With the Wizards’ future hinging, in more ways than one, on the torn hip labrum of All-Star Caron Butler, the theme for tonight’s game in Chicago is uncertainty.
When will Butler return? Are the Wizards destined to finish a second straight year with Butler and Gilbert Arenas sidelined? If the season ends in disappointment, will it alter the Wizards’ ability or intention to retain free agents to-be Arenas and Antawn Jamison?
“You know Caron is very special to us,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “I am not going to talk about the injury and the timing and all of that. But as a player, and as human being, he means a lot to us. We just have to go forward with the guys we have.”
The Wizards aren’t the only ones at United Center tonight with questions. The Bulls face an uncertain future as their top two players, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, are poised to explore the free agent market.
But while ambiguity reigns, something tangible at stake tonight. Washington (27-30) and Chicago (23-34) are among a group of seven teams scrambling for the final three playoff slots in the Eastern Conference.
And if either team gets into the postseason, they could be formidable, especially if the Bulls iron out their chemistry issues, or the Wizards get their injured stars back.
Chicago addressed the chemistry question with a deadline deal last week, shipping out disappointing C Ben Wallace and receiving G Larry Hughes and F Drew Gooden from Cleveland.
The trade paid dividends Wednesday night as former Wizard Hughes (29 points) and Gooden (10 points, 15 rebounds) came off the bench to lead Chicago to a 113-107 win at Indiana.
Hughes replaced Kirk Hinrich 56 seconds into the second half, and Hinrich, a fixture in the Bulls’ starting lineup for five seasons, never returned.
“I said there’s competition out here,” said Bulls coach Jim Boylan. “Bring your ‘A’ game or come down here and sit next to me. That’s the way that went tonight.”
