The Washington Wizards will be the second best team in the Eastern Conference. Sure, it sounds like a bold statement, but the truth is that outside of the Cavaliers, the East is wide open and there for the taking. This year, the Wizards will be able to build off of a tremendous playoff run last season, in which they swept the favored Toronto Raptors and then took a 2-1 series lead over the 60-win Atlanta Hawks before ultimately losing the last three games and getting eliminated from the playoffs. Led by superstar John Wall, the Washington Wizards are finally ready to take the next step as an elite team in the NBA.
The Washington Wizards are the Biggest Threat to the Cavs
Even though Paul Pierce is a shell of the player he was in Boston, his impact on this team last season was undeniable, especially in the playoffs. Of course, Pierce has since moved on, signing a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to reunite with head coach Doc Rivers. Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards’ President and General Manager of Basketball Operations, actively looked for veteran small forwards on the market to replace Pierce, and he did just that with the trade for swingman Jared Dudley and the free agent signing of the versatile Alan Anderson. The Wizards also have Otto Porter, the former third overall pick out of Georgetown, who will look to build off of his terrific postseason last spring. Porter is a long, athletic small forward who should build a strong reputation in the NBA as a slasher and scorer. Many, including myself, believe that this will finally be the year he breaks out and runs away with the starting small forward gig for the Wizards. Combined with the improvement of Porter, Washington will have more versatility and talent at the small forward position than they did last year, even though they lost Pierce in the offseason. Credit Grunfeld and his staff for moving on from Pierce quickly and finding two solid replacements with tons of experience to add depth to the roster.
Outside of the additions of Dudley and Anderson, this Wizards team remains very much in tact from last season, which will allow them to build off of the chemistry developed last season. John Wall has continued to get better every year as he matures and improves his composure on the offensive end. Assuming he takes another huge step this year, expect Wall to be in the discussion as a top seven player in the NBA, along with James, Durant, Westbrook, Curry, Davis, and Harden. Wall’s backcourt mate, Bradley Beal is also expected to take a significant leap this season. Beal is a streaky scorer with tons of talent, but he is yet to prove that he can be a reliable second option, and sometimes first option, late in games for a contending team. As this season progresses, I expect to see Beal develop into one of the most improved players in the league, averaging over 20 points per game and shooting at a more efficient clip. If Beal works closer to his full potential this season, the Wizards will have the most electrifying backcourt in the NBA.
As for the frontcourt, there isn’t much change, as veterans Marcin Gortat and Nene Hilario will continue to control the paint for Washington. We have seen a slight decline in Nene’s production, which may be a concern, but he and Gortat are still two of the most skilled offensive big men in the game. Their defense, however, remains a huge question mark. If the Wizards continuously get beat up on defense in the paint, it will be interesting to see if the Wizards’ front office will try and acquire a defensive-minded big man in the middle of the season.
The Wizards have the perfect combination of inside-out scoring that can cause havoc for other teams in the East. They also have a solid bench, including the likes of Ramon Sessions and Drew Gooden to go along with the previously mentioned Jared Dudley and Alan Anderson. John Wall is arguably the best player in the East not named LeBron James, which is why I believe under his leadership, the Wizards can present the biggest threat to Cleveland in both the regular season and the playoffs. Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta, and Toronto are all good teams, but one or two are likely to break away from the pack and become an elite team in the East. Last year, it was the Atlanta Hawks. This year, it will be the Washington Wizards.
