The Washington Wizards are 17-6, currently second in the Eastern Conference, and if they continue to play at this level, they’ll go on to win the Southeast Division title.

With that said, winning cures a lot of individual woes for players. DeJuan Blair was expected to play a role for the Wizards this season, but hasn’t gotten any legitimate playing time this season. The same could be said for Drew Gooden and Garrett Temple, who’ve been in and out of Randy Wittman‘s lineup.

Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. were the team’s primary backup wing players, but things seemed to have changed after the first few weeks of the season. Paul Pierce has lived up to expectations as the starting small forward, while Rasual Butler has arguably been the most surprising player in the NBA. Rice has been sent down to the NBA D-League, and Otto Porter’s minutes continue to shrink.

Prior to the beginning of the regular season, Porter found a way into Washington’s rotation, and some even wondered if he’d replace Pierce in the starting lineup. However, his stellar play from the summer league and preseason hasn’t necessarily translated over to the regular season. His outside shooting has left much to be desired over the past few games, and besides his defense and rebounding, Otto Porter has largely been invisible.

Martell Webster is set to return to the court very soon, and Porter could potentially end up losing his spot in the Wizards’ rotation.

Although one could argue that Otto Porter has contributed on the defensive side of the floor and his movement without the ball certainly helps the team, his struggles shooting the ball can’t go unnoticed. Porter is averaging just 2 points on less than 30% shooting over the past 5 contests, and his minutes have been sporadic.

Webster started for the Wizards two seasons ago before losing his spot to Trevor Ariza, and he’s expected to play in less than two weeks. Similar to Rasual Butler, Webster earned a mid-level exception from Washington after becoming one of the league’s best marksmen from three point territory, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Washington utilizes the corner three point shot more than any other team in the league, and Webster has knocked that shot down with regularity.

The team has been patient with their young players, but Otto Porter hasn’t found a way to contribute offensively on a consistent basis. Of course, playing along side Andre Miller off the bench is a lot different than sharing the court with John Wall, but he’s still found himself open on the perimeter. The problem is, he hasn’t been able to knock down his open jump shots.

He’s still very young and I believe Otto Porter has a future in the NBA, but his inability to consistently make shots is disheartening. His confidence appears to be shaken, and with Webster close to returning, he might be on his way to Wittman’s doghouse. For Porter’s sake, let’s hope Wittman values his defense and other contributions that go beyond the box score more than his ability to make shots.

Should Otto Porter Lose His Spot In The Rotation? Yes, he's not making shots

No, he's still finding ways to contribute View Results