Washington Wizards Blog – Page 63 – NBA Blog

Rumors Talk: Blatche blowing it

Since the Washington Wizards scrapped their team, two main things have happened that I can think of. First, Josh Howard’s season ended due to injury. And second, big-man Andray Blatche emerged as a legit talent. His stats in the last month or so are inflated because he tends to get the ball a heck of a lot, but still, he’s doing great.

But as you read on the rumors page today, he messed up yesterday, arguing with Flip Saunders and then reportedly refusing to play the rest of the game. By doing this, Blatche sent a message to the masses that he has maturity issues to work on. Hopefully he does the right thing, says sorry to his coach and team, and moves on positively from there. But the Wizards really don’t need any more nonsense from any players.

The Knicks don’t need Raja Bell at all this season. It’s pointless to add him. Bell should probably just hang out someplace cool, regain full health, and focus on joining a championship contender next season.

I definitely hope Don Nelson goes on to coach the Warriors in summer league play, as he reportedly plans. The more head coaches involved in those games, the better. It’ll just raise the level of everything and make the games that much better.

Madison Square Garden’s atmosphere is electric and amazing, even in losing seasons. Can’t wait to see what it’s like when they have an actual good team out there.

The Nuggets without Kenyon Martin probably aren’t a championship contender. He’s certainly not their best player, but they drop a half-rung down the ladder without him.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the Cavaliers! In equally shocking news, I ate food today, and will likely do so again tomorrow.

I laughed when hearing that Nets CEO Brett Yormark snapped at a fan. I have no followup comment. That’s just friggin funny on its own. Anyway, Yormark is a respected guy. He’s fine. Just a rough day. Or season. But the Nets should give that fan a signed jersey and a free basketball or something. Or a date with a Nets dancer.

On second thought, I’ll take the Nets dancer date. The fan can have the jersey.

Talk to you tomorrow.

This feature is an editorialized take on the day’s hot NBA rumors stories.

Andray Blatche reacts badly to Flip Saunders, refuses to play

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports (via blog):

Andray Blatche reacts badly to Flip Saunders instruction

Mired in a 12-game slide and facing the distraction of supended guard Gilbert Arenas’s sentencing on Friday, the Washington Wizards have another potential mess on their hands with the benching of Andray Blatche in Tuesday’s 95-86 loss to Charlotte.

Wizards Coach Flip Saunders removed Blatche from the game after he played 7 minutes 31 seconds in the first quarter. Saunders said initially he wanted to talk to the power forward about not getting back on defense. Blatche, however, wanted no part of the discussion and essentially boycotted the rest of the game.

That left the Wizards short-handed in a game they may have won had Blatche been reinserted. With Blatche watching from the bench, Washington ended up getting outrebounded 61-42, including a 23-11 deficit offensively. Among players still with the team and eligible to participate, Blatche leads the Wizards in scoring at 12.7 points per game.

“Yeah I guess, just because of everything,” Saunders said when asked if this incident was the low point in a season filled with forgettable moments.

Estranged mother of Gilbert Arenas passes away

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports:

Gilbert Arenas’s troubles were magnified recently, when he discovered that his estranged mother, Mary Francis Robinson, died in Miami.

Robinson passed away on March 13, but Arenas didn’t find out until a few days later, according to multiple sources. The cause of her death is not known.

Arenas wasn’t close to his mother, who abandoned him at young age and left him to be raised by his father, Gilbert Sr., from the time that he was 3.

Wizards sign Shaun Livingston for rest of season

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Shaun Livingston for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Livingston originally signed with Washington on February 26, and was signed to a second 10-day contract on March 9. In 10 games for the Wizards (two starts), Livingston has averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 assists in 15.5 minutes per game, including season-highs of 18 points and eight assists vs. ORL (3/13).

Wizards sign Alonzo Gee to second 10-day contract

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed swingman Alonzo Gee to a second 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gee originally signed with Washington on March 7. In five games for the Wizards, Gee has averaged 7.6 points (.609 fg%) and 4.2 assists in 13.2 minutes per game.

Gilbert Arenas files for change to jersey number 6

The NBA career of Gilbert Arenas hasn’t gone well in recent seasons. He played just 13 games in 2007-08, only two in 2008-09, and while this season he was averaging 22.6 points (41.1% FG) and 7.2 assists in 32 games, the Washington Wizards were doing nothing but losing, and then came along the season-long suspension due to toying with firearms in the locker room.

So, Arenas is reportedly going to make a change. Perhaps merely symbolic. But the way things have gone lately, any change is probably a good thing.

According to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, Arenas has submitted paperwork to the league to change from jersey #0 and become #6.

This likely means the end of his nickname, Agent Zero. Perhaps a new nickname will come with future success.

The Washington Post reports: “The No. 6 is significant because Arenas’s birthday is Jan. 6 – which is also the day that the NBA gave Arenas an indefinite suspension for his behavior after it was revealed that he brought guns to the locker room at Verizon Center in a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton.”

Wizards sign Shaun Livingston to second 10-day contract

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Shaun Livingston to a second 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Livingston originally signed with Washington on February 26. In four games for the Wizards, Livingston has averaged 3.0 points and 1.5 assists in 9.3 minutes per game.

So far, there’s no firm reason to believe Livingston will ever make it back into the NBA permanently. It’s an uphill battle for him due to past injuries.

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

On Sunday, the Boston Celtics edged the Washington Wizards, 86-83. But a bigger story is Boston’s Kevin Garnett (0-of-7, 8 points off free throws) frustrating the heck out of Andray Blatche (10-of-20, 23 points, 9 rebounds):

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports:

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

Blatche was noticeably upset and appeared to hold back tears as he explained his encounter with Garnett, which nearly got heated when Garnett approached Blatche and tried to wrestle the ball away from him. Blatche appeared to throw an elbow as Garnett continued to taunt him. Blatche later flung Garnett into a cameraman and sent him to the foul line for two free throws. Garnett smiled as he was helped off the ground. Reserve forward James Singleton said Garnett used his “veteran senses” to needle Blatche and get under his skin.

“I see myself as defending myself as a player. I’m a man, just like they a man. If a man is talking to me this close to my face,” Blatche said, moving his hand toward his cheek. “I’m going to say something back. He has to respect me just like I respect him. I just, ‘Get up out of my face.’ He was this close in my face – I can feel his lips touching my cheek – I wasn’t bragging saying ‘Ah we winning.’ It was ‘Back up.’ “

Wizards sign Alonzo Gee to 10-day contract

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Alonzo Gee to a ten-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gee, 6-6, 220-pounds, has appeared in 35 games, all starts, for the Toros this season, averaging 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 38.2 minutes. He scored in double figures in 34 games, including a career-high 34 points in a 127-94 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 6 in Austin, and recorded four double-doubles.

A member of the San Antonio Spurs at the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Gee was selected sixth overall in the 2009 NBA D-League Draft by the Toros. Last month, Gee played in the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star game and participated in the 2010 NBA D-League Slam Dunk Competition in Dallas.

A four-year contributor at Alabama, Gee averaged 15.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists during his senior season for the Crimson Tide and earned All-SEC Second Team recognition that year.

Gee will be in uniform tonight in Boston (8:00 pm on CSN-HD, ESPN, 106.7 The Fan, and 1370 Sports Radio in Baltimore) and will wear uniform #24.

Wizards waive Mike James

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guard Mike James after coming to a mutual agreement on a contract buyout.

James appeared in four games for the Wizards this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists. Overall, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 assists in 57 games with the Wizards after being acquired from New Orleans in a three-team deal that sent Antonio Daniels (from Washington) to New Orleans, a conditional draft pick (from Washington) to Memphis and Javaris Crittenton (from Memphis) to Washington on Dec. 10, 2008.