Rare NBA Post: Mike Bad For the Wiz

[Anarky]

Jordan's return was bad for the Bullets...errrrrrr, Wizards.

With him, they're barely competitive enough to break into the playoffs.

The traded away much of their good prospects for what? Jerry Stackhouse??? He's good and all but apparently he's wasn't that critical to the Detroit's success: they're the Top team in the East w/ Rip Hamilton, whom the Wiz dealt to MoTown. And Rip's younger than Stack...and more affordable.

And does anyone think Stack is gonna hang around the District after this season? HA! NOBODY wants to play in DC, no matter how much bling you fling.

And how about Kwame Brown. they blew the top pick on him...but when Mike decided to re-unretire, he squashed any chance of Kwame developing. Watch Kwame blow outta DC and blossom elsewhere a la Jermaine O'Neal/Tracy McGrady (which will happen to LeBron too)

I hope Washington pockets all the money they got from the Jordan Gravytrain because there's another dryspell in their near future: lots of ping-pong balls, lots of L's, and empty seats @ MCI. Jordan set the Wizards back several years. They'll be as popular as the Cavs & Hawks.

[keds1017]

man, you're crazy Jordan is the best thing to happen to the Wizs...Half of the people you mention wouldn't be on the team if it wasn't for Jordan. and the reason Rip is so good because of Jordan's influence on him.. and Kwame Brown is just a lazy kid you can't blame that on Mike.. beside he should've been develop before he came to the NBA. Hell, the man took less money and bench himself to better the team.. Blame the damn scrubs with no heart not Jordan.. bunch of loser don't know how to win..they put everything on a 40 year old man shoulders he can't do everything.. Stackhouse is done he need to retire. :p

[Anarky]

you got it wrong.
they're a 9th/10th seed team WITH Mike
They'd have been better off w/o him because:

A. They'd still have Hamilton (who was good BEFORE Mike...remember UCONN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP?)
B. Kwame would be getting the minutes he needs instead of being buried in favor of the "win-now so we can get trounced in the first-round mentality"
C. The Wizards would have made great strides towards respectability and may have had something in place for a playoff run in '04 or '05.

When Mike decided to lace 'em up again, he destroyed the rebuilding process. He set them back 3...maybe 5 years. He was a great player but coming back has retarded their growth.

So they sellout the building and people buy their gear. they're just fair-weather fans. When he's out, they're out. And what will you have left:

an Iverson clone (Lue), Laettner, an underused Kwame, Larry Hughes (who's already been kicked outta Philly & Golden State), and injured newbies Etan Thomas & Jarred jefferies.

Look at it this way: WITH MIKE, the Wizards are still not good enough to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Bucks will probably get in w/ a sub-.500 record. That's all you need to know about the Wiz.

His coming back was not in the best interest of the franchises future. Did they think he would lift them to new heights? That with him in place, every free agent would be knocking oj their door to play in DC? What are these guys smoking??? They should've stuck w/ grooming their prospects rather than trading them away for the likes of uber vets oakley, Russell, & Laettner. And why'd they get Hughes and Lue???

They should've kept the guys they had in place: Rip, Alexander, etc...

for the Wiz, this was all about cashing in on Mike...it wasn't about winning or improving the club for the future. It was all about making a quick buck. now they can resume their normal role: last in the Atlantic. The MJ Party is over and now the Wiz are left to clean-up a huge mess ALONE.

no wonder they're the clippers east
at least the clippers actually tried to put a team together
on paper, they rock...too bad it never fell into place
perhaps in the East, the Clips would be a 7 or 8 seed.

[czyznyck99]

The Clippers will never have a chance with their bad management. Even though the Wizards should be better than they are now, they at least have some decent management.

Later.

[keds1017]

no way anarky I totally disagree with you !! first off wiz was nothing before mike got there, he brought them respectability. And Rip{NCAA championship means nothing in the NBA, He play with men now not boys} he wasn't as good as he is now, Jordan had a positive influence on him Rip said it himself. Jordan help him with his stamina and wieght training and confidence.. Before that Rip was a scared little boy, always afraid of contact while going through the lane.. and on Kwame Brown this kid needs to playing on both side of the ball that why he's not getting the minutes. no defense , no play!!! Brown is a stubborn and lazy kid who need to repect his elders, instead of *****ing about minutes he need to sit back and learn how to play the game first..no way did jordan destory the rebuilding process the man took less money to be on this team... Geez its like he play for free, what more can he do!!! look at 40 years old he's still the best player on the team and you know it!! Stop the hating man.. you post that w/mike they can't make the playoff but you know their be even worst without him!! and this is coming from a Knick fan!!! :p Geez....

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I don't think some of you understand. While the Wiz may be a better team with him RIGHT NOW, his return was ultimately bad for the franchise in that he held back the youngsters from learning and traded for too many veterans.

Jordan also blew a lot of close games because of his old age, when maybe some of the younger players could have gotten a taste at performing in close situations. The Wiz will suffer in the future when he's gone, and his return was largely 2 wasted years, albeit 2 exciting wasted years for Washington. The prognosis is not good, but MJ has no one to blame but himself.

He may have been a great player, but he's not a perfect person, oh far from it. So far he has not shown himself to be a great GM, not even one with great potential.

[keds1017]

Come on!! lets be real who do you want to take the last shot Stackhouse, Brown, Lue, Haywood, or Jordan... the man bench himself in the begining of the season..to let the kids take over. guess what it didn't happen!! Jordan is the only threat on this team {or maybe Stack} in order to win the in NBA you need two Superstars and a good defense.. all the Wiz have is one allstar ,one good player, a bunch of scrubs.. and whan Jordan was GM he got rid of the cancers of the team Howard,Webber.. and clear cap space to sign rookies like Kwame Brown.. I'm sure they have money under the cap. When is Stackhouse contract ends? anyone knows?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Come on!! lets be real who do you want to take the last shot Stackhouse, Brown, Lue, Haywood, or Jordan... the man bench himself in the begining of the season..to let the kids take over. guess what it didn't happen!! Jordan is the only threat on this team {or maybe Stack} in order to win the in NBA you need two Superstars and a good defense.. all the Wiz have is one allstar ,one good player, a bunch of scrubs.. and whan Jordan was GM he got rid of the cancers of the team Howard,Webber.. and clear cap space to sign rookies like Kwame Brown.. I'm sure they have money under the cap. When is Stackhouse contract ends? anyone knows?

The Kings have built a pretty good team with Webber in it. So it's not like he's hopeless.

It's not about winning right NOW for the Wiz. It's about helping the kids learn how to win LATER. They won't learn if they don't try. So what if someone takes the last shot instead of Jordan? So what if they miss? The Wiz aren't likely going to the playoffs this season, so all in all, it was pointless to have Jordan get the Wiz to win 30 something games or so and miss the playoffs, then retire. Not only did he hold the players back, he also screwed up their draft chances! And other than the top 3 or 4, this year's draft is THINNNNNNN.

Jordan benched himself in the beginning of the season, but he was ALWAYS on the floor at crunch time. And you know, the kids are intimidated by Jordan, so overall, just being around freaks out the kids.

Stackhouse's contract is up this offseason, I think. Expect him to bolt. No way does he want to help rebuild. I don't even think he likes Jordan.

[keds1017]

so how much money do the Wizs have under the cap?.. maybe they can get someone that a free agent.. I don't think Jordan held back anyone they just not very good..earlier in his career did he ever hold anyone back noope.. he made them better.. and on Chris Webber is a choke artist when its crunchtime he will always crack..{just like in college} i just don't trust him in a big spot, they even win he's out of the line up. The Kings has a lot of fire power.. Chris Webber is just a full court player, Remember playoffs is half court.. anyway Jordan is a good player but just not a great player..but your right they alway play like they're in awe of Jordan.. ah worry Wiz you will have a bright future ahead you unlike my crapfest Knicks..Were so strap over the cap its not even funny!!

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Nah, the Wiz will suck next year. Barring a stunning signing or trade for, say, Tim Duncan or Jason Kidd, the Wiz will be like the Cavs or Hawks for several years yet. The Knicks, well, I think they'll be mediocre until the big contracts run out. At least Allan Houston is trying to live up to his contract, even though he doesn't deserve it. Gotta get rid of Spree.

I think Webber gets slagged more than appreciated. I don't like the guy's attitude myself, but he played pretty good in the playoffs last year. Does he choke when the game's on the line? Yes. But you still need Webber to get you to that point. When he's "on", he can light you up from the inside, and even with Shaq in the middle, he still scored quite a few points and grabbed a lot of rebounds during that playoff series. As much firepower as the Kings have, I don't think they stand a chance against this year's Spurs or Lakers without him. They might not be able to beat the Mavs without him either.

Webber's a guy who gets you near the finish line, but he needs someone to finish it off for him.

[keds1017]

naw, man we can't get rid of Spree he the heart and soul of the team. he may not score a lot of point but i like his toughness and defense.. unlike Houston{Mr.Softy} who can't guard anyone.. yeah he have been good as of late but where was Houston in the begining of the season.. the 100 million dollar man. yeah right.. :p

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

naw, man we can't get rid of Spree he the heart and soul of the team. he may not score a lot of point but i like his toughness and defense.. unlike Houston{Mr.Softy} who can't guard anyone.. yeah he have been good as of late but where was Houston in the begining of the season.. the 100 million dollar man. yeah right.. :p

I've watched the Knicks, and Spree has given up on the team. Heart and soul? He hasn't even played his trademark defense anymore. The Knicks are in bad shape all around, but you can't really blame Houston. He's a one dimensional player, but to be fair, he has never sold himself as anything more than one dimensional. Blame managemnt--they gave him the contract. If you were Houston, would you have turned it down? I doubt it.

I'd put Kurt Thomas over BOTH Houston and Spree if you want the "heart" and "soul" of the Knicks. He's an undersized C, but he takes a pounding every night, and tries his best to overcome his physical deficiencies.

[keds1017]

agree Thomas is showing some gut out there!! Knicks really need to keep him.. and Spree is hurt he just not saying anything about it...they should cut down his minutes to 35 because he play way too many minutes.. Hell, yeah i'll take 100 mill..I just don't think Houston is worth that kind of money.. For someone who is the cap of the team he sure don't show it.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

agree Thomas is showing some gut out there!! Knicks really need to keep him.. and Spree is hurt he just not saying anything about it...they should cut down his minutes to 35 because he play way too many minutes.. Hell, yeah i'll take 100 mill..I just don't think Houston is worth that kind of money.. For someone who is the cap of the team he sure don't show it.

Yea, but what I'm saying is that it was the Knicks management that gave Houston that contract, even though Houston has never been or even looked like a franchise player at any time in his career. Is it his fault the Knicks gave him that contract? No, of course he would take it.

I mean, it's like giving Derek Fisher a 100 million contract and getting mad at him for not living up to it. HE CAN'T live up to it. That's what I'm saying about Houston. He can't live up to that contract, and it was all the Knicks fault for signing him, because it was just a crazy signing. Basically they threw franchise money at a guy who SHOULD be a role player. He's more like a Steve Kerr or Dell Curry type. A sharpshooter who doesn't play defense, but good to have as a role player.

Basically, you're getting mad at a guy who's not talented enough to be "the man." It's not his fault he's not talented, and it's not his fault he got the contract. Do I like Houston? No, but getting mad at a guy for not being talented enough, not having enough god-given basketball skills is ridiculous.

Blame "Bin Layden" for that screwjob. Also giving away Nene Hilario was a bad idea too.

[keds1017]

noo, I'm not really mad at Houston , I just don't like soft players on my team that make big bucks.. listen Houston taking this money makes him 'the man' if he like it or not... whoa, yeah I blame knicks management for this mess but there's enough anger to go around for everyone!!!

[Web Head]

Everybody talks about Houston making $100 mill. Does he deserve it? God no! But what is killing this franchise is Howard Eisley with a $50 million dollar contract, Shandon Anderson around $40 million and Clarence friggiin Weatherspoon at almost $30 mill.

Spree's been good to us, but he's gotta go. His defense isn't that bad yet, but his offense is streakier than ever. He is in a decline, and if we can get ANYTHING of value (which is doubtful) we've got to do it.

That being said, last year's McDyess trade got me really PO'd. Would this team please just DRAFT A ROOKIEE AND DEVELOP HIM! For God's sake, we haven't done this since Ewing. And we have had chances (Frederic Weis over Ron Artest). I like Varajeo from Brazil or maybe Kaman from Cent Michigan at our current spot. Gotta love nbadraft.net

[Web Head]

Sorry for going off topic, I get a little passionate when talkin about my teams. I do think Jordan's playing has hurt the Wiz. Because after this year nobody is gonn buy the Wizards jerseys and their games won't be on national TV anymore. They will be worse than the Cavs. And having cap space does no good if no one will sign with you.

Jordan playing has hurt the Wiz in two main ways...1)It took the focus away from developing young talent that would be with the team more than a year or two. Kwame doesn't get the floor time he needs because the team is "contending" for the last playoff spot in the JV conference. And Rip wasn't getting the shots he needed cause Jordan was taking them. Haywood and Kwame should be playing, not Laetner and Oakley.

2)Lost opportunity. Had Jordan not laced them up the Wiz would have been bad the last two years. And bad teams get good draft picks. They might have gotten Yao last year or get Lebron this year, but neither was really a possibility because they are right now in the same boat as the Knicks, not good enough to contend for the title and not bad enough to get a high draft pick and get a young player to build your team around.