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Washington Wizards
By Randy Kim, NBA.com
SEASON OUTLOOK: Most teams head into a new season with a roster that has either been kept intact, or has undergone a major overhaul. Remarkably, the Washington Wizards enter the 2002-03 season with a squad that has accomplished both. The key components are still there for Washington, namely one Michael Jordan. While the 39-year-old Jordan (22.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.2 apg) has had to revamp his playing style -- now relying on jump shots and pump fakes instead of dunks and drives -- he is still highly effective. The Wizards were 30-30 (.500) with Jordan in the lineup, and just 7-15 (.318) without him, so his importance to the club can not be overstated. But entering the new season, Jordan may no longer be the most important player on the team. By trading for ex-Piston Jerry Stackhouse (21.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.3 apg), Washington now has a player who can take over games in any number of ways: scoring, passing, playing defense, or exploiting his athleticism. Instituting a system that plays to both players' strengths will be vital for coach Doug Collins. While Stackhouse joins newcomers Larry Hughes and Bryon Russell to bolster an already strong perimeter game, the inside game remains largely the same for Washington. Brendan Haywood, Christian Laettner, Etan Thomas and Jahidi White will rotate between the four and five spots to provide interior defense and rebounding. These players are more steady than spectacular, however. Following a disappointing rookie season, the pressure will be on Kwame Brown to step up down low. If Brown doesn't deliver, then rookie Jared Jeffries could get a chance. Regardless of what happens with the youngsters, Stackhouse and Jordan should provide enough scoring and leadership for the Wizards to make a playoff run this season.
WHO'S IN: Stackhouse gives the Wizards another go-to guy on offense. He's also capable of shutting down the other team's top perimeter player. He improves the team dramatically. Hughes (12.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) isn't a classic point guard, but he's got size and athleticism. Russell (9.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .341 3FG%) gives the team a strong perimeter shooter and a veteran playoff performer. Jeffries has a huge upside, and could step in right away. Rookie Juan Dixon could push Tyronn Lue (7.8 ppg, .447 3P%) and Chris Whitney (10.2 ppg, .406 3P%) for playing time at the point. WHO'S OUT: Richard Hamilton takes his 20 ppg average to Detroit. His loss should be offset by Stack's arrival. Hubert Davis and Bobby Simmons also are off to the Pistons. Davis is still one of the game's best three-point shooters, but Russell's arrival should help make up for his departure. Simmons had yet to assert himself with Washington. Perhaps the biggest loss will be veteran power forward Popeye Jones, who signed with Dallas. Jones really blossomed in Washington last season, and his defense, rebounding and clutch shooting will be missed. BENCH: This should be a real strength for the Wizards. If Jordan ends up coming off the bench, as some believe he might, then he's the odds-on favorite to be the 2003 Sixth Man of the Year. The team has plenty of options beyond MJ as well. Thomas and White provide plenty of size and athleticism. Lue and Whitney are great options at point guard. If Brown can cash in on the promise that had him taken with the top pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, then Washington will be tough to beat. Jeffries and Dixon were both clutch shooters in college, so they team with Russell to give the Wizards great options in must-score situations. THE WIZARDS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Jordan and Stackhouse play together and Jeffries or Brown steps up. THE WIZARDS MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : the team struggles to find its identity amongst all of these new faces. And Jordan gets hurt again. |
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