The Wizards already popped a player into the MRI machine on the second day of the regular season. The outcome of the magnetic resonance imaging of Jason Smith’s right shoulder was positive. There is no structural damage. It’s just sore.
Though, that soreness quickly eats into Washington’s depth and vaults Kelly Oubre Jr. into a key spot early in the season. Wizards coach Scott Brooks did not confirm that Oubre would start in Smith’s place Friday night against the Detroit Pistons, but hinted at its likelihood. Smith was only in the starting lineup in Wednesday’s opener because Markieff Morris is still recovering from late-offseason sports hernia surgery.