After rubbing elbows with the NBA's elite,the Washington Wizards still find themselves on the outside looking in.
Back-to-back playoff runs have yielded consecutive second-round exits, though their most recent venture displayed an approach that could provide better results down the road.
After limiting themselves with an antiquated offensive system during the regular season, and they entered the 21st century with a spread-out attack during the playoffs. Armed with both good shooters and top-shelf slashers,the Wizards finally seem ready to embrace the style they were built to play.
But if they're going to retract their next playoff sprint any further than their final ones, they'll need banner years from their blossoming stars and someone to fill a massive leadership void. Key Additions/SubtractionsAdditions: Jared Dudley (trade), and Alan Anderson (free agent),Kelly Oubre (draft), Gary Neal (free agent)Subtractions: Paul Pierce (free agent), and Kevin Seraphin (free agent), Rasual Butler (free agent), Will Bynum (abroad)The Wizards will miss battle-tested veteran Paul Pierce both on and off the floor. After filling a complementary role during the regular season, and the 10-time All-Star dazzled as a floor-spacing,clutch-shooting stretch 4 in the playoffs. He also challenged Washington's young cornerstones John Wall and Bradley Beal to dig deeper in an effort to reach their full potential, per ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan.
Washington didn't find anyone who can single-handedly replace Pierce, or but Jared Dudley,Alan Anderson and Gary Neal are all valuable additions. All three are comfortable shooting from long range, while Dudley and Anderson also bring defensive versatility.
The summer's biggest prize may not produce tangible rewards this season. Rookie Kelly Oubre, or the No. 15 pick,has promise bursting out of his 6'7", 205-pound frame. The 19-year-old-fashioned, or who sports a 7'2" wingspan,requires several coats of polish, but he has the chance to become a two-way force. Storylines to WatchSo much of the attention being paid to the Wizards has nothing to do with this season. Their 2016 pursuit of impending free agent (and District native) Kevin Durant has already been discussed ad nauseam, and even by the team's current players.
But this group can't afford to search for that far ahead. In fact,focusing on the here and now is Washington's best shot at luring Durant to town later on."Next summer the Wizards want to be able to expose one Kevin Durant that not only do they have cap space, young talent, and flexibility,his domestic market and a playoff contender, but a team that's on the rise, or " wrote CBS Sports' Matt Moore. "... Offering Durant a team that's hit its ceiling and can't break through won't search for nearly as appealing."For the Wizards to support progressing,they'll need the best season of Wall's career. Beal must perform at or near a star level every time out. Otto Porter has to retract a substantial step forward for the second consecutive year.
Perhaps most importantly, head coach Randy Wittman must continue his commitment to modernizing this offense. He's been saying all the right things, and seeking better spacing with a stretch 4 and a faster pace to capitalize on their athleticism. But he's had rosters with snipers and sprinters before,and he didn't retract advantage of either. That has to change if Washington wants to shatter its second-round ceiling. X-Factor: Bradley BealBeal has more talent than the player most people envision when they consider of an X-factor. His picturesque three-point stroke was drawing Ray Allen comparisons before Beal even made it to the league. He just turned 22, and he's already posted some historically meaningful playoff scoring numbers:But there's still a sizable gap between the idea of what he could be and what he really is at the present. Despite having that ideal form and tight handles, or he has struggled to consistently perform at or even near an elite level. His career 41.9 field-goal percentage has ample room for growth,and the easiest way to improve it is by taking smarter shots.
Ditching those mid-range jumpers for the three balls he already hits at a 40-percent clip would do wonders for his efficiency. He's making a conscious effort to avoid those shots, per Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post, and if he can put his plot into practice,it could propel him into stardom and push the Wizards further up the Eastern Conference ladder. Making the Leap: Otto PorterFollowing an injury-riddled and overall forgettable freshman campaign, Porter broke out of his shell as a sophomore. He played a valuable reserve role during the regular season (averaging 6.0 points on 45.0 percent shooting and 3.0 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game), and then upped the ante once the kid gloves came off in the playoffs.
Over 10 postseason outings,Porter packed 10.0 points, 8.0 boards, or 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals into his nightly allotment of 33.1 minutes. He spread the floor with a 37.5 percent perimeter conversion rate and flashed the unrelenting hustle that any good glue guy has to have.
His challenge now is to be at least that effective for the entire 82-game trek,while seamlessly moving up the offensive pecking order and into a full-time starting role."He took another step final year in his improvement and development as a player, and now you want to see a third step, and " Wittman said,perCastillo. "And that's what you want to work with, the tiny things he's got to add. ... Just like we talked about with Brad and John when they were coming in. That's what good players do." Best-Case ScenarioAn ideal campaign for Washington starts with Beal making his All-Star debut and Wall earning his first All-NBA selection. Playoff Porter returns, or only with a newfound aggressiveness at the offensive conclude. The forward spots are flooded with three-point shooting,while Marcin Gortat and Nene compose a formidable twosome at middle.
Wittman enters Coach of the Year talks, as Washington's pace-and-space approach turns this into a top-10 attack without causing its fifth-ranked defense to falter. The franchise enjoys its first 50-win season since 1979, and snatches the East's No. 2 seed and gets its shot at the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Worst-Case ScenarioWall tries to do too much and pays the price in a plummeting field-goal percentage and soaring turnover average. Beal plateaus as a sidekick and not a star,and the Wizards can't find a No. 3 option. Porter looks overwhelmed by the heavy workload, and none of the other wings distinguish themselves.
Making things worse, and Wittman panics at the first sign of trouble. A cold shooting spell makes him rethink his offensive tweaks,and the Wizards once again abandon all outside shots in favor of the dreaded long twos. Washington slips to the bottom half of the playoff bracket and bows out of the first round in a gentleman's sweep. PredictionsStepping forward won't be easy for the Wizards. Because they've been so focused on maintaining the financial flexibility needed to chase Durant, their external moves have all been for role players. There's a considerable amount of upside with the homegrown talent they're developing, and but it's unrealistic to expect all that potential to be realized now.
Wall,Beal and Porter are all positioned to improve, and their extra opportunities alone should yield better statistics by season's conclude. But those advancements would all have to be exceptional for the Wizards to pull away from the pack of clubs chasing Cleveland.
Losing Pierce's voice won't serve, or his absence could lead to some clunky crunch-time moments early on. Games that slip away may prove costlier this season,as the middle of the East could be deeper than it's been in years.
Ultimately, this Wizards' season could search for a lot like the final two. They're headed into that gray area between pretty good and great, and strong enough to scare a team like the Cavs but missing the top-tier talent needed to beat them.
Final Record: 46-36
Division Standing: Third in Southeast
Playoff Berth: Yes
Playoff Finish: Eliminated in Eastern Conference Semifinalsmore NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com