Washington Wizards Preseason Notebook 2016: Player Development, Otto Porter and Andrew Nicholson
By Osman Baig
Washington Wizards Preseason Notebook 2016: Scott Brooks focuses on developing the roster, Otto Porter struggles and Andrew Nicholson shines.
When Scott Brooks was hired, it was speculated that aside from his relationship with Kevin Durant, the primary reason behind his hiring was his ability to develop players.
“Scott’s approach to the game, track record for player development and ability to communicate with his players made him the clear-cut choice to guide our team as we continue to rise as contenders in the Eastern Conference,” Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said.
As a head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooks was instrumental in building a roster that evolved into a perennial Western Conference contender, culminating in an NBA Finals appearance led by a then 23-year-old Kevin Durant, 23-year-old Russell Westbrook and 22-year-old James Harden.
Given the talent of the aforementioned players, the level of credit Brooks deserves for the development of OKC has been debated. That would be narrow-minded, though.
Talent must be developed and outside of Durant, the other members of the Thunder were not sure-fire superstars.
After years of mixed results in player development, the Wizards are finally focusing on getting the most out of their talent. Kelly Oubre sat idly as journeyman Marcus Thornton played ahead of him last season. That won’t be the case going forward.
Talk is talk, though. It’s another thing to speak about development and it’s another to see it happening on the court..
Here are some results from the Washington Wizards’ five preseason games:
- Bradley Beal is shooting 60 percent from the 3-point line, showing increased range and has shown to be increasingly effective getting to the basket and creating his own shot.
- Oubre is averaging 14.6 points and 2 steals per game on 53.1 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line.
- Trey Burke is averaging 12 points and 4.3 assists per game on 47.5 percent shooting from the field
- Tomas Satoransky is averaging 7.4 points and 4.4 assists on 43.8 percent shooting from the field
This can’t be all contributed to Brooks.
The sample size of games played is small (and, of course, it’s just preseason) and Brooks hasn’t been in D.C. long enough to give him the lion’s share of the credit for the development being shown by these players. You can’t, however, discredit Brooks as he’s been part of changing the culture to be more conducive to growth.
Players are playing to their strengths.
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Burke started off slow, forcing 3-point shots, but has settled into a comfort zone in the mid-range.
Oubre is playing to his 3-and-D skill-set when he plays alongside projected starters and rotational players.
Players are more self-aware and while they get credit for execution, the coaches, starting with Brooks, deserve credit for coaching the players to approach the game in this fashion.
Where is Otto?
One player who hasn’t had a strong start to the preseason is Otto Porter.
The fourth-year pro is averaging 6.5 points on 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent from the 3-point line.
While there is no reason to panic, this can’t be the start the Wizards were hoping for from Porter after completing his first full season as the starting small-forward and closing last season shooting 42.7 percent from the 3-point line over the last 39 games of the regular season.
There’s also roster makeup.
The Wizards did not accomplish their goal of acquiring an All-Star caliber player in free agency. #KD2DC flat lined before it ever got started and Al Horford ended up choosing the Boston Celtics over the Washington Wizards.
They need more from the starting-forward and it begins with Porter.
His predecessors were impactful.
Trevor Ariza, in his last season in Washington, averaged more than 14 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line while playing defense at an elite level.
Paul Pierce is The Truth and showed as much in his one season with Washington, playing the role of team leader and closer.
It’s not entirely fair to compare those players to Porter as they came to Washington as seasoned pros with championship experience. That being said, it’s year four and Porter has to show more.
Ariza scored while playing elite wing defense. Pierce was routinely relied upon to close ball games. Porter, thus far, hasn’t been able to replicate either.
It’s often pointed out that although Porter was the 3rd overall pick, expectations weren’t that of a normal 3rd overall selection.
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That doesn’t mean Porter can be content to disappear or blend in either.
Should he be expected to morph into a 20 point per game scorer?
No: but assertive play should be expected versus being a pleasant surprise in what is a contract year for Porter.
A slow start from him (similar to last year), as John Wall still finds his form, could be a dagger towards this team’s ability to move on from the stench of last season.
Nicholson is sneaky good
Andrew Nicholson was a sneaky acquisition by Ernie Grunfeld in free agency.
The 2012 first round selection has a skill-set that had you question why he didn’t see the court more often in Orlando.
He started off the preseason slowly against the Miami Heat and New York Knicks, but has turned it around in the last two games with extensive action.
Over the past two games, Nicholson has averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds on 56 percent shooting from three. He’s played 31 minutes per game in that stretch.
In four preseason games, he’s posted a defensive-rating of 101.8 and a net rating or 5.2.
Ian Mahinmi’s injury has opened the window for Nicholson to secure a permanent role in the rotation with a solid start to the regular season. A bigger question at the power-forward is: can Nicholson push Markieff Morris for minutes and a more substantial role even after Mahinmi returns?
Morris has a penchant for foul trouble, which has limited his ability to be as much of a contributor as his talent should allow. Nicholson is a more natural stretch big; a skill-set that would be ideal with Wall in the starting lineup to ensure there’s enough shooting to open the floor.
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Morris had excelled in Phoenix in a reserve role, placing fourth in the Sixth Man of the Year award voting in 2014. He’s capable of commanding an offense and anchoring the second unit.