By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 28, 2008

When the Washington Wizards open the regular season tomorrow night against the New Jersey Nets, fans can expect to see a starting lineup of Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Etan Thomas.

What happens when Coach Eddie Jordan goes to his bench is anyone's guess. In fact, Jordan isn't sure either.

"I don't really know yet," Jordan said. "Sometimes the game dictates what you have to do, where you go and the rotation you have. I'm not really set on the sixth, seventh, eighth guy. There's nothing really set in stone."

Jordan has plenty of options with a group that includes forward-center Andray Blatche, rookie center JaVale McGee, guard Dee Brown, second-year players Nick Young, Dominic McGuire and Oleksiy Pecherov, and veterans Darius Songaila and Juan Dixon -- but none of those players particularly stood out during the preseason.

Young, who averaged 7.5 points per game as a rookie last season and will be counted on to provide scoring, figures to see action as a backup shooting guard while Songaila, Blatche and Dixon are deeply familiar with Jordan's system.

Brown is the team's only backup point guard and can give opponents a different look with his ability to push the ball offensively and provide full-court pressure defensively. McGuire has the physical tools to help as a defender and rebounder.

After Thomas, Jordan could turn to McGee, Blatche or Songaila at center. The 7-foot Pecherov is a three-point shooting threat who can potentially spread the floor and draw opposing big men away from the basket.

Jordan's job would be much easier had he seen better performances during the preseason. Dixon and Young were limited by injuries, and the others experienced ups and downs as the Wizards finished 2-5.

Following Friday's ugly loss to Cleveland in the preseason finale, Jordan said he could identify only eight players who are ready to perform at an acceptable level.

"If everyone was consistent during the preseason I would have known, but no one was consistent in every sense of the word," Jordan said. "We have to see. We have to see who is going to play well the first night. And if they do, they get to do it the next night and if they do it that night, they can do it the third night. If they don't do well, we'll see if somebody else can do it. That's how we're going to go."

Jordan experimented with different combinations throughout the preseason with McGuire, Blatche, Songaila, Pecherov, Blatche and McGee seeing action at multiple positions.

Brown, who was in a similar position as a reserve with the Utah Jazz during the 2006-07 season, understands the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity.

"You never know when your name is going to be called or how many minutes you're going to get so you have to stay ready to come in and provide something," Brown said.

The team's established players are just as curious as Jordan to see how roles will be defined.

"I think we have a lot of guys who can play but now it's about going out there and doing it in a real game situation," Jamison said. "It's going to be interesting to see who steps up and really shows that they can help us. It's a long season and we're going to need contributions from everyone at some point."

Wizards Notes: As expected, the team picked up the third-year contract options on Young and Pecherov. Had the team declined to pick up the option on either player prior to Friday's deadline, he would have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The decision commits the team to $1.71 million in salary for Young and $1.54 million for Pecherov next season. . . .

Injured guard Gilbert Arenas continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee. He said yesterday that he's making progress and remains confident that he will be able to return in December.

"Right now it's all about gaining strength in my leg," said Arenas, who was on the court giving McGee tips after practice yesterday. "I'm doing a lot of leg work and just getting it back to the point where I can be out there running again."