The Washington Wizards had plenty of holes in their roster this past season, but perhaps the most glaring was their lack of an enforcer.
Marcin Gortat and Nene anchored a top-10 defense for two straight seasons, but the duo was split up after the team opted to play a more modern brand of basketball that’s focused on increased pace and space.
Nene was sent to the bench and had an impressive season, despite his annual battle with old man injuries. Without the two bigs in the lineup, the Wizards’ defense suffered and they quickly lost the identity that made them a successful club over the past several years.