Hooped Up

The Timberwolves agreed to trade guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Washington Wizards for the fifth overall draft pick and three players, leaving Minnesota with four first-round choices and plenty of ammunition to do even more wheeling and dealing. Two NBA officials with knowledge of the deal confirmed that the trade had been agreed upon Tuesday night. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed.

The deal would give Minnesota the fifth and sixth overall selections in Thursday’s NBA draft, as well as forwards Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov.

Press Release

The Washington Wizards select 5th overall in the 2009 NBA draft. Listen to who Fantasy Sports Girl Holly thinks the Wizards are picking and then check out her selections vitals, strengths, 08-09 stats and draft demo reel after the jump.

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The Orlando Magic proved that the Cavaliers need a big mobile forward with active legs and Antawn Jamison fits that description perfectly. Now can the Cavs and Wiz make a deal?

While plenty of media outlets are speculating about a potential deal between Cleveland and Phoenix, we’ve heard some talk of a possible trade between Cleveland and Washington actually. The deal would essentially be a cost-cutting move for the Wizards, sending Antawn Jamison and filler (Mike James) to the Cavs for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Wallace seems likely to retire, and Pavlovic is on a non-guaranteed contract for next season. It’s not clear whether the Wizards would need to surrender the #5 pick.

I have no idea why the Wizards would want to do this trade, but if Cleveland can make this deal happen it would be on par with and maybe even slightly better than landing Shaq.

Via DraftExpress.com

Flip Saunders will coach the Wizards and he’ll finally have a coaching situation that isn’t a dead end. Take my advice and pencil in the Wizards for a playoff spot in the east next year. 

Flip Saunders has officially agreed to become the 22nd head coach of the Washington Wizards, according to an NBA front office executive. After several days of speculation and suspense, Saunders finally signed his contract with the Wizards Tuesday night for a reported four years and $18 million. 

Sure the Wizards stunk this year, but that was due to injuries. Just look at the upside, they have a coach hungry to prove his worth, key players already under contract in a tight economy and they’ll get a lottery pick in the NBA draft this year. Things are definitely looking up in Washington, so look for Barack Obama to attend a few more games next season.

Via Washington Post

Ironically enough, Andray Blatche is having a season ending celebration this Sunday, April 12th, at “Josephine UltraChic Lounge“ in DC. What so ironic about that you say Guv’nor? Well two things.

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Your RRS reader just  shed a digital tear because Gilbert Arenas has told the media he’s hanging up his keyboard and will no longer blog. Bummer! Continue »

I really don’t want to jinx Gilbert Arenas before he (most likely) makes his comeback this Saturday. So all I’ll say about him practicing at full speed, is that I’ll plan to watch the Wizards game this weekend and have my fingers crossed until tip.

“The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus just left the District on Saturday night, Britney Spears’ “Circus” tour arrived at Verizon Center on Tuesday, and the Washington Wizards’ circus of a season rolled on. Gilbert Arenas and his thrice-surgically repaired left knee made a full return to practice after going through limited work off and on since Feb. 16. Center Brendan Haywood, out all season because of wrist surgery, resumed a full workload as well. And Caron Butler, who has missed the last six games with a strained hamstring took part in the majority of practice.”

C’mon Gilly!

Via Washington Times

The Wizards are so bad,  that the Washington Post and Washington Times did not send a beat report to cover them on their current 4 game west coast road swing starting tonight in Utah.  

“Wizards beat reporters from both the Washington Post, and the Washington Times, the money just wasn’t there to send them romping through Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver. Both scribes cite budget issues for not being on the road trip. But what’s the real reason? Is it ”in this economy” or ”this team is crappy”?

If the Wizards were in the playoff conversation, would these money hemorrhaging entities dig deep in their pockets to satisfy the DMV’s thirst for a winner? Most likely.”

My damn! Print media is dying a fast digital death, and it’s not surprising that they have to make cuts somewhere and why not start with the wonky (16 - 53) Wizards. Washington has been crap-tastic this season due to injuries, and the Post and Times are hardly reporting news because the Wizards lose almost 80% (76.8% to date) of the time . Even when they win, nobody cares because they are too far back in the east for it to matter and if they lose it’s only expected.

However, if the Post or Times would like to send me to cover the Wizards I’ll do it for free if I can hang out with the Wizard dancers in Washington D.C. — and beer.

Via NBC  + (H/T Truth About It)

This play was named the Assist of the Night by NBA TV, because the dish by Andray Blatche was sweet! But to me the finish by Nick Young was even sweeter! 

Just ask Kurt Thomas and George Hill.

The Chicago Bulls are terrible and the Washington Wizards are worse! But when the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama shows up courtside at the Verizon Center to watch them battle. It becomes a historic match up and future Jeopardy question.

Until February 27, 2009, it was 10 years since the last time a President was in attendance for an NBA game. It was also the first time somebody drank an actual glass of beer at a game since probably — ever. Obama received a standing ovation as he entered the arena, delaying the start of the 113-90 thumping his hometown Bulls eventually received and left a few minutes early like any regular fan on the wrong side of a blowout would.

This guy is too awesome!!!

Video of Barack Obama at the Verizon Center after the jump.

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