Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) in the second half of the game Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards Could Waste John Wall‘s Best Season

There hasn’t been a lot to be positive about in the nation’s capital. After entering the season with high expectations, the Washington Wizards have found themselves below .500 and they continue to drop winnable games at home.

We’re at the halfway point in the season and the Wizards are in danger of not making the NBA Playoffs. The team, simply put, looks disinterested. Ernie Grunfeld signed numerous wing players with hopes of continuing their success from the previous playoff appearance, but that obviously hasn’t happened.

Instead, the Washington Wizards have been forced to scramble together rotations comprised with players who normally wouldn’t see time on the court. While Garrett Temple has had the best season of his career, there’s something fundamentally wrong with the team if he’s a go-to option.

Washington played small-ball for most of this season, but Randy Wittman has opted to revert back to his traditional 3-out-2-in style…and it hasn’t worked. Nene and Marcin Gortat can no longer play together, yet Wittman refuses to acknowledge the need for spacing. It’s been a disaster, really.

Through it all, though, we still have John Wall — who was named to his third consecutive All-Star team on Thursday night.

Wall, 25, is entering the prime of his career. He’s thrived in Wittman’s pseudo pace-and-space offense, averaging career-highs all across the board. He’s put up roughly 20 points, 4 rebounds and 10 assists — and it’s all going to waste because the Washington Wizards are bad.

At the start of his career in Washington, seeing the team struggle while Wall put up big numbers was almost acceptable. After all, the team needed a fresh start and would build through the draft.

Wall was given a chance to work through his growing pains early in his career, just like any top pick. But we’re six years into his NBA career and the Wizards have never been this confused since he arrived in 2010.

The Washington Wizards are in danger of missing the playoffs, but more importantly, they’re in danger of wasting a season of Wall’s career.

For some reason, the Wizards have operated as if it’s OK to waste a season of their franchise player.

Wall has been loyal to the fans and the franchise, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to blatantly not make the most of his efforts.

The Wizards are hoping that the Kevin Durant dream keeps Wall content, but that dream probably won’t come to fruition.

Then what?

How can the Wizards explain wasting a season of Wall’s career — surrounding him with players who cannot produce unless Wall is producing himself?

As someone who’s been a fan of the Washington Wizards for quite some time, it’s incredibly disappointing to see the franchise player’s best season go to waste with virtually no consequences. Wittman has been a disaster and he’s putting Wall in difficult situations by switching the offense again. The offense, which was supposed to be centered around Wall, is now focused on two big men who are past their primes.

So, when I received word that John Wall made another All-Star team, I was excited for him — but it was also a reminder that the best season of his career really won’t matter. The Wizards have to do something to change that, ’cause there’s no guarantee Wall will continue to sit back and wait for change.