Gortat or Ariza?

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The Washington Wizards had their most successful year in six years in 2014, but they have many questions coming into the off-season. Just about half their team is on the market, but two players will be magnified much more than all others.

Trevor Ariza had his best year of his career in 2014, averaging career-highs in points (14.4), rebounds (6.2), and shooting a career-high 41 percent from downtown. However, I would be a little spectacle to re-sign him. He would demand a high price and I’m not sure he can continue to play the way he did in 2014. He had a break out year, and whether he could do it again or not is yet to be seen, but it isn’t likely.

Another big free agent for the Wizards, perhaps their biggest, is 6-foot-11 big man Marcin Gortat. The Polish Machine has been a consistent force down low, averaging over 13 points and nine rebounds in three of the last four years. There is no question in my mind that he should be the Wizards top priority. Big men come at a premium in the NBA today, and there really aren’t that many great ones, especially at the Center position. However, Gortat poses long arms which allows him to maintain one of the best rebounding skills in the league. The Wizards must re-sign him.

A couple other free agents to note are Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin, Drew Gooden, and Andre Miller. Booker is a young athletic big man that constantly hustles and has gave the Wizards some great minutes off the bench. He had a solid year last year and might cost a little more than the team wants. Seraphin isn’t a priority. Gooden came to the Wizards signing a ten-day deal from the D-league in the middle of the season. He was huge for the Wizards down the stretch run of the season and in the playoffs. If he doesn’t cost too much they should definitely consider re-signing him. Andre Miller might be old, but he had a huge impact in the playoffs last year, giving the team huge minutes in the fourth quarter of every game. The Wizards should consider re-signing all these guys but only if it’s at the right price.

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Brian Hradsky

The owner of MSB, I created this website while in college and it has never died.

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