Andrew Bogut had surgery on his right hand on Tuesday and will need six weeks before he can fully begin rehab.
Bogut has kept up good spirits throughout this unfortunate ordeal. He wrote that Amare Stoudemire isn’t to blame, and added, “I will bounce back from this! Please keep supporting us, its a team game! Go Bucks!” He should be healthy and rested by the time the 2010-11 season rolls around.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Cleveland: LeBron James is dealing with a sore left elbow and other minor ailments, and has made it clear that he wants some rest in the next five games. The Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched the league’s best record (and home court throughout the playoffs), so there is no reason to push any of the starters.

Dallas: Jason Kidd confirmed that he won’t play in the World Championships, but he plans to be “working with the coaching staff and hanging out with Coach K.”
Kidd helped Team USA win gold in Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008, and he’s a perfect 56-0 in his Olympic career (including exhibitions and qualifiers). This doesn’t mean that he’s done with all international competitions, but it’s a good possibility.

Miami: Jermaine O’Neal (hyperextended right knee) will return to practice this week, and he might even play Wednesday vs. Philadelphia. “The swelling is almost completely gone,” said O’Neal. “Strength-wise … I’m probably at like 90 percent.” Miami has won four straight without him (eight overall) so there’s no real urgency — we’ll get a better feel for his status after he tests his knee on Tuesday.

Denver: The Denver Nuggets are hoping that Kenyon Martin will practice on Tuesday after being out for a month with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. “All I know is he was on the court today,” said acting head coach Adrian Dantley. “It’s Kenyon’s decision. When he says he’s feeling good, that’s when he’ll practice. That’s when he’ll play.” Denver isn’t going to rush him into action, so we’re still not expecting him to offer much before the playoffs.

Phoenix: Robin Lopez (back) went through a light workout on Monday, but there is still no timetable for his return. “Today was the first day. It was good,” Lopez said, but he wouldn’t commit on whether he’ll return before the end of the regular season. “I don’t know. We’ll see,” he said. “I can’t really say anything about my timetable. It differs from person to person.”

LeBron James hit 16-of-27 shots and three 3-pointers on his way to 40 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in Friday’s win. He didn’t have a triple-double tonight, but this is still one of his best lines of the year. The Cleveland Cavaliers fantasy playoff schedule isn’t great, but LeBron is still the top fantasy player in the league, and should remain so in the playoffs. LeBron said after the game that he tweaked his right ankle, but “hoped” to play tomorrow in Milwaukee.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Dallas: Brendan Haywood failed to score in seven minutes on Friday before leaving the game after his lower back tightened up. Eduardo Najera played 26 minutes in his absence, but had just one points and five rebounds, while Dirk Nowitzki also filled in some at center. Erick Dampier is still out for a week or so, meaning that Haywood will play if he can. Hopefully this is not a long-term injury and he’ll be ready to go for Saturday’s game at Chicago.

Oakland: Corey Maggette returned from a hamstring injury a few days earlier than expected, scoring 18 points in Friday’s loss to the Hawks. He came off the bench and added seven rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting. He played 23 minutes, but we still don’t really trust Maggette.

Toronto: Andrea Bargnani received three skin staples in the back of his head after suffering a laceration in Friday’s game. He finished with nine points, four boards, one block and one 3-pointer on 4-of-15 shooting, but at least returned to finish the game. He should probably be considered day-to-day at this point, but watch for an update over the weekend.

Cleveland: J.J. Hickson started at center again, but was replaced in the second half by Anderson Varejao. Hickson struggled tonight, hitting just 1-of-6 shots for four points and one rebounds in 16 minutes, while Varejao had 16 points and 10 boards on 8-of-10 shooting.

Detroit: Rodney Stuckey had eight points and 10 assists before leaving Friday’s game with some sort of seizure on the Pistons’ bench. A Detroit Pistons spokesman said Stuckey’s vital signs were normal, he was breathing on his own and was conscious at Cleveland Clinic where he was taken after the incident. However, given the fact the Pistons are out of the playoff hunt, and Stuckey’s seizure was termed “violent” on television, it’s possible he could be shut down.

Denver: Kenyon Marting will miss Friday’s game against the Pacers with a partial tear of his left patella tendon, and might need surgery. The Denver Nuggets will use the next 48 hours to decide on a treatment plan, which will include rest and injections, but he very well may need surgery.

After a solid showing in Sunday’s game, coach Mike Brown told reporters after the game that Antawn Jamison will probably be a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers at some point. “At the end of the day, he’s probably going to be a starter for us, he’s a starter in this league,” Brown said. “I’ve just got to figure things out and we’re in the process of doing that right now.” It sounds like he’ll be a starter very soon, and the doomsday scenario for him appears to be averted.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Sacramento: Carl Landry had the best game of his short Sacramento Kings career on Sunday, scoring 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 37 minutes.

Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook triple-doubled in Sunday’s 109-107 win over the Wolves, scoring 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting with 10 rebounds, 14 assists, and two steals. Wow. The Russell Westbrook Experience continues to reach new heights, Jeff Green had a meaty 17-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Kevin Durant had his 28th straight game scoring more than 25 points.

Detroit: Richard Hamilton continued his tear against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, scoring 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting (9-of-9 from the foul line) with five rebounds and three assists. He has now hit 46 straight free throws, but even more impressive are the scoring totals of 36 and 29 points in the two games entering tonight.

Boston: Reporter A. Sherrod Blakely who covers the Boston Celtics for Comcast, calls the thumb injury Paul Pierce suffered Thursday against the Lakers “a problem,” and adds that he’s “definitely questionable” for Tuesday’s game against the Knicks. This injury has flown under the radar, but judging by his recent play it makes sense.

Minnesota: Darko Milicic debuted as a member of the Wolves on Sunday, and surprised everyone with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting with eight rebounds, two assists, and a block in 19 minutes off the bench.

Minnesota: Kevin Love posted a solid double-double against the Thunder on Sunday, scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (including a three) with 14 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in 31 minutes off the bench. Love, to some degree, has been in coach Kurt Rambis’ doghouse, and has come off the bench and gotten less than starter’s minutes.

The Cavaliers have reportedly made “significant progress” in their pursuit of Antawn Jamison, offering Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamario Moon and a No. 1 draft pick in exchange for Jamison and Mike James. It sounds like the Cavs are deciding between this proposal and a deal for Amare Stoudemire, but either way they seem set on acquiring a complementary PF. The activity by the Cleveland Cavaliers at this seasons trade deadline is a last ditched effort to sign James to a long term deal.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Houston: The Houston Knicks are reportedly close to a trade for Tracy McGrady, which would include Jared Jeffries, Larry Hughes and rookie Jordan Hill to the Rockets, along with a swap of 2011 first-round picks and New York’s 2012 first-round pick. The only outstanding issue appears to be the proper protection for the picks. If the Knicks’ want stringent protection the Rockets apparently also have a standing offer from the Bulls, though that sounds more like leverage than anything else.

Chicago: Derrick Rose went off for 29 points on 14-for-18 shooting in Tuesday’s win over the Knicks. Clearly, Rose’s hip/back issue did not bother him. He added six assists, three rebounds and a steal.

Phoenix: Jason Richardson exploded for 27 points on Tuesday, making 12-of-17 FGs (including 2-of-5 from downtown) in his highest-scoring game since early November. He also had six rebounds, two steals, two blocks and just one turnover.

Dallas: Butler started at SG in his Mavericks debut, posting 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting, with six rebounds, one steal, one block and four turnovers. He played 31 minutes.

Detroit: Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko scored 21 points vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, one point shy of his season-high, making 9-of-13 FGs with one 3-pointer, three rebounds, two steals and zero turnovers. And he played just 21 minutes. Jerebko seems capable of averaging a double-double if he played enough, but he hasn’t cracked the 30-minute barrier in February.

New Jersey: Courtney Lee scored 21 points on Tuesday, leading the New Jersey Nets to a surprise road victory against the Bobcats. Lee was awful through most of January, but has quietly settled down in February. He made 7-of-11 FGs and 6-of-8 FTs in this game, adding one 3-pointer, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and just one turnover.

The Wizards and Mavericks sound very close to pulling off a trade, with the principle figures being Caron Butler and Josh Howard. Other players possibly included in the deal are Washington’s Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, and Dallas’ Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas. Additionally, Antawn Jamison could possibly be going to the Boston Celtics. Any deal won’t likely be finalized until Monday, but it does sound like Butler and Howard are very likely to change teams.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Sacramento: Tyreke Evans was named MVP after leading the rookies to a 140-128 win over the sophomores on Friday night. Evans finished with 26 points, six boards, five assists and five steals on 11-of-15 shooting in the win, while DeJuan Blair went off for 22 points and 23 rebounds. Evans said after the game he wanted to share the award with Blair, which is another example of how good a leader the young Evans really is. Russell Westbrook led the sophs with 40 points.

Denver: Carmelo Anthony is still feeling pain in his elbow after injuring it against the Spurs on Thursday night. Melo better watch out before he gets a “soft” label, although it might be too late. Coach George Karl admitted that Anthony won’t be at 100 percent for Sunday’s All-Star game and he may limit his franchise players’ minutes. We’d expect Anthony to be fine when the Denver Nuggets come out of the break, but he may actually have to play at less than 100 percent.

Miami: Dwyane Wade said Friday that he wants to remain in Miami Heat next season. Wade is an unrestricted free agent after this season and will be one of the most sought-after players on the market. “I want to make sure,” he added, “that we do everything we can to make sure we build a winning program. We do that … I’m satisfied.” We’ll see if that statement provokes the Heat to make a move at the deadline.

Cleveland: The Cavaliers have reportedly put acquiring Antawn Jamison and Troy Murphy on hold as the team targets Amare Stoudemire. The Cleveland Cavaliers could send a package including Wally Szczerbiak, the expiring contract of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and possibly J.J. Hickson. Nothing is set in stone at this point, and Amare’s name is still linked with several possible teams. But it does appear the Cavaliers are very serious in their interest.

Charlotte: In an interview with reporters, Chris Paul shared that he could be walking with less supports soon. “I’m on two crutches right now,” Paul said. “I’m hoping by All-Star Sunday I’ll be down to one crutch or no crutches. It depends on how the rehab goes.” He shares that he’s not reentering the lineup until he’s “100 percent”, so he’s still got a long way to go before returning.

Martell Webster

Martell Webster poured in a career-high 28 points and six 3-pointers for the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, adding seven rebounds, two assists and one steal in 48 minutes.

Webster is having a huge month of January, despite a two-point dud last Wednesday. He’s averaging 17.1 points, 3.0 three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks, with just 0.6 turnovers in 37 minutes. This isn’t likely to continue when Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum and Travis Outlaw filter back into the lineup, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Phoenix: Suns guard Goran Dragic scored a career-high 20 points off the bench on Saturday, making 5-of-9 FGs, 3-of-6 threes, and 7-of-8 FTs. He added three rebounds, four steals and one block in 26 minutes.
Standard disclaimer — this career night came against the Golden State Warriors. On the other hand, it’s probably no coincidence that he broke out while Leandro Barbosa (wrist) was unavailable.

Oakland: Warriors forward Anthony Tolliver was impressive again on Saturday, racking up 19 points (9-of-15 FGs), one 3-pointer, 11 rebounds and one assist in 38 minutes.
Tolliver was called up from the D-League to help fill out the Warriors’ decimated rotation, but he may be carving out minutes even when healthy bodies start returning.

Milwaukee: Carlos Delfino hit 9-of-11 shots and four 3-pointers on his way to 24 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals in Saturday’s win over the Wolves.

Utah: The Jazz frontcourt of Mehmet Okur (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Carlos Boozer (22 points, nine rebounds) was simply too much for the Nets on Saturday. They combined to shoot 18-of-26 from the field, and Okur even blocked three shots despite playing just over 21 minutes in the lopsided victory. This was the second-highest scoring game of the season for Okur, and with any luck it’ll jumpstart his middling offense.

Chicago: Bulls’ rookie Taj Gibson stepped up in 43 minutes on Saturday, recording 16 points and a season-high 14 rebounds in a road win against the Rockets. Gibson got extra playing time with Joakim Noah (foot) sidelined with an injury.

Cleveland: LeBron James had 37 points, six 3-pointers, nine rebounds and 12 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the visiting Thunder in dramatic fashion on Saturday, 100-99. LBJ continues to flirt with nightly triple-doubles, though so far he only has two this season. He made 9-of-19 FGs and 13-of-19 FTs, and his season-high six 3s

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports cites a NBA source who says, “[David] Stern feels like he’s been taunted by [Arenas]. He’s done for the year… at the very least.” Arenas certainly got the commissioners attention with the constant tweeting, using his fingers as fake guns and by saying that Stern was “mean”. We would be very surprised to see Arenas appear in another game this season and it sounds like Stern could push for even more.

Though he may have been acting in what he thought was an innocuous, fun-loving manner, the sum effect is that Arenas made the wrong person very angry, and is now going to pay the price. There is a strong possibility that Arenas may have played his last game as a Wizard.

A new Washington Post report has chilling details concerning a confrontation believed to have taken place between Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittentonin the Wizards locker room.

Arenas reportedly told Crittenton that he brought in some guns to make it easy for him to shoot Arenas over a gambling argument, while Crittenton told him he didn’t need those, as he had his own – which he then loaded and cocked, according to unnamed witnesses. Crittenton’s gun was never found, which means the authorities would have a hard time building a case against him. But this probably means that Crittenton is not in the clear with David Stern.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Denver: Anthony (knee) practiced on Wednesday and is considered a game-time decision for Friday’s game against the Cavs. “I don’t think it’s affecting my shooting or anything. It’s just more my explosiveness, pushing off on my first step,” Anthony said. That he practiced is obviously a good sign, but a final decision on his status could be on hold until Friday.

Denver: Chauncey Billups, who had missed seven of his last eight games with a groin injury, practiced on Wednesday and said he expects to play on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That’s all we know from the Nuggets on Twitter, but that pretty much says it all.

Boston: The Celtics waived guard Lester Hudson on Wednesday. This comes as a shock, especially since he participated in today’s shootaround. The Boston Celtics would have had to guarantee his contract if he was still with the team tomorrow, so look for him to land on some 10-day contracts in the near future if he clears waivers.

Los Angelas: ESPN reported Wednesday that Pau Gasol has a Grade 1 tear in his left hamstring.
That’s relatively good news, as his early right hamstring injury was a Grade 2 tear that kept him out for 11 games. Hopefully he’ll be back next week, but no target date has been set for his return

A grand jury could soon decide whether the gun case involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton merits weapons and assault charges. Arenas met with police on Monday and released his official statement: “I took the unloaded guns out in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate,” said Arenas. “I never threatened or assaulted anyone…I now recognize that what I did was a mistake.

I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place.” The question now seems to be not whether Arenas will be punished, but how severely. If Arenas is not prosecuted, he will be punished by the NBA. The league has a strict policy of not bringing any weapons to an NBA facility.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Denver: Carmelo Anthony (knee) and Chauncey Billups (groin) don’t sound likely to play on Tuesday, according to the Colorado Sports Desk. The report says “it is likely they will both get rest again before the high-key match up this Friday against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

Los Angelas: Lakers PF Pau Gasol has a mild-to-moderate hamstring strain and is doubtful to play vs. Houston on Tuesday. The Los Angelas Lakers are smart to rest their injuryed players to ensure they’re healthy come playoff time.

Sacramento: Kins G/F Francisco Garcia practiced for a short while on Monday, his first action since breaking his wrist on October 9th. Garcia left to a round of applause from his teammates, but his return will likely drag on for quite some time.

Boston: Paul Pierce’s (knee) status for Wednesday’s game will likely be determined after Tuesday’s practice. He shot around on Monday but did not participate in any drills, and ESPNBoston reports that the Boston Celtics prepared as if he wouldn’t be available.

Orlando: As expected, Vince Carter practiced on Monday and expects to start Tuesday’s game vs. the Pacers. Orlando Magic practiced for 2 1/2 hours and both Carter and coach Stan Vandy reported that he was fine.

Washington: Mike Miller will definitely play vs. the Magic on Friday, according to coach Flip Saunders, and he could return even sooner.

Indiana: Stacy Paetz reported on the Pacers’ broadcast Sunday that Danny Granger’s workout prior to the game went well and he appears to be nearing a return. He reportedly went through extensive shooting and movement drills, and while no return date has been set, it sounds like he could play in the next 10 days or so.

Oakland: The Warriors have waived veteran C Mikki Moore, in order to clear a roster spot for rookie big man Chris Hunter. The league had granted Golden State a special roster exemption because of all their injuries, but Hunter’s contract would have been ineligible once it becomes guaranteed on Wednesday

Fox Sports’ Stephen A. Smith is reporting that the Sixers appear to be on the verge of signing Allen Iverson, possibly as early as in the upcoming week. With rookie Jrue Holiday set to fill in for Lou Williams over the next two months, the Sixers could use the help. In addition, the number of tickets that Iverson would sell has to interest Philly. “We simply can’t just ignore the upside he’d bring,” a team source said. “Not with our situation.” Iverson appears to be buncing around the league like a pin-ball this season.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Orlando: The Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the Bucks on Saturday, 100-98, led by Dwight Howard’s 25 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks. In the past two games, Howard is averaging 3.5 points, 18.5 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks. Even though he went 5-of-10 from the free-throw line, Howard is emerging as the leagues most dominate center.

Milwakee: Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova scored 20 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds vs. the Magic on Saturday. Ilyasova shed his protective facemask before the game, but he wasn’t tentative whatsoever. He connected on 8-of-18 FGs, including two 3-pointers, and looks like a waiver wire steal.

Utah: Jazz PF Carlos Boozer’s continued his stellar play on Saturday, as he led the Utah Jazz with 26 points (11-of-16 FGs), 12 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. Boozer has been on fire as of late, scoring 20+ points in seven of the last eight games. He is also averaging 5.0 assists over the past five games, a trend we hope (but are skeptical) he can sustain.

Utah: Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko strained his back during Saturday’s game and will not return in the second half. Kirilenko has been playing well recently and hopes to make it back on the court soon.

Cleveland: Cavs PG Mo Williams made 7-of-7 three-pointers on Saturday, scoring 25 points in a win over the Mavericks. He had one assist, zero steals and four turnovers (atrocious numbers for any PG), but we’re still seeing sevens. And if you had lingering questions about his sore right middle finger, consider this the answer.

Cleveland: Delonte West racked up 10 points and 10 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, playing 28 inspired minutes off the bench.

Charlotte: Gerald Wallace posted 14 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday, leading the Bobcats to their fourth straight victory. Wallace has six consecutive double-doubles, and he’s starting to make his three-pointers. He has made 5-of-10 threes in the past two games after shooting 3-of-21 (14%) in the first 14 games

2008-09 NBA Team Preview – Washington Wizards

2008 Record: 43-39
Division Finish: 2nd – Southeast
2008 Playoffs: Lost, 4-2, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference First Round

Head Coach: Eddie Jordan
Season: Going into sixth season
Record At Washington: 194-214
Career Record: 229-278

Offseason Acquisitions:
Signed Dee Brown, G, 14.7 ppg., 3.8 apg – Signed from Turkey
Signed Juan Dixon, G, 5.0 gpp, 1.4 rpg. – Signed from Detroit
Signed DerMarr Johnson, G-F, 3.4 ppg, 0.2, rpg – Signed from San Antonio
Signed Linton Johnson, F, 2.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg – Signed from Phoenix

Offseason Transactions:
Re-signed guard Gilbert Arenas.
Re-signed forward Antawn Jamison.
Traded the draft rights to forward Bill Walker to the Boston Celtics for cash.

Offseason Losses:
Roger Mason, G, 9.1 ppg., 1.7, apg, Signed with San Antonio

Rookies:
JaVale McGee, C, 7-0, 14.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, Nevada

The Skinny:
With the two main pieces of their puzzle in place for what looks like the next four years, the Washington Wizards have the potential to make a serrious run in the Eastern Conference. If the Wizards can get some solid play from their front court, particularly the center position, they could find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Next year.

On a list of the top shooting guards in the Association, Gilbert Arenas’ name has to be in the top five, probably top three. Prior to the 2007-08 season, he averaged at 25 points per game and has a career average of over 22 ppg.

Last year was virtually a wash for Arenas as he only played in 13 regular season game because of a knee injury. Even when he tried to come back he was not 100 percent and he pulled himself off the court right before game four of the opening round of the playoffs.

I am impressed with him in that he didn’t demand to be put back into the starting line-up as soon as he was cleared to play. Contrary to what some stars might do, Arenas did not want to disrupt the chemistry of the starting five. A lot of other guys would have demanded to be put in the line-up.

Arenas was almost not back in a Wizards’ uniform this season. He had a five-year offer from the Golden State Warriors that was valued at over $100 million dollars. He ended up signing with the Wizards for $111 million over six years. I’m glad to see Washington ponyed up the extra two mill a year to keep their favorite player on board.

However, it’s not all wine and roses for the Wizards and Arenas. He underwent a third surgery on his knee last month and is expected to be out for at least the first month of the season. It’s hard to say if he reaches 100 percent this season. It may be another year before Arenas is at the level he was in 2006-07.

One of the conditions of Arenas re-signing with the Wizards was that they had to sign forward Antawn Jamison as well. Wanting to keep Arenas, as well as their top scorer from last season, the Wizards did bring Jamison back for his 10th NBA season. He signed a four-year, $50 million dollar deal.

But just like Arenas, Jamison is injured during the preseason. He suffered a right knee contusion during the team’s first preseason game and is expected to miss all of the preseason. Likely this is more of a precautionary move by the team to have Jamison healthy for the start of the regular season since they know they are going to be without Arenas. Jamison’s timing and game conditioning may suffer a little, bit but he should be at 100 percent – barring any other set backs – when Arenas returns.

The center position has been one of the top positions that have been a problem for the Wizards. Things didn’t get any better for the team when center Brendan Haywood announced he would go under the knife to repair his right wrist and that will keep him out from four to six months. This is a big blow to the Wizards as Haywood averaged 10.6 ppg and 7.2 rebounds per game last season.

Some good news did come Washington’s way as center Etan Thomas made his return to the team. Thomas missed all of last season after undergoing open heart surgery. During the 2006-07 campaign he averaged 6.1 ppg. and 5.8 rpg. in 19.2 minutes a night. Also trying to fill the void left by Haywood is rookie JaVale McGee. The 7-foot center from Nevada averaged 14.1 ppg. and 7.3 rpg. his sophomore year with the Wolfpack. He’s the son of former NBA player George Montgomery and WNBA player Pamela McGee. He is the first son of a WNBA player to every play in the NBA.

The other hole in the Wizards’ roster is at the point guard position. Now in his 11th season, Antonio Daniels isn’t a true point guard and isn’t getting any younger. The team did pick up Dee Brown during the offseason. Instead of trying to make the Utah Jazz roster last year – where he would have been the understudy to Darren Williams – Brown opted to play in Turkey last year. Brown as the athleticism to be a point guard, but I’m not sure he’s got the head for it in the NBA. It’s one thing to get it done in college 35 some times a year, but 90 percent of the time his athletic ability was able to make up for any knowledge shortcomings.

Prediction:
Similar to the Orlando Magic, the Washington Wizards are a year or two away from making a serious run in the playoffs. I can see them having a similar record and finishing second to the Magic in the pitiful Southeast Conference. After Orlando and Washington the division is pretty bad.

One player not mentioned above was DeShawn Stevenson. He did a pretty good job filling in for Arenas last year, scoring 11.2 ppg. and handing out 3.1 apg. They’re going to need to him to step that up a bit during the first part of the season when Arenas is out and he’ll get considerable playing time throughout the season until Arenas gets back to 100 percent.

Another guy that wasn’t mentioned and gets overlooked a lot with Arenas and Jamison on the roster is Caron Butler. I always thought Miami got a steal on Butler when he slid to them at No. 10 in the 2002 NBA draft. Last year he averaged a career-best 20.3 ppg. – mostly notably because of the absence of Arenas – to go along with 6.7 rpg and 4.9 apg.

Between a healthy Arenas, Jamison and Butler you’ve got a great nucleus to work with. Two years ago the trio was the highest scoring three in the NBA. As good as those three players are you can almost get away with not having a great point guard, just someone who can get the ball down the floor and not make mistakes, which is what you’re going to get in Daniels.

However, with a number of good big men in the league, Washington will only go as far as its center plays. With Haywood out for four-to-six months, and not being beyond average to start with, the Wizards are going to struggle. Thomas was a back up before his heart surgery and who knows how much better he’ll get and I’m not really sold on McGee.

I think Washington will make the playoffs without much problem since most the East is weak, but they’ll get bounced in the first round again. Their downside is they’ve got just too many people missing significant time to build into a real threat. If Arenas and Haywood come back 100 percent by the end of the year they have a shot, but I think there are at least four teams better than them. Maybe next year.