Folks, it's been a while since we last talked. In the intervening months, the Lockout began and became entrenched, the Washington Wizards drafted the Big Smooch, and NBA players added a whole new interpretation to "getting boards."
Despite all of this, be assured that my thoughts have never been far from America's Team. My beloved Washington Wizards are, at long last, bearing the red, white, and blue once more. So without further ado, I present your August 2011 Washington Wizards Update, sponsored in part by the Government of the Phillipines.
(1) NBA Zone Press loves the Wizards' 2011 draft. Big Smooch, Chris Singleton, Shelvin Mack all have serious potential to be pieces on a contender: Smooch is an athletic freak who claims Blake Griffin is "The American Jan Vesely," Singleton has the tools to be an all-pro defensive stopper, and Mack is a quick and smart combo guard who played on two consecutive Butler teams that fought the odds to play in the National Championship.
More than anything else, though, I love the mentality these players bring. Vesely is young, motivated, and one of the rare Euros who seems to relish banging down low. Singleton is a gym rat and a film stud who approaches defense as something to be mastered, not an afterthought. And Mack brings much-needed big game experience to a young team that hasn't ever played in big games. The Wizards are young, hungry, and building a core for the future.
(2) Javale McGee is working hard this offseason:
(3) On day after Durant poured in a much-hyped 66 in Rucker Park, Nick Young dropped 60 in a Drew League game in LA.
(4) Finally, the Reason for Hope, aka the Future, aka your 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year (Real Rookies Category) shows why he's already one of the top 10 players in the league in terms of pure dirty athleticism:
And this, at the impact basketball training facility (starting at 0:55):
The Future is now, kids. Your Washington Wizards -- get ready, world.
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