in the D-League, where he won the league championship with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In the 2014 Summer League, Glen Rice, Jr. and Otto Porter turned heads for the Wizards and Rice, Jr. was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Rice, Jr. played sparingly for the Wizards in the early part of the season before getting demoted to the D-League, and since then, Wittman has utilized other wing players such as Rasual Butler.

And while the move makes sense because of a crowded backcourt, the failure of the Washington Wizards front office to develop their young players long-term has been catching the attention of many fans.

Another player who the Wizards gave up on quickly and failed to develop is Shelvin Mack. Mack, like Rice, Jr., was a second-round pick. After spending his rookie year with in D.C., Mack spent the next season in Atlanta and Philadelphia before returning to D.C. for seven games.

He then signed with the Hawks and has been a reliable backup point guard in Atlanta for the last two seasons.

Other young players who the Wizards didn’t fully develop and let go include Chris Singleton and Jan Vesely.

And then there are the wasted draft picks. In the 2009 draft, the Wizards traded away their second-round pick for cash for Gilbert Arenas’ contract. Last season, they sent their second-round pick to the Lakers for cash.

Remember that guy Tomas Satoransky who the Wizards drafted? Yeah, me neither.

While it’s fine that the Wizards have found more than serviceable veterans (Andre Miller, Drew Gooden, Rasual Butler) to replace some of these younger players, it’s still troublesome to see the franchise struggle in this area.

But, at least they’ve developed their two most important young players.

Next: The Washington Wizards were bound to go on a losing streak

Home/Washington Wizards