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Washington Wizards Free Agency 2015: Who’s Left for the Wizards’ Frontcourt?

By David Statman

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There’s a lot to like about what the Washington Wizards have done this offseason.

With Jared Dudley, they got a much-needed, experienced and inexpensive 3-and-D wing who can play stretch 4. With Gary Neal, they got a proven shooter who should be able to provide a real scoring punch off the bench. But one of the obvious needs of this team – a restructuring of the frontcourt – has yet to be addressed, and after David West chose the veteran’s minimum and a chance to win a championship with the Spurs, they’re running out of options.

The Wizards still have their mid-level exception to work with, but while they waited for West to decide, intriguing prospects like Derrick Williams, Brandon Bass and Bismack Biyombo agreed to terms elsewhere.

The Wizards have to get another big man, and they’ll have to do it soon – here are a few remaining options for Ernie Grunfeld.

Mirza Teletovic

2014-15 season averages (Brooklyn): 8.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 32.1 3P%

We here at Wiz of Awes have already discussed Mirza Teletovic, a classic stretch 4 who, mired in restricted free agency, has yet to accrue any kind of notable interest from other teams.

Teletovic will be 30-years-old by the start of the next season, but only has three years of NBA experience. The main attraction with the 6-foot-9 Teletovic is his shooting and floor-spacing ability, but his 3-point performance took a major downturn last year – although you have to expect that the John Wall Effect will have a positive impact.

Getting spoon-fed by John Wall after spending the entirety of your NBA career with Washed Deron Williams would be like finding an oasis in the desert.

Teletovic has also proven himself as an underrated interior defender, and if he gets the 3-point boost you’d expect from playing with John Wall, he’d be worth the MLE. Restricted free agency is always tricky, though.

Jordan Hill

2014-15 season averages (L.A. Lakers): 12.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 45.9 FG%

Could the Washington Wizards lure Jordan Hill with the MLE? It’d be a pay cut for the big man, who became an unrestricted free agent after the Lakers declined a $9 million team option.

Hill has never played for a contender before, but the former lottery pick has built himself into an interesting name over his last few seasons out west. Hill could be a nice option to slot in as Marcin Gortat‘s backup – he’s a tenacious rebounder and good athlete who can score around the rim and has even developed a nice hook shot.

He’s not a great defender, but he’s not bad enough that he’s really going to hurt you too bad. And, hey Randy, he also likes to take midrange jumpers! (He’s not good at them, but goshdarnit he tries!)

He’s not a stretch 4 like we all want, but he’s the best player on the board.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Darrell Arthur

2014-15 season averages (Denver): 6.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 40.4 FG%

Ah, I remember being a young lad watching the 2008 NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards were picking 18th, and I really, really, really wanted them to take this power forward from Kansas named Darrell Arthur. Then we took JaVale McGee. The rest is history.

Arthur’s been a consistent rotation player in his six years in the league, and he’s a guy who can put the ball in the hoop as long as he’s inside the 3-point line. Last year he had one of his best seasons of his career finishing at the rim, and he’s always been a pretty good midrange shooter.

If he cuts out the threes, (he shot just 23.6% from downtown on 110 attempts last year), you might have something there, considering he’s a pretty OK defender. Not a great player, but certainly not a terrible option.

Who else is out there?

Tyler Hansbrough

Oh God, oh God, please no. Please no. Please no.

Kevin Seraphin

Make it stop. Oh please God, make it stop.

JaVale McGee

*vomits uncontrollably*

whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Just Make a Friggin’ Trade Already

This is doable, and could be the best route for Washington to take.

The Washington Wizards have a trade exception worth about $4.3 million from Trevor Ariza, and it would be a waste not to use it. Which frontcourt players could be on the move?

Well, how about the Suns’ Markieff Morris, a young, athletic and productive stretch 4 who would be an absolutely perfect fit in the starting lineup and could push Nene to the bench role that he would be best suited for?

The Suns just traded his twin brother, and they’re trying to swoop for Ryan Anderson. He could be attainable. The Portland Trail Blazers are rapidly hurtling towards irrelevance, so how about trying to swoop in for veteran big man Chris Kaman, or young, 7-foot-1 center Meyers Leonard, who shot 42% from 3-point range last season?

Philadelphia just traded for the perpetually underrated Carl Landry, why not dangle a second round pick or two in front of Sam Hinkie and see if he’ll bite? You guys can have DeJuan Blair, he’s got a great can-do spirit and I once saw him perform an expert Shmoney Dance on the sideline!

The possibilities are endless, my friends. Let’s Wizard.

Next: With KD In Mind, Wizards Hoping Oubre Becomes Centerpiece

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