5 Moves the Washington Wizards should make in the 2019 offseason

The 2019 NBA free agency doors have opened and teams will be making their moves to sign and trade players. We've seen plenty of crazy off-seasons in the past years, but this could top all of them. Big names such as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker have already signed big contracts while Kawhi Leonard's future will be decided very soon. It's hard to imagine the Washington Wizards will be able to make any sort of huge moves as they have their own share of issues with contracts.

With John Wall carrying a big salary cap, possibly not playing this upcoming season, to issues with big man Ian Mahinmi who holds a salary cap that doesn't prove his worth, the Wizards are in deep trouble for now. They managed to fire long-time general manager Ernie Grunfeld in April, which Wizards fans celebrated to as they were handcuffed to his decision-making process since 2003. However, the Wizards didn't do much to find their next GM outside the organization, so it seems like things will stay internally.

There have been calls for Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis to sell the team and move forward. With years of embarrassment and showing promises, in the end, the Wizards are a mediocre team at best. Now that the Eastern Conference is open to any team to potentially lead, it's hard to not believe how this team cannot move forward to the playoffs. This could be the year that shows whether they have the potential or is it time to scrap all of it and restart.

Nonetheless, the Wizards can still make some moves to help bolster this team that needs a lot of help. Here are 5 moves that I believe the Washington Wizards organization should make.

#1 Another season, another question mark at center

On one hand, the team still has to unload the disastrous contract of Ian Mahinmi. In the 34 games that he played this past season, he made close to $16 million. He is making close to that same amount this season, which should not happen considering he has not contributed well to the team since he signed with Washington back in 2016.

Last year, I wrote how Marcin Gortat needed to be released and the Wizards should sign a big man who can play both offense and defense. The Wizards did trade Gortat to Clippers and later signed Dwight Howard to a 2-year deal. We saw him play just 9 games in the 2018 season and it is now unclear how his rehab is going.

After Howard was shut down for the season, we saw Thomas Bryant, the young man who the Wizards claimed off waivers last season show us the potential he has. Bryant was resigned this year on a 3-year $25 million contract which although a bit pricey, could turn out to be a bargain if Bryant is able to live up to his potential upside. If Howard is ready to start the season, Bryant would be a good backup to him.

#2 Is John Wall the future?

Tomas Satoransky was the starting point-guard towards the end of December when Wall went down. Chasson Randle was the backup for Satoransky. Both played well, however, Satoransky is another RFA for the Wizards and the skills he brings led the Chicago Bulls to offer him a 3-year $30 million contract, an offer the Wizards could not match.

This is the year that they need to address the point guard position. Wizards fans and everyone else is wondering whether John Wall is the future of the Wizards. In the beginning, the idea was to build around Wall and All-Star Bradley Beal. But with the injuries Wall has faced and the fact that he is due close to $39 million this season and can only return after December (or not play this season at all) should be worrisome.

When healthy, the duo of Wall and Beal is unstoppable. But with John closing in at 30 years old, it's possible he won't be the same. With that being said, what can be done about Wall and his contract? It's highly unlikely a team will take up his contract in a trade and the Wizards organization would want to some compensation instead of releasing him from the team.

#3 Letting the rookies play

This was a big issue with Troy Brown Jr., who was the Wizards' first-round draft pick last year. head coach Scott Brooks thought that giving Troy sparing minutes would be good for him, but it didn't show the fans enough of his potential.

Later on in the season did we realize the potential he has to help this team, both off the bench and possibly a starter down the road. Just like any rookie, he has some flaws that can be fixed. This year, the Wizards drafted power-forward Rui Hachimura in the first round, traded with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jonathan Simmons and the 42nd overall pick, and selected Admiral Schofield.

Both the drafted players can impact the team immediately, especially Hachimura. With the power-forward position uncertain as of now, he could enter the starting 5 when the season begins. But will Brooks allow such a thing? This brings us to the next point.

#4 Firing Scott Brooks

I can't be any clearer than this, head coach Scott Brooks needs to be gone. From taking the team to the Conference Semifinals in the 2016 season, to losing in the first round in 2017, and not making it to the playoffs in 2018 with an Eastern Conference with no LeBron James and an easy chance to make it through, Brooks has failed to inspire the Wizards.

Brooks needs to be let go in favor of a coach who can create regular rotations and not put in players who haven't played for weeks (and yes I am talking about Jordan McRae). The irregular rotations of the bench caused the Wizards to lose plenty of crucial games that could have led their chances to get into the playoffs.

Sure, they couldn't have made it far but it would have shown the Wizards can still get it done. If Brooks is not able to lead the team to the playoffs in this upcoming season, I see the two sides parting ways. I would not be surprised with a mid-season firing either.

#5 Getting a general manager

The day came when Wizards fans had their wish come true. Ernie Grunfeld, who had been the general manager of the Washington Wizards since 2003, was fired this past April. There were immediate candidates, including Denver Nuggets' Tim Connelly (who later stayed with the Nuggets) and Toronto Raptors' Masai Ujiri (there was reportedly no contact with him).

As of now, Tommy Sheppard is the interim GM for the Wizards. I'm sure Wizards fans can agree with me, anyone that isn't Grunfeld is automatically better. If Sheppard makes some good moves this offseason (did well through the draft) with what was left from Grunfeld, he could be the new GM.

It's up to owner Ted Leonsis to decide who can lead his team to the top of the Eastern Conference and beyond. Let us just hope he does not follow in Grunfeld's footsteps and gives this team a better future.