#Wizards roster upgrade
#Wizards roster series

Spencer Dinwiddie, PG - At 6-5, Dinwiddie brings some size and toughness to the backcourt.But again, credit where it’s due - with limited player acquisition resources, the Wizards have upgraded the overall roster.

#Wizards roster upgrade

While they’ve done well this offseason, it’s also fair to point out that the primary reason the middling players they’ve acquired are an upgrade is because the team was so lacking in key areas last season. Sheppard and the front office deserve a ton of credit for checking all those items on the “to-do” list while also building in some tradable spare parts for later. But, as I’ve written previously, the team need a starting SF, an upgrade in production at PF, size in the backcourt, a starting PG (after they dealt Westbrook), and production at center until Thomas Bryant returns from his ACL injury. No one they’ve acquired is great, or likely to be. Now, let’s not get nuts about what this means for the Wizards next season. To recap: the net-net for Washington is Westbrook, Chandler Hutchison and some draft collateral (second round picks and a second round pick swap) for a starting PG, a backup PG, a starting SF or high-minute G/F, and another potential starter at either forward spot. As would be expected in a five-team deal, it’s complex. The draft night trade of Westbrook for the three former Lakers is now expanded to include bringing in Dinwiddie, the starting point guard the Wizards desperately needed. And when other executives deal with him, they may not get exactly what they want, but they can live with what they get.

Ask anyone who knows Sheppard, and they’ll tell you those are his strengths. It’s fair to question some of his roster moves and talent evaluations, but engineering a five-team trade is a master class in patience, negotiation and relationship development.

#Wizards roster series

The series of moves that transmogrified John Wall into Russell Westbrook into Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is why Tommy Sheppard ultimately got the job as the Wizards’ top basketball executive.