Washington Wizards Complete 2016-17 Preview

The Washington Wizards entered the 2015-16 season with Eastern Conference Finals potential, then limped into the All-Star break with dwindling playoff hopes.

A 4-9 stretch into the intermission left the Wizards at 23-28, 10th in the East. Their defense, fifth in efficiency just one season prior, ceded 108-plus points in 10 of those 13 contests.

“As an individual, you’ve got to take pride in guarding your man,” John Wall said, per Todd Dybas of the Washington Times. “As a team, you’ve got to have your brother’s back. That’s something we haven’t been doing.”

The Wizards couldn’t reconnect in time to save the campaign. Their defense kept leaking, their rotation was rocked by injury and they never matched—let alone surpassed—the sum of their individual parts.

A disappointing, postseason-less 41-41 finish sparked change in the District: Head coach Randy Wittman was ousted after four years on the job and replaced by former Oklahoma City Thunder skipper Scott Brooks. Washington also axed its head trainer, retooled its reserve unit and perhaps positioned itself for a playoff return.

Biggest Offseason Move

Wittman’s long-smoldering coaching seat finally burned down, and the arrival of Brooks could give the franchise a foundation on which to build.

His credentials are undeniable: a .620 career winning percentage, three conference finals berths, one NBA Finals appearance, 2009-10’s Coach of the Year award. There is, however, some question as to how much credit he deserves for that success.

He helped turn the Thunder into perennial contenders, but that might have happened anyway after drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. Brooks helped bring those players along but couldn’t help them clear the championship hurdle and failed to earn high marks for his offensive creativity and substitution patterns.

That said, his isolation-heavy offense may have been necessitated by his roster. Some of his most successful seasons were spoiled by ill-timed injuries, not poor decisions. He connects with his players—an area where Wittman had trouble—and has routinely produced two-way powers.

“It’s hard to imagine Brooks being a disaster unless something crazy happens to the roster,” Jerry Brewer of the Washington Post wrote. “He’s a good coach. He contributed to building Oklahoma City’s enviable culture of collegiality, hard work and professionalism. His floor is on an elevated platform.”

The rest of Washington’s offseason was spent strengthening the support staff. Longtime Wizards Nene and Garrett Temple were among those who exited in free agency, while a new bench was built with Ian Mahinmi, Andrew Nicholson, Jason Smith, Trey Burke and 2012 second-rounder Tomas Satoransky.

Rotation Breakdown

Brooks shouldn’t tinker with his inherited starters. Wall and Bradley Beal are not only the engines of this organization, but they could be the NBA’s best two-way backcourt, according to Brooks and The Vertical’s Chris Mannix. Otto Porter and trade deadline addition Markieff Morris did nothing to lose their starting forward spots.

If any starter is facing stiff competition, it’s 32-year-old center …

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