Tapscott Hopla

The Wizards announced today the hiring of Ed Tapscott as Director of Player Development/Programs and Dave Hopla as Assistant Coach/Player Development on Head Coach Eddie Jordan’s staff. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“Ed and Dave have an extensive coaching background and have proven to be very successful in working with and developing players throughout their careers,” Jordan said. “Ed will be instrumental in implementing different programs, which will be beneficial to our players both on and off the court. Dave excels in working with players in developing their all-around game. They both enjoy teaching the game of basketball and are great additions to a very well-rounded staff.”

Taylor Hall

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Donell Taylor and forward Mike Hall to a pair of qualifying offers. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Taylor (6-5, 193) has appeared in 98 career games (two starts) over two seasons with the Wizards. He has averaged 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 8.5 minutes per game as a professional. Taylor originally signed with the Wizards on August 16, 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of UAB.

Hall (6-8, 230), who originally signed with the Wizards on February 28, 2007, appeared in two games with Washington last season. Hall averaged 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game for Washington during five games in the 2007 NBA Summer League. He played collegiately at George Washington University.

Are you “Hibachi” enough? We saw Gilbert Arenas turn on the Hibachi during the season, now it’s your turn to show us your hibachi combined with some creative photography skills. The Wizards are holding a Hibachi Photo Contest now in search of the most creative Wizards fans. Take pictures of yourself, your family, or your friends in front of your hibachi, grill, or barbecue pit. Feel free to make these pictures as creative as you would like, it doesn’t hurt to show us your Wizards spirit, but just remember to have fun!

Here are a few Hibachi Photos submitted by our fans. As they can do it, you can do it. It’s just this simple, and you don’t have to be a photoshop artist to submit your photo. The grand prize winner will receive a signed Gilbert Arenas jersey!

HIBACHI PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY WIZARDS FANS

Sherman of Maugansville, MD

Jacob and Jonah of Chevy Chase, MD

Juan of Rockville, MD

Click on any image for a larger version.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has re-signed forward Andray Blatche. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Blatche (6-11, 248) averaged 3.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in 56 games last season. In 13 games started, he posted 6.9 points (on 50% shooting from the field), 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game. He also scored in double figures six times and had three games with 10 or more rebounds.

“We are encouraged with Andray’s development and we feel he has a very good upside,” Grunfeld said. “He stepped into the starting lineup on a number of occasions last season and did a solid job in filling in for the injured Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. He is a young and promising talent who has shown that he can be a solid contributor to our team.”

NOTE: This is my final post as Managing Editor for the Wizards website/blog as I pursue new career opportunities outside the NBA. I’d like to thank you all for supporting the team and our websites (particularly this blog) the past season(s). I look forward to running into you online as I make the transition from blog-master to blog-member. The blog will continue to run alive and well and in the coming months new people will be introduced as bloggers. In the meantime, Will (aka FantasticWiz) is going to take over blogging duties.

Best wishes to you all - Eric

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired a future first round draft pick from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to Juan Carlos Navarro.

“We’re pleased to acquire a first round pick, which gives us an additional asset,” said Grunfeld. “Our backcourt, led by Gilbert Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Antonio Daniels and our recent draft pick Nick Young, is deep and versatile. By trading the rights to Juan Carlos Navarro – a former second round pick of the Wizards – we have greater flexibility to build our team.”

Navarro was originally drafted by the Wizards with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft.