The Washington Wizards have an open roster spot, and if it were up to star John Wall, it'd be used to bring in a playmaker off the bench. One reported target for that vacant spot is veteran point guard Will Bynum, whom Washington could sign without disrupting their plans to pursue Kevin Durant as a free agent in 2016.
Washington (33-21) started the season hot but has since cooled down, losing six of their last 10 games. The Wizards have already needed help off the bench, and with Bradley Beal sidelined because of a leg injury, it's even more imperative the team gets help soon. If Wall had a say in how his team uses their open roster spot, he'd bring in somebody who can provide a spark off the bench.
"I think somebody, another guy that can create off the bench," Wall said, via the Washington Post. "A guy that can create and put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. That's probably the only thing we're missing in the second unit. Andre's [Miller] probably the best player that suits itself for creating and making plays for somebody in the second unit. I think sometimes we just get stagnant."
Wall admitted he liked the idea of bringing in Bynum, who will become available sometime in March once his team - China's Guangdong Southern Tigers - finishes their playoff run. Bynum, a 32-year-old veteran, spent the last five seasons coming off the bench for Detroit, where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 assists in under 20 minutes per game.
Unless players are bought out and available before March 1, Bynum might be Washington's best option. As The Post pointed out, the Wizards have already been gearing up to have as much cap room available as possible after the 2015-16 season. Foregoing any big trade and just giving Bynum a short-term contract would keep Washington from losing their salary cap flexibility for the summer of 2016, when they're expected to make a pricey run at Durant in free agency.
