The Washington Wizards have waived guards Chasson Randle, Chris Chiozza and Tiwian Kendley, and forward Lavoy Allen.
The Wizards roster now stands at 14, which does not include their two two-way players, Devin Robinson and Jordan McRae.
Category: Washington Wizards Blog
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Championship or bust, says John Wall
Every NBA player wants to win a championship, but for most, of course, it simply won’t happen. And of course, simply making the league is a great accomplishment, let alone enjoying a full career, especially as a star. But Wizards guard John Wall, he definitely wants that ring. Here’s NBC Sports Washington with more:
Wall, naturally, wants to win an NBA title. But it’s not just a goal, it’s the benchmark for which Wall will measure his basketball career.
“I think for me to have a heck of a career – if I don’t win a championship, I feel like my career was a failure. So that’s my ultimate goal,” Wall said.
Wall, 28, has never been past the second round of the NBA playoffs. The closest his Wizards team has been to advancing further was in 2017 when they lost in Game 7 of the second round to the Boston Celtics.
The Wizards as they currently stand face an uphill battle in reaching the 2019 NBA Finals, but they remain one of the East’s better teams. But several key players on the squad must emerge as serious difference-makers for the team to reach that elusive next level.
Tomas Satoransky feels ready to do big things for Wizards
Wizards shooting guard Tomas Satoransky is 6-foot-7, 210 pounds, will turn 27 years old a few weeks into the upcoming regular season, and was taken in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft. He received limited minutes as a rookie in 2016-17, but last season averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.5 minutes per game, shooting 52.3% from the field. Solid numbers for a backup only in his second NBA season, though age-wise he should be approaching his prime any season now. Perhaps this one. Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting:
The Wizards clearly wanted to see more from him last season and he took that to heart.
“That’s what these two years have taught me, never be sure of your situation or position,” Satoransky told NBC Sports Washington. “On the other hand, I feel very confident now. I also feel confident knowing how things go and how I can be patient when I’m not playing. I still have to work hard, which I do every time. But I feel confident knowing everything and there is a big difference coming into something where you have no idea what’s going to happen.”
The Wizards explained their decisions to bring in other point guards, a process which also included trading for Tim Frazier last summer and signing Ramon Sessons in March, as not an indication of Satoransky’s shortcomings. Instead, they wanted him to develop at other positions and use his athletic 6-foot-7 frame in other ways.
Head coach Scott Brooks even mentioned this after Wednesday’s training camp practice.
“Tomas, he is very versatile. He can play a lot of different positions on both ends of the court. We have to use that,” Brooks said.
On Dwight Howard and the Wizards
The Wizards center spot used to be manned by Marcin Gortat, but now the job belongs to Dwight Howard. What’s the realistic impact Dwight may have? Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting:
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As the Wizards opened training camp this week at the Medstar Performance Center in Southeast Washington, head coach Scott Brooks’ first message to his team was about defense and how he believes they can make a significant leap this season. Part of his thinking is rooted in the fact they added Dwight Howard through free agency this summer, as Howard gives them a level of rim protection they have not enjoyed in years.
It also wasn’t that long ago that the Wizards were a top-shelf defensive team. When Washington first began making playoff runs with John Wall and Bradley Beal running the show, they were an above average team on defense. From the 2012-13 season through 2014-15, they were top 10 in points allowed.
Their roster has changed significantly from those days and some of their best defenders like Trevor Ariza moved on. But last year they were 15th in defensive rating and 15th in points allowed, and Brooks feels a jump into the top 10 isn’t out of the question.
Howard himself believes they can be even better than that.
Wizards hosting open practice, free for fans, on September 28, 2018
The Washington Wizards will host their annual Open Practice on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights.
The event is open to the public and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The first 500 fans through the door will receive a free T-shirt, and the first 200 fans will receive a pass to participate in a post-practice autograph session with select Wizards players.
Activities planned for the event in addition to the open practice and team scrimmage include a dunk contest, half-court shooting contest, performances by the Wizards Dancers and Wiz Kids and music from the Ballou High School Band.
Fans interested in attending the open practice are encouraged to RSVP here:
http://info.washingtonwizards.com/Wiz-OpenPractice09-20-18.
Doors for the open practice will open at 5:00 p.m.
G League: Capital City Go-Go host local tryouts
Open tryouts are always fascinating, in that anybody with a dream and hopefully some actual talent can head to an event and get a shot at making their dreams come true. Of course, in pro sports, the vast, vast, vast majority of players hoping to play the game of their lives when it matters most will fall short. Still, an open tryout for a pro team is a fun event. Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting on the Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go:
These were basketball players, young and old by the sport’s standards, all waiting for their chance to try out for the Wizards’ new G-League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
G-League teams are permitted to hold local tryouts and this was the first one in the history of the inaugural franchise.
The Wizards hosted over 100 players total across two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They ran them through shooting drills, taught them two plays and then let them go in 5-on-5 scrimmages spread out between three courts; one in the main arena and the other two in the back of the building.
Just about everyone from the Wizards front office was in attendance. Team president Ernie Grunfeld, senior vice president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard and others looked on as hoopers from all walks of life played what were essentially pickup games, one after another.
The Go-Go are allowed to keep up to four players from the event. Those four would merely get invites to the team’s training camp, which begins in October. The odds for these players to even get that far are minuscule and from there they get no guarantees for a roster spot.
On new Wizards forward Jeff Green
Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting on an offseason addition to the Wizards that probably deserves more attention, forward Jeff Green:
The Wizards had been eerily quiet through the first two days of free agency this summer as others around the league made bold moves to change the NBA landscape. But on July 3, Washington agreed to a one-year minimum contract with Jeff Green, a favorite son of the D.C. region for his accomplishments at nearby Northwestern High School and then at Georgetown University.
Green was brought in to replace Mike Scott, who had departed to join the L.A. Clippers. On paper, it appears the Wizards did quite well for themselves. Scott was an important piece and will be difficult to replace. But Green can do many of the things Scott provided for the Wizards and will be paid about half of what Scott is earning in L.A. Those savings allowed Washington to make other moves in an offseason with few resources at their disposal within the NBA’s salary cap.
On new Wizards guard Austin Rivers
Here’s NBC Sports Washington on new Wizards guard Austin Rivers, who should certainly improve the team’s backcourt as he likely comes off the bench behind starters John Wall and Bradley Beal:
Rivers, though far from perfect, is potentially a significant upgrade for the Wizards at backup shooting guard and that help is coming at a good time. All-Star Bradley Beal played in all 82 games last season, but that was arguably not a good thing, as he ended up logging the fourth-most minutes of any NBA player and seemed to run out of gas at times late in the season.
Rivers should at the very least be able to take some of the workload off of Beal’s shoulders. Rivers could also help solve the Wizards’ issues at backup point guard behind John Wall and possibly even play some in three-guard lineups with both Beal and Wall on the floor.
Rivers’ likely role is clear. The question is how he will adjust to it given what he has grown accustomed to in recent years in L.A. and given he will be in a contract year. Rivers started 59 games last season for the Clippers and averaged 13.2 field goal attempts per night. Barring injuries, he will not get those opportunities in Washington.
On Dwight Howard and the Wizards
The Wizards in recent seasons always seem pretty good, but never take that next step towards rising up and being closer to great. Now they’ve added Dwight Howard, who still puts up nice stats but needs to show that he actually impacts a game beyond some numbers in the usual stat categories. Here’s a look on the positive side of things regarding the Wizards and new center Dwight Howard, from NBC Sports Washington:
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Howard is already 15th all-time in total rebounds. Last season, he surpassed Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. He has long since eclipsed Dennis Rodman, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Ben Wallace.
Howard is objectively one of the best rebounders of all-time and he hasn’t slowed down much, if at all, from his younger days. Last season, he grabbed 12.5 rebounds per game, good for third in the NBA.
If Howard can keep that up with the Wizards and get Wall out in the open court a second or two quicker than in the past, the Wizards could be uniquely dangerous.
“He’s the best rebounder in the league. It creates offense for our guys that can play fast and can shoot,” Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said.
Wizards sign Dwight Howard
The Washington Wizards’ signing of free agent center Dwight Howard became official today.
“Dwight has been known throughout his career as one of the league’s best defenders, rebounders and finishers around the rim, all areas that we needed to improve heading into next season,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “His inside presence and athleticism will give us a much different look and will open up opportunities for us on both ends of the floor.”
According to NBC Sports Washington, “Howard was signed to a two-year deal worth $11 million with the second year a player option.”
At this point in his career, Howard is more of a supporting cast player than a star. He can still put up big stats, especially as a rebounder, and he’s still starting material and certainly should start for the Wizards with Marcin Gortat gone. But John Wall and Bradley Beal are still expected to lead the way in DC, with Howard supporting their efforts.
Howard (6-11, 265) has averaged 17.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists while shooting .585 from the floor in 1,035 NBA games (1,034 starts) over 14 NBA seasons with Orlando, L.A. Lakers, Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte.
The 32-year-old center posted 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 assists while shooting .555 from the field in 81 games (all starts) for Charlotte last season. He finished the 2017-18 campaign third in the NBA in point-rebound double-doubles (fourth overall), third in total blocks, third in total rebounds and rebounds per game, fourth in total defensive rebounds and defensive rebounds per game, fifth in total offensive rebounds and offensive rebounds per game, seventh in blocks per game and 11th in field goal percentage.
Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year (winning three straight awards from 2008-09 to 2010-11) and has also earned five All-NBA First Team selections while being named All-NBA Second Team once and All-NBA Third Team twice. The former number one overall draft choice (2004) has been selected to the All-NBA Defensive First Team four times and also earned All-NBA Defensive Second Team honors once.
The eight-time All-Star currently leads all active players with 13,101 career rebounds, 3,647 career offensive rebounds and 2,047 career blocks. He has averaged 18.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.4 assists while shooting .545 from the floor in 95 career playoff games (including the 2008-09 postseason, when he led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals).