Wizards Decline To Match Jeffries Offer Sheet
7th August, 2006 - 12:28 pm
Newsday - Having found a cheaper and more enthusiastic alternative in DeShawn Stevenson, the Washington Wizards said Monday they won't match the New York Knicks ' offer sheet for restricted free agent Jared Jeffries, the Associated Press is reporting.

The Wizards had seven days to match the Knicks' five-year, $30 million deal. They spent the week signing Stevenson -- who, like Jeffries, is known for his perimeter defense -- to a contract that will pay him the NBA minimum of $932,000 for the upcoming season.

"Jared's representative made it crystal clear that he preferred being in New York," Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said. "And we feel we have plenty of players who can take up the slack. We have players that want to be here."

Grunfeld said the Wizards will make up for Jeffries' absence with Stevenson and the return of Jarvis Hayes, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. The Wizards have also signed forward Darius Songaila and have high hopes for second-year player Andray Blatche, who played well during summer league games.

"We've added a lot of toughness to this ballclub," Grunfeld said. "Our toughness is going to get better, as well as our competitiveness. We're deep at every position. In all likelihood, this is the team we're going to camp with, and we're very comfortable with it." [READ]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/41822/20060807/wizards_officially_decline_to_match_jeffries_offer_sheet/

Same info on ESPN.

And a good guy to have

Personal: Co-sponsored a Turkey giveaway in which turkeys and food baskets were handed out to D.C. area families for Thanksgiving…

Joined Wizards owner Abe Pollin, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld, coaches and teammates in delivering Holiday gifts to five families in Washington, DC…


Named 2001-2002 Big Ten Most Valuable Player after his sophomore season…Led Indiana to the 2002 NCAA Final Four and into the title game where they were defeated by Maryland…

Listed at 6'11 240 pounds

Anybody hear any commentary on the signing by any sportswriters or anything? I'm sure the Knicks will be blasted for this one as usual, but I'm curious to see what they think of the signing.

I can tell you what Isiah will say: "well, we're at a point where we really like our team, at the same time we're always going to look for ways to improve it."

Posted by Rich:

Isiah keeps adding the kind of players that Larry wanted.

As I've said before, I'm not 100% sure that Isiah wanted Larry fired. We know Dolan did (and everyone knows I did, too). But I'm not convinced Isiah did. He's certainly been put on the hot seat and put on notice by the move and I think he was willing to work with Larry, other than the Marbury thing. I think mainly he knew with Larry gone, it was all on him to turn the team around and he didn't like that.

I hope the Knicks will have a "Jeffries Turkey Give-away Game". Each attendee of the game that night gets a free 25 pound turkey to take home with them on the subway.

Posted by Bippity10:

I think what's closer to the truth is that any idiot could see that this team was going to go down in flames if we didn't start grabbing some defensive players. This was obvious to all far and wide. It just became reality and more urgent for Isiah when he realized he had to coach. LB is no dummy, he knew what he needed, and so does Isiah. His problem was how he went about trying to get it.

this is true.

of course there's also the fact that Isiah has known Jefferies since he was 11 and Jefferies went to Isiah's college.

You're right we need balance. But remember there are many ways to get balance. It depends on how you build your team. Right now for us to get balance you are correct we do need more guys that go both ways because we don't have very good help defenders or shot blockers. This is the balance that the "haters" have been wondering about. Now we are seeing the team at least try to achieve it.

Posted by Panos:

Posted by Bippity10:

I think what's closer to the truth is that any idiot could see that this team was going to go down in flames if we didn't start grabbing some defensive players. This was obvious to all far and wide. It just became reality and more urgent for Isiah when he realized he had to coach. LB is no dummy, he knew what he needed, and so does Isiah. His problem was how he went about trying to get it.

Problem is, Bip, we need some offensive/defensive players. We don't have many that can play both ways. Should not have to sacrifice one for the other, but get good all-around players.
What's the point of locking down your man, if you don't score? Net zero.
What's the point of shooting the lights out, if you let your man score 30? Net zero.
We need somebody who can score 5-10 pts more than he allows his man to score.
Who on this team can do that? MAYBE Frye can be that guy. Do Francis or Marbury?

If you keep the other team's guy from scoring, but you don't need to score on the other end because there are plenty of other options... its a win.

If you're a Bowen and you play with Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan, you're a great asset. If you're a Shandon and you play with Eisley and Othello then you are useless.

Its a good signing but jefferies is a role player. Dude is not going to come here and all of a sudden lock guys down. He was never that type of player. Yeah he is versitile to the point where he can guard a lot of people legit. He's still not known as a stopper. He was great in the playoffs with the wiz. Great in that he fit in with that club and did stuff that the stats don't show. He scored when he had to, and he was key in making plays on both ends that led to other guys getting the reward in the stat sheet.

Good signing.

I expect isiah to make another move to free up a roster spot but even if he doesn't....training camp is gonna be interesting. I can't wait till pre-season!