Sheldon Mac

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Washington, D.C. – The Washington Wizards announced today that they have traded guard/forward Sheldon Mac to Atlanta for a protected 2019 second round pick.

Mac, who underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon in October, has not appeared in a game this season. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 30 games for the Wizards last season after signing as an undrafted free agent.

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Wizards Trade Mac to Atlanta

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On Friday night, the Washington Wizards and Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced that the franchise’s new G League team will be called the Capital City Go-Go. The Go-Go, which will begin play in the new arena and practice facility in Ward 8 next year, are the 27th team in the NBA’s G League.

Having a minor league developmental team will be a big win for the entire Wizards organization. Not only will players get an opportunity to gain valuable experience, but coaches and development staff will also have opportunities for growth. Even better, the facility and location of the team will be within district limits and much closer than most NBA team’s G League affiliates.

“I think it’s going to be a huge asset for us,” Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said. “How we will run is that they will be a part of us. Every opportunity they have to be around our staff, our players, their staff will be here. We will be when time permits at their practices. It’s such an important partnership and we want to make sure that the integration is seamless. When we have players playing for our team, they will run the same things that we run.”

Over the past few seasons, several current Wizards players have played in the G League. One of the G League’s best stories is actually Wizards’ point guard Tim Frazier, a former D-League (at the time) Most Valuable Player. Frazier, who went undrafted in 2014 and went straight to the Maine Red Claws, made a career in the NBA by proving himself in the now G League. The 6’1” point guard averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game in that 2014-15 MVP season.

“Looking at where I am today, I give credit to the D-League and how it’s gotten me to this position and where I am,” Frazier said. “The grind that I had to go through, the opportunity that the D-League gave is what I needed. It gave me the extra push. Coming out of college, I wasn’t ready to play in the NBA and it gave me the opportunity to learn under NBA coaches, under NBA arenas and learn from guys that are NBA players…I give nothing but credit to the D-League then, now G-League in the place that I am today.”

Frazier would eventually sign a multi-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, then joined the New Orleans Pelicans the next season. The Wizards traded for him this past summer to make him the primary backup point guard to John Wall. He credits his journey to the confidence he gained with the Red Claws and wouldn’t trade his experience for the world.

“I think that’s the biggest thing is that you get the confidence because you’re playing against NBA players,” he continued. “There’s guys that are being sent down, now they have the two-way contracts, you’re playing against NBA players, you’re traveling to different arenas, you’re going through the travel, you’re getting prepared for what the NBA lifestyle is, and that’s what benefitted me the most.”

Wizards’ forward Chris McCullough averaged 16.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during his time in the G League last season with the Long Island Nets and the Northern Arizona Suns. McCullough played down in the G League to get as many reps as possible after recovering from injuries during college and his rookie season. He played 31 games with the minor league Nets before being traded to the Wizards, but McCullough had a much more unique G League experience during his time with the Brooklyn Nets organization.

“I had two-a-days,” McCullough explained. “In the morning, I would have a D-League game at 12:00pm and at night I had a 7:30pm [NBA] game, so I was doing double-headers for like two months straight. Just getting a lot of reps, playing a lot of minutes, that was overall good for me.”

Sheldon Mac played six games with the Delaware 87ers last season to get him playing time. Mac saw action in 30 games last season with the Wizards, but Brooks wanted to get Mac some game play after being inactive for a long stretch during the season. Mac averaged 10.7 points per in game in those six with Delaware, and later played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the postseason where he averaged 19.0 points per game in three appearances.

“A lot of people gave me motivation, just told me to stay positive,” Mac said about his time in Delaware. “Don’t look at it as a bad thing that you’re going down to the G-League. It’s not anything bad, they just want you to go down there just like I said for reps and to work on your game. It was a good thing for me, and I wouldn’t trade it because it helped me to this day.”

With an affiliate so close, players are able to play in more games and be more comfortable around the organization’s players, coaches, staff, and familiar faces. The Wizards and Go-Go will share the same facility and go through the same motions. McCullough noted in his time with the Nets that it was a major benefit to have the team close by as he was always around the organization and it was like a family.

Coach Brooks and one of the G League’s biggest success stories in Frazier can’t wait for the future of the Go-Go. With players on two-way contracts and players needing a rehab assignment after an injury, the Wizards can keep players in-house. Players will build familiarity with the team’s system and organization, and coaches will be able to grow as well.

“I think having a G-League team here in D.C. is going to be tremendous not only for just the players, but the fans as well,” Frazier said. “It gives you an opportunity to watch young players and guys who are trying to make it to the next step. It’s always close; the big thing about basketball is that it’s a family. To have your G-League team, basically your little brothers underneath you right there learning, and being able to be a part of the tremendous organization that the Wizards have is going to be huge.”

“I’m excited; it’s going to be a great opportunity for our organization, our fans to see the growth of our team through the G-League and through our team here with the Wizards,” Brooks said. “But I’m excited about it, the thing that I look back is just to see a new building form is a cool experience. I can’t wait for next season, but it’s going to be a big asset to our organization.”

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Capital City Go-Go: A major asset for the Wizards

Washington, D.C. – Wizards guard/forward Shelden Mac underwent surgery today to repair a torn left Achilles tendon.  The procedure, which went as expected, was performed by Wizards Director of Medical Services and Orthopedist Dr. Wiemi Douoguih at MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre.  Mac is expected to miss approximately six to eight months.

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Sheldon Mac Injury Update

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Photos  |Box Score

On a day in which the Wizards' starters played 10 minutes or less and the Cavs rested eight players, Washington came out on top, 102-94. Jodie Meeks (3-for-4 from beyond the arc) and Carrick Felix led the Wizards with 13 points a piece, while Bradley Beal had 11 points in his nine-plus minutes. The biggest news from the game came when Sheldon Mac fell awkwardly on his lower left leg in the second quarter and did not return.

Starters, outside of Oubre, play limited minutes

After Jason Smith started the first two preseason games alongside John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr., and Marcin Gortat, Kelly Oubre Jr. got the nod as the fifth starter on Sunday. Oubre played 15 minutes, scoring 10 points and bringing down five rebounds, including three offensive rebounds. He had a game-high +11 in his minutes on the floor. Smith (rest) did not play in the game.

"It was cool. We were able to switch a lot on defense," Beal said of the smaller starting lineup. "Our talking still has to be a little bit better, but as far as our spacing, the floor is very spaced and we have multiple shooters on the floor. I think it gives us a different dynamic that a lot of teams aren’t very used to seeing from us. We are usually a two big team and that will definitely give us a different look. I’m curious to see what Coach (Brooks) wants to do with it.”

Wall played seven-plus minutes, scoring six points and dishing out two assists. Beal had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including two 3-pointers. Gortat had a strong showing in his 10 minutes with five points and three rebounds and multiple defensive stops in the first quarter.

Point guard Donald Sloan played 28 minutes, scoring 12 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. The coaching staff gave him a good look in the second half, and Sloan had a fairly strong performance. Carrick Felix played 24 minutes, scoring 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Felix has proven all training camp and preseason why he's going to give it his all and hustle no matter what the score. Both Sloan and Felix are competing for a roster spot, and gave plenty of film for the coaches to look at.

“He plays with maximum effort," Scott Brooks said of Felix postgame. "That is his strength. You saw the last play -- he contested the shot when the game was pretty much over. That’s how he plays. He has one way of playing, he has the play hard button and he plays it and uses it every game and he steps on the floor and does the same thing in practice, every practice he brings it. He’s given himself a good opportunity to make the team and that’s what you want all of your players to do, and play hard and that’s to me that’s the easiest thing to do and a lot of times in the league that doesn’t seem to be the case. That’s the easiest thing to do is play hard and the hardest thing to do is to play well.”

When Sheldon Mac went down, the entire team surrounded him praying for one of the team's most-loved teammates. After the game, Scott Brooks said that Mac will get an MRI Sunday night or Monday morning to determine the extent of his injury. The Wizards will hope for the best, but it certainly didn't look good.

"It's super tough. He's a brother," Oubre said of Mac. "Our hearts dropped when he went down on the floor. I said a prayer for him when he was on the floor and I was standing over him. All we can do is just pray that he has a speedy recovery and continue to support him no matter what."

Next up, the Wizards head to Miami for their fourth preseason game Wednesday at 7:30pm.

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Wizards take care of Cavs, 102-94

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While technically this will be the Wizards second preseason game, it will be their first NBA preseason tilt as they welcome the New York Knicks to Capital One Arena on Friday night.  They will play three more preseason games after tonight before hosting the Sixers on Opening Night on October 18th.

Capital One Arena | 7pm | NBCSW | Buy Tickets 

Wizards: G - Wall, G - Beal, F - Porter, F - Smith, C - Gortat 

Wizards: Markieff Morris (Sports Hernia - Out), Tim Frazier (Groin - Out), Devin Robinson (Foot -Out), Donald Sloan (Questionable), Sheldon Mac (Thumb - Questionable)

Knicks: Ron Baker (Ankle - Doubtful), Luke Kornet (Hamstring - Doubtful), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Calk - Doubtful), Frank Ntilikina (Knee - Doubtful)

Friday will likely be John Wall's debut for the 2017 preseason, as he was held out of Monday's contest (rest).  He probably won't play too many minutes, but when talking to the media he said he prepares for every game, regular season or preseason, the same way and will be ready to play as many minutes as head coach Scott Brooks will allow.  Even with the game not counting for anything, after a long summer just seeing Wall back on the floor will be a welcoming sight for Wizards fans.  Wall has said he's now in the best shape of his career and Friday night will be our first look at the eight-year point guard.

With this being just the second preseason game and first against an NBA opponent, there should still be plenty of minutes for everyone on the roster, as the starters will probably be limited again,
 like they were on Monday.  The Wizards do have a few of those role players banged up, so that could play a factor, but don't expect any of the regulars to be playing more than 20-25 minutes.  With this preseason being shorter, there will be less games for those trying to make the roster to make an impression, so they'll want to capitalize on this opportunity against NBA talent.  The team also has to decide on how they will split up Markieff Morris' minutes, who joined the team on Thursday, but will be out for at least another six weeks after his sports hernia surgery.  They used Jason Smith as the starting PF on Monday, and may elect to go that route again on Friday, but Brooks has stated that no decision has been made on who will start at PF on opening night.

After being traded last week, the Knicks will no longer have their lethal scoring option, Carmelo Anthony at the forward spot.  They will now be led by their young star, Kristaps Porzingis, and have a bunch of new faces on this year's squad, including Enes Kanter, Tim Hardaway Jr, Doug McDermott, Michael Beasley, and Ramon Sessions.  Their top draft pick, Frank Ntilikina, won't play on Friday due to an injury.

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Wizards and Knicks meet in preseason battle

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The Wizards will welcome the Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association on Monday to tip off the 2017-18 preseason. Basketball is back in the nation's capital, as the Wizards begin their five-game preseason slate before opening night against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18 at Capital One Arena.

Capital One Arena | 7pm | Monumental Sports Network | Buy Tickets 

Wizards: G - Satoranskyl, G - Beal, F - Porter, F - Smith, C - Gortat 

Wizards: Markieff Morris (Sports Hernia - Out), Tim Frazier (Groin - Out), Devin Robinson (Foot -Out)

On the injury front, the Wizards will be without Markieff Morris for five to seven weeks as he recovers from his sports hernia surgery. On Saturday, Scott Brooks said backup point guard Tim Frazier (groin) is unlikely to play in Monday’s contest. Rookie Devin Robinson (foot) did not practice for much of training camp and he will not play on Monday. Before Monday's game, Brooks said John Wall will not play (rest).

Other than those injuries and Wall resting, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr., and Marcin Gortat will likely begin the game, although their minutes could be limited with this being the first preseason game of the preseason. Brooks will look to get quality minutes from Ian Mahinmi, Jodie Meeks, and Mike Scott, all of who are recovering from injuries last season. There will be plenty of minutes for young players like Tomas Satoransky, Kelly Oubre Jr., Chris McCullough, Sheldon Mac, Mike Young, Daniel Ochefu, and Carrick Felix.

The search for Morris’ replacement in the starting lineup

The Wizards have no inclinations of who will replace Morris in the starting lineup, but Coach Brooks certainly has options. Expect either Mike Scott or Jason Smith to get the start in Monday’s game, though there’s plenty of time and thought still putting into the decision. Scott plays similarly to Morris in his toughness on both ends and ability to stretch the floor. Smith filled in for Morris late last season and knows the four-position. The Wizards could also go small and put Oubre at the three-spot and move Porter to the four. Lastly, Brooks and others spoke highly of McCullough’s training camp and he projects to get heavy preseason minutes at power forward. Again, the team’s opening night starter will likely not be announced until opening night.

“We have versatility; we have depth; we can go in many different directions,” Brooks said during training camp. “We can go small, we can throw Kelly [Oubre Jr.] in there, we can throw Jason [Smith] in there. Mike Scott we can put in there. But there’s a lot of players that we can throw into the mix. We will miss him, but I feel confident in the group.”

The Long-Lions feature two American-born players in Tyler Hansbrough and Kyle Fogg. Hansbrough, arguably one of the most decorated college basketball players in NCAA history, signed with the Long-Lions this season after playing in the NBA and G-League since 2009. Hansbrough will be a good matchup to get the preseason for the Wizards down low. Fogg, who attended the University of Arizona and has spent most of his professional career overseas, was a part of the Overseas Elite team that won its third straight The Basketball Tournament (TBT) championship this season. Fogg will run the point for the Long-Lions and facilitate their offense. Both players know the NBA-style of play from their experience in college and in the NBA.