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It's hardly innovative, but in today's NBA, it's unusual to see a team hire good people, exercise patience and execute its long-term plan without overreacting when things don't go according to the script.

Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin tabbed General Manager Ernie Grunfeld and Head Coach Eddie Jordan in 2003, and the two have paid dividends for the past two seasons, sending Washington to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1987-88.

Last season's 42-40 record and first-round exit actually represented a small step backward – they won 45 games and advanced to the second round in 2004-05 – but rather than trade a superstar, the Wizards kept their talented nucleus intact, and added reinforcements.

"We have a young team, a team that is coming together, building chemistry and adding a piece here and a piece there, that will take us there," Pollin told the Washington Post in July, after the team signed Darius Songaila, a physical defender who can stick open jumpers when defenses collapse on Gilbert Arenas or Antawn Jamison.

In August, the Wizards landed another defensive-minded free agent, DeShawn Stevenson, as a preemptive strike against the departure of starter Jared Jeffries, who had signed an offer sheet with New York.

The Wizards chose not to match the offer to Jeffries, leaving Stevenson and Jarvis Hayes (who missed the final 61 games of the season because of a knee injury) to vie for minutes at shooting guard. The rest of last year's starters return, led by Arenas, the NBA's 4th leading scorer (29.3), coming off a season in which he exploded for 40-plus points on 11 occasions.

Washington will be a prohibitive underdog in a division that includes the defending NBA champion Heat, but the Wizards are deep enough to be undecided as to whether or not they'll sign first round pick Oleksiy Pecherov, a 7-foot center.

Expect Washington's patience and adherence to a plan to be rewarded with a third straight playoff trip in 2007.
-- Bill Evans

2006-07 Wizards 12-Game All-Star Plan

Songaila

Darius Songaila has been an underrated contributor in Sacramento (2003-05) and in Chicago, where last year he bulled his way into Scott Skiles' rotation as a physical defender and skilled shooter who can draw defenders away from the paint.

Unfortunately, his season came to a premature end when he broke a bone in his right foot.

Now healthy and wealthy (a reported five-year deal worth $21), Songaila will be expected to provide a little relief to overworked forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

His defense will aid a team that allowed opponents to shoot .465 and lost three playoff games to Cleveland on buzzer-beaters. The offense should help create space for Gilbert Arenas and company.

"We needed a big guy, a tough guy who can rebound, shoot and make free throws," Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin told the Washington Post. "We can score a lot of points and he can help us do that, but we also have to play some defense and this guy can do that too. He's a good player."
-- Bill Evans

X&O STRENGTH

Jordan

They are going to score a lot of points... Eddie is trying to figure out how to come up with a defensive concept... They have three scorers in Jamison, Arenas and Butler so they will be able to score the ball.

X&O WEAKNESS
Can they get a stop? They would have gone even further into the playoffs if they had made one or two stops against Cleveland. That was their biggest problem all year long...If they’re going to have Haywood in the middle he has got to play a little bit bigger and be a little bit tougher.

HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
They played a lot of zone and they can refine that to force outside shots instead of letting the ball go down inside.
-- Butch Beard (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)

If you're looking for a team to unseat Miami, this could be the team.
Gilbert Arenas is one of the best guards in the league, and after being snubbed by the Olympic team, he may have a lot to prove.
Jamison is a good second or third scorer, he's always been a decent three-point shooter, and that opens things up for Arenas.
Butler is another guy who can score, and his scoring his gone up nearly every year.
Their three perimeter guys are the best in the East when you talk ones, twos and threes.
They're missing the real inside offensive presence, they have guys who can play D and rebound, but not much on the offensive end.
Darius Songaila will help them down the road. He prefers to play away from the hoop, and that'll help them in the Princeton offense.
With the offense they have, and that they actually TRY to play some defense, they could challenge in the division.
If Shaq starts to feel his age, Washington could step up and win the division.
-- Eastern Conference Scout

Caron Butler: Butler produced solid numbers - and made his fantasy owners happy - once he was inserted into the starting lineup.

Brendan Haywood: If you’re plugging him in as your #2 center, it’s time to panic.

More fantasy news

This is a team that’s trying to build from within, relying on the growth of its young players rather than making bold free agent acquisitions or trades. The Wizards will score in bunches, but the production will be spread out to begin the year. You can rely on Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison to make it happen but keep an eye on Darius Songalia and DeShawn Stevenson as potential sleepers.
-- John Cregan
Wizards Fantasy Preview

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29.3

3.5

6.1

17.6

6.2

2.5

9.3

3.6

1.3

20.5

9.3

1.9

7.3

5.9

0.6

2.2

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0.3

9.6

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3.6

9.2

4.0

1.4

11.0

2.9

2.0

4.7

3.9

0.2

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29.3

9.3

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2.01

1.32

101.7

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99.8

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.447

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.465

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-0.75

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