When you lose a veteran leader like the Washington Wizards did in Paul Pierce, you immediately look for replacements. The Wizards spent their summer doing just that by adding a handful of wing players that could compensate for Pierce’s loss.

When Pierce chose to reunite with head coach Doc Rivers in Los Angeles, Washington did not panic when looking for replacements. In fact, John Wall stated that he could handle the responsibility of being the team’s leader if needed.

However, it did not stop the organization from looking for a veteran piece, and they landed one not too long after Pierce left. In a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, Washington acquired Jared Dudley to become their veteran voice for the upcoming season.

Dudley is nowhere near Pierce when it comes to experience and clutch performances, but he has been around the league for a while and has played in his fair share of playoff games. With the growth of Otto Porter, Dudley is even unlikely to start but just allowing him to guide some of the younger players is a bonus for the Wizards.

Aside from Dudley, Washington added a couple of wing players to enhance the roster depth and talent.

Gary Neal was signed to a bargain deal and will deliver sufficient three-point shooting off Washington’s bench. The 30-year old has toured the NBA the last couple of seasons, but his most prominent stint was with the San Antonio Spurs where he enriched his knowledge for the game to help him become the ample scorer he has converted into today.

A very quality, under-the-radar move was the acquisition of Alan Anderson. The six-year man out of Michigan State is another solid bench scorer who plays with a lot of fire and enthusiasm. Anderson was crucial to the Brooklyn Nets’ second unit last season, averaging 7.4 points on 44.3 percent shooting.

To add even greater depth to the wing position, the Wizards selected Kelly Oubre Jr. during the 2015 NBA draft. The young 19-year old impressed during the Las Vegas Summer League, putting up 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per outing.

The question for the Wizards and head coach Randy Wittman is, with all the wing depth added this summer, where do all these pieces fit?

Looking at the depth chart, the Wizards are three deep at the two guard position and four deep at the small forward position and each are quality players. It’s a great thing to have all the depth and assurance, but it’s going to be tough for coach Wittman to manage minutes.

To round off their roster, the Wizards re-signed veteran Drew Gooden for the league’s minimum deal. Gooden had some bright moments last season, such as a 15-point, 17-rebound performance late in March. The 13-year veteran also averaged 9.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in the first round of the playoffs. He is a key rotational player for the Wizards and was definitely a keeper.  

It turns out the Washington Wizards were adamant on repairing their wing depth this offseason, especially after they lost Paul Pierce. Although they lost the savvy veteran who knocked down quite a few clutch shots for them last season, the Wizards bounced back beautifully to strengthen their bench. The team is deeper than it has ever been and has more talent than before. Now, it’s time for them to prove their resurgence on the hardwood floor.

Off-Season Grade: B