Davis Bertans: A+
It was inevitable that Davis Bertans would cool off. No one could stay that hot from 3-point range at that volume forever. It’s also an understatement to say that he exceeded all expectations. Especially when you consider how little the Wizards gave up for him.
Bertans was shooting 42.4 percent from 3 on almost nine attempts per game. Those are video game numbers. Imagine him running alongside John Wall. Sign this man long term!
Rui Hachimura: B+
Like Beal, I think it’s safe to say this could have been an “A” by the end of the season. Rui Hachimura showed off his mid-range scoring ability right out of the gate. He missed a good number of games due to a friendly-fire-induced groin injury but didn’t miss a beat post-injury. He also looked more confident shooting from the perimeter and seemed to be a little less lost on defense.
Sometimes sitting out and watching from the sidelines can be a blessing in disguise for a young player because it forces them to really study what’s going on. I’m still not sure how high Hachimura’s ceiling is (almost certainly not Kawhi Leonard) but Washington definitely got a good one.