Why missing the playoffs could be a blessing in disguise for the Wizards

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY SportsThis was going to be the year. The year that the Wizards finally make it out of the second round to contend for an Eastern Conference championship that has eluded this team for 40 years.

Sure, Paul Pierce left, but his one year with the Wizards was enough for that veteran leadership to rub off on John Wall and Bradley Beal. And just to be safe, the Wizards brought Jared Dudley and Alan Anderson to fill that void and be veteran voices in the locker room.

The Wizards already played a top-10 caliber defense and now they were going to run and gun and surround Marcin Gortat with four shooters to spread the floor. The path to the Eastern Conference Finals seemed clear…