National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards Will Look To Expand Otto Porter's Role Under Scott Brooks

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

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The Washington Wizards didn’t have much flexibility under head coach Randy Wittman, even when the team essentially forced him into playing small ball after making personnel changes during the 2016 free agency period.

Wittman, who has played a traditional brand of basketball since he was a player himself in the late 1970s, relied on a 2-in-3-out system that focused on defense and inside scoring.

Given the way the NBA has evolved and the amount of success the Wizards had in the NBA Playoffs while playing Paul Pierce at the four spot, the team decided to make major changes to the roster two summers ago, adding Jared Dudley, Alan Anderson and Gary Neal.

Roster turnover, coupled with injuries, caused the Wizards’ defense to plummet from the elite status they held for years. With the defense gone, the Wizards lost their identity, resulting in missing the postseason for the first time in two years.

Scott Brooks was the Wizards’ primary target once Wittman was fired because of his track record in developing players and defensive achievement. In many respects, Brooks is the opposite of Wittman, who lost his voice in the locker room last year.

Brooks, while not known for his innovative offense, is still more open to trying new sets and experimenting than Wittman.

In the Wizards’ first two preseason games, we’ve already witnessed Brooks tweaking with the way Washington runs their offense.

Markieff Morris, who was used as a power forward last season, has played some five along side Andrew Nicholson. Brooks has also used sets with two guards in the lineup, giving the Wizards more room to create offense from the perimeter.

Now, it looks like the head coach will continue to mix things up by playing Otto Porter more at the four.

“Otto has great versatility. He makes a lot of winning basketball plays and he has a look of good experiences over the last (three) years. I think his evolution as a player, he’s going to have to learn how to play some fours and using his length and his quickness guarding bigger fours,” Brooks said.

“He’s definitely has to focus on being able to guard one through four,” Brooks said. “He did some work at the four today. I like what he was doing. He picks things up.”

For Porter, offense has never been much of an issue. He lacks confidence, but Porter is capable of scoring both inside and out. Defense, however, has been troubling at times.

Porter is typically matched up against some of the league’s most dangerous offensive players. He’s asked to defend the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.

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At this point, Porter hasn’t developed enough physically to be able to defend that crop of players.

Defending fours, though, could be a way to hide Porter on that end of the floor.

Morris, a much more physically imposing player than Porter, is a better match up against the aforementioned players.

When the Washington Wizards face the Cleveland Cavaliers, for instance, the Wizards would be better suited to have Morris guard James and Porter defend Kevin Love, who’s become more of an outside shooter.

At 6-foot-9, Porter has the length and quickness to defend most players at that position.

Stopping players from getting to the rim has been an issue for him. At the four, he’ll be tasked more with forcing the opposing player into tough shots from the perimeter.

Kelly Oubre has quickly become a key contributor for the Wizards during preseason. If that continues, Oubre might end up getting some time with the starters.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we get to see John Wall, Bradley Beal, Oubre and Porter share the court together, especially since Brooks is looking to change the way things have been operating in D.C.

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