Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Just when you thought he'd turned the corner, that's when Kwame Brown went ahead and broke his foot. Now, recovering, you thought this time, the corner he'd turned would lead to a valley of spring roses, but instead Brown is in trouble again. The Wizards suspended him from practice and tonight's game for ignoring head coach Eddie Jordan during the Denver game. Is it time to test his market value?
After Jordan pulled him out of the game, Brown refused to join the team huddle even after players and other coaches pleaded with him. Jordan had been trying to insert him into the rotation without messing with the chemistry that has led to Washington's best start in several decades but perhaps there is no way to bring Brown in gently.
He's had a string of problems in D.C. and maybe it is finally time to try to see what kind of quality role player the Wizards could get in exchange for the enigmatic yet obviously talented Brown. He seems like the poster child of the example of needing a change of scenery to make a real impact. It's an important year for him if he wants to get a big contract next year and he could explode into the form everyone's (still) expecting of him at any time.
But will he be cleared to play when it happens?
NEXT GAME
It's a weekend of the New for Washington. Before hosting New Orleans on Sunday, the Wizards (10-6, third in the Southeast) host the New York Knicks (9-9, first in the Atlantic) TONIGHT. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on CSN and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Every Wednesday night is college night. Bring your college ID to your college campus Ticketmaster outlet or the MCI Center Box Office and get a $10 ticket.
Tune into WTOP every weekday at 7:17 a.m. and 5:17 p.m. as the Wizards discuss topics on and off the court. On Wednesday, Washingtonian food critic Thomas Head joined Jarvis Hayes to talk about B. Smith's.
INJURY UPDATE
Steve Blake(foot),Peter John Ramos(knee), andEtan Thomas (abdominal) are all on the injured list.Kwame Brown(suspension) is sitting this game out.Samaki Walker(back) is questionable for tonight.
Ailene Voisin ofThe Sacramento Beewrites: The death of longtime Detroit Pistons loyalist Leon Bradley left the league with one acknowledged bellower - Ficker - but only briefly; when the Wizards moved into the MCI Center and shifted his seats behind the basket, the defense lawyer relinquished his right to make a scene."When I go to the Kennedy Center, I don't yell, 'You're hitting the wrong note,' " Ficker explained Thursday from his cell phone. "But football and basketball games are different. You experience a vicarious thrill. You can be part of the game. I know I had an effect on the players and coaches. They were always looking at me and paying attention. Some of them even mentioned me in their books. It wouldn't have been as fun (behind the baseline)."
Brad Thomas ofThe Birmingham Newswrites: Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, to official Eric Lewis after being called for a foul: "Usually I just cuss you out and you give me a technical, but I'm not doing that this year."
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: The Washington Wizards yesterday suspended forward Kwame Brown for one game following a run-in with Coach Eddie Jordan during the second quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets.Brown was not allowed to practice yesterday and will miss tonight's game against the New York Knicks. "Kwame has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, and will rejoin the team on Saturday," Jordan said in a statement.