The injury to Bradley Beal has put a damper on early optimism surrounding the Washington Wizards. He along with John Wall are the cornerstones to this franchise. Much of the reason for the optimism surrounding this team was based on the growth Bradley Beal showed in the playoffs last year.

What must be more frustrating for the organization is this is now Beal’s third NBA season and each has been marred by injuries which have cost him time. Make no mistake about it, it’s a setback, but can anything positive be taken from this?

For one, the Wizards will immediately get an opportunity to see Glen Rice Jr. and Otto Porter play extensive minutes in roles where their contributions will be relied on. It’s time to sink or swim for last year’s rookies. Considering the high expectations this organization has for this season and the availability of two trade exceptions (although the cap may be an obstacle depending on how much salary is coming in return), there’s no better time than now to see what these two second year players can offer. The Wizards should be able to get an early read on if Glen Rice’s aggressive offensive mentality can work in the starting lineup or is it more suited for a bench role. Additionally they’ll get a good look at Otto Porter’s versatility and will be able to see if it extends to the shooting guard position.

With Bradley Beal out, Randy Wittman might finally be forced to try a two point guard lineup. Since Andre Miller was dealt to the Wizards at last year’s trade deadline, there’s been a curiosity about whether the Wizards would try a two point guard lineup and although it was hinted at the time of the trade, it never transpired. With Wall’s improved jumpshot and Andre Miller’s ability to control tempo and create in the half-court, it’s an option that could provide a spark. There were also several occasions where Miller and/or Wall were playing very well last season, but were forced to the bench for the other and the offense was jagged down the stretch. Having the ability to play both together could help when that occurs.

John Wall is also going to have to increase his offensive production with Bradley Beak out. As last season wore on, Wall’s production began to fade as his field goal attempts and free throw attempts per game each decreased in the second half of the season, bottoming out to 12.9 FGAs and 2.5 FTAs per game in March.

Part of that could have been the toll his first 82 game season took on him, but it’s also fair to speculate whether or not he struggled with looking for his own offense versus getting everyone else on the team their shots as well. With Bradley Beal down for this first month of the season the onus is going to be on him to ignite the offense as a scorer and facilitator. That doesn’t mean necessarily shooting more, but it means being in attack mode and getting to the basket while looking for his own offense and creating opportunities for his teammates.

Lastly the Wizards may decide to use the 15th roster spot. There was a possibility with a healthy team that the front office would decide to only carry the 14 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster to start the season. With Beal expected to be out of action for six weeks there is a stronger likelihood that the Wizards keep a 15th player on a non-guaranteed contract increases.

Based on how the preseason is playing out and the need for shooting guard depth, its likely Xavier Silas gets the spot. Why is this a positive? Frankly, you just never know. There’s a chance that a shooter like Silas playing alongside John Wall might carve out a niche in D.C. and be a nice find. It’s the same argument that people had when the team sold its second round pick. If you don’t even use your draft pick, you eliminate the possibility of finding a useful player. The same logic applies here. If the Wizards don’t fill the spot with Silas, or whoever gets the spot, they simply might not have enough depth at the position.

You can slice it any way you want, but the injury still isn’t a good thing. Let’s hope the Wizards find a way to replace Bradley Beal, at least for six weeks.