Jared Dudley believes he may be ready for Wizards' season opener

The start of training camp is a time for rampant optimism.

Jared Dudley was feeling the positive vibes at Washington Wizards media day on Monday, suggesting he may make his debut with the team sooner than anticipated. The combo forward underwent back surgery in July and said in mid-September he was aiming for a December return, a timeline he's now hoping to beat.

"I basically can do everything I want to on the court and then now it's basically just listening to the doctors at that 12-week mark," Dudley said. "I expect to be back, if not at the beginning of the season, one of two weeks into the season."

Dudley's 12-week evaluation should come somewhere around Oct. 14, leaving him an additional two weeks before the season begins.

Acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks as the free-agent moratorium ended, Dudley will be part of a group of wings and forwards looking to fill the void left by Paul Pierce. While more than capable of playing the three, Dudley may bring the most offensive benefit as a stretch-four, a look Wizards head coach Randy Wittman grew fond of in the playoffs last season.

In 72 games with the Bucks last season, Dudley averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while knocking down 38.5 percent of his outside looks, just shy of his 39.6 percent career mark.