By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
2004-05 FINISH: 45-37
OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: Chucky Atkins (G) - Trade with LA Lakers; Calvin Booth (C) - Free Agent; Caron Butler (F) - Trade with LA Lakers; Antonio Daniels (G) - Free Agent.
OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: Kwame Brown (F) - Traded to LA Lakers; Steve Blake (G) - Signed with Portland; Juan Dixon (G) - Signed with Portland; Larry Hughes (G) - Signed with Cleveland; Laron Profit (G) - Traded to LA Lakers.
2005 DRAFT PICKS: 2. (49) Andray Blatche (F, South Kent Prep).
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: PG Gilbert Arenas, SG Antonio Daniels, SF Antawn Jamison, PF Jared Jeffries, C Brendan Haywood
COACH: Eddie Jordan
(Basketball News) - Can the Washington Wizards make the postseason for a second straight year?
Washington returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign, when it was known as the Bullets. The Wizards won 45 games and earned a seven-game series win over the Chicago Bulls in the first round. They ran into a buzzsaw in round two, as the Miami Heat swept them in four games.
It was a great season for the club. For the first time since 1987, Washington had two players represent the franchise in the All-Star Game. In 1987, the Bullets, who became the Wizards for the 1997-98 regular season, were represented in the All-Star Game by center Moses Malone and guard Jeff Malone.
In the 2005 All-Star Game, guard Gilbert Arenas and forward Antawn Jamison were on the Eastern Conference squad. Arenas and Jamison have developed into one of the most potent one-two punches in the league, and they are the cornerstones on this franchise.
The 23-year-old Arenas played in 80 contests during the 2004-05 regular season. He led the team in scoring (25.5 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg). Arenas also had a strong showing in the playoffs, as he averaged a team-best 23.6 points to go along with a club-leading 6.2 assists. He drained clutch shots and was a big reason that Washington advanced to the second round for the first time since 1982.
Jamison averaged 19.6 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds in 68 games during the 2004-05 campaign, which was his first with the Wizards. He gave the Wizards the scoring that they had lacked up front in the previous season.
Arenas and Jamison did get a lot of help from guard Larry Hughes, who posted 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 61 contests last season. There is some bad news, as Hughes was an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and decided to sign a lucrative, multi-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hughes’ offensive production and defensive ability will be missed.
Washington also lost guards Steve Blake and Juan Dixon. The pair of Maryland products signed on with the Portland Trail Blazers. Blake was a restricted free agent and the team decided not to match Portland’s offer, while Dixon was unrestricted.
Antonio Daniels, who averaged 11.2 points and 4.1 assists in 75 games for Seattle in 2004-05, was signed by the Wizards. The 6-4 guard will take Hughes’ spot in the lineup. He won’t score as much as Hughes did, but he is a solid defender who can play both guard spots and can even fill in at small forward if needed. His versatility will be a big bonus for coach Eddie Jordan, who will be starting his third season with the club.
The Wizards did part ways with forward Kwame Brown, who was dealt along with guard Laron Profit to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Chucky Atkins and swingman Caron Butler. Brown, a restricted free agent, did not live up to expectations after being selected out of high school by the Wizards with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft.
In four years with Washington the 6-foot-11 Brown, who was the first high school player ever taken with the top pick, had averaged just 7.7 points with 5.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. His best season came in 2003-04 when he scored 10.9 points and grabbed 7.4 boards in 74 games.
BACKCOURT
Arenas is one of the top point guards in the NBA. He is explosive offensively and has continued to get better every year during his four-year career. The 6-3 lead guard will team with Daniels to give the Wizards a solid backcourt duo.
With Hughes gone, Arenas will see more shots and will have the burden of having to increase his already impressive scoring average. Daniels is good on the break and will help Washington’s transition game stay in tack, but the void in scoring that was created when Hughes left for Cleveland will definitely be felt.
Atkins, Butler and Jarvis Hayes are nice trio of guards for Jordan to have coming off the bench. The 31-year-old Atkins, who averaged 13.6 pints and 4.4 assists for the Lakers last season will back up Arenas and could also see some time alongside him, while Hayes and Butler can both play shooting guard and small forward and will allow Jordan to shuffle his lineup and create matchup headaches for the opposition.
FRONTCOURT
Jamison will once again carry a heavy load for the Wizards’ frontcourt. The 6-9 North Carolina product will play both forward spots and must continue to be efficient in all aspects of the game if Washington hopes to return to the playoffs.
The 29-year-old Jamison is primarily a scorer. He does bang down low and pulls down quite a few rebounds, however he is Washington’s only real threat up front.
Butler, Hayes and Jared Jeffries will play next to Jamison. There should be plenty of time for Butler and Hayes since they will also get minutes in the backcourt. Jeffries, who will turn 24 on November 25, averaged 6.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games in 2004-05 and seems to be improving into a decent power forward.
Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas will share the responsibilities in the middle. Neither player is a dominant force, but they are big bodies who can rebound and are able to score occasionally.
The fact is that the Wizards lack scoring in the frontcourt. Jamison must stay healthy and continue to put up big numbers in the scoring column if Washington hopes to make it back to the postseason in 2005-06.
OUTLOOK
The loss of Hughes is going to hurt a lot more than the Wizards think. Arenas and Jamison are excellent, but their former teammate helped in a big way to get them over the hump.
Washington will have a tough time duplicating its performance in 2004-05. The Wizards win total will fall to between 35-38, which should put them back into the lottery.
Washington Wizards 
