The Washington Wizards have made a few changes to their roster for the 2016-17 season to help complement Bradley Beal. This team now features a number of players who can play defense at multiple positions, along with a slew of outside shooters. They’ve also added Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, and Raul Neto to their lineup. The addition of these players should help them compete with outside shooters and provide additional scoring options when Beal’s efficiency is off.
The Wizards have 18 players on their preseason roster. Of these, 12 have guaranteed contracts. Eddie McGuire, who played in 26 games last season for the franchise, has the most experience. House, McClellan and Jarell Eddie are also competing for roster spots. Of course, the team has yet to add back-up center John Wall, so these three have to be on the roster.
Markeiff Morris was traded to the Wizards in February for a first-round pick in the June NBA Draft. He’s been a pleasant surprise for the team, averaging 12.4 points per game and 5.5 rebounds. The trade has resulted in a point guard for the Wizards who can play off the bench. He averaged 5.5 rebounds per game last season and has already started 67 games with the Lakers.
Bradley Beal’s health prevented him from playing 27 games last season, which hurt the Washington Wizards’ offense. The team finished 20th in offensive efficiency, resulting in a shaky start for the team. The Wizards will have to rely on Beal’s recovery to be more efficient. They will be less efficient without Beal. And that’s exactly why Beal’s return to the court will be so important.
John Wall and Bradley Beal will be the emotional and locker-room leaders for the Wizards this season. In the past, the House of Guards has relied on veteran players to guide the team. The Wizards will have seven undrafted players and four rookies in this year’s Draft Class. The Wizards are also seeking a point guard to guide the team. Beal and Wall are both on the “right side of 25” and will likely have some on-court friction in the coming seasons.
Aaron White is the 49th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He was a four-year Iowa student who set multiple school records. He was the team’s leader to two NCAA tournaments. Aaron White needed to have a great Summer League in order to be eligible for the Wizards’ roster. The two played together in the Las Vegas Summer League, and White showed flashes of his athleticism and potential. This made White a viable candidate to join the 2016 roster.