And remember, Ernie Grunfeld is likely not done dealing … especially judging by his quote in USA Today: “We might get out of (the draft) altogether. Very seldom do you get a 32nd pick who’s going to come right in and help a veteran ballclub.”
Of course, this could mean drafting someone and selling them for cash (as the case with Billy Walker to the Celtics last season), or packaging it with Mike James’ expiring contract for some sort of help down low (please be the latter, please be the latter).
With Washington sending Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas, Oleksiy Pecherov and the 5th overall pick to Minnesota in exchange for Mike Miller and Randy Foye being reported by Chad Ford of ESPN, and both Wizards beat reporters, Mike Jones of the Washington Times and Michael Lee of the Washington Post, it’s time to get some initial thoughts blogged out.
If I know Ernie Grunfeld, he’s not done. Hell, he better not be done.
The drama is kind of exciting, knowing the President of Basketball Ops I’ve come to trust probably has more tricks up his sleeve. Judging by the roster after the trade, we might be calling Gruns “Mr. Wizard” if he pulls off something else nice to make the team complete (more on ‘complete’ in a second).
The Wizards beat an inferior Timberwolves squad, 110-99, Minny’s 10th loss in a row, thanks to veteran swag and strong contributions from the mostly youthful bench.
The four oldest players available (Jamison – 32, Dixon – 30, Songaila – 30, and Butler – 28) combined to score 81 points, 73.6% of the total.
But that doesn’t take away from what Blatche, McGee, Crittenton, Young and McGuire contributed in the win. In fact, Young and McGee led the team in +/-, both finishing +11.
The Wizards bench outscored the Wolves bench 26-16 and also contributed 16 of the team’s 46 total rebounds. Paced By A Lithuanian
The Wizards blew a huge lead in a matter of minutes in the 2nd quarter….so what? They won, didn’t they? [Game 54 Blog @ Bullets Forever]
Ok, so Antawn Jamison’s face at halftime above says it all. He was pretty much constipated over the 10 2nd quarter turnovers that let the T-Wolves back in the game.
One day this team will learn not to make it so hard on themselves…..but sucking wind is part of the growing pains, right?
The good part…..how ’bout that Javaris Crittenton fellow? Boy he’s coming along. Read more »
Jeff from CelticsBlog.com is doing the grunt work to put together a comprehensive NBA preview from bloggers ’round the ‘sphere. The Atlantic Division Preview was first, the Southwest Division was second, the Central Division was third, and now the Northwest Division is out. Here are the highlights from the participating bloggers for each team, click on the blog links to see the full team preview:
Denver Nuggets
[Pickaxe and Roll] I think there are different answers depending on whether you are talking about the goals of management or the goals of the players. Management has clearly been geared towards the future. The Camby trade revolved around future cap flexibility. They traded their first round pick for a future first round pick. Older players Camby and Najera have been sent packing in exchange for younger players. Management would never admit it, nor should they, but I do not think they expect anything other than another first round exit at best from this squad. Prediction: 47-35
[The Nugg Doctor] The goal for this team is to not be content just making the playoffs, but to finally advance in the postseason. For five straight seasons the Nuggets have been one of only four teams in the league to make the playoffs in said consecutive years and are the only team to have not made it to the conference semis. Prediction: 44-38
Ok, so it goes without saying that this game is one the Wizards need to secure. The T-Wolves are the worst, but the NBA is a professional sports league…..nap and you might go home to a restless night of sleep.
T’Wolves coach, Randy Wittman, missed their last 3 games after undergoing a backiotomy. I bet he just needed to talk to Sampson. But even more important, the Wiz float at .500 as I type. It would be nice for them to keep above the waterline and get running down hill.
Now let’s start the show…
1st Quarter
Craig Smith is a big dude. He’s gonna be a load for Antawn Jamison to handle…then again, I think AJ will take the +/- with his effort on the offensive end.
The Timberwolves, a take care of bi-ness game. Word is that Randy Wittman has all but given Rashad McCants the green light to gun it. Ain’t much going on with Dee-Shawn so far this season, as we all know. But if anything, his year is going to start with Dee-Fence. So, I’m hoping that his hustle swag gets all up in McCant’s grits. Bullets Forever would start Haywood out on Al Jefferson. I would too, as long as AJ keeps Theo Ratliff off the boards.
Go Rule Wizards….One Game At A Time.
Buck says the Wiz haven’t won in Minny since 2000, they are due.
