Comment from Phemy
Time April 16, 2009 at 9:04 AM

Thanks to you guys! The blogcast is really one of the main reason I get up at night and watch/listen to the game. It’s just something different… you don’t sit infront of your pc at night all for yourself, but can talk with other fans and get great inside information from you guys. THANKS!

Great Game last night by Tuff Juice… and Javale, wow. I really love that kid, let’s hope he stays with us for a long time and evolves into the player we all expect him to become!

What a tough season, but well… “you have to taste bitter before sweet” might fit here. Man I’m excited for the next season!

Greetz from Germany to y’all!
later

Comment from vitality08
Time April 16, 2009 at 10:19 AM

So what’s next for the guys? Are they officially on vacation? Will they be there for the draft workouts? Will the young guys automatically be on the summer league team?

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 16, 2009 at 12:12 PM

vitality, from what it sounds like Nick and JaVale will be on the summer league team or at least Nick will be in for workouts with the team. (this is off what they said today, this can change)

The guys are done today, some might stick around for a week or two and there is a plan for a lot of them to get back in teh gym in DC in a few weeks (usually its recommended to take a few weeks off after the season)

Im going through all the interviews today and I’ll let you know more later today.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 16, 2009 at 1:47 PM

Any word on when the announcement of Flip’s hiring will be?

Comment from Aj
Time April 16, 2009 at 3:24 PM

I know the draft is in June, but does anyone know when the draft lottery is?

Comment from gbkdc
Time April 16, 2009 at 3:38 PM

Go Pistons

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 16, 2009 at 3:59 PM

AJ the lottery is May 19th.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM

That’ll be a big day in Wizland!! There is an enormous difference between the #1 spot and any other this year — at least that’s how it looks right now.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 16, 2009 at 4:15 PM

video interviews are now up. You can watch them above.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 16, 2009 at 4:41 PM

The exit interviews were interesting. Gilbert will be working hard; you can count on that.

I noticed that JaVale, being a rookie, doesn’t rate a media exit interview! It’ll be interesting to see how he develops over the summer. He is still a kid, and Chenierfan had it right that he isn’t going to mature in a matter of months. He can get stronger, but he isn’t going to gain a whole bunch of weight over the Summer.

I hope we get Flip inked pronto, and then JaVaris Crittenton moves in with him!! We want him to keep improving the way he has.

Ideally, I’d like to see us make a trade this Summer in which two or three guys go, and only one comes back. How that can happen, I don’t know. Clearly we can’t trade Mike and Etan, because we need their expiring contracts so that we have $$ to re-sign Brendan and Dominic. It’s a tough job being an NBA GM.

Comment from neal
Time April 16, 2009 at 7:27 PM

Tom, are you coming to the party Millie Mill is throwing at ESPN Zone on draft night (6/25)? Open bar. Millie is paying.

Comment from neal
Time April 16, 2009 at 8:09 PM

Here are the year-end stats.

FG%
Songaila 53.2
Haywood (career) 52.7
Thomas (career) 51.6
McGee 49.4
Blatche 47.1
Jamison 46.8
Crittenton 46.0
Butler 44.9
Young 44.4
McGuire 43.2
Arenas (career) 42.7
Stevenson (career) 41.8
Pecherov 38.6
James 38.3

What’s notable is Songaila’s %, considering all the “jump” (he really doesn’t jump) shots included.

3 pt. %
James 37.5
Arenas (career) 35.8
Jamison 35.1
Stevenson (career) 34.5
Young 34.1
Dixon 33.3
Pecherov 32.6
Butler 30.2

This area has to improve. It’s an important part of the NBA game. Arenas coming back should help. Young needs to get back to the 40% of a year ago. Songaila should be able to extend his range. Butler’s career average is 31.6. He’s too good a shooter for that record. Can Hopla help him with these?

FT%
Songaila 88.9
Dixon 87.2
Butler 85.7
Young 85.0
James 82.9
Pecherov 82.8
Arenas (career) 80.9
Jamison 75.4
McGuire 72.5
Blatche 70.4
Stevenson (career) 70.0
McGee 66.0
Haywood (career) 61.9
Thomas 60.0
Crittenton 57.6

Hopla surely can help here. Arenas, Jamison and Crittenton surely can do better, and they figure to be shooting a lot of them.

Reb per 48 min.
Pecherov 13.2
Thomas (career) 13.1
McGee 12.3
Haywood (career) 11.9
Jamison 11.2
Blatche 10.6
McGuire 9.9
Butler 7.7
Songaila 7.0
Crittenton 7.0
Arenas 5.4
Stevenson 4.7
James (career) 3.9
Young 3.9
Dixon 3.8

Much room for improvement by the whole team.

Assists per 48 min.
Dixon 8.8
Arenas (career) 7.1
Stevenson 6.1
Butler 5.6
James 5.5
Blatche 3.2
Crittenton 3.1
Young 3.0
Jamison 2.5
Songaila 2.4
McGuire 2.2
Haywood (career) 1.2
McGee .3
Pecherov .0

Much room for improvement by the whole team. I’m a little surprised at the figures for Crittenton, Songaila and McGuire. Crittenton is a PG and Songaila and McGuire are excellent passers. Saunders’s offensive system will undoubtedly improve this situation.

Steals per 48 min.
Arenas (career) 2.3
Dixon 2.1
Butler 2.0
Songaila 1.9
Blatche 1.6
Crittenton 1.6
Jamison 1.5
McGuire 1.5
McGee 1.3
Stevenson (career) 1.2
Pecherov 1.1
Young 1.1
James 1.1
Haywood (career) .8
Thomas (career) .8

I’m a little surprised Songaila has done well at this. Crittenton, Stevenson and Young can do better.

Turnovers per 48 min.
Arenas (career) 4.3
Dixon 4.2
Butler 3.9
Crittenton 3.4
Blatche 3.3
James 2.7
Thomas 2.6
McGee 2.6
Young 2.4
Stevenson 2.4
Songaila 2.3
Haywood (career) 2.3
McGuire 2.1
Jamison 1.9
Pecherov 1.7

Arenas must do better. Blatche has improved but he, Thomas and McGee can do better.

Personal fouls per 48 min.
McGee 6.6
Songaila 6.3
Pecherov 6.1
Blatche 6.0
Thomas (career) 5.9
Haywood (career) 5.5
Dixon 4.4
Crittenton 4.1
Arenas (career) 4.1
Young 3.6
McGuire 3.5
Jamison 3.4
James 3.2
Butler 3.0
Stevenson 2.9

McGee’s figure will surely go down with experience. Blatche has greatly improved but he Songaila and Thomas should do better. It’s to McGuire’s credit that he doesn’t foul more, given the close D he usually plays.

I’ve learned a lot doing this. I hope it’s interesting for some of you also.

Comment from GlingGling
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:06 AM

neal, it would be good to include MPG and games played for each player.

Am I correct in thinking the Wizards finished with the second worst record in the league? Although we have the same W/L as the Clippers and we split the season head-to-head we have the worse division record (1-15 vs 2-14) which is the next tie break criteria. Anyone want to confirm this for me?

Comment from GlingGling
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM

Tom, the best way for JaVale to mature is get him away from his mom. Did you see that interview they did together (Pam interviewing JaVale)? Her unhealthy attachment to him is hurting his maturity at this point in his life.

Comment from GlingGling
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:14 AM

Ohh hell I just read on bulletsforever.com that we split the balls with clippers. We each get 177.5 balls.

Comment from eltacoman
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:26 AM

We need to bring in Patric Ewing to be our big man coach
think of the good it would do for Mcgee…he could turn him into a monster like he did with Howard … Patric Ewing could help Blatch too Pesh too and Hopfully Blake Griffin too
……
assistant coaches Sam Cassel and Patric Ewing .. would be very good for our young team

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 6:55 AM

Neal GOT JOKES!! I’m not paying for everyone.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at ESPN zone on Draft night. I will set everything up but, no open bar. You buy your own food and drinks. I would like to see you guys but, not that much.

The ESPN zone does have free wireless internet access. So if you want to bring a laptop, so you can blog while you are there. So far I see that gbkdc, Bridge, jeffmalone1990, aznzero, and neal, are interested.

Like I said in one of my previous post if we don’t get the first pick it will be real interesting to see who we get and what we do with the second round pick because we only have room for one more person .

This is not sponsored by the Washington Wizards. Hopefully we can get more and have a real good turn out.

Comment from neal
Time April 17, 2009 at 8:37 AM

Just seeing if I could get a rise out of you millie.

Comment from Bridge
Time April 17, 2009 at 8:58 AM

I’m not really interested; I just encouraged to go on with the planning and stuff. Not tryna be mean, but why would I celebrate something that’s not really important to me (the draft), and why would I allow such $ to come out of my pocket…Sorry but I’m pretty thrifty; not “thrifty” as far as: stingy, tight and/or mean – but “thrifty” as far as: prudent, frugal, and cheap. I’ve got love for you guys, but I just can’t see myself traveling from here to there just for that lol. I really hope that everyone has fun though! Mill is gonna become “Mill the planner” real soon …

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 9:34 AM

I don’t know about that Bridge.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time April 17, 2009 at 9:36 AM

When all is said and done. My top 6 (Wiz can’t drop below this):
1. Blake Griffin- No Brainer
drop off
2. Hasheem Thabeet- 7’3″ don’t grow on trees
Big drop off
3. Tyreke Evans- He is going to start flying up the charts. When all is said and done he will be labeled “a can’t miss.”
4. Jordan Hill- Chris Bosh type. If he is the real deal after work outs then move him up to #3.
5. Brandon Jennings- the best of the PG’s.
6. The FIELD- The worst spot to be in come draft day.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 9:46 AM

jmpalomo,

What about Ricky Rubio?

I think Blair will move up to the top six. Small body big heart.

Thabeet is a big body with no heart.

Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM

Don’t blame it on the sun shine.
Don’t blame it on the moon light.
Don’t blame it on the good times.
Blame it on the Boogie!
Spring fever is definitely in the air and with 32 day left
to see if we get the #1 draft this year has me smiling from ear to ear. Where is the count down clock we fans deserve the royal treatment for this announcement!I thought all the exit interviews were candid and everyone agreed that 2/3weeks off is all thats needed to vacation. Everyone then needs to get back into boileroom/gym to redefine there games /roles! What’s the time table for the Coach Saunders and his regime to be officially announced to the most hungriest and supportive fan base in America! I know it’s early but whats the schedule for Summer League this year in Las Vegas and who will participate? The vets need to announce there schedule for there summer camps and if any special guests will attend!. This summer wil be fast and furious for sure!

Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:33 PM

Millie Mill

Pencil me in the ESPN ZONE DRAFT night party.
I think its going to be very popular and a unbelievable experience. First rounds on me! I will definitely bring my laptop!

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Cool AUNDRA I got you down.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Who do you think should repersent the Wizards on May 19 (lottery night) ??

Flip Saunders

Erine Grunfeild

Gilbert Areans

other

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:00 PM

I vote for Gilbert to repersent us. Because he is the face of the organization and it will show that we are back and ready to go.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:15 PM

as soon as we hear who is representing the team i will let you know.

Comment from neal
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:18 PM

I disagree millie – I think it sends the wrong message. I don’t think a player should speak for the team. Some players exert too much control in this league. Such as Arenas telling management that if they don’t sign Jamison he’s going elsewhere. It’s not in the best interests of the team for players to have power like that. Grunfeld has the authority. Neither the players nor the coaches should be exerting undue pressure on him.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:34 PM

Gilbert won’t be making the pick. Just repersenting the team, that’s all. He won’t have any control over who gets picked. Brandon Roy repersented Portland when they got Greg Oden.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:35 PM

news regarding the lottery tiebreaker is above, we beat the clippers!

Comment from millie mill
Time April 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Don’t forget we have draft rights to this guy. Numbers don’t look too bad. Could be used in a trade.

height-6-10
weight- 230
age-24
Name-Veremeenko, Vladzimir
Games-13
min-31.4
Field goal %-62.7%
3-pointers% -36.8%
Free throw%- 78.0%

Rebounds
off 1.7
def 6.4
tot 8.1

ast 1.8
Personel fouls 3.1
steals 0.8
blocks 1.2
points 11.8

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 17, 2009 at 3:43 PM

jmpalomo — good list of draft possibilities. Grifffin is head and shoulders beyond everyone else on that list. Like you, I’m not that high on Hasheem Thabeet, though it’s true that you can’t coach enormous!

Tyreke Evans looks like a very similar player to Javaris. Terrific size for the point, great quickness and strength. He seems by description (I’ve never seen him) to be much more ball-dominant and more of a shooter. It’s a question whether we need another guy like him.

Ricky Rubio — he is clearly going to stay in Europe for a while, and that scares me. We have salary problems, and if we blow this choice on a guy who may not even play in the league — just to save dollars — I will be pretty upset.

Brandon Jennings — no thanks.

I agree that Dejuan Blair may well move up the board in the coming weeks.