Fantasy Basketball Team Preview: Washington Wizards

Overview:

The Washington Wizards had a relatively successful 2014-15 season, making it to the second round of the playoffs with ease. However, a John Wall fractured hand cut short the Wizards’ joy ride which is kind of sad, because the team is just coming along at the right time.

Coach Randy Wittman looked like a genius playing his own version of small ball, benching the much slower (and largely ineffective Nene) in favor of young spry legs underneath Otto Porter. With Paul Pierce now gone, Porter will likely be a fixture of Wittman’s rotation going forward.

The core is intact no matter how rough the tug-of-war between Bradley Beal and the management is playing. Chances are, both camps will meet halfway and move on, which is the best way to deal with things.

The problem with the roster is the glut in the backcourt which makes it harder to divide minutes and almost instantaneously “disqualify” anyone from a fantasy standpoint, averaging 15 minutes or less. Of course, Washington could solve the problem through trades, which is very likely at this point, because you won’t go anywhere with Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair, and an old Drew Gooden all in the same lineup, at least fantasy-wise.

Breakout Candidate: Otto Porter

A lot of people get paid because of what they’ve shown in one playoffs (hello DeMarre Carroll) and while Porter’s contract won’t be up until next summer, he will probably be rewarded with minutes. The Georgetown product made the 2015 post-season his own coming-out party, averaging 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 33 minutes.

That’s not eye-popping by any means but if he puts the experience he got into the right perspective, Porter has a chance to be one of the better perimeter defenders and rebounders around.

Bust Candidate: Bradley Beal

Nene is already a bust and John Wall ain’t going anywhere, so let’s get this straight.

Again, a talent like Beal won’t go from 60 to zero in a heartbeat but there are issues between him and the management right now that may not be conducive for the young up-and-coming guard. The possibility of Beal taking it all in stride is there but the other side of the coin is probable as well.

Deep League Sleeper: Jared Dudley/ Gary Neal

Wall may be the fastest guy on the planet right now with the ball and combine that with elite athleticism, then you got a one-man wrecking crew on the break. As in mostly the case, we couldn’t have anything and one thing J-Wall hasn’t shown he can do in a consistent basis is SHOOT.

That means to space the floor, he needs shooters with him at all times in the floor. Beal is his long-time partner in the backcourt it would never hurt adding one or two snipers somewhere in the roster. That’s exactly what Jared Dudley and Gary Neal are here for and depending on how Wittman plays his cards, one of these shooters is going to crack the rotation and contribute.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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