With eight Wizards still out, who can suit up against the Bucks? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
After 10 days of wondering when we might see the Wizards take the court again, they returned to practice on Wednesday night.
On Monday, it was reported that a total of seven players and one Wizards staff member had tested positive for Covid-19, and with just six players clear of coronavirus protocols on Wednesday, that day's matchup against the Hornets was their fifth straight postponement.
The fact that the team was able to gather for a practice before traveling to Milwaukee for Friday's scheduled game was great news, as the Wizards haven't played since Jan. 11.
But as feared, they will be extremely thin. With six players still undergoing health & safety protocols, Thomas Bryant out for the remainder of the year (left ACL) and Russell Westbrook still nursing a left quad strain despite the long rest period, it's easier to say who is available than who is not.
So who's left to suit up for the Wizards?
The Wizards will breathe a sigh of relief knowing Bradley Beal is among the eight players available. They'll just hope he hasn't lost the run of form he was on before the outbreak.
But even with the league's leading scorer (per game) in the mix, the lack of depth is alarming, especially considering the loss of conditioning that could have occurred while basketball activity was on hold.
And then there's the fact that they are returning to play the back-to-back league MVP and Eastern Conference runners-up in Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
If Scott Brooks and the Wizards thought turning this 3-8 season around was a tall order before, it just got a lot taller.
