Former Washington Wizards all over the NBA are having trouble scrubbing off the recent history of the franchise they played for in Chinatown. This could also be called “the Top 5 reasons besides Gilbert Arenas that Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld isn’t talking about last season.”
1. Mike Miller (Miami) » He rolled his left ankle on Monday. Miller was supposed to be the missing piece in the Wizards’ starting rotation last season, selfless, versatile and a knockdown shooter. Instead, Miller missed 28 games with various ailments.
2. Dominic McGuire (Charlotte) » He could be out six weeks with a stress fracture in his shin. The Wizards shipped the 2007 second-round draft pick off to Sacramento for a bag of basketballs — OK, a 2010 second-round pick and cash.
3. Kwame Brown (Charlotte) » He has missed all of preseason with a sprained left ankle. Michael Jordan picked Brown No. 1 overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, and he was all set to give Washington’s most disappointing player ever another chance in North Carolina. Brown rewarded him by injuring the ankle in a pick-up game before camp started.
4. Shaun Livingston (Charlotte) » He still has a sore left knee. There was no chance the Wizards were holding on to last year’s midseason acquisition after landing John Wall. Livingston wanted to be a starter after playing well for the Wizards. Turns out, he’s still got a ways to go just to prove he’s healthy enough to play regularly at all.
5. Antawn Jamison (Cleveland) » He has a sprained left knee — and appears headed back to the bench. The Wizards never dared demote the two-time All-Star, but Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott said he has no problem using Jamison as a sixth man.
