March 16, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) reacts against the Oregon Ducks during the second half of the championship game of the Pac 12 tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Oregon defeated UCLA 78-69. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With another marvelous NCAA tournament in the books, it’s time to shift our attention to the draft and evaluate prospects that could be suiting up for the Wizards next season.

Shabazz Muhammad, Freshman, SF, UCLA

32 games: 30.8MPG, 17.9PPG, 5.2RPG, 0.8APG, 0.7SPG, 44%FG, 38% 3FG

2012-13 season: Shabazz’s roller coaster season begun far before he stepped on UCLA hardwood. He suffered a right shoulder injury during a Bruins practice all the while being a victim to a highly publicized case by the NCAA that resulted in a 3 game suspension to start the season. Conditioning proved to be an issue with Muhammad once he was deemed eligible by the NCAA, as he struggled to shake off the rust and was consistently getting beat off the dribble on defense. Unfortunately, that rust never wore off and UCLA- featuring three top-20 recruits was blown out of the NCAA tournament with a round of 64 upset at the hands of 11^th ranked Minnesota.

Yet, this doesn’t begin to tell the story of Shabazz Muhammad. During the wee hours leading up to the tipoff of March Madness, the LA Times dropped a bombshell on the Bruins star exposing him and his family of lying about his age in order to gain a physical and mental advantage over younger, lesser developed players during his amateur career. This may be viewed as just a menial setback had Shabazz lived up to his reputation in college, however his struggles paired with being dubbed as a prospect with “a nonstop motor that bullies defenders” manifested and intensified an already perplexing draft prospect.

Age isn’t the be-all and end- all of Shabazz Muhammad’s draft status. He was on the fast track to the NBA since birth due to the guidance of his father, Ron Holmes. He was afforded the luxury of top notch trainers, the best AAU teams, and one of the best high school programs in the nation. During the summers, his father would create teams in the popular summer circuit that tailored to his boy’s strengths. He turned down offers from higher profile programs such as Duke and Kentucky in order to join Coach Ben Howland, who he knew would cater to his boy, and a team that featured two highly unselfish ball handlers and big men that could spread the floor.

Now, the pampered prodigy is set to enter the draft process where he’ll meet with several league executives and will have to answer a lot of pressing questions.

Strengths: Muhammad can score the ball in a multitude of ways, preferring mostly to get the ball out on the break where he’s able to overpower defenders (though, those opportunities came at a premium) or filling the lane and spotting up in the corner. In halfcourt sets, he’s proficient when catching the ball in stride off screens and squaring up to the basket- though he does tend to come wide off them which impairs him from creating separation from his defender and forces the offense to run him off multiple screens. He’s a menace once he gets into the lane, using his body to his advantage and displays a soft touch around the basket.

Weaknesses: While Muhammad showed tremendous growth as a shooter both in spot up situations and off screens, the rest of his offense leaves a lot to be desired. His average ball handling skills and shortcomings going right with the ball places a huge burden on his isolation skills, which is a huge red flag for someone labeled as a “great scorer.” Defenses figured out early on once they stopped Muhammad going left, he’s relegated to resetting the offense or taking a contested jumper, which will be problematic for anyone at the next level with his limited athleticism.

His defense, particularly on ball was heavily targeted this season due to Shabazz’s poor conditioning and instincts. He’s not very quick moving laterally, and tends to overplay one side of the ball handler which puts him in an awful position once he’s hit with a ball fake or hesitation dribble. Off-ball he does a good job playing the passing lanes, lock and trailing his man, and using his strength to fight over screens. He is susceptible to ball watching, and generally has a hard time figuring out when to dig down on big men posting up and when to stay home on perimeter shooters.

His rebounding totals look impressive on paper, but diminish in substance once you take a look at the big men he played with. He’s caught leaking out too early and seems more intent on anticipating a missed shot rather than boxing out his man.

Pro potential/Wizards fit: Rookies often time struggle with adjusting to the NBA life, especially as it pertains to diet and year round training. This won’t be the case for Shabazz, who has been exposed to this regimen for years. He’s played in big games, played varsity basketball at a top ranked high school program as a freshman, and has the drive to become great (if not to simply expand a brand he’s been steadily evolving  since he was 16 years young).

Muhammad’s fame at an early age is somewhat of a double edged sword. It helped him get noticed and propelled him to a top university with loads of opportunities to showcase his talents to NBA executives. However, it also exposed the world to his learning curve and how he’s moved along since his high school days. Then you start to compare him to guys less fortunate such as Ben McLemore who has struggled with poverty his entire life and has slowly adapted to the public eye, and you begin to see why he disappeared in games, or struggled to take command of the Jayhawks offense. He was a late bloomer in high school, redshirted his freshman year at Kansas, and improved his game so much that he’s considered a unanimous lock as a top 5 pick. An NBA regimen, all the luxuries that Shabazz was afforded earlier, will be bestowed onto McLemore, who will take his game to even higher levels.

The challenge is gauging just how much potential remains untapped as Muhammad leaves Westwood for greener pastures. He once was the physical freak that would bully you up and down the floor, but his peers are gradually catching up to that. His motor and physical dominance proved to be an effective veil for his rudimentary ball handling and defensive technique, but that no longer can stay concealed at the next level. He really hasn’t made the big strides that you see top draft picks generally making at his age, which begs the question, just how close to his ceiling are we?

This isn’t an investment worth making if you’re Ernie Grunfeld. This team struggled to score the ball in 2013, but similar to the Rudy Gay debate back at the NBA trade deadline, it is in no rush to shore up those weaknesses with an inefficient, one way player. You don’t select a player simply because he fills a hole on your depth chart.

Mar 27, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: I think so. John Wall has been playing out of his mind as of late, and has finally received the national recognition he deserves. Averaging over 25 points and 7 assists this month, John Wall is turning into the player we all expected him to become out of Kentucky. When Wall is knocking down jump shots at a consistent rate, like he’s been doing lately, he’s virtually unstoppable. Indiana Pacers head coach, Frank Vogel, has even compared Wall’s improvement to Derrick Roses’. The NBA is filled with talented point guards, but I have to include John Wall in the top 10. If he sustains his ridiculous play, he’ll be ranked even higher for years to come.

James: If you would have posed this question in January, anyone with two eyes and a brain not washed by the geographical location of their birth or by whom they root for would submit to you that John Hildred Wall was a middling basketball player who was incapable of doing anything better than he was when he first entered the league. And then the last 15 games happened and Wall’s ceiling appears to be more limitless than made of glass. Even so, who is to decide which 15 games matter most: the last 15 of the first 15? Either way, Wall has shown he’s at least the 10th best PG in the league and maybe better. Hell, ESPN thinks he’s a top 25 player total. I was questioning whether he was even a top 15 point guard as early as December, so what do I know?

Nithin: It’s a testament to John Wall’s dedication and subsequent progression that this question is now a no-brainer. I am, admittedly, a homer of the highest proportions and tend to get a little too excited (both positively and negatively) when the wheels start to turn. But what we’ve seen from Wall over the last month and a half is clearly an anointed star making the leap that everyone has been waiting for. It’s fair to question whether his jump shot is really a product of a hot shooting streak or improved mechanics. And maybe teams are laying off as the season draws to a close, either to better position themselves for the lottery or get healthy for the post season. But Wall has been doing this long enough for me to think it’s just a supremely talented individual finally making good on all the potential. His statistics, both basic and advanced, have improved across the board from Years 1 and 2 and the team’s performance has done the same since his return on January 12th. The future is bright for this young star, and oh yeah – he’s definitely a top 10 point guard in today’s NBA.

2. If the Wizards were to re-do the 2012 draft, is Bradley Beal still the right choice at #3?

Ben: Bradley Beal is without a doubt still the right choice at #3. In hindsight, I’m sure the Charlotte Bobcats would even be reluctant to pass on Beal at #2. With John Wall, the Wizards have the best young back court in the league. Not only does Beal fit into the Wizards system, but he’s helped change their dynamic in the locker room. Beal is just 19 years old, but has shown massive improvement from when he first entered in the NBA. If he remains healthy, Beal will probably have a chance at becoming an NBA All-Star. It’s been a long time since the Wizards front office got a draft pick correct, but they certainly got this selection right.

James: Beal was the right choice and still is. I can’t think of a better mate for a non-jump-shooting PG than a knockdown shooter to help space the floor. Now if only there was a big guy who could space the floor…

Nithin: When sizing up the 2012 Rookie Class, there are a few guys who rose above the cut (including Beal) such as Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, and Dion Waiters. I debated this question for a second, considering Drummond as a high-impact low post player who could give the Wizards some sorely needed athleticism from the 4/5 spot. But ultimately, Washington’s biggest void over the last few years has been outside shooting and Beal has proved himself to be a wonderful knockdown jump shooter. So I think the Wizards made the right choice at the #3 spot, and have formed a true backcourt of the future (and present when they were both healthy).

3. Based on this season’s performance, should Grunfeld/Wittman be retained for 2013-14?

Ben: This is probably the toughest question of all. I’m a huge supporter of Randy Wittman, but he does have his flaws. His rotations still remain suspect and the Wizards are one of the worst offensive teams in league under Wittman. I applaud Wittman’s efforts because he’s been able to turn a bottom feeding team such as the Wizards, into an elite defensive team. Wittman has also been able to keep his players interested in the task at hand, which is something Flip Saunders wasn’t able to do. It’s hard to keep a 20+ win team focused, but Wittman has been able to do just that. The players enjoy playing under him. I support him and wouldn’t mind seeing him back on the sidelines next season.

Now on to Ernie Grunfeld:

By drafting Bradley Beal, trading for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, and signing Martell Webster, Ernie Grunfeld had put together a playoff caliber team in the offseason. Grunfeld and Wittman both have one year left on their contracts, so I expect them to be in a packaged deal. If Grunfeld and Wittman fail to lead the Wizards into the post season next year, I fully expect them to get the boot. Ted Leonsis has been adamant about making the playoffs. I think they will both return next season, but we’ll have to see improvement next year for them to receive yet another extension.

James: I’m on the record that Grunfeld catches more flak than he deserves, and that it’s unfair to judge him based upon the pupu platter of Gilbert Arenas / Rashard Lewis (which I don’t blame him for), but I still gave him an awful rating for this season all because he missed on James Harden. Anyway, what’s the point of firing him now? This team has some major problems but they are less major than they were just 18 months ago. Zombie Grunfeld may still be in zombie mode, but there’s no non-zombie in the world that is going to take this team and turn it into a contender in the next year.

Nithin: If financial criteria was not part of the decision making, under no circumstances should Grunfeld or Wittman be back next season to lead the Wizards to the promised land of the 10th pick. I’ve covered my gripes with each in the past so I won’t get into specifics. But we’ve seen enough blown draft picks and stagnant offensive schemes to know that the franchise needs innovative minds in charge to make the right personnel decisions and take the reins off one of the more athletic teams in the league. No, it’s not possible to turn this thing around in one year to make the team a title contender, but why hold on to inferior employees any longer than necessary?

4. What areas does the roster most need to improve?

Ben: As noted, the Wizards are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They will need to add players which will take some of the offensive burden off John Wall and Bradley Beal. Nene is on the tail end of his career, so I’d like to see the Wizards possibly add another decent big man. Washington doesn’t have talent to draw free agent interest, so they will need to execute in this upcoming draft or trade for another big man. Adding another backup point guard is also essential. A.J. Price has had a decent season, but adding another guard in case of injury is a must. If the Wizards fail to resign Martell Webster, they will probably need to draft/trade for yet another small forward. Washington has to improve if they want to make the post season next year. I’ll be interested to see what route they take, since they’re locked up financially.

James: Aside from an entirely new bench, this team needs a three-point shooter off the bench and a big guy who can knock down a mid-range shot. These player archetypes would space the floor for Mr. John Wall. At this point, that’s all that matters.

Nithin: This roster needs a multitude of upgrades to execute a successful overhaul. First and foremost, a semblance of a bench squad would be nice, as production falls off a cliff when the starters come out. More specifically, the Wizards need another playmaker (so Wall doesn’t have to do everything), another shooter (so Beal doesn’t have to do everything) and a stretch 4 (so we can stop watching our big men attempt 15-footers that they can’t make). And if we are to part with Ariza in any type of trade this summer, we’d need another perimeter defender who can come in and lock up an opponent’s top offensive option.

5. What players on the current roster should be considered keepers?

Ben: John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Outside of Washington’s young back court, I can’t see any “keepers” on today’s roster. Nene is aging, Okafor and Ariza will become expiring contracts, and the Wizards 2011-2012 draft selections all seem to be destined for failure. I was really hoping Jan Vesely would become a “keeper”, but I have completely lost faith in him. Sadly, the Wizards don’t have very many “keepers” on this roster. Hopefully, they will draft a decent player this year who will fit in that category.

But as for now, Wall and Beal are the only “keepers”.

James: Piggybacking off of my answer to number 4, this team needs an entirely new team to go with from John Wall and Bradley Beal. That said, no one should be untouchable. I’d still trade Beal for Harden and I would be open to offers for Wall to have options aside from the max, which he will now undoubtedly get. Only one of Nene and Okafor should be in the starting lineup after next season, and, due to the contract situations, it will likely be the declining Nene. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team have eight guys in 2015 that aren’t on the roster this year. Cartier Martin, Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton, Jason Collins, Leandro Barbosa, and Garrett Temple, likely don’t have roles on winning teams in the NBA and I expect to see them go.

Nithin: Unfortunately, only Beal and Wall are keepers moving forward. Webster thrilled fans all year by outperforming our expectations, but will that look differently when he’s making $5 million a year instead of $1.7 million? Nene and Okafor are good veteran presences and both strong defensively, but they can’t play on the floor at the same time if the goal is to be effective offensively. Ariza is a nice piece but with an expiring contract of $7 million, he has more value as a trade chip. The rest of the squad is a bunch of role players, reserves, and journeymen who would never see the floor on a contending team. Time to move on.

May 10, 2011; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld speaks during the unveiling of the new Washington Wizards uniforms and logos at the Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

With just seven games remaining this season for the Washington Wizards, I thought it would be a great time to start posting our annual season evaluations. Instead of just evaluating the players on the roster, I thought we should evaluate the front office and coaching staff as well. James Straton and Williams Stokes joined me as we evaluated our beloved front office.

James Straton: How do you grade a man with a Wizards record of 311-485? How do you disconnect that fact from anything he does? If you’re me, this is an easy process. I know hindsight to be 20/20 and I know obvious warning signs of catastrophe are not so obvious as they occur. I can forgive Ernie Grunfeld for a number of things he has done because I can understand the logic. I think we wouldn’t be talking about what a bad GM he is if not for the fact that John Wall has been mediocre for 90% of his career. If Wall were Rose, this 2013 team would have won 50 games and we would be singing his praises for the Nene and Okafor/Ariza deals. But alas, Nene and Wall missed many-a-game and the team has been awful without them. So he’s the worst GM ever.

Grunfeld was asked to play Russian Roulette with a gun that had bullets in five of six chambers. His brains are splattered across the Verizon Center’s floor, but Zombie Grunfeld lives on, trying to clean up the pink-mattered-mess (read: Gilbert Arenas/Rashard Lewis mess) while sometimes making moves you would expect from a brainless Zombie, like drafting Jan Vesely. But alas, no matter how much you qualify his performance this year, he created a team filled with injury-laden players and little depth. He relied too much on youth, following the Ted Leonsis way that worked so well with the Caps, suiting up players in Jan Vesely, Kevin Seraphin, and Chris Singleton who sometimes look more like D-League-ers than role players. And, most importantly, he didn’t trade Bradley Beal for James Harden. That’s the straw that breaks this Zombie’s rating.

The amount of input Mr. Leonsis had on the axing of the potential Harden trade is unclear, but I blame him all the same. It’s tough to see the best SG in the league torch everyone while the Wizards rely yet again on potential. The Wizards are full of potential energy; it would have been nice to garner some kinetic. But that isn’t the case and the backcourt looks fine. Beal looks to be an incredible player, but if he ever reaches the heights Harden had already reached with the Thunder I will be surprised. It’s just easier to bet on Beal not achieving those heights; it’s not knock on him as a player. I think he’s awesome. But I’d be surprised if he is ever James Harden awesome.

And that single trade is why I think both Leonsis and Grunfeld deserve a failing grade. The Crawford trade I don’t mind. Hell, maybe he’s only worth a torn ACL and two fouls a game. But not nabbing Harden at any cost is unforgiveable. I may have started off by saying I can forgive Ernie for a number of things he has done because I understand the logic, but I was outraged by this from the start. And sorry, Ted. You get blamed all the same.

Grade: D+