Wall Makes Long Awaited Return

In a season that’s had very few bright spots, the Wizards finally had a reason to smile Saturday. Team star John Wall made his season debut to the delight of the fans at Verizon Center and led the Wizards to a 93-83 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

 

Wall missed the first 33 games of the season with a stress fracture in his left knee and the Wizards showed just how dependent they are on his talent. The team took a 5-28 record into Saturday night, easily the worst record in the NBA. They left looking like the team Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld had envisioned at the beginning of the season.

 

Wall did not start, but came in at the 4:56 mark in the first quarter. The crowd at Verizon welcomed him with a standing ovation. Initially, he struggled to find his shot, but Wall quickly made it clear he belonged on the floor. He played only 21 minutes and recorded 14 points, four assists, and two rebounds.

 

What was striking was just how different the team looked with Wall back in the lineup. Without him, the Wizards were the little engine that couldn’t; they started slow, kept things close for three quarters, then collapsed in the fourth quarter. It had become an all too familiar formula of futility.

 

Saturday, the Wizards looked like an actual collection of professionals. They played with confidence, they passed well, they executed well, they looked like a completely different team. This did not come against Cleveland or Sacramento, it came against a very good Atlanta team. It was the first glimpse of what this Wizards’team was expected to be.

 

What does this mean going forward? Unfortunately, the Wizards have dug themselves a hole far too deep to dig out of. They may have had playoff aspirations to start the season, but those are long gone. Interestingly enough, Wall’s return may actually hamper the Wizards. While they won’t challenge for the playoffs, if Saturday is any indication, they could climb the standings and hurt their place in the 2013 draft lottery.

 

To start the season the Wizards declared they were no longer a lottery team, but they probably did not foresee a 6-28 start. We knew this team was built around Wall, but in his absence we learned just how few playmakers there were on the roster. The loss of your best player does not excuse a historically bad start. Look at Chicago. Even without Derrick Rose, the Bulls are sixth in the East with a record of 20-15. The Wizards cannot build a team solely around a player who has yet to play a full NBA season and they would make his job easier with another star player. If they cannot get one in the draft, they will have to look elsewhere. There are reports that the Wizards are currently trying to negotiate a deal with Memphis for Rudy Gay. That’s a good start.

 

While it was only one game, the Wizards should us a glimpse of what they could be with Wall back in the lineup. Now, they just need to could him healthy and get him some help.

Wizards Walk Away from Deal for Harden

There was a sense of cautious optimism surrounding the Wizards heading into the 2012-13 season.  After a 3-20 start, however, expectations have lowered considerably.  John Wall has yet to play and the roster has been exposed without him.

Do you think James Harden could have helped?

Last week, it was leaked by several anonymous sources that the Wizards passed up a deal for James Harden in the offseason.  Sources vary on what Oklahoma City was asking for with some reports saying it would have taken Bradley Beal and Chris Singleton and others saying the Thunder wanted an established player as part of the deal.  The Wizards, however, walked away.

What was the issue?  Money.  The sources again vary on the specifics.  The Washington Post reported that the Wizards would have been subject to the luxury tax with the addition of Harden’s contract.  Other outlets reported that owner Ted Leonsis did not want to commit $80 million to Harden.  Leonsis has come out and denied both reports.

I am always hesitant to argue that an owner is not committed to building a winning franchise, but this looks really bad. Owners are usually successful businessmen who are savvy enough to understand that winning teams put people in seats.  There are always exceptions to the rule and I know there are dysfunctional franchises with terrible owners out there, but I have a hard time believing this is one of those cases.

Leonsis rebuilt the Capitals from one of the least profitable organizations to one of the most popular teams in the NHL.  He did it by giving out big contracts to star players, but the team went through a lengthy rebuilding process to get there.  I am sure the blueprint for the Wizards is probably pretty similar.

The problem is that the NBA is a different animal than the NHL.  The NBA is the most star driven sports league in America.  When you have the chance to bring one in at a relatively cheap price, you have to pull the trigger, especially when have no other way of attracting stars to come to the team.

Right now, there is no reason for a star player to sign in DC.  The team is terrible and DC is not really considered a “basketball” town.  When a star has a chance to sign with Miami, Boston, the Lakers, or Washington, in most cases the Wizards are going to be on the bottom of that list.

How do teams like Oklahoma City grow into a powerhouse?  They draft a star to build around.  Once that player establishes himself, it becomes easier to entice other players to sign with you.  No doubt that was the team’s plan with Wall which makes the timing of his injury potentially devastating.  The third year is often a make or break year for young talent.  If Wall is truly a budding young star, he needed to have a breakout year.

Would a free agent be more excited about playing with Wall or Kyrie Irving?  Wall is hoping his injury won’t keep him out for the entire season, Irving is playing like a superstar.  Out of sight, out of mind.

The Wizards have not done nearly enough to give hope to the fan base since Leonsis took over.  They got rid of the morons, drafted Wall, and traded for Nene.  That’s about it.  With people already questioning if Leonsis is committed to building the Wizards into a winning franchise, a report saying he turned his back on a player like Harden because he was too expensive just adds fuel to the fire.  The Wizards brought in Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, but Harden is where you draw the line?

There’s no guarantee Harden would be playing as well in DC as he is in Houston and even then Houston is only seventh in the West.  Still, the Wizards look absolutely pathetic.  Harden would have given fans something to watch while waiting for Wall.  Now, the Wizards have nothing to draw the fans.  A $50 ticket to watch Jan Vessely and Jordan Crawford is a tough sell.  Even when Wall does come back, he certainly won’t be able to save the season.  It’s not even Christmas yet, but the season already feels lost.

Of course all of this is easy for me to say, it’s not my $80 million. After years of turmoil and pathetic seasons, however, you have to prove to your fan base that you are committed to making the team better.  When you pass up an opportunity to bring in Harden because he would cost too much, it sends the wrong message to fans and potential free agents.  If bringing in players like Harden isn’t part of the plan, maybe it’s time to make a new plan.