Washington Wizards: Ridding the Frontcourt of Flash for Substance Will Pay off

Over the past two weeks, the Washington Wizards made two big moves that changed the course of their future. They got rid of JaVale McGee, who had become a bit of a liability, and benched Andray Blatche indefinitely due to poor conditioning that may have contributed to his injuries this season.

In the absence of both Blatche and McGee, the Wizards finally have a frontcourt that can get the job done.

McGee, however entertaining his highlight-reel dunks and blocks may have been, became little more than a sideshow for the Wizards. He is still a young and incredibly raw talent, but it seemed he had grown comfortable being a regular on SportCenter's "Top 10" as opposed to developing into a force to be reckoned with in the paint.

Though the explosive talent of McGee is now in Denver, it is not a stretch to say the Wizards are much better off with their current cast of post players.

Kevin Seraphin is about as raw as McGee in terms of basketball IQ, but he is a sturdy 275 lbs and uses every bit of it to make up for his undersized 6'9" frame. Seraphin hasn't had many opportunities to score a ton, but when he's on the floor, he averages more than 36 minutes and is putting up 11.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG.

Seraphin may not be getting more than 15 or 20 minutes a night, but he is efficient when he does get on the floor.

Another undersized guy is Trevor Booker, who is almost the complete opposite of Blatche in terms of build and style of player. Booker wasn't gifted with a near seven-foot frame, but at 6'8" and 240 lbs, he is a fierce rebounder and defender.

Unlike Seraphin, Booker is getting 25.3 minutes per game this season. However, he is not a strictly offensive-minded player. Booker is a hard work type of player who battles for rebounds and loose balls. Scoring seems almost secondary to effort plays in his mind, which is exactly the kind of player the Wizards did not have in McGee.

Booker may never develop into much more than a role-player or a sixth man, but he's capable of being a gritty player at both ends of the floor.

The newest addition to the Wizards frontcourt is Nene Hilario, and he has the type of game fans wish McGee would have developed. Nene can post up, he can step out and hit short jumpers, and he can withstand the physicality that comes with playing under the basket.

Nene may not be as explosive as McGee, but he has a likable exuberance about him that makes McGee look like a kid in a man's body.

In his debut with the Wizards, Nene posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Nets. Though he has been limited by a heel injury this season, the long-term potential for Nene in Washington is exciting.

Even though he was having a career year, McGee was all about bouncing up and down the floor after a big dunk or a block. Nene can get the big dunks and blocks, but doesn't let his excitement take away from the next play or getting back down the floor. Think of Nene as a more refined McGee without the freakish length or athleticism.

For a team like the Wizards, who were stuck lugging around dead character weight like McGee and Young, Nene is a breath of fresh air.

Though Blatche is still a member of the team, being relegated to the bench because of conditioning doesn't bode well for his future. Washington may be biding time before making the decision to release him at the end of the season.

Whatever Blatche's fate, the Wizards are already better off with the players they've acquired in the last two years. Regardless of how the coming offseason plays out for Washington, it won't have as much to worry about when it comes to its frontcourt.