Mike Muscala will be the X-factor for the Washington Wizards next year
By Cem Yolbulan
One of the most under-the-radar acquisitions of the Washington Wizards this summer was Mike Muscala. Mostly seen as a throw-in by the Boston Celtics in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Muscala’s role and skillset are rarely discussed. Yet, Muscala has been one of the most impactful bench players in the league over the past couple of seasons. His performance with the Oklahoma City Thunder could be a blueprint for what he could do to help the young Wizards next season.
With the OKC Thunder, Muscala was in a very similar situation to the 2023-24 Washington Wizards. They were also a young, rebuilding team with a lack of front-court depth. He not only played the role of a veteran mentor, but he also contributed as a solid big man off the bench who juiced the Thunder offense every time he was on the court. Muscala’s on/off stats are absolutely eye-popping.
Every time Muscala has been on the floor, the OKC Thunder have been better
Since the 2020-21 season, Muscala played 1,842 total minutes for the Thunder, before getting traded to the Boston Celtics at last year’s trade deadline. In these 2.5 seasons, the difference in Oklahoma City’s net rating with him on the court versus off the court is staggering. The Thunder with Muscala on the court were 13.7, 11.6, and 11.4 points per 100 possessions better than he was off the floor. These on/off numbers are on par with some of the best players in the NBA.
In fact, last season, Oklahoma City had a +9.1 net rating with him on the floor, a number that would have easily ranked #1 in the league for a full season. Thunder’s offensive efficiency of 120.6 with Muscala on the floor would have been the best offense in the NBA by a mile.
On/off numbers are obviously faulty and shouldn’t be depended on when assessing a player. The other four players you share the court with and the rest of the rotation matter. However, Muscala’s positive impact on his team is undeniable.
Having a center who can shoot is a huge plus for offensively limited teams
Most of this impact comes on the offensive end thanks to his shooting ability. Getting excellent floor-spacing and three-point accuracy from your center helps boost your team’s offensive efficiency. Muscala is a career 38% three-point shooter, an excellent mark for a center. This additional shooting threat helps your team play more limited offensive players in other positions, meaning Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, and Johnny Davis could benefit greatly from the presence of Muscala.
Moreover, there is a huge benefit to having a big man who knows how to play. Muscala is obviously a limited player but having an experienced veteran who knows how to set a screen, box out, and do the dirty work will be important on a young team like the Wizards.
Considering that there is ample playing time available for Muscala, he could easily be the X-factor for the Wizards next season. He is the only true center on the roster behind Daniel Gafford, and his path to 15-20 minutes a game is clear. If the trend of the last couple of seasons holds for Muscala, there is a chance the Wizards offense will be better than expected.
