Welcome to the NBA Seth Trimble. Trimble, who is signing as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Wizards, becomes the third former Tar Heel to join the NBA this offseason after Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar were drafted by the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks respectively. It is unknown exactly what kind of undrafted free agent contract it is (either a two-way, exhibit 10, or Summer league) but it will give Trimble the chance to show off his skills at summer league. Fellow former Tar Heel RJ Davis signed an exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers last season and that led to a G-League contract with the South Bay Lakers. If he has a successful Summer League, Trimble could be looking at a similar deal, which in turn could give him a chance at the NBA as the Wizards are not a very good franchise (more on that below).
So what can the former Tar Heel bring to the Wizards?
Strengths
Trimble has gotten better every season setting career highs in points, assists, and minutes per game this past season. He also had his highest field goal percentage as a Tar Heel at 47.1 percent. Trimble is a leader on the floor and in the locker room and is willing to take the clutch shots and make them (never forget the game winner against Duke). He is also a strong driver and possesses the athleticism to make finishes in traffic. Trimble on the whole is also a decent defender and though he may not yet be lockdown, it is something he could achieve if he if that became his focus.
Weaknesses
Let’s just get this one out of the way because there is nothing he can do to fix this, but Trimble is small for an off ball guard at 6’3. Additionally, though he has hit big threes, his career 29.4% from three limits his 3 and D potential in addition to his lack of size. Trimble also needs to work on his free throw shooting as for the most part he has been about a 66% free throw shooter, with the exception of a 82% junior season, and for a guard who is a better driver than long range shooter will make him susceptible to team fouling.
The Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are not a good NBA team (I would argue they are the Cleveland Browns of the NBA, but I am open to other suggestions) having finished with a losing record in each of the past five seasons (120-290) and garnering a top 10 pick in each of those five seasons and a top five pick in two of them. Additionally, the team is full of smaller guards including the teams first round pick from last season, Tre Johnson. The Wizards did trade for Anthony Davis and Trae Young last season perhaps signaling a sign to compete, but they combined to play five games for Washington last season, all by Young.
It will be an uphill battle for Trimble to make the 15-man roster, but Trimble’s calling card should be defense and that should give him a chance even as an undersized guard, though he will likely spend most, if not all, of this season in the G-League. If he does get anytime with the NBA franchise, he will be reunited with former Tar Heel and one time teammate Leaky Black (they were both on the 2022-23 squad).
In the end Trimble is one of several players hurt most by the new NCAA five in five rule snubbing the class of 22. Trimble was always going to have a tough time getting drafted but could’ve been a leader on the Tar Heels this season and with next years draft class looking less loaded, might’ve found a draft spot in the late second round. Nonetheless, he is going to get the chance to live his dream and UNC fans everywhere should be excited for it.
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