March 2010 Washington Wizards Wiretap

Saunders Believes Wall Might Revolutionize PG Position

May 26, 2010 7:58 AM

Wizards coach Flip Saunders believes his team will hold onto the No. 1 overall pick and select Kentucky's John Wall.

"Dwight Howard comes along only once every 10 years," Saunders said Tuesday. "You can have good big men, but if you don't have guard play, it doesn't help you. Point guards keep you in games."

Saunders added that he and his staff see Wall as a pure point guard, perhaps one that could change the position.

"He might revolutionize the point guard position because of his athleticism, but he has an extremely intelligent mind-set as far as running a team," he said.

Pioneer Press

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Report: Wizards Ready To Dump Arenas, Will Consider Buyout

May 23, 2010 10:47 AM

Former Washington Times reporter John Mitchell, who writes for TheGrio.com, indicates the Wizards are committed to removing Gilbert Arenas from the roster before next season.

According to a source, the team will "definitely consider buying out" Arenas' contract if he cannot be traded.

The Wizards will select John Wall with the first overall pick and, according to two league sources with knowledge of the team's future plans, will do everything in their power to make sure that Wall is never in the same locker room as Arenas.  

One source with intimate knowledge of the team's plans says that Ernie Grunfeld does not want Arenas anywhere near Wall.

Grunfeld and Arenas used to share a strong relationship but they have barely spoken over the last two months.

TheGrio.com

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Wizards Have Received Some Interest In Arenas

May 23, 2010 10:47 AM

The Wizards have gotten some calls about point guard Gilbert Arenas, according to the New York Daily News.

However, Washington hasn't gotten good enough offer to consider dealing their biggest and most notorious star.

New York Daily News

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Leonsis Noncommittal About Changing Washington's Colors, Nickname

May 22, 2010 9:15 AM

Incoming Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was noncommittal on Friday when asked if he might change the team's color scheme or nickname.

The franchise has been known as the Wizards since the 1997-98 season when it was changed from the Bullets, which was viewed as insensitive due to the District of Columbia's violence issues.

Many fans have requested a return to the red, white and blue color scheme used when the team was known as the Bullets.

Leonsis helped move the NHL's Capitals back to their original colors back in 2007.

"I get lots of e-mails, and I see all the comments and quotes," he said. "I don't want to be someone who does [things] to make people like me or think I'm listening to them. And there's so much work to do, to figure it out. And that would be a part of everything.

"But it's not the first decision that we have to make. I probably will like red colors more than the teal blue that they have, but there's a lot that goes into it. And I intend to listen to people, but I also think Mr. Pollin made a personal decision, and I want to understand it, and I want to pay the appropriate respect that a decision like that would deserve."

He added that even if he wanted to, it would be impossible to make any changes for next season.

Washington Post

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Wizards Employee Posts Draft 'Plan' On Facebook

May 22, 2010 8:43 AM

A sales rep for the Wizards got carried away in a Facebook post that claimed the team will draft John Wall with the first overall pick next month.

Myron Goodman posted the following message Friday on a Facebook page for University of Kentucky alumni:

"I am a sales rep for the Washington Wizards. John Wall will be our choice as the [No. 1] overall pick in the June draft. If you want a great deal on tickets ... email me."

Wizards spokesman Scott Hall says it was "simply the case of an overzealous member of our sales staff acting on his own."

The post was taken down soon after it was put up.

Washington won the draft lottery this week and it is widely expected that Wall will be the top pick.

ESPN

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Leonsis: NHL In Better Financial Shape Than NBA

May 21, 2010 3:42 PM

Ted Leonsis, who is in the process of purchasing the Wizards, says that the NHL is in better financial standing than the NBA.

Leonsis is also the owner of the NHL's Washington Capitals.

He said Friday that a lot of NBA teams are losing "a lot of money."

Leonsis said the NHL is in a better position because it has a hard salary cap "that protects owners from taking stupid pills" -- the comment referred over-the-top free agent signings.

ESPN

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Wizards: No. 1 Pick Won't Affect Arenas

May 19, 2010 7:50 AM

Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said Tuesday night that winning the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft won't have any bearing on the future of Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas, who was suspended for most of the season by the league after bringing guns into Washington's locker room, has four years left on his contract.

"Gilbert is still with us. He's been down at our gym, working out and getting ready. The more good players you have, the better," Grunfeld said in a conference call after winning Tuesday night's draft lottery.

Yahoo! Sports

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Wizards Win 2010 NBA Draft Lottery; 76ers, Nets Round Out Top-3

May 18, 2020 12:00 PM

The 76ers and Wizards jumped into the top three of the 2010 NBA Draft order on Tuesday night.

Because of Philadelphia and Washington's good fortune, the Timberwolves and Kings slid down in the order to fourth and fifth, respectively.

Here is how the Lottery played out:

1. Washington Wizards

2. Philadelphia 76ers

3. New Jersey Nets

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

5. Sacramento Kings

6. Golden State Warriors

7. Detroit Pistons

8. Los Angeles Clippers

9. Utah Jazz

10. Indiana Pacers

11. New Orleans Hornets

12. Memphis Grizzlies

13. Toronto Raptors

14. Houston Rockets

Click here to read RealGM's Insta-Mock Draft.

Andrew Perna/RealGM

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Wizards Will Hold Onto First-Round Pick

May 18, 2010 8:10 AM

The Wizards used the fifth pick to trade for Mike Miller and Randy Foye last offseason, but they have no plans to move their lottery pick this year.

Washington has the fifth-best chance (10.3%) of landing the No. 1 overall pick at the NBA's Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.

"Absolutely, this year's pick is going to be with us for quite some time. It's one of the building blocks," general manager Ernie Grunfeld said.

"We're rebuilding. So obviously, we're going to go with more young players and players who want to be part of a winning situation, players who have upside going forward."

Washington Post

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Jamison 'Glad' Arenas Is Home

May 8, 2010 4:34 PM

Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison commented on the release of former teammate Gilbert Arenas from a halfway house on Friday after his team beat the Celtics in Game 3.

Arenas was released from a Montgomery County halfway house on Friday morning after serving a month stemming from his sentence for bringing guns into Washington's locker room.

"I'm glad it's over with," Jamison told the Washington Post. "I think this is the most important part. He can get to just playing basketball. It's unfortunate the way things happened. We always envisioned, what I'm going through, doing it together."

Jamison hated to see Arenas get involved in a situation that nearly put his career in jeopardy.

"He's a friend. A great teammate of mine that I've known, since he came into the league," the forward said.

"It's behind us. I know I've learned from it. I know he's learned from it. Now he can just enjoy time with his family and do the thing the thing that he loves the most and that's playing basketball. I've been praying for him since the incident happened and I just hope things go in the right direction and he's able to enjoy himself on the basketball court again."

Washington Post

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Arenas Released From Halfway House

ESPN