Washington Wizards: Playoff Bound Next Season?

The Washington Wizards have quietly had a productive offseason.

For a team that finished last season 29-53, there’s optimism spreading throughout the D.C. area that the Wizards could actually make the playoffs next season. Coach Randy Wittman, in what will be his second full season as coach, has to like his team’s chances to compete for a playoff spot with the under-the-radar moves that have been made this offseason.

Wall enters a crucial season for himself and the franchise. (Photo Credit: Geoff Livingston, Flickr.com)

The team is led by rising star point guard John Wall, who is in a contract year as he faces restricted free agency next summer. Wizards’ fans can expect a huge season from Wall as he looking to land a max contract. When healthy, he’s arguably a top-10 point guard in the league, averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game last year. In a career game, Wall put up 47 points on the Memphis Grizzlies in a win in March.

Otto Porter was drafted with the third overall pick in the draft and expects to compete for playing time at small forward, but faces much competition. He’s already made quite the prediction, stating how he believes the team will do damage next season. The Wizards bring back swingman Trevor Ariza, who only played in 56 games last season due to injury, starting in 15. They also re-signed Martell Webster at the same position. Those three will battle for playing time, with Porter most likely being the third man in the rotation.

Glen Rice Jr. also joins the Wizards backcourt to team with Wall and second year guard Bradley Beal. Beal had a productive rookie season, averaging 13.9 points a game and hopes to avoid a sophomore slump. Five-year veteran Eric Maynor was signed as a free agent to back up Wall at point guard. Needless to say, the perimeter play of the Wizards will be one of the team’s strengths.

Wall and Beal together could be one of the top backcourts in the league. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

The frontcourt is filled with veteran big men as well, highlighted by Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor. Kevin Seraphin has flashed potential of being a productive starter in this league and Trevor Booker provides the team with depth up front. The Wizards would have liked to trade Okafor and his immovable $14 million contract, but that move seems highly unlikely at this point before the season.

Looking at the Eastern Conference playoff picture for next season, the first five seeds will likely be locked up by the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks. After that, the last three spots remain up for grabs. Three teams who were in last year’s playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have had sub-par offseasons, losing key players or trading them away in order to prepare for next summer’s highly anticipated free agent and draft class.

The Wizards will most likely battle it out with the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers in some sort of order for the last three playoff spots. Both those teams improved this offseason, where Detroit added Josh Smith to pair with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond in the frontcourt. Cleveland added the top pick in the draft Anthony Bennett and Andrew Bynum, who before missing all of last season had the best season of his career.

With teams taking a step back to “tank” next season, the Wizards should be able to make the playoffs again for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Wall will have a strong say in leading the team back into the postseason, and the development of Beal, Seraphin and Porter will likely determine which seed the franchise will have. Wall seeks to earn that max contract and if he does sign one next summer, you can guarantee that it will be because the Wizards make the playoffs.