NBA Free Agency 2015: Washington Wizards To Format Roster Around John Wall, Bradley Beal
By Ben Mehic
Despite finishing exactly where they did last year–elimination in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals–the Washington Wizards took some major steps to improving their future during the NBA Playoffs.
Randy Wittman finally embraced the small-ball idea and the core of the team thrived.
Washington punished the Toronto Raptors in the first round, beating them in four games with their new-look lineup.
With Paul Pierce at the four spot, Otto Porter at the three and their back court doing what they typically do, the Wizards looked like a team to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, Wall’s hand injury set the team back in the second round. Still, we saw the the Washington Wizards do what most of us have been clamoring for since the beginning of the season. Wittman finally began utilizing his players to their potential.
Having Pierce and Porter share the floor spaced the court for Wall, who led the playoffs with over 13 assists per game. Instead of settling for mid-range jumpers with no room to drive, Beal created shots for himself off the dribble and found himself open for three. Porter slashed to the rim and hit perimeter shots with consistency.
Regardless of the outcome, Washington’s key pieces took significant steps towards improving, including Wittman.
After their elimination, Wittman talked about what his team needed to do in order to continue progressing:
Last offseason, Ernie Grunfeld and Co. signed players that fit in Wittman’s old-school system.
Players like Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair, Kevin Seraphin and Drew Gooden were supposed to give the team more front court depth, but in reality, they just took up roster spots.
Humphries and Gooden became valuable during the latter half of the season because of their ability to rebound and stretch the floor. Blair found himself in a suit, sitting at the end of the bench, while Seraphin is looking towards finding a new role outside of the nation’s capital.
Wittman should’ve made the switch to small-ball during the regular season, but he finally realized how to get the most of out his players during the playoffs.
Wall and Co. weren’t hindered by a broken half-court system. They were allowed to get out in transition, move without the ball freely, and run pick-and-rolls with some of the best pick-and-roll bigs in the NBA.
There’s still some questions about whether or not he’ll be back, but if Wittman does return, it sounds like the roster will be formatted to fit their core’s needs:
"“We have to utilize what their strengths are, and their capabilities and find the right people to put around them. Allows us to play the way that I think we’re kind of playing in the series with Toronto and Atlanta.”"
Wittman was criticized for not playing to his team’s needs during the regular season, but the roster didn’t always allow him to do so.
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Again, players like Rasual Butler, Martell Webster, Andre Miller and Garrett Temple can’t play the style of basketball that best suits Wall and Beal.
Ernie Grunfeld and the rest of the front office is going to change the roster. We only saw a glimpse of how well the team could play with solid spacing and shooting.
Ramon Sessions gave the team another look off the bench with his speed and athleticism, while Gooden played a pseudo-stretch four role that he’s never played before.
Pierce is still deciding whether he’ll continue playing basketball in D.C., but the core of the team will remain intact.
Wall, Beal and Porter are going to remain the team’s key pieces next year. Marcin Gortat will also continue to be the Washington Wizards’ starting center. After that, though, the Wizards have to figure out what they’ll do.
Nene is not the same player he was when the Wizards acquired him in 2012 from the Denver Nuggets. The years of injuries have taken a toll on his body. He’s no longer the quick, agile big man that arrived to D.C. in exchange for JaVale McGee.
Given his $13 million expiring contract, you can assume that Nene will be back next season, but he will inevitably play a smaller role.
If Pierce does return, you can also expect him to play more power forward during the regular season.
Grunfeld will have to decide what to do with his bench. He’ll have the chance to cut ties with free agents, allowing him to sign more athletic players that fit his core’s style of play. He’ll also have the chance to select another young player late in the first round with the 19th overall pick in June.
This offseason is going to be incredibly important for the Washington Wizards, who continue to have their eyes set on 2016. Whatever happens, it seems like their days of playing old-school ball might be over.