The Washington Wizards lack of Small Forward depth is a Problem

The Washington Wizards have numerous problems with their roster. The injury to Troy Brown only makes things worse.

If you thought the Washington Wizards point guard situation was bad, wait till you see their small forward situation. The Wizards announced on Tuesday that Troy Brown will be sidelined for four weeks with a left calf strain. He could potentially miss the first few games of the season.

Brown is going into his sophomore season in the NBA. After a strong summer league, he was looking to earn a spot in the Wizard’s starting lineup. However, this injury will force him to miss training camp and preseason, making that goal unlikely, at least for the start of the season.

C.J. Miles is the team’s only other true small forward. He was acquired in the offseason from the Grizzlies in the Dwight Howard trade. Miles himself is dealing with injuries. He underwent foot surgery on July 25. His status for training camp is unknown as he was recently seen still in a walking boot, but he is expected to be ready for opening night. Miles will likely be the opening night starter at small forward.

Outside of Miles and Brown, the Wizards really do not have any real options at small forward. Admiral Schofield, the Wizards 2019 second round draft pick, played well in summer league, but is not likely to be a reliable option for the Wizards right off the bat.

This leaves the door open to Justin Anderson. Anderson is a former first round pick, drafted 21st overall by the Mavericks in 2015. Many projected Anderson to become a solid three and D guy in the league, but he never lived up to the hype. He has spent time in Dallas, Philadelphia, and most recently, Atlanta. Last season with the Hawks, he averaged 3.7 points per game in 48 games.

Anderson signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Wizards in the offseason and was viewed as not having a great shot at making the team’s roster. However, the injury to Brown highly increases Anderson’s shot at making the roster as the Wizards are desperate for depth at small forward.

Another option the Wizards could consider is moving Rui Hachimura to small forward, putting Miles on the bench, and adding Davis Bertans to the starting lineup as  power forward. This is an intriguing option as Bertans’ incredibly accurate three point shot allows for great spacing on offense. However, Hachimura does not normally play small forward and it could hinder his development into the league.

Things are looking pretty bleak for the Wizards at the moment. They are riddled with injuries and the season has not even started yet.

The Wizards are looking at a high lottery pick for next season. You know what that means? A chance at LaMelo Ball in the 2020 NBA Draft!