Washington Wizards: Andrew Nicholson Quickly Worked His Way Into Lineup

Washington Wizards forward Andrew Nicholson has quickly worked his way into the team’s rotation after displaying his versatile offense in preseason.

After missing out on all of the top free agents this summer – most notably Kevin Durant and Al Horford – the Washington Wizards opted to fill out their roster with players who didn’t exactly turn many heads.

The likes of Ian Mahinmi, Tomas Satoransky, Jason Smith and Andrew Nicholson aren’t known by those who aren’t in the NBA circle. That, though, doesn’t mean they cannot contribute to a winning season.

All of the signings have the potential to be “sneaky good,” since none of them will necessarily draw national interest.

Nicholson, in particular, is someone who has all the tools to finally have a breakout season after spending years of his career playing under seemingly incompetent coaches.

Recognizing that the league has become more focused on spacing, Nicholson added a 3-point shot to his game. He didn’t take a single three during his rookie year. Last season, Nicholson took 114 threes, making 36 percent of his attempts from deep.

Since he already possessed footwork in the post – something that most young bigs never fully develop – adding a shot from the perimeter makes him a legitimate threat offensively.

During preseason, Nicholson has proved to be exactly that.

In the past two games, Nicholson has averaged 19 points and made 14 of his 21 total shot attempts. He’s also knocked down three of the five 3-point shots he’s attempted.

Markieff Morris is capable of scoring both inside and out, but he’s not a natural scorer like Nicholson.

The Washington Wizards haven’t had a forward with Nicholson’s offensive versatility since Antawn Jamison played for the team in the mid 2000s.

Now, that’s not to say that Nicholson will become an All-Star like Jamison, but that doesn’t mean he won’t become one of the league’s premier sixth men.

Per-36 minutes, Nicholson averaged roughly 17 points and 9 rebounds per game last season with the Orlando Magic. The talent and ability has always been there for Nicholson, but playing time obviously wasn’t. Scott Brooks has given Nicholson a chance to prove himself during the exhibition games and he’s done more than enough to crack the team’s rotation.

All of the new players have played surprisingly well for Washington during preseason, but Nicholson has been the standout. Ernie Grunfeld hasn’t found a gem during free agency in quite some time, but Nicholson has lived up to that status, at least for the time being.

How the hell did this guy slip through the cracks? That’s the only question that pops into my head when Nicholson touches the ball. If he continues to play at such a high level, Nicholson will have an opportunity to get some much deserved recognition.

Every year, a few players seem to “come out of nowhere.” Nicholson might be that player for Washington.