Washington Wizards: 10 Burning Questions Heading Into the 2010-2011 NBA Season
Saying that the Washington Wizards have struggled the last two years is an understatement.
In 2008-2009, they were 19-63, tying the franchises worst record. In 2009-2010, they finished 26-56, lost Mike Miller and Antwan Jamison, and continued to have problems with Gilbert Arenas.
Washington did get John Wall and Kirk Hinrich and Arenas is healthy and done with his suspension, but is that enough to be a competitive team?
If the 2010-2011 will have success, they need to make these 10 burning questions disappear and do so fast.
10: Will Gilbert Arenas Be Effective After Hiatus?
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Gilbert Arenas has had it rough the last few years.
He was one of the best players in the NBA for a few years.
Now, he is almost like an afterthought.
From 2007-2009, Arenas was suffering from knee injuries that cost him 149 games.
Last season, he was healthier and averaged 22.6 points and 7.2 assists per game in 30 games. However, Arenas was suspended by the Wizards for bringing a gun in the locker room, a violation of a Washington DC ordinance.
The preseason has shown his knee is better, but will he stay healthy for a whole season? And if he stays healthy, will he have the endurance to perform at a high level in 82 plus games?
He needs to be healthy and stay out of trouble if the Wizards want to be competitive.
9: Will Gilbert Arenas Be a Team Player?
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For his whole time with Washington, Arenas is used to being the man. While averaging 22.7 points, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his career, Arenas will not be the star on the Wizards anymore.
Due in large part to his absence last year, the Wizards entered the NBA Lottery and got the No. 1 pick. They used it to acquire Kentucky freshman John Wall, considered the best college baller in the nation.
Wall, 20, will be the new point guard, so Arenas could slide over to shooting guard, but this also means he cedes his leadership role.
How will Arenas react to being a complementary star instead of the main attraction?
8: John Wall-How Quickly Will He Develop?
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Wall has some pretty impressive credentials. The 6'4", 195 pound guard tore up college basketball and the Southeastern Conference as a Kentucky freshman last year. He was voted 2010 SEC Tournament MVP and SEC Tournament First Team.
He also was the SEC Freshman of the Year and was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, among other accolades.
Wall was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
That was preseason. What about the regular season?
Being a leader among peers is one thing, but what about leading men older than he is or dealing with Gilbert Arenas?
Wall also needs to learn an NBA style offense, which is more intricate than Kentucky's. He will have to face elite point guards Derrick Rose, Raja Rondo, Deron Williams and Chris Paul one-on-one.
His college scouting report says he needs to make better decisions with the ball to cut down turnovers. Defenses will probably take advantage of his questionable ball-handling by using presses, traps and clogging his passing lanes.
7: Will Washington's Youth be a Positive or Negative?
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The Washington Wizards are one of the NBA's youngest squads.
Besides Wall, the organization is high on some of the other athletes.
JaVale McGee, 22, is a third-year center was one of 15 finalists for the 12-man Team USA roster.
Forward Kevin Seraphin, 20, is a rookie from Cholet Basket in France's Pro A league. He averaged 15.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 30 games when playing for the LNB Espoirs League during the 2007-08 season.
Seraphin also was named to the 2009 All-Tournament team of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship after leading France to a Silver Medal. Being 6'9", Washington will probably play him as a power forward.
Andray Blatche, 24, has five years of NBA experience. The 6'11" Blatche turned it on after the 2010 trading deadling, averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. He also had 12 double-doubles.
On Sept. 24, Blatche received a contract extension that will pay him $35 million over the next five years.
His improvement could be key in stabilizing a weak frontcourt.
The youth will be relied upon after Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison and Brendan Haywood were dealt at the 2010 trade deadline.
6: Will Flip Saunders be the Answer?
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Flip Saunders was brought into Washington after the 2008-2009 season to clean up former coach Eddie Jordan's mess. The Wizards inked him a handsome 4-year, $18 million contract to do just that.
Ownership turned its head after an extremely disappointing 26-56 record.
This should not surprise anyone. Saunders coached the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons for years and underachieved. Probably his worst choke came during the Pistons' 2005-2006 playoff run.
The Pistons had the league's best mark at 64-18, but lost during in six games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Saunders contends he has coached a young Kevin Garnett to a high level, so he will be counted on developing John Wall to his full potential.
A young roster with questions might make winning this season difficult for Saunders.
5: Will Kirk Hinrich Make Enough of an Impact?
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Shooting guard Kirk Hinrich was traded with Kevin Seraphin from the Chicago Bulls to the Washington Wizards in July so the Bulls could pursue a major free agent.
Hinrich, 29, has seven years of experience and started 433 games at both guard positions. He has career marks of 13.4 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
One of the reasons Captain Kirk was brought to Washington was to mentor John Wall. Hinrich did the same for blossoming star Derrick Rose in Rose's first two years.
Even though Hinrich is a solid bench player and defender, he is not going to drastically change a starting lineup.
He tends to over dribble and make passing mistakes (3.4 turnovers a game). Hinrich's shooting could be also erratic at times.
If Saunders decides to start Hinrich over Arenas, the Wizards would lose a viable scorer in Arenas for a more fundamental player.
4: Will a Possible Three-Guard Rotation Work?
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Saunders this preseason has flirted with the idea of a three-guard rotation. It would consist of Wall at point, Arenas shooting and Hinrich at small forward.
He has that rotation with Blatche and McGee for the starting five.
With small forward Al Thornton, a 2010 trade deadline acquisition, Hinrich has been taking his place in the rotation.
This would be a speedy lineup, but one has to wonder if an average height of 6'3.5", the Wizards will lack height.
Also, Hinrich would get eaten up alive by taller and more athletic small forwards like LeBron James, Luol Deng, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.
3: Will the Frontcourt Be Competitive?
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Between McGee, Blatche, Hilton Armstrong, Yi, Seraphin and Trevor Booker, the Wizards have a combined 14 years of NBA experience on the frontcourt.
That is a little more than two seasons a piece.
Blatche is looking to take the next step. He had filthy numbers after the All-Star break after Brendan Haywood was taken away from Washington. He might be an All-Star in voting loaded.
Yi has been improving his game, having better footwork. Seraphin and Booker are both rookies, so they will have to continually learn.
Both Blatche and McGee give valuable minutes and will start in the front.
Some players getting over significant injuries are Josh Howard and Al Thornton, both small forwards with the Wizards. Howard played four games due to injury but the Wizards.
2: Will Josh Howard Get Healthy at Small Forward?
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Washington is still waiting for the arrival of Howard. His injury has Hinrich playing small forward, which is not an ideal situation.
With Howard and Thornton gone, small forward could be a great weakness for Washington. And the Wizards cannot deny this if they have draft bust Adam Morrison trying out for the team.
If he heals, Howard was a good complement with Blatche and will give Washington a competitive matchup for teams to worry about defending.
1: Are Division Foes too Much?
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Despite improving by getting Wall, Hinrich and having Arenas back, the Washington Wizards were a proud franchise who will have room to grow in the coming years.
The Wizards' divisional rivals did not stop either. The Miami Heat are now world beaters by acquiring LeBron James and Chris Bosh. The Orlando Magic have Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and company. And the Atlanta Hawks have retained Joe Johnson, Jamaal Crawford and others to remain a force.
How will face these teams 12 games a year affect the Wizards' playoff chances? At least they will be better than the Charlotte Bobcats.
