Four Washington Wizards players to watch when NBA returns.
So maybe the season isn’t over for the Washington Wizards after all. After months of uncertainty, the NBA has finally agreed upon a way to finish out the season.
The gist of the restart is this: 22 (of the 30) NBA teams return to action in Florida. They are confined to a modified Disney World, meant to be more of a basketball commune at this point than an amusement park. Teams will play eight games to determine seeding and then the playoffs will begin.
There are a few additional wrinkles, such as possible play-in games for ninth seeds that are within four games of the playoffs. Also, there have been discussions around preserving home-court advantage by giving the home team an extra possession, shipping in their actual home floors, and other somewhat wacky ideas.
So while we might not yet know all the details surrounding the NBA’s return, they WILL finish the season. And somehow, the Wizards aren’t out of it, yet. Currently 5.5 games behind the Orlando Magic and 6.0 games behind the Brooklyn Nets, the Wizards could force a play-in scenario if they ball out to begin the season restart.
Of course, we’ll be interested to see if Bradley Beal can continue his scorching scoring, or if Davis Bertans can set a new single-season three-point mark in a shortened season. But here are four other Wizards to keep an eye on when play resumes.
Washington Wizards Player to Watch: Shabazz Napier
Shabazz Napier’s time with the Wizards this season has been short, but it’s been solid. Solid enough to earn him a spot on the roster next season?
Maybe. A few extra games would certainly help make that decision easier. Before the season was suspended, WoA’s Jack Skolnkik wrote about Napier’s hot start with the Wizards. But it was just that. A start.
Napier has played only a dozen games with the Wizards so far. And while he’s been impressive in that short time, especially with how quickly he was able to grasp and eventually run the offense, it’s not nearly enough time to get a clear read on what Napier would bring to the table next season.
At one point, it looked like he may make fellow point guard Ish Smith disposable this offseason. Smith has been serviceable, and at times spectacular, in his first season with the WIzards. But his $6 million dollar price tag will probably be more than what the Wizards have to pay to keep Napier around. He might not fetch a ton on the trade market, but he has value. And having Smith and Napier to sit behind Wall next season seems a bit redundant.
It would make sense to keep Napier and deal Smith for some help elsewhere, maybe a defensive-minded wing. But that’s only if Napier can prove he’s worth keeping. Since he entered the NBA in 2014, the Wizards are Napier’s sixth team in six seasons.
Washington Wizards Player to Watch: Rui Hachimura
Let’s call this final stretch of the season chapter three for Rui Hachimura’s first year with the Washington Wizards.
Chapter one: 25 games; 13.9 ppg; 5.8 rpg; 1.6 apg
Chapter two: 16 games; 12.5 ppg; 6.5 rpg; 1.9 apg
Chapter three: ???
Coming out of the draft, one of the knocks on Hachimura was his low ceiling, a product of his less than elite athleticism (at least on the NBA level). But while Hachimura might not have the burst of a Coby White, or the leaping ability of Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, he has looked comfortable and confident since game one. And he’s only progressed throughout the season.
Hachimura certainly has room to grow. His three-point shot is not a threat. He’s also had trouble finishing at the rim against NBA size and strength (This ain’t Gonzaga anymore). But he’s great at identifying mismatches and taking advantage of them without hesitation. And while he often got tunnel vision towards as the closed in on the rim earlier in the season, he’s already progressed as a playmaker and looks for teammates more often.
Since Rui returned from injury – during chapter two – he’s looked more comfortable as a distributor. Having only been playing high-level basketball for a few years, you hope he can continue to grow on the job, much like he already has throughout his rookie season.
After the extended and unexpected lay off, will Rui come back with even more improvements and adjustments? It should be fun to see how he closes out what should be an All-Rookie season.
Washington Wizards Player to Watch: Moritz Wagner
There’s a saying from the college football world: If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any. The idea being, if nobody is good enough to establish himself firmly as the number one option, then you don’t have anyone you can really rely on.
The same thing is going on at the center position for the Washington Wizards. While Ian Mahinmi has been serviceable at times this season, this will likely be his last season in D.C., and he’s certainly not the answer at center. That leaves Thomas Bryant and Moritz Wagner.
Both have been ok this season, but neither have been great. And considering Bryant just signed an extension with the team last summer, it’d be surprising to see them punt on the young center just one season later. Especially when you consider the injuries Bryant has dealt with this season.
This leaves Wagner in a weird position. He’s obviously valuable to the team, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game this season. Plus, he’s quite productive when he’s out there. Among players who have played at least 12 games for the Wizards this season, Wagner has the second-best effective field goal percentage. Per 36 minutes, he ranks second in rebounds and sixth in points. But he also ranks first in fouls and third in turnovers.
And it doesn’t help that Wagner and Bryant kind of do the same things on the court. While both are efficient around the rim (each shooting at least 64 percent on two-point field goals this season), they can’t stretch the floor offensively. Neither Bryant nor Wagner average even a single made three-pointer per game. While their shooting percentages from deep are respectable, they’re only pulling it if they’re wide open.
This offseason, the Wizards need to add something to their frontcourt. Keeping Wagner and Bryant might make things a little crowded and a little redundant. Wagner’s contract, though, is extremely team-friendly. He’s set to make $2.16 million next season and has a $3.89 million team option for the season after that.
Washington Wizards Player to Watch: Troy Brown Jr.
What’s the deal with Troy Brown Jr? The 20-year-old, 6’6″ wing brings a lot to the table for the Wizards. He can handle the ball well. He’s got great vision as a passer. He’s one of the team’s best rebounders (although that’s not saying much). And he’s a strong and versatile defender.
A skill set like that should easily help any team, but it’s not clear if the WIzards have yet figured out how best to use their 2018 first-round draft pick.
This season Brown has primarily played as a small forward, bouncing between the starting unit and the bench. For what it’s worth, Brown seems to play best when he has the ball in his hands and is able to create on the offensive end. He’s a very skilled passer which comes in handy in the halfcourt, where he can facilitate, and on the fast break, where he can push the ball up the court and still find open teammates.
But Brown isn’t often used as a facilitator. If he plays with the starting unit, he’ll have to rightfully defer to Beal. He’ll only be pushed back further on the pecking order when Wall returns next season. So instead he’s emerged one the defensive end as one of Washington’s stoppers alongside Isaac Bonga.
But is Brown a ‘Three and D’ wing? The Wizards might want him to be, but his outside shot needs more work if he’s going to effectively fit that role. However, instead of trying to force Brown into a role that his diverse skillset doesn’t exactly lend itself to, why not find a role that suits him a bit more.