FanPost

Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre: The long limb duo

Jack Arent, NBA/Getty Images

If there is anything I learned about Ernie Grunfeld, it is that he is willing to go all out on whatever tasks he is set on doing or he just doesn't fully commit to it at all. So as you know, when members in fanbase wanted him to add young, 25 and under talent to our roster(via draft, FA, or trade), he decided to do just that.......... by drafting 19 year old Kelly Oubre and then add a trio of veteran wing players to the bench.

So in short:

  • Grunfeld drafted a high upside project under 20 years old
  • Solidified our bench and stating that we will be becoming a 3 pt shooting team in the future
  • No real answer for the starting PF or younger stretch 4 position after the exposure of our traditional, two bigs lineup*

So mission accomplished? Kinda.

So with the drafting of Oubre, the Wizards have 5 possible small forwards (Porter, Dudley, Webster, Anderson and Oubre) with 3 being able to play SG if need be. This is a big jump from the lack of capable wing players last season and it should lead to more higher scoring games. What I would like to focus primarily is the two youngest of the SF squad: Porter and Oubre.

When Oubre was drafted, some felt it was a shot towards Porter(and maybe Beal) for the lack of overall production(regular season and playoffs). However when you give it more thought, the pick was made because of the changing lineup of the league. Within two postseason, Washington had two stints where the opponents had opposite playing style**. In response to 2015 playoff run, we saw the emergence of Otto that brought the front office hope and yet concern.

Porter showed in the playoffs he was a perfect counter to the wing heavy offenses that are dominating the NBA landscape as he was able to cover guards and forwards*** on the perimeter. But the question was, who were supposed to defend the other uber athletic players on the perimeter? Wall? As gifted of a defender he is, he's still a 6' 4" guard that has a lot on this plate already. Beal? He can be a decent defender but over the years, I have accepted he is average at best. Pierce was too old to do the job and the same can be said for Butler, thus both are gone. Webster wasn't a decent defender even before he was hurt here. Temple can defend but what else can he do? So it made a lot of sense to draft Oubre, despite the fact he wasn't NBA ready because that is what the league is trending to.

So let's compare the two:

Anyone who saw Oubre's Summer League performances (especially his 30-point finale) would feel confident that he could usurp Porter within two years at most. You shouldn't want this. From what we faced against with Atlanta, Toronto and how other teams in the league(Cleveland, Miami, Houston, Golden State, etc.) are loaded with extra wing players, there is no benefit to having just one. Plus Porter is entering his 3rd year in the NBA and the first year as a starter. For a #3 overall pick, you don't want to have low expectations of his ability as a starter. Within the next two years, Porter will be a 5 year veteran and Oubre will probably get the right body, skill set and experience to finally learn how to play in the NBA.

Thus let's look at how versatile each player can be. While we already know both players can guard both 2 and 3 position*(4), on offense, it is a whole another scenario. During the summer league, Oubre was occasionally listed as a guard in the box score, primarily shooting guard. It was a position the Wizards experimented with Porter(a la Paul George) with no avail. Although critics will pick on the lack of skills Oubre has, they do recognize that he has good shooting form. This is why during the SL stint, his 3 pt shot looked like they were going to fall in as opposed to White or early Porter. Because of his physical gifts, Oubre can eventually become a versatile swingman in the future.

Porter however, is not as gifted and that's okay. This year will be a major test for him as he will be guarding and be guarded by starters for the majority of his minutes(Oubre won't have to worry about this for years). As a projected glue, his role is to go wherever and do whatever is needed to help the team. This is something that Wittman used throughout the postseason when he was confident in Porter's ability. Porter also has the advantage in being able to play without the ball*(5).

Also, Porter is still not fully developed. He is only 22, which mean he still can grow (6' 9") and being listed as 198 lbs, he can and needs to fill out his frame if he wants to continue contesting for rebounds, finishing off contact and defend against thicker players. In other words, Porter can be a likely candidate for our stretch 4 in the future. The possibilities can be endless for Porter. He may not attract the attention Wall, Beal or Pierce would but in this era of matchups and roster depth, Porter can still be an integral part of this roster.

TL;DR: Porter will make a coach proud and be featured in fundamental basketball video. Oubre will fill the seats and be a daily feature of SportsCenter Top 10 Highlights. While they may have contrasting style of offenses diversity is needed nowadays(*cough* bigs *cough*). Their physical traits,7' 2" wingspans, should make them an imposing menace on the perimeter and athleticism will translate well into the future.

Between these two, the Wizards will be able to adapt to more backcourt heavy era of the NBA*(6). So really why debate which one is better?

Footnotes:

*-unless your considering Dudley as the stretch 4 or Porter in a weird scenario.

**-2014: Chicago and Indiana with there two stout bigs and traditional, slow offenses

2015: Toronto and Atlanta-Smallish lineups with stretch 4s and explosive offenses

***-I believed he did cover Amir Johnson for a moment but I could be wrong. With enough bulk, be probably can defend the 4 in stretches.

*4-Maybe a Draymond Green-esque stretch 4 for Oubre

*5-If and when Oubre gets time with the starting lineup, he will have to learn some off-ball skills. The last summer league performance was special because the announcer commented on how the 3s he made were off of catch and shoot scenarios. This is where Oubre will likely find himself with Wall on the floor.

*6-The reason why I didn't mention Durant because he is on another team, has not expressed a desire to test the FA waters and has not signed with us. I like Durant but it would be smart to copy the Bulls strategy of FA than trying to swing big without a plan B.

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.