Selecting a Starting Small Forward 

     Ah…the small forward position. It’s been the talk of the town ever since we traded KCP, and has picked up steam with the season just weeks away. Some believe that one of the young guys, Hachimura or Avdija, deserves a shot. Others feel more comfortable with the veteran presence of Will Barton. Many are even considering second-year forward Corey Kispert due to his terrific end to the 2022 season.  

     No matter who you back, we all understand the importance of getting this position right. Let’s look at it this way: Your scoring comes from Beal, Porzingis, and Kuzma. Ball handling responsibilities fall on Morris and Beal. Porzingis is your rim protector. Those are set in stone. What’s up for debate is how this lineup fairs in relation to three-point shooting and defense—both areas that Washington has struggled to correct in previous seasons. The starting small forward must excel in these areas to supply what this starting lineup lacks. 

     The words below outline the various pros and cons of each starting SF candidate, and explain why I think one stands out from the rest. 

 

Rui Hachimura 

     Entering last season, many of the Wizards faithful hoped for a breakout season from Rui. Unfortunately, those dreams were put on hold while he dealt with personal issues away from the team (SIDE NOTE: I’m very happy that Rui was able to take that time off from ball and just focus on his mental health. These guys are human beings too and just like us, need time away from work to de-stress and figure things out).  

     When he did return, Rui exceeded my expectations. I mean where did that 3-ball come from!? This man shot 44% from three last season, improving his previous years’ percentage by 12% (basketballreference.com)! Opposing defenses had to start respecting his shot, which lead to less attention on other guys to get buckets. His improved three-pointer could open driving lanes for guys like Brad and Kuz if his man is hesitant to help off him. That would be a huge boost on the offensive end. 

     At 6’8”, Hachimura finds himself in that middle-ground: Not as tall as most PFs, but not as small as many SFs. This comes with its negatives. He can’t move laterally with the quick small forwards and often gets beat off the dribble or on backdoor cuts. Opposing power forwards body him in the paint and play bully ball on their way to dominant stretches of play. This is the type of defensive liability that we can’t have on the court. 

      Additionally, he likes to operate in the mid-range area, more specifically off the dribble. This is a unique style of play that I feel would be wasted in a lineup of off-dribble scorers. Rui staying around that mid-range area could also cause spacing problems that clog up driving lanes and create chaotic offensive sets. Shot creation from your fifth option is more suitable off the bench. Although the shot is there, the defense and spacing are not. For those reasons, I believe Rui is not the best fit to start at small forward. 

 

Deni Avdija 

     The case for Deni is simple: DEFENSE! He’s shown for the last two years that he can lock up the opposing team’s best player…but can he do it consistently? That remains the question. We know the talent and lateral quickness are there. Guys like Butler, DeRozan, and even Giannis have had a tough time against Avdija. But the fouling is an issue that needs to be addressed or he’ll be spending more time next to coach Unseld than on the floor. What I mean by his fouling is that he seems to always stick with his assignment, but at the last second, he pokes his chest out or swipes down unnecessarily to warrant a whistle. Deni must clean this up if he wants to win the starting job. 

     As I mentioned in the opening, it’s not just defense that this lineup lacks. Three-point shooting is equally important, and is something that Deni has struggled with to begin his career. At just 31% the last two years, he ranks among the worst on the team in 3pt percentage (basketballrefrence.com). That’s not going to fly as a starter. His lack of shooting allows his defender to sag off and supply help on guys like Beal on drives or to KP in the post. Because of this, our offense becomes stagnant, and buckets are hard to come by. 

     If Deni earns this starting role, his shot will have improved dramatically this offseason, and I just don’t see that as the case. The defense is certainly a plus, but the negatives in finishing at the rim and shooting outweigh the positives. For these reasons, Deni is best suited to be the defensive anchor off the bench and not an offensive liability as a starter.  

     Now, don’t get me wrong, Deni’s lack of offense is not as bad as I may have portrayed. He’s a skilled passer, makes smart cuts, and can take it to the basket. The point I’m making is that he is best suited off the bench where he can create for others and not be a guy who stands in the corner and only shoots threes. 

 

Corey Kispert 

     After a lackluster start to his career, Corey seemed to ease into his role. He stopped rushing, played with control, and found his shot. One could even argue he was one of our most consistent players down the stretch. The only downside was that if his shot wasn’t falling, his impact on the game loomed around zero. Today’s NBA requires versatility on top of shooting. Corey must add some elements to his bag to keep up. 

     Rui may be the most consistent three-point shooter of the lot, but Corey supplies the highest volume. Kispert totaled eleven games of 3+ threes and five games of 4+ threes in 2022 (Statmuse). He even had a game against the Knicks where he knocked down 6 three-pointers! Corey would excel as a guy who camps around the three-point line and knocks down open shots. Defenses would again be hesitant to help off our playmakers. Driving lanes would open and space would be created. 

     Just as defense was Deni’s calling card, it’s also Corey’s achilles heel. He simply wasn’t good at that end last season. Too many times he got beat backdoor or off the bounce by quicker guards and forwards. His athleticism ranks in the bottom tier and his lateral quickness is not up to par. And that’s OK! We aren’t asking him to play lockdown defense. His primary role is to space the floor with his shooting and at least hold his own on the other end.  

     Unfortunately, I don’t trust that his individual defense won’t negatively impact our team defense. For that reason, I believe he’s best off the bench as a guy who spaces the floor and provides shooting to a unit that desperately needs it. If you’re going to bring Deni, Wright, and Gafford off the bench, you NEED Kispert’s shooting to stay afloat offensively. 

 

Will Barton 

     Experience! That’s what Barton brings from his eight successful years in Denver. No stranger to the playoffs, Barton has appeared in 29 playoff games. In those games, he averaged 13 points and upped his three-point percentage to 39%. He’s a career 35% shooter from three and averages around 12 ppg (basketballreference.com). That’s as average as it gets offensively.  

     As I mentioned in the opening, defense and shooting are vital qualities in our starting SF. Barton checks both boxes. He shoots it at a high clip from three and is a terrific on-ball defender. Denver would typically throw Barton on the best guard last season, further proof of his great defensive skill. He’s not at the level that Deni is on, but is a close second that shoots much better from long range. Furthermore, he’s laterally quicker than both Rui and Corey, and defends his position better. His shooting doesn’t match up with theirs, but his superior defense outweighs their offense.  

     Barton will not be the defensive liability that teams target, nor will their game plans single him out on offense as a guy to leave open. He’ll make them defend all five positions instead of doubling Beal or Porzingis. Most importantly, he plays defense! That’s what Coach Unseld has stressed all offseason, and should be the main goal of this season. Barton helps reach that goal, which is why he should be in the starting lineup!  

     There you have it. Will Barton is my pick to start at small forward this season. Let me know in the comments whether you agree or not, and if you disagree, feel free to tell me who you think should start at SF! Go Wiz! 

 

All facts and information found at the sites below: 

“Will Barton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More | Basketball-Reference.Com.” Basketball-Reference.Com, www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bartowi01.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2022.

@StatMuse. “Will Barton Playoffs | StatMuse.” StatMuse, www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/will-barton-playoffs. Accessed 28 Sept. 2022.