2008-09 Wizards Roster

[0] Gilbert Arenas, Guard
	Age (season): 26 (8th) Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 215 College: Arizona How acquired: Signed as a free agent in August 2003.	G: 13 PPG:19.4 APG: 5.1 FG%: 39.8	Strengths: When healthy, Arenas is one of the top scorers in the NBA. The range on his jump shot is nearly limitless, he is nearly unstoppable one-on-one and with the game on the line, few players are more clutch.	Weaknesses: Health. Arenas is expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season following a third surgical procedure on his left knee. He was limited to 13 games last season and missed the 2007 playoffs.
[1] Nick Young, Guard
	Age (season): 23 (2nd) Ht., Wt.: 6-6, 200 College: Southern California How acquired: Selected in first round (16th overall) in 2007 draft.	G: 75 PPG: 7.5 APG: 0.8 FG%: 43.9	Strengths: After Arenas, Young may be the team's best one-on-one scorer. He has tremendous leaping ability, which makes it difficult for opponents to alter his shot. When he heats up, he can put up points quickly.	Weaknesses: Defense remains a work in progress. As a rookie, Young was solid as an individual defender but struggled when forced to work around screens. He often got lost in the team defensive concept.
[2] DeShawn Stevenson, Guard
	Age (season): 27 (9th) Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 218 High School: Washington Union (Calif.) How acquired: Signed as free agent in August 2006.	G: 82 PPG: 11.2 RPG: 3.4 FG%: 38.6	Strengths: Durability and toughness. Has not missed a game in three seasons and enters year with second-longest active streak of games started (250). He is the team's best individual defender.	Weaknesses: After connecting on a career-best 46.1 percent of his shots in 2006-2007, Stevenson shot 38.6 percent last season.
[3] Caron Butler, Forward
	Age (season): 28 (7th) Ht., Wt.: 6-7, 228 College: Connecticut How acquired: Via trade with Lakers in August 2005.	PPG: 20.3 RPG: 6.7 APG: 4.9 FG%: 46.6	Strengths: All-around game. Was the only player in the league to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals last season. He added range to his jump shot last season and made 90.1 percent of his free throw attempts. Improved on-ball defender with excellent instincts for shooting passing lanes and getting steals. A co-captain along with Jamison, has steadily grown as a leader.	Weaknesses: Health. Assorted injuries limited Butler to 58 games last season and he missed the 2007 playoffs with a hand injury. Wizards need close to a full season out of the two-time all-star to stay in contention.
[4] Antawn Jamison, Forward
	Age (season): 32 (11th) Ht., Wt.: 6-9, 235 College: North Carolina How acquired: Via trade with Dallas in June 2004.	PPG: 21.4 RPG:10.2 FG%: 43.6 FT%: 76.0	Strengths: Durability, professionalism, leadership, production. Was one of five players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds last season and put up a career-high 44 double doubles. Unorthodox shot-maker who can step out and make three-pointers (33.9 percent last season). Along with Butler, serves as a co-captain and mentor to team's younger players.	Weaknesses: Because he is not bulky enough to handle many power forwards and not quick enough to stay with most top-flight small forwards, Jamison is a difficult defensive matchup. He is not a high-assist player (career 1.7 per-game average) and is better off when he mixes in drives and post-ups with perimeter jump shots.
[5] Dominic McGuire, Forward
	Age (season): 23 (2nd) Ht., Wt.: 6-9, 220 College: Fresno State How acquired: Selected in second round (47th overall) of 2007 draft.	G: 70 PPG: 1.3 RPG: 2.0 FG%: 37.9	Strengths: Has the tools - body size, quickness and competitive drive - to be a stud defensive small forward. In limited action as a rookie, flashed skills as a rebounder and weak-side shot-blocker.	Weaknesses: Offensive game remains a work in progress. Worked hard to develop a consistent midrange jumper over the summer and must do a better job of finishing when he gets to the rim.
[6] Antonio Daniels, Guard
	Age (season): 33 (12th) Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 205 College: Bowling Green How acquired: Signed as free agent in August 2005.	G: 71 PPG: 8.4 APG: 4.8 FG%: 45.9	Strengths: Wizards were 37-26 in games he started last season. Ranked fifth in the NBA in turnover-to-assist ratio (3.73:1). Knows where his teammates like to get the ball. A master at drawing fouls on drives to the basket. Durable.	Weaknesses: Not a consistent outside shooter (was 17 of 74 on three-point attempts last season) and struggles to stay in front of the league's younger, quicker point guards. Tends to dribble too much, which can stall the offensive flow.
[9] Darius Songaila, Forward
	Age (season): 30 (6th) Ht., Wt.: 6-9, 248 College: Wake Forest How acquired: Signed as free agent in July 2006.	G: 80 PPG: 6.2 RPG: 3.4 FG%: 45.8	Strengths: Solid all-around skills. Good shooter, excellent passer, sets good screens and understands team defensive concepts. Though a natural power forward, can also play center in certain situations.	Weaknesses: Not a big-time rebounder (3.4 per game last season) and often struggles to defend longer, more athletic big men.
[12] Juan Dixon, Guard
	Age (season): 30 (7th) Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 165 College: Maryland How acquired: Signed as a free agent Sept. 23.	G: 53 PPG: 5.0 APG: 1.8 FG%: 41.1	Strengths: Streaky shooter who can score in bunches when hot. Has great understanding of Coach Jordan's system so transition should be smooth. Competitive. Not afraid to take big shots.	Weaknesses: Undersized for an NBA shooting guard, so opponents will try to take advantage by posting him up. Has reputation as a shooter but has connected on only 34.1 percent of career three-point attempts.
[14] Oleksiy Pecherov, Forward/Center
	Age (season): 22 (2nd) Ht., Wt.: 7-0, 234 Country: Ukraine How acquired: Selected in first round (18th overall) of 2006 draft.	G: 35 PPG: 3.6 RPG: 1.9 FG%: 35.2	Strengths: Good rebounder and a threat at the three-point line who can draw opposing big men away from the basket. Has a strong work ethic.	Weaknesses: Has been slowed by foot and ankle injuries the last two seasons. Still has not developed a post-up game offensively.
[17] Dee Brown, Guard
	Age (season): 24 (2nd) Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 185 College: Illinois How acquired: Signed as free agent July 10.	(Played in Turkey last season.)	Strengths: Can really push the ball in transition and pressure opposing point guards defensively. Competitive.	Weaknesses: Must prove that he can consistently hit open jump shots. (Made 32.7 percent of his shots during a 49-game stint with Utah in 2006-2007).
[32] Andray Blatche, Forward-Center
	Age (season): 22 (4th) Ht., Wt.: 6-11, 248 High School: South Kent Prep (Conn.) How acquired: Selected in second round (49th overall) of 2005 draft.	G: 82 PPG: 7.5 RPG: 5.2 FG%: .47.4	Strengths: Versatility. Unusual combination of size, quickness and ball-handling ability allows Blatche to play anywhere from small forward to center. Is an excellent rebounder/shot blocker.	Weaknesses: Work habits, inconsistency of effort and decision-making. Hasn't developed a steady jump shot. Tends to float through games and often resorts to finesse moves near the basket instead of going up strong.
[36] Etan Thomas, Center
	Age (season): 30 (7th) Ht., Wt.: 6-10, 260 College: Syracuse How acquired: Via trade with Dallas in February 2001.	(Did not play last season.)	Strengths: Powerful inside presence at both ends of the court. Good rebounder and shot-blocker and solid one-on-one defender. Doesn't take bad shots (51.7 percent career shooter). Always plays hard.	Weaknesses: Coming back from missing an entire season. Career 59.8 percent free throw shooter. Not a threat outside of four or five feet and sometimes gets locked in on own man defensively and doesn't rotate to help.
[33] Brendan Haywood, Center
	Age (season): 28 (8th) Ht., Wt.: 7-0, 263 College: North Carolina How acquired: Via trade with Orlando in August 2001.	G: 80 PPG: 10.6 RPG: 7.2 FG%: 52.8 FT%: 73.5	Strengths: Averaged career highs in several categories including scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounding, free-throw percentage and minutes per game last season. Was anchor to improved defense. Hard worker.	Weaknesses: Expected to miss four to six months following right wrist surgery. Not a major offensive weapon.
[36] JaVale McGee, Center
	Age (season): 20 (rookie) Ht., Wt.: 7-0, 237 College: Nevada How acquired: Selected in first round (18th overall) in 2008 draft.	(Rookie.)	Strengths: Off-the-charts athleticism for a player with his size and length. Natural shot-blocker (2.8 per game at Nevada last season). Showed no signs of being intimidated during the preseason.	Weaknesses: Still growing into his body. Played only two years of college basketball. Tends to get pushed around by bigger, stronger opponents. Sometimes gets out of position defensively.

Ivan Carter, The Washington Post