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Washington Wizards’ Options If John Wall Misses Start of 2016-17 Season

By Ben Mehic

Dec 5, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 119-89. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 119-89. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards have two options if John Wall ends up missing the start of the 2016-17 season due to knee surgery.

John Wall seems cautiously optimistic that he’ll be ready at the start of the Washington Wizards‘ season, but he’s not going to rush it. After getting two knee procedures this off-season, the last thing Wall wants to do is put his career in jeopardy.

While we all hope the All-Star could return sooner than later, there’s always that lingering possibility that Wall will miss the start of the season.

Wall, who started in just 42 games in 2012-13 because of similar concerns, likely won’t miss a ton of time – if any – but the Wizards would be foolish not to prepare for the worst.

But, what if he does have to sit out some games at the beginning of the season? Where could the Wizards turn to for temporary help?

Run with what you have

Washington could decide to just run with what they currently have – meaning, Trey Burke and Tomas Satoransky.

The team’s coaching staff would have to put a lot of faith into the unproven guards for that to happen, but it’s certainly a possibility, especially since Burke has some experience starting in the NBA.

Burke, a former NBA lottery pick, started in 68 of the 70 games he played in during his first season in the league.

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The problem is, the more he played, the less he started to look like an NBA starter.

The Michigan standout didn’t start in any games this past season and actually fell out of Utah’s rotation.

Scott Brooks would have to see something spectacular from Burke during training camp for the Wizards to go this route.

Per-36 minutes, Burke averaged close to 18 points per game last season with the Jazz.

In theory, the Wizards would play with better spacing than the Jazz did and having Bradley Beal along side Burke certainly couldn’t hurt either.

If the team were to give Burke the nod in this scenario and he plays well, then it would give the entire team a boost in confidence once Wall returns.

Beal had played without Wall in the past and would be forced to be the go-to option offensively. That would also prepare Beal for greater responsibility when Wall comes back.

Tomas Satoransky would also be thrust into a sink or swim situation.

The 6-7 point guard has the tools to become a productive player at the next level, but he’s never played a single minute in the NBA yet.

Having to rely on him for real minutes of the bench could end up being a disaster, or it could help him develop quicker than he normally would have.

Look for a free agent

This is probably the safest road for Washington.

If they can confirm with Wall’s doctors that he won’t be ready at the start of the season, then the front office should certainly look to add another point guard to the roster.

Surprisingly, there are still some solid guards available, but all of them come with some sort of baggage.

Mario Chalmers and Ty Lawson, in particular, stand out.

Lawson is just a few years removed from playing at an All-Star level. However, the alcohol problem is legitimate and we really don’t know how he’s doing at this point.

Here’s what Lawson had to say about it in a recent piece by Marc J. Spears:

"“Things happened in the media because I drank and drove. But I’m not a person out here like everyone thinks that I’m drunk all day. No, I don’t do that. A lot of my friends, we go out and celebrate. But I’m not that person in the morning getting drunk before practice. I think there is a big misconception about what everybody thinks. That’s what I basically tell them. I keep it honest.”"

Lawson has ties to the DMV area and the worst thing you could do for someone with problems is surround him with other people who might be a distraction.

On the flip side, Lawson might honestly feel as if the problems are behind him.

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If that’s the case, most teams could do a lot worse at backup point guard than Lawson.

He’s bounced around the league quite a bit since the Denver Nuggets traded him to the Houston Rockets. He’s played for three teams in about a year, including a brief stint with the Indiana Pacers.

Perhaps Brooks and the Washington Wizards could get Lawson to play to his potential in the district. Like Wall, Lawson is considered one of the fastest point guards in the league, so the Wizards could still run the same sets with him on the floor.

Chalmers also comes with some baggage, but his is an on-court issue.

Putting up close to 11 points in Memphis, Chalmers had played some of the best ball of his career before tearing his achilles.

Had the injury not occurred, Chalmers would have been a top target for most teams that needed a backup point guard. Unfortunately, the injury has hurt his stock and Chalmers will need to prove himself again.

As a former starter on the dominant LeBron James led Miami Heat teams, Chalmers is a proven veteran and has the size to play both guard positions.

There are reports that indicate Chalmers will be ready by training camp, but the achilles injury is relatively serious.

Next: Catching Up With the Wizards' Rebuild Crew

No one wants to see Wall miss time this upcoming season, but the Wizards have to prepare themselves for the possibility of it happening. The options are fairly limited. They can either run with what they currently have or take a small chance on a free agent point guard.

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