The Wizards surpassed almost everyone's expectations last season, finishing 45-37, making the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and winning a playoff series for the first time since 1982. Can Coach Eddie Jordan and his team build on that success and become a consistent winner? The Wizards have one week to pour themselves into basketball, establish the kind of chemistry that carried them through last season's ups and downs, and physically and mentally prepare themselves for the grueling seven-plus months that lie ahead.
Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and center Brendan Haywood will go into camp as starters. Coach Eddie Jordan pretty much knows what he has in role players such as Etan Thomas, Michael Ruffin and Calvin Booth. After that, things are wide open.
Hughes's Shoes: The potential starters at shooting guard include Antonio Daniels, a pesky defender and nice open-court player who averaged a career-high 11.2 points last season, and Jarvis Hayes, who suffered a severe knee injury after averaging a career-best 10.2 points in 22 starts last season. Caron Butler can also play some shooting guard, and don't be surprised if Jordan plays Chucky Atkins at the point from time to time so Arenas can work at shooting guard.
Butler's Role: Butler is intriguing because he can play shooting guard, small forward and even some power forward depending on the matchup. Butler likely will see most of his action at small forward, where his ability to knock down open jumpers and post up might provide some interesting mismatches. Hayes can also play the 3, as can Jared Jeffries and Jamison.
Backing Gilbert: Steve Blake's injuries forced Arenas to play a whopping 40.9 minutes per game last season, third in the NBA. Look for Arenas to get more rest because Jordan can turn to the veteran Atkins, who averaged 13.6 points while shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range with the Lakers last season.
Where: Siegel Center, on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Players report to camp tomorrow and the first practice is Tuesday. Practices are closed to the public.
Scrimmage: The Wizards will host an open scrimmage Saturday at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
Directions: Take Interstate 95 south/I-64 east (I-95 and I-64 merge) to Exit 76B for Belvidere Street. Turn left off exit ramp onto Leigh Street. Go to first traffic light, turn right onto Belvidere Street. At the third traffic light, turn right onto Broad Street. Siegel Center is on the right after the third traffic light.
What to Expect: Players will be split into two squads, which should offer some interesting basketball because several players will be battling for playing time as Jordan looks to define roles and set his playing rotation. This will be the first opportunity for fans to get an up-close look at Butler, Daniels, Atkins and Booth.
New Faces: Caron Butler, Antonio Daniels, Chucky Atkins, Calvin Booth and Andray Blatche are in. Larry Hughes, Kwame Brown, Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Anthony Peeler and Laron Profit are gone. Eddie Jordan and his coaches have to blend in the new players and make up for the loss of Hughes before the season opener Nov. 2 at Toronto.
Injuries: The Wizards overcame several injuries last season, and Antawn Jamison (knee), Jarvis Hayes (knee) and Etan Thomas (abdominal muscle) spent their offseasons getting back to strength. Blatche, a rookie, is recovering from a gunshot wound and is not expected to participate in camp. Jordan and his staff hope the team gets through the preseason relatively fresh and healthy, something that did not happen last fall.
Defense: The Wizards allowed more points (100.8 per game) than they scored last season (100.5 per game) and were shoved around on their way to getting swept by Miami in the second round of the playoffs. President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld believes he has added physical, tough-minded players in Butler, Daniels and Atkins. Jordan said he will place an emphasis on defensive fundamentals during camp.
Gilbertology: Gilbert Arenas made his first all-star team last season and at age 23, and there appears to be no ceiling for his game. But how will Arenas play without Hughes, his sidekick for two seasons? Is he ready to set the tone for his head coach by buying in on the defensive end? Stay tuned.
The Big Guy: Second-year center Peter John Ramos remains a fascinating but raw prospect. At 7 feet 3 and 290 pounds, Ramos has the potential to be a Shaq-stopping, lane-clogging, game-changing presence. Thing is, Ramos is only 20 years old and still developing fundamental skills as he enters his second NBA camp. Ramos struggled some during summer league play, and the Wizards would like to see some tangible signs of growth.
Saturday: Intrasquad scrimmage (free and open to the public) at VCU.
Oct. 10: Preseason opener at MCI Center against Larry Hughes and the Cavaliers.
Oct. 18: Wizards play a preseason game against Kwame Brown and the Lakers in Bakersfield, Calif.
Oct. 31: Roster must be set for opening day (12 active players and up to three inactive players).
Nov. 2: Season opener at Toronto.
Nov. 5: Home opener against Steve Francis and Orlando.
Nov. 30: Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and Portland make their lone visit to MCI Center.
Dec. 11: Wizards visit Miami for first game against Heat, which knocked the Wizards out of the playoffs last season.
Dec. 16: Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins make their only visit to Los Angeles to face the Lakers, their former team.
Dec. 26: Brown and the Lakers make their only trip to Washington.
Feb. 17-19: All-Star Weekend in Houston.
Feb. 23: Trading deadline, 3 p.m.
April 19: Regular season ends.
April 22: Playoffs begin.
