Free Agency: Should Wizards go after Marco Belinelli or Derrick Rose?

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 3: Derrick Rose #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Washington Wizards on November 3, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Now that the 2018 NBA trade deadline has passed, it’s now time to see which free agents are available. Reports have emerged that the Washington Wizards are seeking a veteran guard, and they have their eyes on Derrick Rose and Marco Belinelli.

Now that the 2018 NBA trade deadline has passed, it’s now time to see which free agents are available. The Washington Wizards are still looking to make a serious playoff push. Although the core remains—the same starters that reached Game 7 last season—Washington is still missing one more piece to get them over the hurdle. 

The hurdle being getting out of the second round and into the Eastern Conference Finals.

After trading Sheldon Mac to Atlanta on Thursday in return for a protected 2019 second round pick, they now have two open roster spots. 

I thought they needed more rim protection, someone who can help them get those second and third chance points. A man in the middle who can kick the ball out to the perimeter shooters or slam it down on his own. Most importantly stretch the floor. But this season there are slim pickings in free agency for bigs.

However, according to reports, the Wizards are actually looking for a veteran guard. 

I’m not going to use the term buyer’s market because these are people.

Belinelli as backup

Marco Belinelli who was waived by the Atlanta Hawks is now available.

When the Wizards took flight against the Hawks back in November, soundly beating them, 113-94, Belinelli stood out.

Granted the Wizards didn’t a do a good job defending the three-point line that night, but Belinelli lit up Washington knocking down four shots from 3-point range.

The following month in December the Wizards would come crashing down and lose to the Hawks. Again it was Belinelli who gave Washington trouble.

At the time I wrote:

"Off the bench, the Hawks’ Marco Belinelli provided a spark for Atlanta, knocking down 11 points in his first 11 minutes. Belinelli is also the best free throw shooter in the NBA at 95 percent. During the third quarter, he would be fouled by Bradley Beal on a three-point attempt.In Coach Scott Brooks own words, “Belinelli lit us up.” He ended the game with 19 points."

Free throw shooting has been a problem for Washington, so he would be a great help there. Belinelli’s averaging 11.4 points this season and shooting 37 percent from the three-point line.

Rose as backup PG?

It was also reported on Saturday that the Wizards have interest in Derrick Rose?

Rose played 16 games for the Cavaliers this season, where he averaged 9.8 points and 1.8 assists.

There are times where he looks like the Rose of old. When he played Washington back in November he had 20 points in 29 minutes.

For the month of January he averaged 7.3 points. Yet, he had a few good games that month. Against Indiana he scored 14 points in 15 minutes of action.

Rose just has a short sample size this season to effectively compare him to Belinelli.

There’s no doubt that the bloom hasn’t fallen off the Rose, and he can still make those unbelievable shots. However, the Wizards don’t need spurts of greatness. Great one night and disappearing acts the next.

Now is not the time in the season to experiment to see which Rose the Wizards will get.

They need reliability and consistency. That’s something that Belinelli can provide. If Washington is able to have the option to get either of the two, that’s still a win-win.

But if Washington wants to have another reliable piece to deepen their bench for a serious postseaon run, Belinelli should get that call.