NBA Free Agency 2015: Why Jonas Jerebko Could be a Good Fit for the Washington Wizards

NBA Free Agency 2015: Why Jonas Jerebko Could be a Good Fit for the Washington Wizards by Nate Frierson

Here at the Wiz of Awes, we have already written an open letter to Paul Pierce outlining how great it was to have him on the Washington Wizards. I wanted to send another open letter to his backup/eventual replacement, Otto Porter Jr:

Dear Otto Porter Jr.

Congratulations Otto! You just had an impressive stretch of play during the 2015 NBA Playoffs that had people remembering why you were the number 3 pick coming out of Georgetown.

Coach Randy Wittman decided to give you more minutes while instituting a small-ball lineup to give the Wizards’ playoff opponents a different look. You defended well, filled the lanes awesomely for John Wall on the break, and even made a number of what is now the Wizards signature shot…the corner three!.

When you are rolling, the Verizon Center loves to chant ‘OT-TO POR-TER!:

We as Wizards fans really can’t wait for you to put together a whole season of solid play.

While it seems like you have been around a while, you still are only 21-years-old along with our potential superstar shooting guard Bradley Beal. With your steady development, we would have a core of John Wall, Beal and yourself making the Wizards strong for years to come in the East.

Your mentor, Paul Pierce, may or may not return to the Wizards, but that’s OK.

We all finally saw what he was doing with you during the playoffs.

You were confident, willing to take on the toughest assignments on the defensive end, and even showed some attitude on a few of the plays you made.

I truly believe that with a strong season from you, your ceiling could be winning the Most Improved Player Award.

A 15 point, 8 rebound, 4 assists, 3 steal stat line would definitely put you in the conversation. Those numbers don’t seem unreasonable and would be huge numbers next to the numbers that Wall and Beal can potentially put up next season.

Having a monster year like that would go a long way in making people forget that you won Shaquille O’Neal’s dubious ‘Shaqtin a Fool MVP’ award, which marks the second time a Wizards player won the award (JaVale McGee was the first).

With all of that said, you do still need to work on a few things:

Going to your left and developing your left hand: I touched on this topic a little with my ‘Summer To Do List’ post for Wiz players. Just from watching you in the playoffs, you are almost right hand exclusive. From drives to the hole, to fast break, to even three pointers…it is obvious where you want to go. Teams will start to pick up on that.

I touched on this topic a little with my ‘Summer To Do List’ post for Wiz players. Just from watching you in the playoffs, you are almost right hand exclusive. From drives to the hole, to fast break, to even three pointers…it is obvious where you want to go. Teams will start to pick up on that. Staying engaged the whole time on the floor: You have a tendency to float and become disinterested in the game if you don’t get going on offense early. Find other ways to effect the game. A steal here, a block here, challenge yourself. The little things you do usually got the crowd on their feet and energized the whole place.

You have a tendency to float and become disinterested in the game if you don’t get going on offense early. Find other ways to effect the game. A steal here, a block here, challenge yourself. The little things you do usually got the crowd on their feet and energized the whole place. Your three point shot: Your three point shot did get a whole lot better, but it still has some ways to go. Most of the Wizards fans were surprised (pleasantly) when you started to attempt (and hit) threes during the playoffs. We mainly got to know you as a good to great mid range shooter and slasher. Come out and surprise the defense that is collapsing on Gortat in the middle and helping off of you to stop John Wall from driving to the hole.

And lastly

Bulk up: We all know that you are a naturally skinny guy, and that’s sort of your calling card, but if you could add 10 more pounds of muscle (which is of course easier said than done) the Wizards could use you to guard some of the bigger star wing players in the league without getting pushed around. You would be able to guard, with confidence, wings such as Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, etc. Along with John Wall’s defensive ability at the point position, your defense paired with Beal’s strong perimeter defense could make for a formidable perimeter trio on defense. Would arguably be the best perimeter defensive trio in the league.

Otto Porter, with you coming out of Georgetown and then being drafted by the Wizards, the city has adopted you as sort of a native son. DC sports fans are extremely loyal, patient and love hard. You already have our attention; we just now want you to take it to the next level…..then you will have our admiration.

Sincerely,

John Cannady