Mar 11, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Washington Wizards guard Alan Anderson (6) talks with referee Gary Zielinski (59) during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 114-93. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards Shouldn’t Re-sign Anderson

The Washington Wizards are out of the NBA Playoffs, so their off-season has officially began.

Along with finding a new head coach, the Wizards are going to have to make decisions on their free agents. While their free agents are, well, free to sign wherever they would like, many of them would want to return to the nation’s capital.

Despite the disappointing year, the Wizards have built a solid culture around John Wall. The players genuinely enjoy playing with Wall, as Jared Dudley told us on our podcast.

Since the JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and Nick Young era came to an end, Ernie Grunfeld has done a great job of adding players with enjoyable personalities – even if they aren’t exactly the most talented in the world.

Players like Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Martell Webster, Al Harrington and Drew Gooden never made the All-Star team nor stuck around long-term, but they created a solid foundation for a professional locker room with positive morale.

This season, it was more of the same for Washington.

Dudley, Gary Neal and Alan Anderson were added through free agency and trade prior to the beginning of the season. They were all known for their versatility and 3-point shooting, but they also had similar professional demeanors. All of the players, especially Anderson, were known for their veteran leadership.

That’s why Anderson, despite missing virtually the entire season, was so well-liked by everyone on the roster.

Anderson traveled with the team in a suit. He became known for his awesome handshakes and it even became somewhat funny.

Anderson served as an additional assistant coach. Washington expected Anderson to become their sixth man, but he instead basically missed the entire season due to injury and became a professional cheerleader/coach.

Anderson is the type of dude who gets along with everyone. He’s flawed – sure. He didn’t contribute on the court at all. But that doesn’t seem to matter to Wall, who wants the team to re-sign the veteran swingman.

Alan Anderson is one of the three free agents who John Wall definitely wants back with the Wizards, even though he’s coming off the worst season of his career and will be 34 in 2016-17.

Star players typically don’t make great player-general managers. I mean, just take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers – a team that allowed their star player, LeBron James, to dictate which players the team signed in the off-season. They aren’t a real contender. Players are players for a reason. They often don’t know what’s best for the team.

I’m going to be blunt: Anderson is old and he got paid not to play basketball last season. It literally makes no sense to re-sign him. In fact, the exact opposite is true.

The Washington Wizards should absolutely avoid signing Anderson, just as they should have last year. He was coming off an ankle procedure, yet Washington still took a chance. Given this past season, why take another chance, knowing it probably won’t end well?

Anderson is probably a great guy and he seems to have a wonderful personality. Losing him will suck, just as losing Martell Webster did. But, the NBA is a business and the only way to win games is to get players that actually play. Anderson doesn’t play. So, unless the Wizards want to pay Anderson to chill on the bench and waste another roster spot, they need to avoid him this summer.

It will suck for Wall, but losing friends is a part of life. Anderson is a very expensive friend and the Wizards can’t afford to pay him not to play anymore.