SUMMARY
- Bilal Coulibaly is considered untouchable amidst trade rumors surrounding other players on the team.
- Dawkins reportedly traded a couple of second-round picks to secure Coulibaly, indicating the team's strong belief in the player's potential.
In 2023, Bilala Coulibaly, a French basketball player, was drafted by the NBA. The Indiana Pacers drafted the 7th overall pick. The Washington Wizards acquired him in a trade from the Indiana Pacers. Continuing his first season in the league, the small forward shares a childhood acquaintance with ‘The French Phenomenon.’ The two recently had a face-off against one another at the Capital One Arena.
Amidst the trade rumors, while Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma are on the block, Coulibaly is nowhere near the talks. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 19-year-old small forward is the only player on the roster who is untouchable. Charania made a statement on FanDuel TV recently. Charania said, “The reality is there’s one player that is off the table for the Wizards, and that’s their top pick in last year’s draft, Bilal Coulibaly.”
Bilal Coulibaly is the only untouchable player on the Wizards’ roster, per @ShamsCharania.
A potential fire sale incoming from Washington at the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/19J8ZyXFwp
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 22, 2024
The Wizards are sitting at No. 14 in the Eastern Conference and are riding on a four-game losing streak. With 7 wins and 35 losses, the team has no option but to be a seller as the NBA 2024 trade deadline approaches. Since the season is over for the team, the front office seems interested in no one but the rookie forward, Bilal Coulibaly.
It’s worth noting that the Wizards’ general manager, Will Dawkins, paid a couple of second-round picks just so the team could lay hands on the rookie. This incident in itself depicts the team’s belief in the player. However, the rookie might take a couple more seasons to reach that pedestal.
Bilal Coulibaly’s time with the Washington Wizards has been underwhelming
In the recent loss to the Denver Nuggets, Bilal finished the night with nine points, three rebounds, and one assist. With 4 blocks and 1 steal, the player recorded 44.4% while shooting from the deep and 33.3% from the 3-point line. The forward has played 41 games this season and has amassed a double-digit score in less than half of the games. It’s worth noting that the rookie recorded his debut in October 2023 and clocked minutes in the preseason game against the Indiana Pacers.
He has immense potential as a bouncy and long 3-and-D wing; however, Coulibaly will have to bulk up to hold his ground. The player has an average of 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 47.3 shooting from the deep. Although he is not as efficient right now, the former teammate of Victor Wembanyama is witnessing steep growth. The native from Courbevoie, France, seems to be the only hope for the Wizards.