New Wizards' shooter may give team the spark it needs

By foxsports
Published

The Washington Wizards are serious about becoming a faster, more versatile basketball team, and Gary Neal is one offseason addition who proves their commitment.

Neal is a three-point marksman who can capably attack a bent defense and run a decent pick-and-roll. If he's playing over 25 minutes a night, something bad happened, but as Bradley Beal's backup Neal fits in great.

Here's more on the 31-year-old's new role in Washington, per FanSided's Wiz of Awes:

Neal shot just 30.5 percent from deep last season, but perked up a bit after getting traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

He's a career 38.1 percent three-point shooter, and knocked down some seriously tough shots as a San Antonio Spur during their postseason runs in 2012 and 2013.

Washington added Gary Neal to a one-year deal worth slightly over $2 million. Neal, who’s from the DMV area, wanted to join a playoff team that needed a spark off their bench, so the fit was exact. As I previously noted, though, Wittman hasn’t had success with coaching players like Neal. The veteran guard is a shoot first, second and third player. He’s capable of moving the ball well, but as someone who’s earned a living by gunning off the bench, it’s tough to alter his game at this point.