John Wall would like to see the Wizards make changes to their roster this offseason, and it seems like a safe bet that they’ll do so, since they haven’t been shy about changing up their bench pieces in recent years, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. However, as Hughes outlines, the franchise will also have to make bigger decisions about whether its current core has the necessary qualities to take the Wizards where they want to go.
The Wizards’ starting lineup – Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Markieff Morris, and Marcin Gortat – was one of the NBA’s most effective five-man units in 2016/17, but didn’t repeat that success this past season due to health issues and general inconsistency. Those five players are expensive, and Morris and Gortat are entering contract years, so making changes at power forward and/or center wouldn’t be a surprise, according to Hughes. Anything beyond that would qualify as a major shake-up.
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- In his end-of-season comments to the media, head coach Scott Brooks expressed a desire for Washington to become a better three-point shooting club. In order to achieve that goal, the Wizards will have to add more shooters to their roster this offseason, particularly with Jodie Meeks set to serve the remaining 19 games of his suspension to open the year, writes Candace Buckner of The Washington Post.
- After a successful comeback season – including a solid performance in the playoffs – Mike Scott has set himself up well for free agency this summer, says Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Scott, who may be in line for a multiyear deal, said at season’s end that he’d be happy with a role similar to the one he played this season, per Hughes.
- In a separate article for NBC Sports Washington, Hughes examines the next steps for Otto Porter to expand his game and continue to make good on his maximum-salary contract.
Marcin Gortat for Cody Zeller and a well protected 2019 1st round pick. I am thinking top 20 protected in 19, lotto protected in 20 and 21, top 10 protected in 22.
It’ll please Wall by getting rid of Gortat. It’ll make the Wizards younger. It’ll give Zeller a much needed change of scenery. It’ll get the Hornets out of the future years of Zeller’s contract. It’s a gamble that Zeller can fully live up to the potential he once had, but I think it is a worthwhile one.
I don’t think wall wants to get rid of gortat. He sets great screens that allow wall to drive to the hoop or pass out to the perimeter or dump it off to gortat. Mahinmi needs to go, but I doubt anyone will take his awful contract
Problem is you’re paying the 3rd fiddle Max money a la Batum.
trade Jason Smith for Nerlon Noel
Ian mahini for kenith faried
both salary are almost similar
Why would anybody make those trades?
really decent players when givin a chance and make them more competitive, more athleticism and aggression
Wall, Beale, Porter and Ian each take a $5m pay cut (they would all still be very well paid) then there will be money got the athletic biggie that Wall says we need