Washington Wizards: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season

3. Can the Wizards find their primary defender?

One of the biggest Achilles’ heel for the Wizards during the 2017-18 campaign was finding a reliable, primary defender. This is where Kelly Oubre Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. need to set themselves apart from the pack.

Both are wiry and rangy forwards standing at roughly 6’8″ in stature. With that being said, one of them needs to step up as Washington’s go-to defender if the team hopes to get over the hump.

In their playoff series against the Toronto Raptors, DeMar DeRozan averaged 26.7 points per contest. By the end of the series, Porter was held out due to a leg injury. Oubre embraced the sixth man role, playing 24.7 minutes per game but for head coach Scott Brooks, it’s time to make a decision.

Porter or Oubre will need to become the ultimate closer on defense to offset what John Wall and Bradley bring to the table. Without a primary defender, the Wizards will continue to struggle against the likes of the Raptors and other top teams in the East.