Around the Net:

Washington Post: Wizards, Jeffries Are at Crossroads

Monday’s edition of the Post reports that “the New York offer contains a couple of provisions that could make it more difficult for the Wizards to match, including an up-front payout of $6.5 million and a hefty trade kicker if Jeffries is traded.”

Thoughts?

Around The Net:

Jared Jeffries to the Knicks? Both the Washington Post and New York Times are reporting that the 6-11 swingman has signed an offer sheet worth the Knicks’ mid-level exception.

“We have not received an offer and if or when we do, we will have a week to explore all of our options to determine our course of action,” Wizards President of Basketball Ops Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement printed in the Post.

So…IF Jeffries did indeed sign an offer sheet with New York (valued at a reported $30M over 5 years), the question for you fans is simple: Should Washington match? However, before your post your comment, make sure to read his agent’s thoughts which were printed in the Times…

(Note: I’ll be having trouble receiving e-mail notifications remotely this weekend, but I’ll be logging on periodically. So if there’s a delay in getting comments posted, I apologize in advance.)

Around the Net:

Yesterday’s Sporting News features a story by Dave D’Alessandro about the winners and losers of the free agency season.

The Wizards, like many teams around the NBA, weren’t able to make a lot of moves in free agency due to salary cap restraints, and aren’t mentioned in the story. With one move made so far (Songaila), and the Jared Jeffries situation still unresolved, how do think this summer has been for the team so far? With two months to go til training camp, a lot can still happen in terms of player movement. What would you like to see happen? (This is a great opportunity for all you Devean George and Bonzi Wells fans to speak up…you know who you are…)

Around The Net:

All the focus around the NBA this week surrounds Team USA, who announced the 15 finalists competing for 12 spots on the World Championship Roster.

One article that caught my eye is by USA Today’s David DuPree, who compares this version of Team USA to THE Dream Team (that’s right, “THE”).

Today’s thought-provoking question: how many of you out there remember the ‘92 team and what is your favorite memory?

Team USA: 15-Man Roster Set…

USABasketball.com
“Players named as finalists include: : Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

The USA finalists will take a five-day break and will reconvene in Las Vegas on July 31 for the start of the second phase of the team’s domestic training. The USA will train July 31-Aug. 2 and meet Puerto Rico in the 2006 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge at the Thomas & Mack Center on Aug. 3.”

Once Marion went down, I think this was pretty much the roster everyone expected. What are your guys thoughts on the overall roster? USA Basketball and Jerry Colangelo’s plan for the 20+ roster is looking good now, with all the injuries etc.

A few of us here were talking and we said that if you took the players that won’t be attending, you’d have a team that could contend for a medal (Billups, Kobe, Odom, Pierce, Marion, Redd, Reddick, Ridnour, Morrison).

Do you think the absence of those players will significantly hurt the team?

EDIT: Here are some quotes from Gilbert and Antawn.