What Wizards Learned in the Bubble About Their Offseason Needs

The Wizards got a better idea of what to go shopping for this offseason based on their eight games in the bubble. Here is what they learned...

Bryant is capable of good defense

It wasn't perfect, he had some ups and downs, but Thomas Bryant showed more defensively during the Wizards' eight games in Orlando than he had previously in his Wizards career. He even earned some really high praise from head coach Scott Brooks following their loss to Joel Embiid and the Sixers, which Brooks called the best defensive game he has ever seen Bryant play.

Bryant finished with some encouraging numbers. He averaged 2.0 blocks per game and held his match-ups to 45% from the field, down from his 48.7% season clip. Embiid went just 3-for-11 against Bryant, for example. Bryant's 14.9 contested shots per game were up considerably from his season average (10.3/g) and would rank fourth in the NBA if held over a full season (Robin Lopez, Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Ayton).

Now the question is how much Bryant can be asked to solve the team's desperate and years-long need for rim protection. He had a good stretch, but can he do that over a full season? The Wizards would probably be smart to still look for help in that area. They may be able to find it in the draft with James Wiseman of Memphis, if they have some lottery luck, or Onyeka Okongwu of USC if they don't move up.

Brown can play some PG, but how much?

Troy Brown Jr. had an odd trajectory in Orlando where he started out really well and then struggled late. He thrived early on as a playmaker on the wing and did enough to earn some time exclusively at point guard. But while playing point guard, his production dropped off.

All in all, it was a strong showing for Brown in the bubble. He averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He just didn't score efficiently, as evidenced by his ugly 37.9 field goal percentage. He shot 25.4 percent in the final two games while starting at point.

Brown, though, arguably did enough to earn some time on the ball next season. Exactly how much of that responsibility the Wizards can offer is unclear. John Wall will be back as the starting point guard and they have Ish Smith also returning. At the very least, maybe the Wizards can skip past the need for a third point guard and count Brown among their options. He could back up Wall and Smith and if Wall needs to sit for rest, like for back-to-backs, Brown can move into the top-two point guard rotation and maybe even start there.

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Robinson may solve a problem at back-up SG

Jerome Robinson had the best stretch of his career while playing in Orlando in what was his first extended offering of playing time. He averaged 14.8 points while shooting 36.7 percent from three on 6.1 attempts. The numbers may not show it, but he also had some encouraging moments on defense when he was asked to take on some tough defensive assignments, like Devin Booker of the Suns.

Robinson displayed enough to be given a good look this fall as Bradley Beal's primary back-up at the shooting guard spot. Brooks even mentioned using Robinson at the three so they can find him more minutes.

The question is whether Robinson can establish consistency while playing in a back-up role. It won't be easy to pull off with fewer minutes and shots to work with.

Wagner and Schofield are question marks

It might be a bit unfair to magnify the seeding games too much given there were only eight of them, but two guys in particular didn't play very well. That would be Moe Wagner and Admiral Schofield. Wagner averaged 5.1 points in 16.0 minutes and shot just 36.8 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from three. Schofield was held to 2.7 points in 12.6 minutes and shot 29.4 percent, though he did knock down a decent 35.7 percent from long range.

Wagner has more of a track record to fall back on, and Schofield should be cut some slack given it was his first season and he spent much of it in the G-League. But the Wizards will have to examine players like them on their roster - Anzejs Pasecniks, Jerian Grant, Jarrod Uthoff and Jonathan Williams III included - and determine whether they have roles on the team next season. Wagner right now looks like the No. 2 center behind Bryant, but if the Wizards do add a rim protector, or a center in the draft, Wagner could be bumped down the depth chart.

They need more help

There were many positives to pull from the Wizards' 11 total games in Orlando (including the exhibition), many of which were mentioned above. But it also told the Wizards that if you remove Beal, Wall and Davis Bertans from the team, the drop-off is significant. They competed in some games, but only managed one win and it came against a Celtics team that was missing their top seven scorers.

The Wizards need to take a long look at the supporting cast they have developed and determine whether these guys can be relied upon next year in important roles. Just because a guy is showing promise doesn't mean his spot on the roster couldn't be upgraded. Maybe some players work better as trade assets rather than building blocks.

Forward remains an area of need. Next season, there is currently an opening in the starting lineup alongside Rui Hachimura and Bryant in the frontcourt. Maybe it is filled by Brown or Isaac Bonga, but the Wizards will have some options to add to that mix.

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