Wizards Insider: June 20, 2010 - June 26, 2010

John Wall's welcome to D.C.

By Michael Lee  |  June 26, 2010; 10:44 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (97)
Categories:  John Wall  
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Andray Blatche to miss three months

Andray Blatche is expected to miss the next three months after undergoing successful surgery to repair a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, according to a release from the Wizards. Blatche had the procedure performed at Sibley Hospital on Friday night. Based on the timetable, Blatche won't...

By Michael Lee  |  June 25, 2010; 11:02 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (41)
Categories:  Andray Blatche  
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Andray Blatche breaks his right foot [UPDATED]

The news is rarely all good when it comes to the Washington Wizards, and even "John Wall Day" -- which D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty proclaimed June 25 -- has been soured with some disappointing news. Wizards forward Andray Blatche will have surgery on Friday to repair a broken fifth metatarsal...

By Michael Lee  |  June 25, 2010; 4:55 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (47)
Categories:  Andray Blatche  
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John Wall dunks on Fox & Friends

Wait, John. Say that again. LeBron is going where? (Photo by Amanda Thorn/NBA) John Wall just arrived in D.C. after spending his morning taping a segment for "Fox and Friends" at FoxNews in New York. While there, Wall got to meet comedians Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, who are...

By Michael Lee  |  June 25, 2010; 1:01 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (19)
Categories:  John Wall  
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Wild night for Wall, Wizards

About two hours after he became a Wizard, John Wall was already wearing down. After shaking hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern and walking off the stage at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Wall sat on the couch with Mark Jones, sat down with reporters in the back...

By Michael Lee  |  June 25, 2010; 3:31 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (203)
Categories:  John Wall , Kevin Seraphin , Trevor Booker  
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Wizards' plan was to get tougher through draft

Wizards team President Ernie Grunfeld said among the team's top priorities in this draft was to add toughness, and thus it made a deal with Minnesota for the No. 23 and 56 picks in exchange for the 30th and 35th selections. "There were two or three guys we were looking...

By Gene Wang  |  June 25, 2010; 12:35 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (26)
Categories:  NBA draft  
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'Emotional' John Wall optimistic about making playoffs

John Wall spoke with the media here at Verizon Center via teleconference and answered questions about his initial reaction to being the official No. 1 overall pick, if he can coexists with Gilbert Arenas and whether the Wizards are a playoff team. Here are some highlights from the news conference:...

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 11:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (19)
Categories:  John Wall , NBA draft  
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Grizzlies take Greivis Vasquez with 28th pick

Greivis Vasquez returned to Maryland for his senior season after exploring the NBA draft in 2009, and his final year allowed him to become the ACC player of the year and a first-round draft pick. Vasquez's gamble paid off Thursday when the Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the No. 28...

By Alexa Steele  |  June 24, 2010; 10:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (64)
 
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Wizards distribute John Wall T-shirts

The Wizards began marketing John Wall as soon as he became the official No. 1 overall selection in the NBA draft by distributing T-shirts that read: "Wall: Game Changer." You can be sure it's the first of many Wall items that will be available for purchase in the Wizards team...

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 10:04 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
 
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Wizards get rights to Trevor Booker from Timberwolves

The Wizards and Timberwolves have completed a deal in which Washington gets the rights to Trevor Booker, who was the 23rd overall pick by Minnesota, and the No. 56 pick in exchange for picks 30 and 35. The Wizards worked out the 6-foot-7 Booker on June 14 at Verizon Center,...

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 9:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (82)
Categories:  NBA draft  
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Wizards fans react to John Wall selection

The Wizards threw a draft party on the Verizon Center practice court for season ticket holders and other VIPs, and reaction to the John Wall pick was celebratory to say the least. Blue, black, gold and white balloons dropped from the ceiling moments after the pick was announced, and everyone...

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 8:12 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (64)
Categories:  John Wall  
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Ernie Grunfeld stresses patience for John Wall

Wizards team president Ernie Grunfeld spoke about John Wall shortly after the Wizards used the No. 1 overall pick on the point guard, saying while expectations are going to be extremely high, Washington is going to take a measured approach to his development. "We'll be patient with him," Grunfeld said....

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 8:07 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  John Wall , NBA draft  
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Wizards acquire 17th pick, Hinrich from Chicago (Updated)

The Wizards have agreed to a trade with the Chicago Bulls to acquire Kirk Hinrich and the 17th overall pick in exchange for a future second-round choice, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday. The deal provides the Wizards with a defensive-minded veteran guard with the ability...

By Michael Lee  |  June 24, 2010; 4:40 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (134)
 
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NBA draft live chat

Join staff writers Gene Wang and Zach Berman tonight at 7 for a live chat during the NBA draft. The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 overall pick and are expected to use it on point guard John Wall. The team also has the 30th and 35th picks. Access the...

By Gene Wang  |  June 24, 2010; 12:43 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (31)
Categories:  John Wall , NBA draft  
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After taking John Wall, Wizards seeking experience

With the NBA draft a few hours away, the Wizards are still working the phones in an effort to acquire a pick in the late lottery or teens to pair with No. 1 overall selection John Wall. Oklahoma City's shrewd trade to acquire the 18th pick and Daequan Cook from...

By Michael Lee  |  June 24, 2010; 12:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  NBA draft  
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Wizards, Magic discussed Gilbert Arenas-Vince Carter deal

Calm down, everybody. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) The Washington Wizards spoke with the Orlando Magic recently about a potential swap of Gilbert Arenas for Vince Carter, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. The source added that the talks didn't get very far and that...

By Michael Lee  |  June 24, 2010; 12:29 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (115)
Tags: gilbert arenas, orlando magic, vince carter, washington wizards  
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John Wall officially joins forces with Reebok

When John Wall walked down a staircase to officially get introduced as the new face of Reebok, the DJ played Jay-Z's "A Star Is Born." Although Wall has been famous in basketball circles for some time, but the choice of the song was appropriate since Wall is on the...

By Michael Lee  |  June 23, 2010; 9:32 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
 
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Ernie Grunfeld discusses a 'new era'

Washington Wizards team president Ernie Grunfeld just finished speaking to the media at Verizon Center in his final predraft news conference before Washington is all but certain to use the No. 1 overall pick on John Wall tomorrow night. Grunfeld did not confirm officially the Wizards would be selecting Wall,...

By Gene Wang  |  June 23, 2010; 12:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (78)
Categories:  Gilbert Arenas , John Wall , NBA draft  
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Ted Leonsis's 'Open Note to Wizards Fans'

Ted Leonsis hired his son, Zach, as an intern this summer and gave him the assignment of researching what made NBA teams champions over the past 20 season. The results of that research could be found in Leonsis's latest blog post about his plans for the franchise. Leonsis has never...

By Michael Lee  |  June 23, 2010; 9:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (46)
 
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John Wall: 'Don't let your attitude stop you from being something special'

John Wall let NBA.com shadow him for two workouts in his hometown of Raleigh, N.C. I've personally witnessed Wall working and he goes hard, rarely pausing for water or Gatorade breaks. It's impressive to see a 19-year-old kid with this sort of work ethic and commitment. He's far from a...

By Michael Lee  |  June 22, 2010; 11:07 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (16)
Categories:  John Wall , NBA draft  | Tags: John Wall, NBA draft, Washington Wizards  
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Wizards attempting to move up in draft

The Washington Wizards are actively attempting to acquire at least one more pick in Thursday's NBA draft, with team president Ernie Grunfeld working the phones in hopes that the team can assemble to best possible talent around No. 1 pick John Wall. The eventual selection of Wall isn't a secret,...

By Michael Lee  |  June 22, 2010; 3:34 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  NBA draft  
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John Wall's athleticism, scientifically proven

John Wall will be the No. 1 pick on Thursday primarily because he is an exceptional athlete at a critical position, point guard. Wall emerged as the best athlete at the NBA draft combine in Chicago. But now there is video evidence of his abilities, thanks to the folks...

By Michael Lee  |  June 22, 2010; 12:01 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (39)
Categories:  John Wall  
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SEC mini-reunion includes local product Bobby Maze

A.J. Ogilvy, Devan Downey and Bobby Maze had gotten used to playing against one another for their respective SEC teams. Today at Verizon Center, they were competing perhaps for a spot on the same roster as part of a group working out for the Washington Wizards four days before the...

By Gene Wang  |  June 21, 2010; 3:37 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (57)
Categories:  Gilbert Arenas , John Wall  
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Solomon Alabi highlights front-court players in predraft workout

Solomon Alabi is 7 feet 1, so it was peculiar when during the final drill of another round of predraft workouts for the Washington Wizards today, he stepped behind the three-point line to attempt a shot that would have concluded his portion of the session. Alabi tried a couple times...

By Gene Wang  |  June 21, 2010; 2:47 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (10)
 
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