Washington Wizards: 3 goals for Otto Porter Jr. in 2018-19

1. Emerge as an all-around third option

Otto Porter will be just 25 years old when the 2018-19 season begins in October. That’s a good sign for a Washington Wizards team with more just than the playoffs on their mind. With that being said, Porter needs to step up on a consistent basis for the Wizards this upcoming season. He has an opportunity to average 20 points per game, now he just needs to seize it.

It wasn’t really a breakout season for him considering the Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference. Porter hasn’t matched or exceeded his career-high of 34 points achieved on Nov. 9, 2016 against Boston during the 2016-17. They’ll need bigger performances and more consistency from him in 2018-19 for better results.

Looking across the landscape in the East, foes like the Celtics and the Sixers have third option guys that are producing at high levels. Granted, they’re teams with different dynamics, but Jayson Tatum put up 13.9 points per game in his rookie season for Boston. Ben Simmons put up 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game and won the Rookie of the Year award with Philadelphia last season.

As guys are taking on larger roles in the East, Porter needs to do the same. He’s a player that’s evolved with a versatile skill-set since being drafted third overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. The new breed of players are right on his heels, so emerging as a consistent third option for the Wizards would be ideal for Porter in 2018-19. He’ll just need to be ready to embrace the role in an 82-game schedule.