Jamison: Wizards Aren't Satisfied

By: Bill Ingram Last Updated: 7/16/09 11:56 AM ET | 3853 times read



Adjust font size:When the Washington Wizards rebuilt their roster around Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes, and then Caron Butler, it seemed that group was destined for greatness. Head coach Eddie Jordan fostered a special chemistry between his three stars, and their first year together they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. The Wizards looked like a team poised to dominate the league for years to come, but injuries took their toll, the team struggled to stay above .500 and lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the next three seasons . . .before a 1-10 start in 2008-09 finally cost Jordan his job.

"It's always tough to lose, and sometimes you tend to forget the business that you're in," Antawn Jamison tells HOOPSWORLD. "If the team doesn't perform to a certain level it affects not only you as a player, but also coaches, their families and so forth. It was definitely tough to see him go; Eddie was there since day one when I was there. I made the All-Star team a couple of years and got the opportunity to experience some good things in the playoffs and it's disappointing to see him go."

Rumors have swirled around the Wizards of late, with pundits wondering if the core of Jamison, Butler and Arenas will ever actually get to realize the potential they showed in that first year together. The front office in Washington seems set to give them one more run, this time with playoff veteran Flip Saunders at the helm.

"We've talked with the coaching staff, and at the end of the day we're just not satisfied with being a pretty good team or just making it to the playoffs," says Jamison. "We're trying to get to that championship status and that's something that he's stressing and he really believes in and it's good when you have a coaching staff and players with the same goal. It's good to see that he's passionate about it and you know that he's going to do everything possible from a coaching standpoint to make it happen. We, as players, just have to go out there and get it done, as well."

Rather than use the draft to revitalize their roster this summer, the Wizards traded their pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Miller, in particular, gives the Wizards another dimension that should enhance their already-lethal lineup.


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View Bill Ingram Archive "That's somebody who's been there and done it before," says Jamison, beaming. "He has a lot of basketball experience, playoff experience, and the most important thing is he's a great guy on and off the court. He's somebody that's good to have in the locker room - we already have good team chemistry and he will add to that, and then he's somebody who can stretch the defense out and make it easier for Gilbert (Arenas), Caron (Butler) and myself. We've got a big guy in Brendan Haywood healthy, and if we can stay healthy I think we can be a team to reckon with and be very dangerous."

Jamison has been courtside watching his second unit take part in the Las Vegas Summer League and likes what he's seeing.

"I think any time you have a unit that you depend on throughout the season - you know, we need them things are going good and we need them when things are not going great for the starters, to give us an extra boost," says Jamison. "They got a lot of experience last season. It wasn't good experience, but they got some. I think by coming to summer league and winning and playing well it will be great for morale. It's great to see that they all want to be here, want to get better, and want to do everything possible to make sure that they hold up their end of the bargain as far as their role on the team. I love seeing those guys out there participating, having fun, trying to improve their game and that will improve the team, as well.

The Wizards aren't finished dealing, and there's even been talk that they could add Stephon Marbury to the team. That's a prospect Jamison finds very appealing.

"There are certain guys in the league that have an established reputation and you know what they can do, that they bring it every night. Steph is one of those guys. I've known Steph since high school, and the things that he's accomplished as a person and as a player speak volumes. He's one of those guys that can't do anything but help the team out and make it a better team."

The 2009-2010 season will be telling for the Wizards. If they're all healthy they could contend for the Eastern Conference championship and find themselves in the NBA Finals. Butler, Arenas, and Jamison still comprise as lethal a three-pack as any team in the NBA has. If, however, injuries derail their championship aspirations once again, don't be surprised if the Wizards front office goes into rebuilding move. The pieces are in place . . .they just have to go out there and get it done.

Marbury looked bad in half a season but he didn't miss training camp and the preseason. He also looked like he lost all of his confidence--which perhaps can be rebuilt. Some team will definitely take a gamble on him.

if the wizards sign marbury there isn't a real need to consider them a part of the playoff picture in the east anymore.

and also, jamal and marbury would be in the same division. those hawks/wizards matchups would be epic!

[Edited by - crzymdups on 17-07-2009 1:11 PM]

Marbury expressed an interest in playing for Flip. That was spun, I believe by Berman, into the Wizards having interest in him. This is the first time I have heard anyone give STeph a compliment in at least a year and a half.