The optimists trumpeted what they thought should have happened this year. Their play in January suggested their forecasts, even in hindsight, weren’t just a daydream. Once upon a time, the Wizards held the best record in the Eastern Conference, had two All-Stars on their roster and a heavy dose of confidence.
“This definitely should have been a 50-win team,” forward Antawn Jamison said.
“I was thinking easily the Eastern Conference finals,” forward Caron Butler said.
Instead, they spent Tuesday cleaning up a season that ended with a four-game sweep by Cleveland. The Wizards, who were once 31-21, finished the regular season at 41-41. They also ended with Butler and Gilbert Arenas sidelined with injuries. Both will be fine for next season, but their absence derailed any chance for postseason success.
The Wizards, with eight potential free agents, must decide how much change is necessary. Should they write everything off to injuries this season? Or should they start to reshape the roster? They’ve made the playoffs three straight years, but have lost in the first round the past two.
“You look like you’re going backwards,” coach Eddie Jordan said. “And I want to go forward. I know what happened this year was because of the injuries. Let’s move forward.”
Jamison is a free agent after next year and Arenas could opt out of his deal.
“This is the most important year,” Jamison said. “A lot can happen; you have a lot of scenarios that can play out. The one thing that sticks out is we enjoy playing with each other. If we have another season like we had this year, you can start all over and try to rebuild that way. It’s frustrating to know you have so much talent and such a great group of guys and team chemistry and you’re still around the .500 mark.
“Until we [win 50], you’re only talking about it.”
As long as Arenas sees the franchise heading in what he considers the right direction, he would want to stay.
“I don’t think that will be an issue,” Butler said. “Gil is a franchise player. He loves D.C. and the city loves him. It’s a matter of continuing to build around him. The right pieces are in place.”
That’s why they left with a mix of disappointment over the past month and optimism for the future.
“When we have our team all together and that chemistry there,” Daniels said, “we were a very difficult team to deal with.”
Bounce passes
» Forward Antawn Jamison said he will not play for the U.S. National Team this summer, preferring to rest. He said in January that he was mentally drained from the extensive travel. But forward Darius Songaila is expected to play for Lithuania this summer in the Euroleague Championships.
» Guard DeShawn Stevenson said he will not exercise his option, but would like to return next year. Jamison is expected to exercise his option considering it will pay him $16.4 million. Forward/guard Jarvis Hayes said he wants to return. The only other players under contract are: Arenas, Butler, Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels, Brendan Haywood and Songaila.
