Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
If the Pistons taught us anything last year, and they taught us a lot, it's that you can almost never have too many big guys. The Wizards have a lot of depth and talent in the frontcourt this coming season, and a strong backcourt as well. Do they have enough to make the playoffs?
Even if Kwame Brown is not ready to start at the beginning of the season, the Wizards have tough guys in Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas, a grizzled veteran in Samaki Walker, a still-young backup in Michael Ruffin, another young guy in Jared Jefferies, and unquestionably the star of the team in Antawn Jamison. That's a lot of depth, and a lot of talent.
Couple that frontcourt punch with Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes in the backcourt, either of whom can go off for dozens of points at a clip, with Steve Blake ready to make a contribution, and Juan Dixon getting another chance to make a first impression, and you've got the makings of a playoff-contending team.
TEAM NOTES
You can shop at the Wizards team storewhere you can personalized jerseys with your name and number.
Ted Sillanpaa ofThe Daily Republic writes: There's no more difficult position in sport than that of NFL cornerback. Still, there's no reason to think 37-year-old Deion Sanders can't come out of retirement and help the Baltimore Ravens. Michael Jordan, the type of athlete to compare to Deion, did pretty well for himself when he returned to the NBA Washington Wizards.Jordan had to try to carry a bad team. Sanders just has to help an already strong defense.
Terry Pristin ofThe New York Times writes: Situated in the dwindling Chinatown district, Gallery Place will have 220,000 square feet of office space, 192 condominiums and 270,000 square feet of retail stores, including a 14-screen United Artists movie theater and a $17 million Clyde's restaurant, part of a popular local chain... Next door is the MCI Center, the home of the Washington Wizards basketball team and the Washington Capitals hockey team, which opened in 1997.
Len Ziehm ofThe Chicago Sun-Times writes:The Charlotte Bobcats signed point guard Brevin Knight, making him the most experienced player on the expansion team.He averaged 4.7 points and 3.6 assists in 56 games for the Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks last season.