It’s the midway point of the NBA season, so it’s time to look at where the Wizards are, how far they’ve come and what they must do to continue to improve in the second half of the year, right?
Nah.
Let’s face it, the Wizards as currently constructed, are an NBA team in name only. They aren’t built to contend and barely built to improve. Essentially, most spots on the roster are filled by placeholders and players who are being asked to do too much for their level of talent, experience and ability. The Wizards, for the most part, are fine with it, because they’re hoping the season finishes as quickly as possible and they end up with as a high a pick as possible in the next draft.
With that in mind, in lieu of midseason grades, here’s an evaluation of each member of the Wizards, as they are on the current team and what role they’d play on an actual contender.
Andray Blatche
What he’s doing for Washington: After consecutive strong Aprils when the Wizards weren’t in contention for anything but the NBA draft lottery, Blatche’s numbers are taking a tumble, and it’s clear that the Wizards’ unshakeable faith that he could be a dominant starting power forward is beginning to crumble. He’s put up 11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 13 starts this year, but more importantly, he’s an endless source of frustration to Wizards fans, and he’s missed almost half the season due to injury (shoulder, calf).
Where he’d fit on a contender: It’s no surprise that the Wizards have had more rhythm offensively when Blatche has come off the bench. His combination of size and skill makes him a threatening reserve who can provide scoring in second- and early fourth-quarter situations. Blatche’s biggest obstacle is the Wizards groomed him as a starter. His best chance at a career makeover is by moving to another team.
Trevor Booker
What he’s doing for Washington: In his second season, Booker (7.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) has emerged as the Wizards’ most reliable source of energy and hustle. Strong, tough and fast, Booker doesn’t back down against the best power forwards in the NBA, who he’s matching up with on a nightly basis.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Booker’s problem is that at 6-foot-8, he shouldn’t have to defend the best power forwards in the NBA on a nightly basis, and his offensive abilities aren’t enough to be a starter unless he plays alongside a better scorer at small forward. A good team would love to have him inject that spark off the bench. The Wizards have high hopes for Booker – and he’s likely the team’s most tradeable asset (not that Washington is going to even listen to offers) – but the burden they’ve placed on him isn’t exactly fair.
Jordan Crawford
What he’s doing for Washington: Averaging 21.2 points and 3.8 assists in the last five games, Crawford is playing as well as anyone on the team right now not named John Wall. He struggled to hold on to the starting shooting guard spot once Nick Young re-signed with Washington, and it initially affected him as a reserve, too, but Crawford’s fearlessness and streaky abilities fit his position.
Where he’d fit on a contender: He’s got his niche. Crawford (12.7 ppg) is sixth in the NBA in scoring among qualified reserve guards (behind James Harden, Lou Williams, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford and Mo Williams) and seventh among reserves overall (Al Harrington).
Mo Evans
What he’s doing for Washington: Evans hasn’t done much, thanks mostly to a Wizards’ roster overloaded at small forward. He also started from behind due to knee problems and his work on the NBA labor deal, but with a directive to let the youngsters play, Evans hasn’t had enough minutes to find a rhythm or make an impression.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Evans showed his ability last spring to hit 3-pointers and play tough defense, but his window to do that as a starter may have closed.
Rashard Lewis
What he’s doing for Washington: One of the highest-paid players in the league and a career perimeter threat, Lewis has been a massive disappointment, scoring in double figures just nine times during the first half of the season. With his aging jumper deteriorating, the Wizards moved him to the second unit, but even that hasn’t helped him find any consistency.
Where he’d fit on a contender: It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Lewis find some life in his knees if playoffs were on the horizon. But he’s a tad pricey, to say the least, for a few 3-pointers off the bench.
Shelvin Mack
What he’s doing for Washington: As a second-round pick, Mack has delivered, showing he’s smart and capable of running an NBA team – certainly a better fit than having Jordan Crawford as the Wizards’ primary backup at the point.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Mack is still young and would be better served by playing behind another veteran point guard, not just John Wall.
Roger Mason Jr.
What he’s doing for Washington: Mason shockingly got off the bench the first quarter in the Wizards’ final game before the All-Star break, but he’s has been all but redundant as a reserve backcourt scoring option behind Crawford and Nick Young.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Still a great shooter and strong locker room presence. Still not much else to offer.
JaVale McGee
What he’s doing for Washington: Some games it’s amazing, other games it’s laughable. McGee blocks shots, runs the floor and can play above the rim. But he also gets muscled aside by the NBA’s best center, struggles in pick and roll defense and isn’t a consistently dominant force on the glass. He’s also prone to knucklehead moments. All that said, he starts every night.
Where he’d fit on a contender: McGee is at his best against second-tier big men, but his numbers (11.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.7 bpg) are an argument to get the kind of money that starting center DeAndre Jordan did (four years, $43 million) this year from the playoff-bound Los Angeles Clippers. McGee, paired with the right power forward, might eventually realize his full potential, but the Wizards have done little to cultivate McGee’s growth besides making him feel entitled.
Kevin Seraphin
What he’s doing for Washington: One reason why McGee is entitled: because Seraphin has done almost nothing to push him. Combined with Hamady Ndiaye, who was waived a couple weeks ago, the Wizards’ long-term approach at center hasn’t paid off.
Where he’d fit on a contender: At least third on the depth chart at center, where he should be once Ronny Turiaf returns from injury.
Chris Singleton
What he’s doing for Washington: Hopefully, Singleton isn’t getting too frustrated, having been thrust into a starting role to provide hustle, energy and defense. Similar to Booker, he doesn’t have a refined offensive game, nor should he be expected to as a rookie.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Singleton should be getting reps doing what he’s best at against reserves and backups. He’s got a great future as a lockdown defender, but to do that as a starter, he needs more and better scoring around him at power forward and shooting guard. The Wizards don’t have either.
Ronny Turiaf
What he’s doing for Washington: He would’ve helped as a backup for both Blatche and McGee if he hadn’t been injured. The way this team has played, he’d probably start plenty of games, too.
Where he’d fit on a contender: Turiaf averaged 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18 minutes per game for the Knicks last year. At 6-10 and a solid, smart team player, as long as he’s around, he’ll have the chance to do that for someone in the NBA.
Jan Vesely
What he’s doing for Washington: The Wizards drafted Vesely based on his upside, and Vesely has shown he’s got a great one, with good instincts, size, willingness and the ability to get out in transition.
Where he’d fit on a contender: With some refinement to his skill set, his jump shot, and lots of time in the weight room, Vesely could develop into a real threat at forward. The Wizards can’t afford for him not to.
John Wall
What he’s doing for Washington: Don’t get distracted by the struggles of the players around him, and yes, he still needs to keep working on his jumper, but Wall has All-Star potential, and he’s a dominant and forceful presence when playing with the best players in the game, as he did this past weekend in Orlando. He has mostly the opposite of that with him in Washington.
Where he’d fit on a contender: If the Wizards don’t get the next part of their rebuild right, Wall won’t have be forgiven for starting to look elsewhere for the chance to actually be on a contender.
Nick Young
What he’s doing for Washington: With Blatche injured, Lewis ineffective, and the Booker/Singleton/Vesely combination inexperienced and unrefined, Young has been the Wizards’ first scoring option. It’s emboldened him to dribble endlessly and take needlessly difficult shots instead of in-rhythm jumpers.
Where he’d fit on a contender: There’s a reason that Chicago was considered a frontrunner to land Young after the lockout – he could’ve given the Bulls a good weapon off the bench to help spread the floor for Derrick Rose. Young’s efficiency rating (14.49) matches Crawford’s (14.31) and so would his role with any other team but Washington.
