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Washington Wizards Should Move On From Nene, Sign Young Big Man

By Ben Mehic

Mar 29, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) points and celebrates after he made a layup against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 139-105. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) points and celebrates after he made a layup against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets 139-105. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Wizards need to move on from Nene and target a young, obscure big man that could break out in Scott Brooks’ system

Unlike last year when the Washington Wizards only had the mid-level, bi-annual and a trade exception at their disposal to add players to their roster, Ernie Grunfeld is going to have more than enough cap-space this summer to add players that fit the fast-paced system.

With only five players under contract and Bradley Beal likely to return, the Wizards are going to completely change the makeup of their team once the free agency period begins.

The Wizards quickly learned that having more than half the roster under one-year contracts could end up becoming a disaster. Now they have to add pieces to their core and surround John Wall and Beal with players who can complement their style of play.

Washington has plenty of needs to address. They have to fill virtually every backup position, but they have to do so with players that have specific attributes.

Acquiring versatile two-way players that can contribute on both ends of the floor should be Washington’s main priority.

The guards have to be able to play both spots – meaning, defend the point and shooting guard positions. They also have to be able to create offense for themselves since Wall and Ramon Sessions were the only players on the team capable of doing so last year.

The big men have to be able to rebound, defend and keep up with the guards in transition.

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Out of all the big men the Wizards had since Wall was taken first overall in 2010, Markieff Morris is the only one that can play in a modern system.

Marcin Gortat had done a fine job as the lead pick-and-roll big, but he’s not a great rebounder nor rim protector – two skills that modern bigs possess.

Nene is the most versatile “center” the Washington Wizards had in quite some time, but he can’t space the floor.

Like Gortat, Nene also struggles on the glass and doesn’t block shots.

Given that Morris can play the role of the traditional stretch four and moves the ball very well for his position, slotting Gortat along side the versatile forward would still provide adequate spacing for Washington.

Still, they have to find a big man that can help in the other areas – defense, rebounding and athleticism.

As our very own DJ Statman pointed out in his player review, Nene had a surprisingly productive season. When he was on the floor, the Wizards were better. It’s really that simple. However, he spends more time on the bench in suits than he does on the court.

Since he joined the Wizards in 2012, Nene has missed a total of 90 games. He’s even contemplated retiring before, but the 33-year-old doesn’t plan on hanging up his sneakers anytime soon, according to a recent report.

Based on skill and contribution, one could make a case for re-signing Nene. But, the Brazilian big man is unreliable and will inevitably miss time. Plus, he doesn’t possess the aforementioned skill-set that a modern big should have.

During his four years in D.C., Nene provided a seriousness to the Washington Wizards’ locker room that they desperately needed before his arrival. The culture immediately shifted once JaVale McGee and Nick Young were shipped out of town for Nene.

Nene is always going to be remembered for dominating former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Without him, the Wizards wouldn’t have made the progress they’ve made over the past half-decade. But it’s time to move on.

Wall, a speedy guard who needs to be surrounded with players who can run and keep up with him on fast breaks, hasn’t played with an “athletic” big man since McGee.

Gortat has always been solid in the half-court in terms of finishing inside and runs the floor well in transition, but he’s not a lob-threat nor rim protector.

He’s not someone the guards could rely on for help when they get beat on the perimeter. He’s not capable of anchoring the defense in that manner.

The Polish Machine acknowledged the Wizards’ need for a young big on Twitter.

Assuming the Washington Wizards retain Beal and sign another wing player to a max deal, they can still add a big man with that skill-set without having to break the bank.

Here are some potential targets:

Jaleel Roberts

Jaleel Roberts, a 23-year-old shot blocking center out of UNC Asheville, has been on the Wizards’ radar for quite some time.

The 7-footer played for the Wizards during preseason and left an impression on the front office. He’s reminded scouts of Tyson Chandler, but Roberts is still very raw. He blocked four shots per game during his senior year in college.

Dewayne Dedmon

The soon to be 27-year-old is coming off a pretty productive season with the Orlando Magic.

Per 36-minutes, Dedmon put up a stellar 13 points, 12 rebounds and over two blocks per game.

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Like Roberts, he’s super long and would give the Wizards a spark of energy off the bench.

Washington, at times, lacked energy last season, especially from their second unit.

Adding a scorer is necessary, but having big men that hustle, defend and block shots changes the way the entire team reacts to those aspects of the game.

Bismack Biyombo is a prime example of how meaningful energizing big men are.

Greg Whittington

A former Georgetown Hoya, Whittington could end up being a diamond in a rough for a team that takes a chance and signs him.

Last year with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Developmental League, Whittington put up roughly 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block per game.

Whittington has extended his range out to the 3-point line and possesses a passable post-up game, but his defensive versatility would be a bonus for the Washington Wizards.

Scott Brooks has a history of developing big men and Whittington could end up being a poor man’s version of Serge Ibaka. He’s only 23-years-old, so he has a ton of upside too.

Jarnell Stokes

At 6’8″ (and likely smaller than the listed height), Jarnell Stokes will certainly be considered an undersized power forward, but that size hasn’t stopped players with his sort of energy and tenacity from finding success at the next level.

He rebounds well, can defend both forward spots, blocks shots and added a reliable outside shot to his game. He has the skill-set to produce at the next level, so now it’s just a matter of finding a team that will allow him to play through his mistakes and develop.

The former member of the Memphis Grizzlies and D-League MVP is going to get another shot and he’ll stick around.

Next: Wizards Free Agency: Case Against Dwight Howard

The players mentioned are a bit obscure, but with summer league and mini-camp around the corner they’re going to have a chance to earn a spot on the actual roster. Washington has to start looking outside of the box and take advantage of the talent that’s available on the market. Relying on declining big men like Nene won’t cut it anymore.

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