Wizards owner says Arenas is biggest asset
In his first news conference the day after closing the purchase of the Washington Wizards, Ted Leonsis talked with emotion Thursday about the chance to add an iconic young player with the first pick in the NBA Draft. (He didn’t say explicitly it will be John Wall.)
Leonsis also discussed the need to re-embrace Gilbert Arenas. But apparently what fans want to ask him most via his new e-mail address, [email protected], is about changing the team’s name.
“I’m shocked that it has been such a big part of the conversation,” said Leonsis, standing at a podium inside the main arena of Verizon Center in front of a crowd that included his partners in the newly named Monumental Sports and Entertainment. District council member Jack Evans, Sen. Mark Warner and an all-star cast of D.C. coaches and sports personalities were on hand, including Flip Saunders, Bruce Boudreau and Wes Unseld.
“Our goal with the Wizards is simple: We need to build a generational great team,” Leonsis said, pointing out that aside from the current Boston Celtics, the greatest teams in NBA history were build with young, foundational draft picks.
“It’s good theater for the NBA to have the whole, wondering what to do,” Leonsis said, sidestepping any naming of Wall as well as questions about pursuing LeBron James in free agency. But he was clear about the future of Arenas, called him the team’s biggest asset.
“Gilbert knows that the most important thing for him do is to get in shape and to be a great teammate and to be a pillar of our community and that he will show atonement,” Leonsis said. “But his major deliverable is to come back and be a great part of this next generation Wizards franchise and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Leonsis also spoke directly to Washington Capitals fans, promising them he has the bandwidth to manage both teams. His immediate tasks, however, won’t initially include executing a name change, but, “It’s not a secret,” Leonsis said, “that I am partial to the color red.”
