Washington Wizards: 3 lineup changes that may help end the losing streak

Start Mo Wagner at center

One idea for coach Scott Brooks is pushing Mo Wagner into the starting center spot over veteran Ian Mahinmi. He impressed early on before getting injured this season and has seen little to no opportunity on the floor since returning.

Wagner’s averaging just 19.6 minutes per game since returning for injury, and has received zero starting looks in that nine-game span. And under those limited minutes, he’s averaged just 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 5.6 field goal attempts per game.

The logic here is simple. Mahinmi is a veteran on an expiring deal. He holds little value to the Washington Wizards organization as a piece of the core going forward. And Wagner did play well to start the season. He averaged 12 points and 5.6 rebounds over Washington’s first 17 games.

That includes a 30-point, 15-rebound performance in a win over Minnesota:

Wagner is at his best: a rim-running, floor spacer with the necessary energy it takes to keep his team galvanized and his opponents too intimidated to leave him open. He holds value as a 3-point shooter and lob threat, two things that Mahinmi hasn’t excelled in this season.

Part of Wagner’s decreased role as of recent can likely be credited to the shift in point guard play. Before, he was playing next to Ish Smith mostly, the Wizards most creative guard with the deepest bag of tricks in terms of assist play.

Smith has been moved to the starting lineup since they traded away Isaiah Thomas at the deadline, and reuniting Wagner with him may reignite his early-season play. But if coach Brooks is determined to leave the 22-year old on the bench…