4 Players the Wizards Could Target with John Wall’s DPE
By Ethan Smith
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hit the market as an unrestricted free agent after the Brooklyn Nets failed to extend him a qualifying offer. I guess they had other things on their mind. Who knows?
But what the Nets didn’t want, or didn’t need, could be a perfect fit for this Washington Wizards team. Last season, the Wizards were one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams (28th in Defensive Rating) and have done next to nothing to address that problem so far this offseason.
As a wing, RHJ has good height at 6’7, but he has even better length. His wingspan stretches over 7-feet, allowing him to guard multiple positions on the floor. Although he can hold his own down low, he’s a bit undersized. However, he can swallow up smaller wings and guards with ease on the defensive end.
While there’s hope that draft pick Rui Hachimura can develop into such type of defender with his similar frame, it’ll take him some time to get there. In the meantime, RHJ’s a great option on the defensive end.
Offensively, though Hollis-Jefferson’s game is limited. While he shows some promise close to the basket, his three-point game is atrocious. Through his first four seasons in the NBA, he’s never averaged more than one three-point attempt per game or shot over 29 percent for a full season.
Also worth noting, he’s only 24 years old.