Focus shifts to growth of younger players
The Wizards knew exactly what they were getting into when they blew up their roster at the NBA trade deadline last month — gaining a hefty dose of salary relief and a chance to start over with a core of young, energetic players.
But it still hasn’t made the month of March easy to stomach. The Wizards (21-47) have now lost 11 games in a row, two games short of the longest losing streak in franchise history heading into Tuesday’s game against seemingly playoff-bound Charlotte (35-34).
“Obviously, losing games is very frustrating for everybody involved,” said Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld. “But I don’t think our players are laying down. I think we’re competing, and we’re trying and it’s a learning process for our young players.”
Instead of focusing on the most recent spate of poor results, the Wizards are content to watch the growth over the last month of Andray Blatche, who has averaged 21.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and JaVale McGee, who has put up 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over that stretch.
Adjusted for minutes, McGee’s production matches departed center Brendan Haywood (9.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg) before he was traded to Dallas. While still inconsistent, McGee has now started more games in the past month and half than he did the entire first year and half of his career.
The Wizards are also pleased with the development of Shaun Livingston at point guard — having signed him through the end of season — and how it has allowed Randy Foye to move into a third guard role, coming off the bench to provide either ball-handling or scoring.
Meanwhile, Washington will learn more about the fate of Gilbert Arenas on Friday, when he is sentenced on a felony gun charge, one more reminder of how far the Wizards have to go before they can be happy with their place in the NBA again.
“We want to find out which players we want to go forward with,” said Grunfeld. “I think some of them are making very good progress. It is frustrating, but I think everybody realizes that we’re going in a different direction and that we’re building.”
