Washington Wizards 2014-2015 Season Review: Regular Season Player Awards
By Ben Mehic
Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Rookie of the Year
The Washington Wizards needed a combo-guard and Ernie Grunfeld drafted one with the no. 46 pick in last year’s NBA Draft.
Grunfeld is notorious for drafting busts, but man, he really found a gem in the second round.
Jordan Clarkson went on to become one of Washington’s best backup guards. He gave them a much needed scoring punch of the bench, and more importantly, he gave them another young player with a bright future.
Wait…
Clarkson got traded for ‘cash considerations’?
Oh…
Well, the Washington Wizards didn’t have a rookie this season.
Randy Wittman was reluctant to play his rookies — Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. — last year, so it’s not that surprising. Instead of drafting, Grunfeld opted to trade last year’s second round draft pick to Mitch Kupchak‘s Los Angeles Lakers, who found a potential first team All-Rookie player in Clarkson.
But! I have good news.
The Wizards used the roster spot they saved by trading Clarkson to sign Rasual Butler, who played well for roughly half of the regular season. Are you still hurt? Me too.
If Clarkson continues to ball like he’s been ballin’, then trading the pick will go down as just one of Grunfeld’s many blunders. At least we still have John Wall. #PositivePixels
Winner: The Lakers
Next: Useless Signing of the Year