Wizards’ Brian Keefe: Alex Sarr is “trending toward” returning Saturday after missing opener

The Washington Wizards returned to the floor quickly after their preseason opener, coming back to CareFirst Arena for an early Friday practice less than a day after beating the New York Knicks 111-109 to start the exhibition schedule.

Coach Brian Keefe used the session to clarify the immediate availability picture for Alex Sarr. Sarr missed Thursday’s game, but Keefe said the big man is “trending toward” returning on Saturday, suggesting the team expects him to be closer to game action than he was in the opener.

The timing matters for Washington’s preseason rhythm. With exhibition games often used to build rotation continuity and establish defensive assignments, a player’s return window can change how much time coaches have to evaluate lineups before cuts to the rotation tighten. Keefe’s comment indicates Washington will likely weigh Sarr’s readiness carefully rather than push for a strict “in or out” timetable based only on how the team felt after Thursday.

Even without Sarr on the floor for the opener, Washington’s 111-109 win over New York set a competitive tone for the preseason start. The narrow margin also underscores that, as teams experiment, small stretches typically decide games, particularly once benches and second units settle into their matchups.

At practice, the Wizards’ emphasis would naturally shift to how quickly Sarr can return to the on-court tasks the team prioritizes, from positioning in the paint to communication in pick-and-roll coverage. Because Keefe’s wording left room for outcomes, Washington’s staff still appears to be managing expectations around whether Saturday will be a true return, or a continued “near-term” target.

For fans and roster-watchers, the most important question is how Sarr’s potential return affects the Wizards’ rotation decisions for the next slate of preseason games. If he returns Saturday as trending suggests, it could provide Washington a clearer read on frontcourt matchups and help determine how coaches balance minutes between starting and reserve bigs. If he does not, the Wizards will continue to rely on other options to carry the interior load and keep the team’s defensive structure intact.