“Lacing The Shoes Up”
Wizards Training Camp

Barry Barnes, Chief B'More Correspondent/Editorialist

October 9, 2008 - The Washington Wizards opened training camp last Saturday in the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Camp ended this week, with the Wizards starting exhibition play against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Tuesday. The players and coaches are all smiles and full of confidence, with good reason.

Size is not an issue heading into the season because of the five seven-footers at camp. Last year not only were injuries to the team a factor, but the lack of size in the paint was another major issue. Forward Antawn Jamison is a great player, but standing at 6-9, he shouldn’t be the team’s best rebounder. “With Andray (Blatche), JaVale (McGee), and Pech (Oleksiy Pecherov) with Brendan (Haywood) and Etan (Thomas), you have a lot of seven-footers across the board with different skills,” said head coach Eddie Jordan.

“Andray is multi-skilled. Pech can step out to the three-point line, and he’s very physical inside. He liked to front the post. Obviously Brendan and Etan are veterans for us inside, fighting and clawing their way. JaVale is a long rookie that goes after every shot, so it’s a lot of fun to watch them all battle in the paint.”

Barry Barnes getting the scoop from Antoine Jamison during Wizard's Media Day.

It is great to see Thomas back after missing last season after having heart surgery. Thomas’ physical, veteran leadership was missed and to have him back in full strength, means a great deal. “I feel great,” he said. “I’m looking to make a different (this season). “I got checked out last week and everything looked good, so I’m ready to go.”

The absence of Thomas last year allowed Haywood to grow in the center position and the result was the best season of his young basketball career. “I’m excited about what this team can do this season because we will be better,” said Haywood. (Note: In an ironic twist, Haywood injured his wrist after the submission of this editorial, an injury mandating surgery. It is now Thomas that must flourish in Brendan’s extended absence).

The Wizards lost a Washington area native son in Roger Mason, Jr, who signed with the Antonio Spurs this off-season, but re-signed an old familiar face, Baltimore native Juan Dixon. For a moment, people thought with Arenas out, the team would hurt because of the production from Mason was gone. But with the guts and grip Dixon brings to the table, a sigh of relief came to the team. “It’s feels great to be back,” said Dixon. “I’m really excited to be back in Washington and to resume my career with the Wizards. I’m ready to step-in and contribute wherever Coach (Eddie) Jordan and the team needs me.”

In addition to an already, solid backcourt of Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson and the recently unleashed Nick Young, Dee Brown was added to the mix. “He’s tough,” said Coach Jordan of the gritty point guard from the Chicago area. “He pushes the ball. He’s fast, and his shot has really improved. He’s a speed demon out there. That’s something that we haven’t had since I’ve been coaching here, and we welcome that sort of talent.” Brown spent time in Turkey last season after being drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2006-07 season. “I just want to continue to hit my open shots, run the offense well and do everything that Coach (Jordan) wants me to do at 100 percent,” he said.

Coach Jordan had Celtic great K.C. Jones in to share with the club to help get the team more force. “That was classic,” said Coach Jordan. “When we saw K.C. Jones come in and he was sharing stories about the Celtics…guarding Jerry West and stuff like that…we really got a history lesson.” Coach Jordan, who signed a one-year extension a couple weeks ago, talked to Flip Sanders as well. “My main thing, since he’s a great coach, was to ask him how he attacked me on the defensive end (as an opposing coach) – what were some of the things that you focused on – and he said ‘we just hoped that you had a bad night,’” said Coach Jordan.

Despite Arenas being out due to injury, he is very much involved with the team. “(The team on the floor) Is very talented,” said Arenas. “Our young guys have been getting up to speed early, and the veterans are healthy and shooting the ball well, so this is a good training camp for us.” “He’s really into it,” said Coach Jordan of Arenas, also dubbed Agent Zero. “It’s good to have him in uniform and around.”

Training camp is not camp without players trying to make the roster. Forwards DeMarr Johnson, Linton Johnson III and Taj McCullough are the invited guests to attempt to make the roster. DeMarr is a 7 year pro who was drafted in 2000, sixth overall pick, by the Atlanta Hawks. He’s bounced around the league through career, but missed the entire 2002-03 season because of a cracked four vertebra in a car accident. Johnson has averaged 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in his career.

Linton was undrafted, from Tulane, but signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2003. Johnson has been around the league for 5 years and has averaged 2.5 points and 2 rebounds for his career. A rookie free agent from Winthrop, McCullough signed with the Wizards in September after a good summer league with the club, where he averaged 2.2 points and 2 rebounds in five games. “It’s a competitive atmosphere,” said Coach Jordan for forwards to make the roster.

Training camp was a success and the team is positive about this season. Expectations are high, yet health is the main issue with this team and they know it. “I think there is something with this training camp,” said Jamison. “We actually need this in order to really get it going because we were left with a bad taste in our mouth after losing in the first round of the playoffs”.

(Note: Jamison’s statements are not only ironic but could prophetic, as he will likely miss all or most of the preseason due to a diagnosed bruise knee).