Washington Wizards Free Agent Target: Brandan Wright

2014 – 2015 Season averages (3 teams): 7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 64 FG%

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the free agency period for the NBA will begin.

We all know that a big signing such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love or even…..yes….LeBron James can make or break your franchise. However, it’s the signings that sometimes don’t get as much press that can help a team or franchise over the hump.

The Washington Wizards are in a good position to make a few of those sneaky good “under the radar” signings during this period. After watching the Golden State Warriors implement a free flowing, small-ball lineup and win the championship this past season, teams are eager to copy the formula to success.

Coach Randy Wittman and the rest of the Wizards have also mentioned that a small-ball lineup would be the way this team could be most effective going forward. During the playoffs, a lineup that consisted of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Paul Pierce and Marcin Gortat was almost unguardable.

With the spacing and shooting this lineup was capable of, many wondered why this lineup wasn’t tried earlier. Well, the short answer was: Nene.

The Wizards got back into the contention conversation these past few years by using a conventional lineup of a point guard, a shooting guard, a shooting/small forward, a power forward and a center. Nene has been the starter at the four position since arriving in DC and he is one of the last back to the basket big men left in the league.

NBA teams are now looking for big men who are versatile and can get out and run on the break, be able to stay with a guard on the wing after a pick and roll switch and generally provide spacing on the floor without clogging the paint.

Brandan Wright fits all of those qualifications.

Wright is a 6’10 power forward who is an unrestricted free agent that last played for the Phoenix Suns.

Wright is long, very athletic and is able hit the mid range shot pretty regularly. He also is 5 years younger than Nene and has a contract ($5 mil per) that is a fraction of the cost of Nene’s contract ($13 mil per).

Wright’s numbers don’t jump out at you, but he makes his presence felt on the defensive end where he is able to use his length to act as a good rim protector — something the Wizards lacked in stretches last year.

With Wall, Beal and Porter already a good defensive trio, adding Wright to that mix would make it one of the toughest, most athletic defensive units in the league.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Wright would make for an awesome pick and roll two man game with John Wall. Wall is quickly becoming one of the most efficient point guards running the pick and roll, possibly only trailing Chris Paul in that category. With his athletic ability, Wright rolling to the basket on the move would produce positive results for the Wizards on offense.

Currently, the Wizards have some pressing questions they have to answer as far as the remaining bigs in the franchise. In addition to Nene, DeJuan Blair is another big man whose game no longer will mesh with how the Wizards want to play.

Drew Gooden provided a spark in the playoffs, hitting some big three pointers and hustling for offensive rebounds off of the bench, but it is highly unlikely for Gooden to produce with that kind high energy all season long at his age (33-years-old).

With Kris Humphries likely to stay in the rotation, a trio of Marcin Gortat, Humphries and Brandan Wright would be the perfect mix of bigs to play with a ‘traditional’ lineup or an en vogue ‘small ball’ lineup.