Aside from John Wall’s face stamped on the franchise, the Wizards’ backcourt situation was already an uncertain proposition. Jordan Crawford is the wildcard entering NBA season three. Shelvin Mack is the unguaranteed second-rounder entering his second season after a unsteady summer league. Newcomers A.J. Price and Jannero Pargo have three seasons experience and 32 years in age, respectively. Martell Webster wasn’t good enough for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bradley Beal is just a rookie who only turned 19 on draft night.

Now that Wall is gone till November, the end of it, the windows to the car are smudged with grease, and someone is going to have to see well enough to drive. Much could be dependant on Crawford. Even more, in time, on Beal. And perhaps more contingent upon the success of the spare parts — Pargo, Price, Mack, and Webster — is how the dynamic between Crawford and Beal develops. Especially now. With either guard, it could come down to who is helping make plays.

“Somewhat. I’m not going in with that expectation,” said Beal when asked if he was ready to take on the role of playmaker. “But If I’m put in that situation, then I know I’ll be comfortable in finally doing it. Honestly, I’d like to be a playmaker. I feel comfortable with the ball in my hands and creating for others as well as myself. I don’t have a problem with it.”

Randy Wittman will certainly aim to develop Beal at an honest pace — off the bench and without the pressure of running the offense —  but if the Wizards struggle to score, as past statistics would like to predict, then the best combination of talent could win out for minutes.

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[original photo via nba.com/wizards - Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images]

“He don’t have no pressure, he’s not the savior. He’s a beast under pressure. But he don’t have no pressure. We want Bradley Beal to come in and be Bradley Beal. We’re not telling him to come on and lead us into the playoffs. We want him to come in and make some jump shots, play some solid defense… go from there.”
—Sam Cassell, July 2012 Summer League

Cassell’s statement diffuses expectations, but it’s true. Bradley Beal is just a piece. The Washington Wizards now have several nice pieces, but none of them are saviors. Not even John Wall.

Wall is the face of the franchise — every team needs a face — and maybe Beal’s face will shine next to Wall’s on the top billing one day. But the Wizards don’t have a star. Not a single All-Star on the roster. Not yet.

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Kobe and Nash will make a great duo. That’s what the numbers say anyway.

Nash had the highest assist percentage in the NBA (53.1) and made the most passes to spot-up shooters (389) in the pick-and-roll last season. More often than not, 62 percent of the time, Nash passed the rock in the two-man game, and his Phoenix Suns teammates shot 51 percent on those passes.

“With Nash taking over primary ballhandling duties and Kobe handling the ball less, expect the Lakers to get more open shots and shoot the ball at a higher percentage, including Kobe,” wrote Ryan Feldman and Rachel Eldridge of ESPN Stats & Info. “Kobe doesn’t get open very often, but when he does he’s a highly efficient shooter. If Nash is able to get open shots for Kobe, expect the Lakers to be a strong contender.”

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With the above tweet, Bradley Beal committed his first act of social media as member of the Washington Wizards. And social media reacted: Wizards fans, members of the Florida Gators basketball community, Beal’s family, and his new Wizards teammates — all more than happy with the outcome.

“Few of the guys have already reached out to me, so I’m starting to develop a relationship with the guys already,” Beal revealed at his press conference in Washington D.C. ”Trevor Booker texted me. I talked to John last night. Chris Singleton texted me saying ‘FSU’, I told him like ‘no way.’  Trevor Ariza texted me as well. All these guys have reached out to me and I am glad that they all have did that. It shows me that they care, and they are ready to get going.”

To the Tweets…

Wizards Teammates:

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Besta Beal witnessed her son Bradley reach his NBA dreams last Thursday evening in Newark, New Jersey. She saw him walk across the stage after being selected third overall in the draft by the Washington Wizards and shake David Stern’s hand. It was official.

Mama Beal beamed proudly at the sight, but was able to keep her emotions in check on her son’s big birthday night. That is until Bradley was welcomed to Washington, D.C. at a press conference the next day. Then, the tears of joy rolled out.

“I wanted to cry (at the draft), but I didn’t feel it. Until we sat down, saw him front all of you (the media), it all came out,” she said.

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