This morning Wizards Dancers Tara and Myra joined the “Sports Junkies” to promote the 2007-08 Wizards Dance Team Auditions coming up this weekend.

BDK from the Junkies learns what it takes to audition for the Washington Wizards Dance Team!

Ed Note: Kids - I’m officially about to get on the jet plane, but I do know when I’ll be back again (early August). In the meantime, everyone’s favorite Wizards blog is in good hands with Will Fan (FantasticWiz), our trusty and extremely talented assistant editor (he’s the one that creates a good portion of all the graphics you see on our website). Be good and try not to give him too much of a headache.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced Monday that the team has re-signed guard DeShawn Stevenson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

In his first season with Washington, Stevenson averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and a career-high 2.7 assists in 82 games played. He also registered career-highs in field goal percentage (.461) and three-point field goal percentage (.404), and made a career-best 74 three-pointers.

As the only Wizards player to have started all 82 regular season games in 2006-07, Stevenson extended his streak to 168 consecutive game started; the third-longest active streak in the NBA behind only San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen and Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS PRESIDENT ERNIE GRUNFELD
On re-signing DeShawn Stevenson:
“We really wanted to keep this team together. DeShawn is one of our starters and an important part of our team. We plan to have a very successful year with him as our starting shooting guard.”

On Stevenson’s importance to the Wizards:
“We felt that last year when our season was going very well, he was a big part of that. He is a tough, hard-nosed competitor; he gets along well with his teammates and is a great asset to the team.”

On Stevenson’s role with the Wizards last season:
“I think his toughness and his professionalism were outstanding. He never took a day off and he competed every day, not only in games, but also in practice situations. He accepted the role that the coaching staff had for him, and he never complained about anything, and the only thing that he was interested in was winning.”

HEAD COACH EDDIE JORDAN
On Stevenson re-signing with the Wizards:
“We are all very happy; he is certainly one of the most coachable players I have ever been involved with. He practices every day, plays every game and he helps as many of his teammates as he can.”

On bringing back last year’s starting five players:
“It will be beneficial for our starting five to be familiar with our offense. DeShawn brings a lot of different things to our team and is a great complement to Gilbert (Arenas).”

GUARD DESHAWN STEVENSON
On re-signing with the Wizards:
“I think I made a good decision. I am happy to be back and I think Washington is a good fit for me. I really wanted to stay here because I believe we have a strong starting five, I have great teammates, and this was an easy choice.”

On where he is now compared to last year:
“I did not get the contract I wanted last year and it was tough. I kept my head up and kept playing and it has all worked out. Eddie Jordan gave me a chance to come here and play the way I play, and Ernie did a great job in giving me the opportunity to join the Wizards. Everything we talked about happened, and I had a great year as a part of this team.”

Wizards TV Analyst Glenn Consor give his thoughts on which Wizards players caught his eye at NBA Summer League 2007

Dominic McGuire:
NBATV announcers stated he is the “steal” of the 2007 Draft at 47. Too early to make that claim however; Where do I begin? Rare combination of above the rim athleticism and feel for the game.

Can create off the dribble, get his own, and get to the rim. Reads opportunities and executes. Defender who can guard the 1,2, and 3. Decent range, a combination of Loul Deng, Scottie Pippen and Caron, in style of play. Will contribute ASAP. Tremendous pick.

Nick Young:
A flat out prolific scorer, didn’t get up many 3 pointers, but he can shoot it. A master at attacking angles and getting to the rim and the mid range game. Incredible first step, like Rip Hamilton. Shot selection will improve with time like all pure scorers.

Love his passion, and will need to harness his emotions, not to react on every play and sequence, it’s a long season. Has the physical tools to be a great defender, lateral foot speed, quickness, long arms, anticipation skills, and desire. Impressive ball handling skills, with the ability to go by defenders with a quick cross-over and stop and go game. Great pick.

Olesksiy Pecherov:
Will need to make the quick adjustment to the speed and athleticism of the NBA. Great range and quick release in the catch and shoot game. Will extend defenses and play a major role in the pick-and-pop game.

Will need to add upper body strength, some low post moves, to become a complete player. Has a nice feel for the offensive glass and works hard. I love his upside, and most importantly, appears very coachable. Great feel.

Mike Hall:
Love his moxie and toughness, much improved range and outside shooting from GW days, a position rebounder, old school, better defensive rebounder, no question in my mind he belongs in the NBA, somewhere. Will make a team and contribute off the bench.

Aaron Miles:
Plays within himself, showed he can stick the 15′ pull up jumper. Really understands his role as a set up guy, sees the floor and will make the extra pass, understands offensive schemes, and can get to the rim.

Greatest asset is his on-ball defense, can be a pest, recovers well off screens. Traditional point guard. Belongs in the league as a backup 10 mpg point.

Glenn Consor has been an NBA/Wizards analyst for 17 years and has served as an NCAA College Basketball analyst for Westwood One and SportsTalk 980 for 10 years. He has also served as an analyst for NBATV for the past four years. Consor, a four year starter at point guard for Rick Pitino’s Boston University teams in the late ’70s, played professional hoops for Maccabi Haifa (81-82) of the European League.

By Wizards PR Director Zack Bolno

Wizards forward Mike Hall made the most of his starting opportunity.

Inserted as a starter for the injured Oleksiy Pecherov, Hall connected on his first six shots and finished with 17 points in Washington’s 79-67 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.

Fourteen of Hall’s 17 points came in the second quarter as the Wizards overcame an 11-point deficit and outscored the Bucks 30-11 to build a 10-point halftime lead.

“We played hard the entire summer league and lost some tough games, but it was nice to end it on a positive note with a victory,” said Hall.

Milwaukee cut the deficit to 55-50 late in the third quarter, but J.R. Pinnock drilled a three-pointer to build the lead to eight.

Rookie forward Dominic McGuire, the Wizards’ 2007 second-round pick out of Fresno State, finished with a game-high and summer-league best 18 points. Guard Aaron Miles added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.

Washington totaled a summer league-high in points (79) and field goal percentage (48.3) against
Milwaukee (2-3).

The Wizards won consecutive games to finish 2-3 in the 2007 NBA Summer League.

NOTES

Wizards forward Oleksiy Pecherov (left Achilles strain) was a late scratch against Milwaukee. Pecherov lead the summer league team in both scoring (15.2) and rebounds (8.8) per game, and connected on 8-of-15 three-point field goal attempts (53.3%).

Washington’s starting lineup of Miles, Nick Young, McGuire, Hall and Kyle Visser marked the third different starting lineup in five summer league games.

Hall connected on 7-of-11 field goal attempts for a summer-league best 17 points.

Washington’s 44 points in the first half marked the most in any half of its five summer league games.

The Wizards outscored the Bucks 30-13 in the second half.

Miles had a summer-league best 12 points and added three assists and did not have a turnover against the Bucks. In 25.8 minutes per game (5 games), he totaled just five turnovers.