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| Tuesday, September 26 Wiz are bad, with little hope of improvement ESPN.com |
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Oh, how different the user comments can be when it comes to a pair of franchises that won 22 and 29 games respectively last season. The Vancouver Grizzlies won 22 games last year, yet if you read the user comments about them the fans are giddy about the upcoming season and can't wait to get going. The Wiz, winners of 29 games, are a different story. Fans can't wait to run Juwan Howard and Rod Strickland out of town for anything.
Anyway, here are some of the better e-mails we received on the Wizards and their Team Offseason Spotlight. Enjoy, and check out our spotlight index page to read our breakdowns and your user comments on each NBA team.
Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond? Rasheed Wallace for Rod Strickland? A young Ben Wallace for Isaac Austin? And people wonder why the Wizards are terrible. Wes Unseld hasn't had a clue as GM. Good citizens are one thing, but get good citizens that can dunk and play defense. The terrible decisions made by Unseld will continue to paralyze this team. Glad I'm not a fan. Lyman Reid Columbia, Md.
I have been a Bullets (Wizards) sufferer for many years. I agree a great deal with your comments on the Wizard problems. I do not look at Jordan as being a savior, I look at him as taking a job that was a no-lose scenario. If they improve it will be because of him. If they lose it will be because he has a truly bad team. Washington's problems start with the front office. Wes Unseld should have resigned or been fired many years ago. They should have let Miami get "taken" when they went after Mr. Howard. And they should have terminated Howard instead of Webber. I believe you are being kind when you say they will improve. They will get worse before they get better. I project less wins than last year (27) with a number of them being lucky. I think Strickland's motivation is the biggest key to how many they can win because he is the best player they have, when motivated. Strickland, Richmond, Hamilton and White are their best hope and that scares no one. Mike Hall Germantown, Md.
I am embarrassed to say, but I am a season ticket holder for the Washington Wizards. The reason I own these tickets is I am one of those people who is a basketball junkie. I love the chance to see the other NBA teams come and practice against the Wizards. Seriously, there is nothing you can say positive when going down this roster. Start with Strickland and Howard, absolutely no heart or pride. Michael Smith -- no ability. So he grabs two or three rebounds, he is no threat to score and his defense is suspect. Richmond's deteriorating skills have tarnished his image of being a threat on the offensive end of the floor. White has limited skills but he might be the one player on this team still playing with heart. And he does have something to prove. The sixth man, Richard Hamilton, has a long way to go. He is a black hole on the floor. His inability to pass and lack of defense erases any of his positives on the offensive side of the floor. Start feeding him sandwiches before someone breaks him on the way to the hoop. The Wizards do not win 25 games this year. I get to watch 41 scrimmages again this season. Paul Esposito Vienna, Va.
I think that the Wizards are highly underrated and for them to get on track, I think that Michael Jordan needs to personally sit down with his "stars" and challenge them to prove the media and the fans of Washington wrong. In some way, they need to be motivated and if challenging them fails, there is always the possibility of benching them for lack of effort and desire. Scott Kyper Huntingdon, Pa.
Good analysis. I've been an avid Wiz/Bullets fan all of my 27 years on this earth. So, I am often critical of some reviews of the Wizards talent. I believe that this team has enough talent to win 40-plus games, but you said it best. What this team lacks is motivation (which I hope the new commitment in the front office provides). I have heard rumors of Rod Strickland, Juwan Howard and Richard Hamilton working like beasts this offseason. If this is true, I think it's likely we will be competitive this season. Cedric Washington, D.C.
I am almost embarrassed to say that I am a life-long Wizards/Bullets fan. My opinion on the team, is that they are stuck in the pit of mediocrity. This is not the place to be, in fact it is very frustrating for the fans (take my word for it).
Since their lone championship in '78, most years the Wiz have been in that unfortunate position of either one and out in the playoffs or just barely missing getting in the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, they have stunk over the past few years due to a few bad deals, but what else could you expect. They traded multiple first-round draft choices for Chris Webber, then traded him away for much less, because he had a bad attitude (did anyone notice how Latrell Sprewell's Knicks went to the Finals two years ago?). They had Rasheed Wallace, and traded him for a few guys who are no longer in the league. When they did have draft choices in the first round, they chose the likes of Calbert Cheaney, Tom Gugliotta and Richard Hamilton. While the ballots are still out on Hamilton, Calbert stunk, and Googs was traded. Ugh, the horror of living in Washington and loving basketball. At least we have the Terps and Hoyas, right??
Wes Unseld was a great player, but the moves he's made in bungling the Howard negotiations and having to sign him to a huge overvalued deal, trading Rasheed Wallace, trading Chris Webber, signing old past-their-prime players like Strickland and Richmond to huge deals, and signing players like Tracy Murray and Lorenzo Williams to seven-year deals have crippled the franchise. If MJ can turn this around in three years, he should be NBA executive of the decade. Wally Frederick, Md.
For the first time in this Spotlight Series, I find myself wholeheartedly disagreeing with Eric Karabell. When he says the players the Wiz got from Vancouver for Ike Austin are better than the guys they gave up to get him originally, I think he really undervalues Ben Wallace. Wallace was just coming into his own as a monster rebounder and shot-blocker who could intimidate opponents with his physical play when the Wiz shipped him. I think Wallace also was a big part of Orlando's surprising success last season, and that made me rue even more his departure in exchange for the passive Austin. At least thank goodness that Jordan (who WILL turn things around in the long run) was able to unload lazy Ike. Now if we could only start anew without the weighty contracts of the disinterested Strickland and Howard and the past-his-prime Richmond.
Unfortunately, I think Eric's predictions are right on for the Wiz. It's amazing they're so bad, but it's hard to imagine they're gonna get better in a hurry.
I suffered through two years of Wizards basketball and decided enough is enough. I relocated to San Francisco this summer. At least the Warriors are a young team that can improve. Washington needs to unload Rod Strickland ASAP. Chris Whitney isn't the answer, but I'd rather have a guy who prefers hustle to doughnuts as my starting point guard. Wiz fans miss C-Webb big-time. He was adored for his enthusiasm, a trait sorely lacking on the current club. The only enthusiasm that's been generated of late in D.C. is the Ike Austin trade. Thank you, Michael!
I still think Juwan Howard can be a 16-point, 8-rebound guy, Jahidi White will prove to be more than a passable center, and Richard Hamilton will light it up in an expanded role this year. But as MJ said at his press conference when he bought the club, "Everyone is expendable." He couldn't have been more right.
As much as I hate Jordan, I'll give him credit for at least getting some value for Ike Austin. But really, is there any East team with less talent. At least Chicago and Atlanta had good drafts and are something to look forward to, but the Bullets/Wizards are by far the league's worst team now that the Clippers have talent. Even a team such as Cleveland got rid of a big waste in Shawn Kemp, but the Knicks, who are desperate for a top point guard and power forward, wouldn't trade for Juwan or Rod. Rob Berntsen Rockaway, N.J.
First of all, the Wizards should move Howard over to center. If he's going to be overpaid for being the biggest loser in the NBA, at least he should take a beating for it. That would move White over to power forward where he should be able to do some damage. Dennis Scott should start at small forward, Richmond at the two guard, and Whitney at the point. Face it, the Wiz aren't making the playoffs this year, but they could at least make a statement and try for the lottery. Strickland, big salary or no, does not deserve to start. The point man is the leader and, in that regard, I'll take Whitney over Strickland any day. They need to make sure Hamilton gets a lot of playing time as well. Look at Orlando last year, no great players but excellent team chemistry. And if Howard complains too much about how his delicate frame can't handle the paint, then just tell him and Strickland to skip the games as well as practice. And good riddance! Jeffrey Fedd Falls Church, Va.
Lets see ... If I don't perform at my job, not to mention not show up, I get fired. I think that these underachieving, overpaid, thankless, the world-owes-me-something players need to start producing or get fired like the rest of America. Why don't the owners insist on contracts that will ensure this? If all of the owners did it it would be nice. Vincent Alvaro Somers, Ct.
First of all, I know basketball cannot be played in wing tips and a three-piece suit, but from MJ's standpoint, it can. Being the contender he is, he accepts nothing less than 110 percent from anyone. That includes people from the Wizards' front office down to the players. If you think that MJ is going to tolerate the subpar play by the Wizards, think again. I say trade Strickland and one other expendable player to the Knicks for Charlie Ward, someone who is disciplined, experienced, and knows how to lead a team. Ward may not be the most talented, but he gets the job done, and I guarantee he won't give less than 110 percent. On paper it does not sound like a smart move, but it counts on the floor. As for the rest of the team, I think since MJ is there for training camp, the tone will be set early on. Get rid of Strick and the rest will fall into place, take my word for it. Demetrios M. Rentz San Diego, Calif.
I really think that the Wizards have the right talent to win games, the problem is they have players who lack the drive and determination to want to win. When MJ played he would play when he was sick because he loved the game. He never let the team down or the coach; that wasn't his style. He can get the talent and work with them, but he'll never be able to give them his desire. They have to find it on their own. My point is people want to put this on MJ's head, but he is not the coach. If MJ was the coach then it might be a different story. He then could have more of an impact on the players. If MJ has anything to teach these guys it should be respect for the game and all that it stands for. Donnie Cunningham New Albany, Ind.
People need to get over this: The fact that MJ was such an incredible player doesn't make him good at a front office position. After all, he's not God, and he is doing nothing to get this troubled franchise back in the right direction. The Wiz are loaded with overpaid underachievers, and if it was me running the team, I would give those players away. That's what Washington needs to do, they won't win anything with Richmond, Strickland or Howard in the lineup, so why not just get rid of them and try to start over? This team needs to search for young talent. I don't care what people say, but MJ is not the right man to turn the fate of this franchise around. Javier O. Sao Paulo, Brazil
My condolences to Michael Jordan. Sara Katy, Texas
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