Wizards Insider

UNLV’s Anthony Bennett doesn’t expect shoulder injury to affect draft stock

Michael Lee — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:33:19 GMT

UNLV freshman power forward Anthony Bennett frowned as he glanced down at his left arm while attending the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday. Nearly a week removed having surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff, Bennett is wearing a … Continue reading →

John Wall and Bradley Beal expected to participate in Team USA minicamp

Michael Lee — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:36:57 GMT

John Wall and Bradley Beal are both expected to be among the 24 players to participate in USA Basketball’s minicamp in July. Team USA officials have already begun the process of tracking potential talent for the 2014 World Cup in … Continue reading →

Wizards move up but could still miss out on Otto Porter Jr.

Michael Lee — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:43:10 GMT

Wizards Coach Randy Wittman called Bradley Beal from the golf course about an hour before Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery and had one simple message: “Don’t screw it up.” Beal delivered, as the Wizards hurdled five teams to enter a more … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Bradley Beal brought the luck, still waiting to be cleared to play

Michael Lee — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:01 GMT

Bradley Beal doesn’t wear his copper-colored tie too often, but felt that representing the Wizards in Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery was one occasion that warranted him to put it on display once more. The tie is special to him, … Continue reading →

Wizards make the leap to draft night relevance

Michael Lee — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:03:25 GMT

When Bradley Beal gleefully walked down from his seat in the back row of the stage at the Disney/ABC Times Square studios to stand next to Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s son, Nick, and Orlando Magic senior vice president Pat … Continue reading →

Wizards have numerous possibilities entering NBA draft lottery

Michael Lee — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:48 GMT

The Wizards’ odds of winning the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday are slim and the actual prize isn’t obvious, since no player has distinguished himself as the unquestioned No. 1 overall pick. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any intrigue … Continue reading →

UCLA swingman Shabazz Muhammad out to change perceptions before NBA draft

Michael Lee — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:53:39 GMT

This time last year, Shabazz Muhammad probably thought one year at UCLA would give him the chance to showcase his scoring ability and mature game, building upon his hype as the prohibitive favorite to go No. 1 overall in the … Continue reading →

Spurs-Grizzlies Western Conference finals preview

Michael Lee — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:45:13 GMT

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies Why the Spurs Will Win in Seven: In order for the Spurs to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007, they will have to contain the … Continue reading →

Indiana’s Victor Oladipo: ‘I’m just abnormal’

Michael Lee — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:57:54 GMT

By the time Indiana junior and former DeMatha standout Victor Oladipo arrived at the Harrison Street Athletics Facility in Chicago for the NBA draft combine, scouts and talent evaluators had known so much about the first team all-American that the … Continue reading →

Alex Len: ‘Ten years from now, I’ll be the best player out of this draft’

Michael Lee — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:43:40 GMT

Maryland sophomore big man Alex Len arrived at the NBA draft combine on crutches, unable to participate in any drills and limited to being a spectator after having surgery to stabilize a partial stress fracture in his left ankle. The … Continue reading →

Bradley Beal to represent Wizards at NBA draft lottery

Matt Bonesteel — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:25:32 GMT

Bradley Beal doesn’t consider himself to be very superstitious, but the Wizards are hoping that he can be a good luck charm next week. One day after it was announced that he was named to the NBA all-rooke first team, … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Bradley Beal named to NBA all-rookie team

Michael Lee — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:28:19 GMT

Bradley Beal carried himself with such maturity and poise throughout his rookie season that it was easy for his Washington Wizards teammates and coaches to forget that he’s just 19. His career started with two pitiful shooting performances that pushed … Continue reading →

Former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan done seeking head position in NBA

Michael Lee — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:09:27 GMT

Eddie Jordan hasn’t been an NBA head coach since he was fired in 2010 after one failed season in Philadelphia. Three years later, Jordan is now a college head coach at Rutgers and hopes to help the program return to … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Jan Vesely seeks to regain confidence this summer

Michael Lee — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:30:23 GMT

The red, spinning, blaring firetruck sirens of concern about Jan Vesely should’ve been set off in Charlotte in early November, when he willingly allowed Jordan Crawford to attempt free throws for him. Vesely knew that Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas had … Continue reading →

Golden State’s ‘could’ve-been-Wizards’ making noise

Michael Lee — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:17:32 GMT

The Wizards have their back court of the future set with John Wall and Bradley Beal, but the back court that they could’ve had is already making noise in the present. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – the sharpshooting sons … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Jason Collins riding the wave, not writing a book – yet

Michael Lee — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:31:52 GMT

Jason Collins continues to ride the wave of positive momentum since he came out as the first active openly gay athlete in one of the four major professional sports. Already this week, Collins has done sit-down interviews with “Good Morning … Continue reading →

Minnesota hires former Wizards coach Flip Saunders as president of basketball operations

Michael Lee — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:59:58 GMT

Former Wizards coach Flip Saunders has made his way back into the NBA, back in Minnesota, the place that he has called home for most of the past 40 years. After weeks of speculation, the Timberwolves introduced Saunders as president … Continue reading →

Former Wizard Jordan Crawford exchanges words with Carmelo Anthony

Michael Lee — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:08:21 GMT

Jordan Crawford didn’t have to play in the Boston Celtics’ 92-86 win over the New York Knicks to dominate the tabloid back pages and Internet discussions the morning after his team forced a Game 6. All the former Wizard had … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Bradley Beal finishes third in Rookie of the Year voting

Michael Lee — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:02:46 GMT

Little more than a year ago, Bradley Beal was contemplating whether he should leave for the NBA or stay at Florida and take another shot at winning a national title as a sophomore. He counseled with his family and Florida … Continue reading →

Wizards’ Jason Collins discusses No. 98

Michael Lee — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:41:00 GMT

Every time he put on his No. 98 jersey this season in both Boston and Washington, Jason Collins knew he was making a silent but powerful statement to himself, his family and friends. But he also knew that the wasn’t … Continue reading →

Wizards’ plans not affected by Jason Collins announcement

Michael Lee — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:09:18 GMT

Jason Collins informed Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld and Coach Randy Wittman of his plans to go public with his homosexuality before his first-person cover story was published Monday on Sports Illustrated’s Web site. But the barrier-shattering revelation will have no … Continue reading →

Jason Collins called teammate Emeka Okafor before article was published

Michael Lee — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:17:45 GMT

Michael Lee has been talking with some of Jason Collins’s teammates on the Wizards, and with head coach Randy Wittman, who said he spoke with Collins on the phone Monday morning. They expressed both surprise — and support — for … Continue reading →

Wizards backup Jason Collins: “I’m gay”

Michael Lee — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:53:47 GMT

Wizards backup center Jason Collins became the first active professional basketball player to announce that he is gay in Sports Illustrated this week. In a first person cover story written with Franz Lidz, Collins declared, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. … Continue reading →

Report: Flip Saunders to run basketball operations in Minnesota

Michael Lee — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:05:34 GMT

Former Wizards coach and current ESPN NBA analyst Flip Saunders appears set to find a new home in his old neighborhood. NBA.com is reporting that Saunders is in negotiations to replace David Kahn as president of basketball operations for the … Continue reading →

Wizards’ John Wall came back twice in his third season

Michael Lee — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:00:25 GMT

The debate over whether or not John Wall deserves a maximum contract hijacked the final weeks of his third season and overshadowed the more compelling aspect of his campaign: Wall made two incredible comebacks. In the first, Wall recovered from … Continue reading →