Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, the Washington Wizards will be without Markieff Morris, who recently underwent sports hernia surgery. Morris was a key contributor after averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds this past season.

As the Wizards look to take the next step in the playoffs, head coach Scott Brooks is mulling options on his starting power forward according to Chase Hughes of CSN Mid Atlantic:

“We have versatility and we have depth. We can go in many different directions. We can go small. We can throw Kelly [Oubre] in there. We can throw Jason [Smith] in there. Mike Scott we can put in there. There's a lot of players that we can throw into the mix,” Brooks said.

One potential option is Kelly Oubre, who found success playing alongside Otto Porter in small-ball lineups:

Based on how Brooks described it, don't be surprised if Otto Porter also gets an extended look at power forward. The Wizards found success last season with small-ball lineups playing Porter and Oubre together and that could be the play with Morris out.

With Morris missing critical time to begin the season, the Wizards are looking to shock the basketball world. While all the attention has been on the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Wizards have a strong starting lineup and improved their bench depth during the offseason.

Wizards begin their 2017-18 season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18.