National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards To Waive Rookie Daniel Ochefu

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards will reportedly waive rookie Daniel Ochefu, who played a key part in Villanova’s success during the 2015-16 NCAA season.

The Washington Wizards have six players on their roster that aren’t on guaranteed contracts.

Daniel Ochefu, Johnny O’Bryant, Jarell Eddie, Sheldon McClellan, Danuel House and Casper Ware are all competing for one of the few spots available on the team.

As preseason continues and the regular season inches closer, the coaching staff and front office will begin to make cuts.

For some on the team, like Ochefu, McLellan and House, the nation’s capital was their first NBA stop. Realistically, the Wizards will only keep one or two of the players that aren’t on guaranteed contracts – meaning, most will have their NBA dreams shattered relatively soon.

According to David Pick, the Wizards will waive Ochefu, who played a key role in Villanova’s NCAA championship run this past season.

Ochefu received a partially guaranteed contract from the Washington Wizards after going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Washington locked Ochefu up to the deal, essentially guaranteeing him a spot through summer league and training camp.

He struggled to leave much of an impression during summer league and the Wizards ended up signing three additional big men.

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Currently, Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, Andrew Nicholson, Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith are expected to be a part of the team’s rotation.

Ochefu was the odd man out.

In 12 minutes per game, Ochefu averaged 2.5 points and 2 rebounds on 67 percent shooting in two preseason contests.

He displayed his mobility and was often the beneficiary of Tomas Satoransky‘s pick-and-roll passing.

If the Washington Wizards didn’t have five bigs on the roster, then Ochefu’s chances of making the team obviously would have increased.

Ochefu is 6-foot-11, moves well and knows how to play within his role.

At 22-years-old, Ochefu still has a ton of potential.

This is why having an NBA Developmental League team is important.

NBA teams with D-League affiliates would be able to take a chance on someone like Ochefu, stash him and hope he continues to improve. The Wizards don’t have that luxury. They currently share a D-League team with numerous other franchises. They’re one of a handful of teams in the NBA without their own affiliate.

More cuts will be coming as the preseason progresses. Waiving Ochefu was an inevitability. He’ll eventually work his way back into the league, but it doesn’t look like he’ll have a career in D.C.

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