National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards Need Otto Porter To Realize His Potential In 2016

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Washington Wizards need Otto Porter to finally have the breakthrough season they’ve been waiting for since picking him third overall in 2013.

The 2013 NBA Draft was one of the weakest in recent history. Having only played two seasons at Georgetown, Otto Porter declared for the draft, knowing that his stock would never be higher.

The Washington Wizards, who conveniently share the same space as Georgetown in the district, needed to add a small-forward to their nucleus of John Wall and Bradley Beal. Taking Porter third overall was a no-brainer and Ernie Grunfeld did exactly that.

Due to injuries and poor play, Porter only played in 37 games during his rookie season. With Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster on the roster, Porter was allowed to develop behind the veterans. His time, though, would come quickly.

The addition of Paul Pierce during the 2015 season was merely a placeholder for Porter, who the team considered to be the small-forward for the future.

Pierce helped instill confidence in Porter, who averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds during the Wizards’ last playoff appearance.

This past season, Porter built on the playoff momentum and had the best year of his young career. He averaged just under 12 points and over 5 rebounds per game while shooting career-highs all across the board.

His improvement has led him to where he is now: in the final year of his contract playing in what could be a career-altering season.

Everyone on the roster has been given a fresh start, including Porter.

The coaching staff will allow everyone to prove themselves again. Porter, who had the small-forward spot locked up last year, has been competing with Kelly Oubre for the starting gig.

While still unproven, the 20-year-old Oubre has shown flashes of his potential during the preseason. He’s scored 40 total points in two games on over 50 percent shooting from the field. Porter’s spot isn’t as secure as many once believed.

Porter’s ability on the court shouldn’t be questioned. He’s shown what he’s capable of doing. For him, it’s all a matter of staying confident and not becoming rattled.

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Starting off the season on a high note could be the key for Porter.

Competition is a part of sports and it’s an underrated aspect of development.

If it takes a player like Oubre to wake Porter up, then so be it.

Washington drafted Oubre with hopes of him eventually becoming a key contributor.

Both Porter and Oubre want to start, as any player in the league does.

Ultimately, Scott Brooks is hoping that the competition will drive both players to work harder off the court.

This upcoming season could be the most important one of Porter’s career. Entering his fourth year, it’s time for Porter to prove what he actually is.

The pressure to perform is on the backcourt, but the team needs to see significant improvement out of Porter too. In many ways, his performance could end up making the difference between a top seed or missing the playoffs again. There is no alternative to lean on anymore.

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