While other teams in the NBA Eastern Conference made significant upgrades in the offseason, the Wizards stood pat. As the team opens training camp this week, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld is counting on improvement through continuity and good health.
Last year, the Wizards had the best record in the conference on Feb. 1 and led the Southeast Division in early April. But season-ending injuries, three days apart, to All-Stars Gilbert Arenas (torn meniscus) and Caron Butler (broken hand), ruined the Wizards’ playoff hopes as they were swept in four games by Cleveland.
“Obviously this was a long summer for us, longer than most of us wanted,” said Grunfeld. “But we’re healthy. We’re a deeper team than we were last year. We’re more athletic.”
Monday morning, before the Wizards departed for a five-day training camp at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, they were preaching the same themes — chemistry, health and erasing bad memories.
“We’ve all got a chip on our shoulder. We’ve all got a lot to prove,” said forward Antawn Jamison. “Now is a great opportunity for us to get into that window of opportunity and take advantage of what’s ahead.”
With Jamison and Arenas entering the final year of their contracts, the window may not be open for long.
Another area for concern is at center where the Wizards hope 6-foot-10 Etan Thomas and 7-0 Brendan Haywood can co-exist and thrive. The duo took “fighting for playing time” literally last year, skirmishing in practice on more than one occasion. After being benched in the final loss to Cleveland, Haywood ripped his nameplate from his locker stall.
“I never came out and said I didn’t want to return,” said Haywood. “We know what happened last year can’t happen again. Anytime you want to get mad and fight somebody, it makes us both look like idiots. … He’s a peace activist, he can’t do that anyway.”
The Wizards have reason to believe they will receive more from their bench.
Forward Darius Songaila, injured more than half of last season, returns healthy. Talented Andray Blatche, still the youngest player on the team at 21, is in his third season. Seven-footer Oleksiy Pecherov, the Wizards’ top pick in the 2006 draft, led the Wizards summer league team in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (8.8).
The 2007 draft brought athletic 6-7 wing player Nick Young in the first round and 6-9 Dominic McGuire in the second. McGuire, the surprise of the summer league, brings versatility and defensive presence to the front court.
“We’re really excited about those four [young] guys,” said Grunfeld. “But how quickly they get into the rotation and contribute will be up to them and their development.”
ADD ONS
With the addition of three players, announced Monday, the Wizards will take 18 to camp. The new players are:
Tony Massenburg » The 40-year-old is with his NBA-record 14th team. The 6-9 forward last played for NBA champion San Antonio in 2005 before breaking his ankle in an auto accident in the offseason. Massenburg, who has lived in the Washington area since his college career at Maryland, was a frequent visitor to Verizon Center this summer, working out with Wizards center Etan Thomas.
Jamon Gordon » The 6-3 guard, an undrafted rookie from Virginia Tech, played for Dallas in the 2007NBA Summer League.
Willie Deane » The 6-1 guard is an undrafted rookie from Purdue, where he averaged 18 points per game and made All-Big Ten. He played with Detroit in the Orlando Summer League in 2003.
