Wiz of Awes
Fansided

Washington Wizards: My Annual Assessment of the Washington Wizards

By Jen Julie Smith

WASHINTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards participate in an open practice for military veterans on November 10, 2017 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)
WASHINTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards participate in an open practice for military veterans on November 10, 2017 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) /
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WASHINTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards participate in an open practice for military veterans on November 10, 2017 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)
WASHINTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: Bradley Beal #3 and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards participate in an open practice for military veterans on November 10, 2017 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) /

Comparing my 2017 offseason assessment of the Washington Wizards, to what they need to do for 2018-19.

I checked back to what I wrote about the Washington Wizards about this time last year on how the they could get better for 2017-18. No need to read the entire 10-page article, but it’s titled Next Season – Faster, Stronger and to the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, this article will look at the 2017 piece and synthesize it with what the Wizards can do to reach the ECF next season.

John Wall Needs Backup

In January 2017, when Rajon Rondo was collecting DNP-CDs in Chicago, I wrote that the Wizards should pick him up at the trade deadline. I believed that he would have been a reliable backup for John Wall.

You can find the January 2017 trade piece here–Why Rajon Rondo Would be a Good Fit.

The reason why I wanted Rondo in January of last season, is because I believed he would have been reliable and give Wall rest.

When Chicago released Rondo at the end of the season, I wrote again in May 2017, that the Wizards should still go for Rondo:

"But to reach the ECF, a few things needed to happen. Wall, for example, was in the top minutes played throughout the entire season. The Wizards needed a true, back-up point guard to not only provide Wall much-needed rest, but to also lead the second unit. I wrote in early January, no disrespect at all to Rondo, a 2008 NBA Champion, that the Wizards should acquire the point guard from Chicago. Two reasons – first, he’s a true point guard….Secondly, he has veteran leadership, which the bench sorely needed. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the Bulls/Celtics playoffs this season. I earnestly believe after the Rondo led Bulls, won the first 2 games in Boston, had he not been injured, that’s who the Wizards would be meeting in the semifinals."

But DeMarcus Cousins really wanted Rondo in New Orleans, and that’s where Rondo went.

After the Pelicans acquired Rondo, I wrote during the offseason that he would help lead them to the playoffs.

Instead of going through my 6-page analysis, that I wrote last summer, on what Rondo would bring to New Orleans, I summed it up in the last paragraph:

"Rondo may not have been the hero that the Pelicans thought of initially, but he’s the now the hero that they need. Not saying that Rondo, Davis, Cousins and Holiday will now transform the Pelicans into the Dirty Dozen, but it’s going to be filthy."

Of course he’s no longer on the table. However, if the Wizards are looking for a veteran then Ty Lawson could possibly fill that role.

But they have Tomas Satoransky, so does Wall still need backup?

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