Mar 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi (28) prepares to shoot as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards Still Replacing Paul Pierce, Need John Wall and Bradley Beal To Produce In Clutch

Washington Wizards Still Replacing Paul Pierce, Need John Wall and Bradley Beal To Produce In Clutch by Osman Baig

Washington Wizards: Ian Mahinmi, whom the Wizards signed this summer, won 2016 Teammate of the Year. Garrett Temple, whom the team lost this summer, did too.

NBA players – like any other professional athletes, entertainers or artists – are often looked at differently than the rest of us. Analysts, in particular, forget that NBA players are people too.

The makeup of a team might look great on paper, but there have been instances when it doesn’t pan out. Players with egos clash and personalities just don’t mesh.

The chemistry in the locker room very much translates to the court. It’s easy to tell which teams actually have a positive, vibrant locker room just by seeing how well they play together.

Since 2013, the Washington Wizards have done an excellent job of finding selfless players that truly come to work every day for the betterment of the team.

Players that didn’t make a huge difference on the court, like Al Harrington and Andre Miller, helped transform the team’s vibe entirely.

The opposite is true for teams that don’t necessarily get along.

The Sacramento Kings have been a volatile group for quite some time.

After they fired head coach Mike Malone, who finally seemed to build some structure, the team exploded.

DeMarcus Cousins, the team’s franchise player, never bought into George Karl‘s system and the rest of the team tuned him out. It’s been a disaster for a while.

That’s why front office members take personalities into consideration.

That’s why players are essentially interrogated before getting drafted.

Teams don’t want to add a locker room cancer and they do everything they possibly could to avoid that situation.

Washington cleaned out their locker room in 2012 after getting rid of Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee and Nick Young. In their place, they added proven veterans with extensive resumes.

Garrett Temple became an integral part of the group that changed the culture of the Wizards.

Temple bounced around the NBA and showcased himself in the NBA D-League before agreeing to a 10-day contract with Washington. He turned those 10 days into a four-year career with the Wizards.

A defensive-minded guard, Temple made a name for himself in Washington by out-hustling the opposition. Perhaps even more importantly, he became one of the best teammates a player could ask for.

Temple always had his teammates’ backs and took young players under his wing.

This summer, Temple agreed to a contract with the aforementioned Kings that will pay him $8 million annually. Before that, he was playing mostly on one-year veteran minimum deals.

Washington will miss Temple for more than his on-court production.

According to the Players Association, Temple was voted as best teammate on the Washington Wizards.

Check out the Eastern Conference #PlayersVoice Award winners for Best Teammate pic.twitter.com/zOywj3ycXq — NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 4, 2016

Temple will be replaced by Ian Mahinmi, who was interestingly named the best teammate on the Indiana Pacers.

The Kings needed a player like Temple in their locker room. For the first time in years, they have actually built a team that *might* get along. Temple will certainly get the credit he deserves.

Each team addressed the loss in their own way.

Mahinmi will become beloved by the Wizards’ fans, just as Temple was, and the Pacers replaced their center by adding Al Jefferson, who’s one of the most likable players in the NBA.

Solid character players are underrated. It takes a lot more than talent to win games at the NBA level. The simple things, like having dependable locker room leaders, makes a true difference.