When Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin let Michael Jordan go in May, he also bid goodbye to the franchise's drawing card, a fact highlighted yesterday when the NBA released its 2003-04 schedule.
None of the Wizards' 82 games is set to be television nationally, a snub common in Washington before Jordan's decision to leave the front office and play for the Wizards the last two seasons. Wizards games frequently were broadcast during those seasons, even though Washington failed to make the playoffs.
The league's broadcast partners -- ESPN, ABC and TNT -- revise their schedules during the season, so the Wizards could be added to their schedules if they emerge as an appealing draw.
Washington opens the season Oct. 29 in Jordan's home town of Chicago against the Bulls, like the Wizards one of the NBA's youngest teams. Then, over the next few weeks, they will host Cleveland and No. 1 pick LeBron James and a slew of the league's elite teams (New Jersey, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Detroit). The first month's home schedule is so chock full of top-tier teams that there might not be much of a drop in attendance from the past 82 home games, which were all sellouts, in large part because of Jordan.
New coach Eddie Jordan faces his former team and defending Eastern Conference champion New Jersey in the home opener on Nov. 1. Two weeks later, the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs come to town, followed by James and the Cavaliers four days later.
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Warriors point guard Gilbert Arenas, who is on his way to becoming a Washington Wizard, said one of the main reasons he didn't re-sign with Golden State was because he felt disrespected by owner Chris Cohan.
Arenas told radio station KNBR on Monday that his decision to a sign an offer sheet with the Wizards "came down to trust. ... I just couldn't do it."
Arenas, who was a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, $65 million offer sheet with the Wizards late last week. The Warriors have 15 days to decide whether or not to match the offer. However, for the Warriors to match, they would have to shed approximately $18 million from their payroll. General manager Garry St. Jean has all but conceded the Warriors won't be able to do so.
Arenas, the NBA's Most Improved Player, said he would have re-signed with the Warriors at a reduced price had Cohan given him an assurance he would receive a bigger payday down the line. The Warriors, constrained by the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, could offer Arenas a salary starting at approximately $4.9 million. He will make approximately $8.5 million in 2003-04 with Washington.
Had Arenas signed a one-year contract with the Warriors, he would have been eligible to sign the maximum allowable contract with them next summer.
"I don't know the guy (Cohan) personally," Arenas said. "I only know St. Jean and (executive director of basketball operations) Otis Smith. They can tell me everything I want to hear but if the guy who I do not know can tell me in my face the deal will get done no matter how I play ... that's all I wanted to hear."
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According to sources, the Wizards have planned from the beginning of this offseason to sign two free agent point guards. Gilbert Arenas was first on the Wizards’ offseason shopping list. Now that Arenas has signed, Wizards’ GM Ernie Grunfeld has turned his focus to Orlando Magic free agent Darrell Armstrong.
The 35 year old Armstrong, who has spent his entire nine-year career with the Orlando Magic, was viewed as a fallback option if the Wizards were unable to land Arenas. It appears now the Wizards are prepared to offer the veterans minimum to Armstrong. The Wizards have zero cap room left after inking Arenas. The most they can offer Armstrong is the nine-year veteran’s minimum of $1 million. The Wizards are unlikely to land Armstrong if another team makes a larger financial offer.
On Tuesday, Arenas signed the Wizards offer sheet of a six years, $63.75 million contract starting at $8.5 million. The Golden State Warriors, who drafted Arenas in the second round of the 2001 draft, have until August 6 to match Arenas’ contract. It appears very unlikely the Warriors will match the Wizards’ offer sheet given they would have to clear more than $20 million in salaries, an almost impossible task under current salary cap provisions.
If Armstrong is signed, he would add to an already crowded Wizards’ backcourt. The Wizards have Arenas and drafted Maryland alum Steve Blake with their second round draft pick. The team also has Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon, both of whom would likely will lose playing time to Arenas. While the Wizards like what they they’ve seen from Blake in the Boston summer league, it appears they would like more experience at the backup point guard position. Blake will still sign with the Wizards, however would probably be carried on the inactive list for most of the season. Armstrong averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 assists for the Magic last season.
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Wizards Jul 2003 Archive
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Orlando Sentinel | Jul 24, 2003
The Orlando Magic have now changed everything except their uniforms.
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Orlandomagic.com | Jul 23, 2003
The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Tyronn Lue, General Manager John Gabriel announced.
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Washington Post | Jul 23, 2003
Golden State Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas yesterday signed a six-year, $64 million offer sheet with the Washington Wizards, likely landing the team its point guard of the future and, for the first time in years, a young prospect from another team with all-star potential.
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Florida Today | Jul 23, 2003
Honoring a promise he made to head coach Doc Rivers a day after Orlando was eliminated from the playoffs, Andrew DeClercq re-signed with the Magic on Tuesday.
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Mercury News | Jul 22, 2003
Perhaps needing to sweeten free agent Tyronn Lue's deal to ward off last-minute suitors, the Orlando Magic have explored one intriguing scenario: Bringing back popular Darrell Armstrong_for at least a few minutes, anyway.
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Los Angeles Times | Jul 22, 2003
By the time the sun had set, however, that future remained murky with Arenas lost and Odom still in limbo.
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Mercury News Staff Columnist Skip Bayless | Jul 22, 2003
From start to Monday night's finish, the kid who wore No.
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ESPN | Jul 22, 2003
Gilbert Arenas, who is the most coveted player left on the free-agent market, signed a six-year offer sheet with the Washington Wizards on Monday night believed to be in the $65 million range.
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Washington Post | Jul 21, 2003
The Washington Wizards made their pitch to Golden State Warriors free agent guard Gilbert Arenas knowing they would have competition for his services.
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Washington Post | Jul 20, 2003
The Washington Wizards, who just days ago appeared to be the front-runners for Golden State Warriors free agent Gilbert Arenas, now have stiff competition from the Los Angeles Clippers, who made Arenas an offer tonight, according to a source close to the situation.
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L.A. Daily News | Jul 19, 2003
The Clippers met with Golden State Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas and are considering making an offer to the unrestricted free agent, a Clippers executive confirmed Friday.
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Washington Post | Jul 19, 2003
The Washington Wizards continued talking with representatives for Golden State Warriors free agent Gilbert Arenas today as the guard also began considering offers from other teams.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jul 18, 2003
The Orlando Magic have found their starting point guard, reaching an agreement with free agent Tyronn Lue on Friday.
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Contra Costa Times | Jul 18, 2003
There still is hope for the Warriors.
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San Francisco Chronicle | Jul 18, 2003
The Washington Wizards gave Gilbert Arenas the royal treatment Thursday, presenting him with a poster and a bobblehead in his likeness and taking him to owner Abe Pollin's suite to watch a sold-out WNBA game at the MCI Center.
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Orlando Sentinel | Jul 18, 2003
The Orlando Magic will sign veteran Andrew DeClercq and rookie Reece Gaines today and are just a sticking point away from completing a deal for free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue.
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Washington Times | Jul 18, 2003
The Washington Wizards moved closer to making Gilbert Arenas their point guard of the future yesterday, offering him a multi-year contract with a salary believed to be between $6 million and $7 million in the first year.
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Washington Post | Jul 17, 2003
Representatives for Washington Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse were trying to negotiate a settlement with the woman who accused the player Sunday of assaulting her in Atlantic Beach, N.
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Washington Post | Jul 17, 2003
Golden State Warriors free agent point guard Gilbert Arenas, the principle player the Washington Wizards have targeted to acquire this offseason, met with President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld and Coach Eddie Jordan tonight in Washington and could come to terms on a multiyear contract as soon as Thursday, a source close to the negotiations said.
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Washington Times | Jul 16, 2003
The spur of the moment cross-country trip by general manger Ernie Grunfeld, coach Eddie Jordan and assistant Phil Hubbard appears to have moved the Washington Wizards to the front of the line in the Gilbert Arenas sweepstakes.
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Washington Post | Jul 16, 2003
The arrest warrant issued Sunday for Washington Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse for allegedly assaulting a female states that the woman accused him of "grabbing her around the neck and taking her to the ground.
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Daily Herald | Jul 15, 2003
Bulls general manager John Paxson has talked about bringing back Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant this summer.
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Denver Post | Jul 15, 2003
Agent Andy Miller described discussions between Washington Wizards free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue and the Nuggets as "extensive conversation.
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Washington Post | Jul 15, 2003
The Washington Wizards, in a move to make a major play in free agency, today met with Golden State Warriors free agent guard Gilbert Arenas -- last season's most improved player -- according to sources with knowledge of the talks.
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Washington Post | Jul 15, 2003
Washington Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse, facing a misdemeanor assault charge after a woman accused him of grabbing her during a disagreement over his lease of a summer rental home, today called the incident an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that he hoped would be resolved soon.
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Florida Today | Jul 15, 2003
An Orlando Magic franchise that will have a different look next season with newly designed uniforms also is apparently in the midst of a drastic re-make of its starting lineup.
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Washington Post | Jul 14, 2003
Washington Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse was arrested in Atlantic Beach, N.
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Washington Post | Jul 14, 2003
Washington Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse was arrested in Atlantic Beach, N.
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Denver Post | Jul 13, 2003
Although Washington Wizards free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue said he has received interest from the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat, he prefers to come to Denver.
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Washington Post | Jul 12, 2003
The housecleaning of the Michael Jordan regime continued yesterday when the Washington Wizards announced they would part ways with director of player personnel Fred Whitfield.
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Medina Gazette | Jul 11, 2003
Veteran point guard Tyronn Lue has had contract talks with Miami, Orlando and Detroit, and the unrestricted free agent will meet with representatives from Denver today.
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Denver Post | Jul 11, 2003
Five years after being drafted by Denver, Washington Wizards free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue could end up playing for the Nuggets.
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Washington Times | Jul 11, 2003
Other than an occasional off-the-record comment by Jerry Stackhouse, most of the Washington Wizards detested the way they were forced to play basketball last season but kept their feelings to themselves.
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Florida Today | Jul 11, 2003
The Orlando Magic entertained free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue on Wednesday, while also remaining in the hunt for prized power forwards Juwan Howard and P.
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Cleveland Plain Dealer | Jul 10, 2003
The Cavaliers and General Manager Jim Paxson remain mum when it comes to which players the organization is pursuing through free agency or which players they have interest in through a possible trade.
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Washington Post | Jul 9, 2003
Free agent point guard Speedy Claxton will visit Washington on Thursday, when he is scheduled to meet with team officials and tour the team's facilities, according to his agent, Bill Duffy.
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Washington Post | Jul 9, 2003
Kwame Brown, Juan Dixon and Etan Thomas, free agent veteran Bobby Simmons and draft picks Jarvis Hayes and Steve Blake will play for the Washington Wizards in the Boston summer league, which begins Monday against the Atlanta Hawks.
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Washington Post | Jul 8, 2003
Michael Jordan and Doug Collins, the two most imposing figures in Kwame Brown's professional basketball career, are gone.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 3, 2003
Patrick Ewing could not resist offering a little freelance mentoring.
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Washington Times | Jul 3, 2003
The Washington Wizards lost Patrick Ewing from their coaching staff yesterday but wasted little time replacing him when coach Eddie Jordan named Phil Hubbard to take his place.
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Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter | Jul 2, 2003
At 6 feet 2, Kevin Ollie was the shortest Sonic last season.
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Washington Post | Jul 2, 2003
President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld may be new to the Washington Wizards, but he's not new to the job.
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Washington Post | Jul 1, 2003
Shortly after Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin told Michael Jordan that he would not be rehired as president of basketball operations, Pollin called Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl to get permission to interview General Manager Ernie Grunfeld.
