Why the Washington Wizards do not need Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce was arguably Washington's second best player throughout last season's playoff run. He repeatedly had the ball in his hands with the game on the line and took charge when it mattered most.
Pierce was utilized as a stretch four after spending most of the regular season at the three spot, relatively floundering in a miscast role that didn't maximize his strengths or hide his weaknesses. Now he's on the Los Angeles Clippers.
But the Wizards don't need to panic about losing him, writes SB Nation's Bullets Forever:
"What it does is it opens up opportunities for others to get more shots. John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter; we're looking at you. The only thing separating John Wall from the elite point guards is a consistent jump shot. Bradley Beal has been working diligently this offseason to become a better scorer with the ball in his hands. And Otto Porter will see his scoring rise with more minutes and experience, as he will continue to be the third or fourth scoring option in the offense. Pierce's ability to hit clutch shots is invaluable, no doubt about it. But at the same time, the young trio will continue to develop and the team shouldn't worry too much about a drop in scoring."
The Wizards replaced Pierce with Jared Dudley, Alan Anderson and Gary Neal, three versatile weapons who fit nicely beside Wall and Beal. They'll be able to play small ball and look more like a modern basketball team than the plodding unit that struggled to score last season.
Washington wanted to re-sign Pierce, but it shouldn't be too depressed to see him go. In the end, they bounced back nicely with key signings that duplicate Pierce's skill set.
(h/t: Bullets Forever)
