2014-2015 Season Preview: Washington Wizards

To help get ready for the 2014-2015 NBA season Pelican Debrief is going through each of the 30 NBA team’s with help from other Fansided NBA sites. Today we are joined by Ben Mehic of Wiz of Awes, the Fansided Washington Wizards blog. Ben talks John Wall, the Wizards core and more.

1. Is this the year the casual fan realizes just how good John Wall is?

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Ben: I really hope so. John Wall was fantastic last season, and still didn’t get the recognition he deserves. Washington hasn’t played a single regular season game on national television since Wall’s rookie season, but since the Wizards have 15 games on TV (including NBA TV) this upcoming season, I think he’ll begin to get more recognition.

I think NBA fans know that John Wall is a top point guard, but it’ll take some time for him to become a household name.

2. Paul Pierce played better as a small ball power forward last year then he did as a small forward? Do you trust him to be able to replace Trevor Ariza? 

Ben: I don’t think the Washington Wizards signed Paul Pierce expecting him to replace Trevor Ariza. Basically, the Wizards didn’t want to overpay to keep Trevor Ariza, even though he was outstanding this past season. Having flexibility for the future (*coughKevinDurantcough*) was obviously important to the organization, and by signing Pierce to a two-year deal, they’ll have a chance to pursue top free agents in just a couple of years.

Ariza was one of the best 3-and-D players in the league last season, and I don’t expect Pierce to replace him on that end of the floor. I do, however, expect him to contribute offensively, but more importantly, in the locker room.

Pierce’s ability to score will take some pressure off John Wall and Bradley Beal, and having a go-to player in the fourth quarter is something the Wizards needed to add. His experience and leadership will be huge for players like Otto Porter, and it was also important for the Wizards to replace Ariza’s presence off the court.

3. What do you expect to get out of Nene this year? How many games does he play? 

Ben: I expect Nene to have a good season, but injuries have always been a concern with him. We saw Nene dominate Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs, so I expect some of that to carry over to the regular season.

He dealt with a sprained MCL during the regular season and ultimately played just 53 games last year. Washington added some front court depth with the additions of Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, but Nene will still be extremely important to the team’s success. At this point, I think every Wizards fan expects Nene to miss some time throughout the course of the season, but I hope he can play in at least 60+ games.

4. What are your thoughts on the Marcin Gortat contract? Was it worth it to keep this core together or did Washington lock themselves into a non-contender.

Ben: Everyone expected Marcin Gortat to get a raise, but I was a bit surprised he got a 5-year deal. Let’s face it, every solid big man in the NBA is going to get more money than most people expect. It’s tough to find competent big man nowadays, and Marcin Gortat had one of the best seasons of his career with the Washington Wizards. Gortat fits perfectly along side Nene and his ability to run the pick-and-roll makes him a threat with John Wall. Keeping him was a no-brainer.

The Wizards definitely didn’t lock themselves into a non-contender. Again, Pierce, Humphries, Blair, and even Nene will all be off the books in a couple of years when things could get really interesting. If they had re-signed Trevor Ariza, then they probably would have been stuck in the middle for quite some time.

5. What is the best case scenario for the Wizards this year? The worst? What do you expect to happen? 

Ben: Best case scenario? Well, the championship of course. The worst? Injuries and the team missing the playoffs.

I expect the Washington Wizards to secure home court in the playoffs and make some noise once they get there. John Wall and Bradley Bealwill continue to develop, while Pierce, Nene, and Gortat will give Washington some much needed veteran leadership. This team has a perfect mix of young and old, and I expect them to become a top team in the East.