Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has assigned second-year center Peter John Ramos to the Roanoke Dazzle of the NBA D-League.  Roanoke, led by Head Coach Kent Davison, is the Wizards D-League affiliate.  

?We are pleased with P.J.?s progress and we are happy that he had the opportunity to practice with our team for the past couple of weeks,? said Grunfeld.  ?We feel that by assigning P.J. back to Roanoke, he can continue to get the playing time that he needs to further his development

The Memphis Grizzlies, who have played without point guard Damon Stoudamire since he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 30, have expressed interest in signing former Washington Wizards guard Chucky Atkins. But Atkins has yet to decide where he wants to play.

The Wizards and Atkins agreed to a contract buyout Wednesday and Atkins cleared waivers on Friday. Several Memphis players, including guard Bobby Jackson and forward Pau Gasol, have said they would welcome the addition of Atkins, who averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 assists and 19.7 minutes for Washington.

According to a source close to Atkins, the veteran guard is closely weighing his options and could be waiting to see what moves are made by the Detroit Pistons with the idea of possibly signing there. Atkins spent four seasons with the Pistons and was popular in Detroit, as evidenced by the ovation he received when he made six three-pointers and scored 20 points in Washington's 120-114 double-overtime victory at Detroit on Nov. 25.

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has recalled second-year center Peter John Ramos from the Roanoke Dazzle of the NBA D-League.  

?P.J. did a very nice job in the D-League,? said Grunfeld.  ?We feel the experience was very beneficial for him, and that this was the proper time to bring him back so that he can be with his teammates and practice with our team.?

According to the New York Post, the Knicks made an inquiry into PG Chucky Atkins, bought out by the Wizards yesterday. However, sources said he'll be signing with Memphis in a prearranged deal.

Like the Knicks, Memphis was searching for a backup PG.

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the Washington Wizards and guard Chucky Atkins have agreed to a buyout of Atkins? contract.

?Chucky is a veteran player who is in the last year of his contract," said Grunfeld.  "He has been a real professional and this will allow him an opportunity to look for a situation that will give him the playing time that he desires."

In 28 games with the Wizards this season, Atkins averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 assists in 19.7 minutes per game.

A number of teams have shown interest in Washington Wizards reserve guard Chucky Atkins.
   
According to a Western Conference general manager who spoke under condition of anonymity yesterday, the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and another Western Conference team have spoken with Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld about trading for Atkins.
   
Grunfeld, as is his policy, did not comment on any potential personnel moves. The Wizards have until the Feb. 23 trade deadline to make a move.

The Grizzlies were going "nowhere" down trade avenues to replace injured guard Damon Stoudamire as of Wednesday afternoon, according to league sources.

Serious dialogue with Washington for the services of point guard Chucky Atkins yielded nothing. The Grizzlies, according to sources, were heavily interested in Atkins but eventually balked at going deeper into expected luxury tax debt.

Salary-cap implications may dictate how soon, if ever, the Griz consummate any deal for a veteran to shore up the point guard position.

Atkins is in the final year of a deal that pays $4.5 million this season. To acquire Atkins, the Griz considered using trade exceptions totaling about $5 million ($4.4 million and $671,748) they received Aug. 2, 2005 in the five-team transaction that sent Jason Williams, James Posey and Andre Emmett to Miami for Eddie Jones.

Those trade exceptions expire Aug. 2, 2006.

It's a telling, little-used statistic called "assist differential," and it explains the struggles of the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards are last in the league in that category -- by far. Their opponents are averaging 4.09 more assists per game. The Wizards are settling for jump shots too quickly, and they're not getting in the passing lanes on defense.

In other words, the Wizards are last in the NBA in teamwork, a stunning development for a team whose coach uses a motion offense and spent the entire preseason stressing defense.

"Selfishness begets selfishness," center Brendan Haywood said. "When one guy doesn't make the extra pass, then the next guy starts thinking, 'Well, I'm not sure when my time's going to come,' so he doesn't make the extra pass. It's just about being a team right now.

"Right now, we're disjointed. We're not a team. I think everybody likes each other, everybody's out there playing hard, but we're not always playing hard and smart."

At 13-18, the Wizards are one of most disappointing teams in the NBA this season. But according to several players and President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld, the team's current standing can't be pinned on Coach Eddie Jordan and his staff.

"I understand that this is a player's league and the first person to go is the coach, but coaches run practice and we play games, so they get penalized for our mess-ups during the game," guard Gilbert Arenas said following Friday's ugly 113-92 loss at New York. "It's all on us. We have to go out there and play hard. We can't sit there and say, 'We're losing and it's coach's fault.' No. Coach is doing a great job of preparing us in practice and we need to go out there and do it in games."

Forward Jared Jeffries, who is in his third season playing for Jordan after one year under previous coach Doug Collins, said a recent stretch of poor defense (eight of Washington's last nine opponents have scored more than 100 points) is the team's main problem.

"When you're out there giving up 110, 120, 125 points, that's on the players," Jeffries said. "It comes down to each one of us as men giving an effort and we have to start giving that effort. Everybody. We're a team, and it starts with us as players. We're having too many breakdowns over and over."

'Tis the season for trade rumors, and the name of Wizards guard Chucky Atkins has been floated in recent days. The Memphis Grizzlies are in the market for a veteran point guard after Damon Stoudamire suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Atkins, who is in the final year of a contract that is paying him $4.5 million this season, would fit the bill.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies executive Jerry West has been working the phones looking for a Stoudamire replacement, and Atkins would be a logical candidate. He expressed displeasure with his role early in the season and has seen his playing time increase since Jarvis Hayes fractured his right patella. Hayes will be out at least six weeks, leaving the Wizards with a guard rotation of Gilbert Arenas, Jared Jeffries, Antonio Daniels and Atkins.

As policy, Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld does not respond to trade rumors, saying only, "I'm always looking to improve the team." Atkins offered a "no comment" yesterday. The trade deadline is Feb. 23.