Inside The Wizards

Can Wizards' Exhibit 10 Player Make Roster?

The Washington Wizards could open a roster spot for a young forward.

Jeremy Brener

Sep 30, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (12) poses for a portrait during Washington Wizards media day 2024 at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sep 30, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (12) poses for a portrait during Washington Wizards media day 2024 at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards opened up a roster spot for training camp for second-year pro Leaky Black, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team last week.

Black, 25, went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft out of North Carolina and spent his rookie year with his local Charlotte Hornets. After the team declined to have him return in the offseason, the division rival Wizards opted to snatch him up for training camp.

Black finds himself unlikely to make the 15-man roster, but there is a chance that he emerges as a candidate for the team's final two-way slot. The Wizards only have Justin Champagnie and Tristan Vukcevic on the roster, so they could open the door for a player like Black to be the team's third and final two-way player.

Black spent most of his first year in the NBA in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm, but he made 26 appearances and three starts for Charlotte last season, averaging 2.7 points per game.

As a 6-6 small forward, Black has the ideal size of what you want from a traditional NBA wing. However, as a 25-year-old prospect, he may be a little too late in trying to carve out a long career with a team looking to rebuild.

That being said, Black is in camp for a reason. He makes his money on the defensive end of the floor and could be tasked with defending the opposing team's best scorer when he's in the game.

Black can stick around in NBA circles with his defense alone, but if he can find a way to also improve his offensive game, especially his 3-point shot, he may be able to get a long-term home in the league with the Wizards or another team watching from afar.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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