<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas won't face charges for interfering with police during an incident that took place May 28 in Miami during Memorial Day weekend. Arenas and Awvee Storey , who played with the Wizards last season but is not currently under contract with the team, were charged with resisting arrest without violence on a crowded South Beach street during an annual celebration of hip-hop music and culture known as Urban Beach Week. In recent years, police have increasingly cracked down on even minor infractions in order to better control the overflow of people. According to an Associated Press report, 557 people were arrested during the first three days of this year's event. Most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct and intoxication. Arenas and Storey were arrested after failing to get out of the street immediately after the police told them to do so. Charges against Storey are still pending.</div> Source
<div align="center"><u>Washington Wizards 2006-2007 Season Preview</u> <u>The 05-06 Recap</u></div> The Washington Wizards had a rough start of the season with the injury of Jarvis Hayes, lack of chemistry new additions, and lack of defense. They came off finishing strong in the season with Antonio Daniels coming off the bench strong with 15 points per game since the all-star break, Antawn Jamison shooting for 20 points a game with 9 rebounds per game, Caron Butler with career high 17 points, and Arenas leading the team with nearly 30 points per game, which led to a team record of 42-40 by the end of the season. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/wizards/arenas_200_031024.jpg[/imgl] Unfortunately though in the postseason, the Wizards were stopped short by the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James with questionable official ruling on the floor, not capitalizing near the end of the games, and perhaps lack of experience. They left game game 6 with a heart-breaker in overtime where Gilbert Arenas missed 2 critical free throws and Flip Murray hitting a daggering three pointer, which ended their season, and left the Wizards disappointed, but more hope for the Wizards in the 06-07 season. <div align="center">2006 Off-season Outlook</div> After the comments made by Gilbert Arenas stating for Ernie Grunfeld to ensemble a championship-caliber team, the general manager went out and made some decent off-season moves. Going out the draft, the Wizards selected 19th overall Oleksiy Pecherov and 2nd round draft pick Vladimir Veremeenko. Heading into the free-agency period, teams had interest in restricted free agent Jared Jeffries. Isiah Thomas of the Knicks made a big offer for him which made him sign and pleaded the Wizards not to match the offer, which they didn?t after they went signing DeShawn Stevenson to a minimum deal in replacement of him. Ernie Grunfeld has also surprised us with the signing of Darius Songaila who can be a presence down-low on offense and is already familiar with the Princeton offense back in Sacramento, so our eyes are focused, if he can benefit for this team. <div align="center"><u>Players Lost</u></div> <u>Jared Jeffries via Free Agency</u>: 6.4 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game Total Loss: 6.4 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game <div align="center"><u>Players Gained</u></div> <u>Darius Songaila via Free Agency</u>: 9.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game <u>DeShawn Stevenson via Free Agency</u>: 11.0 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists per game <u>Oleksiy Pecherov via NBA Draft</u> <u>Vladimir Veremeenko via NBA Draft</u> Total Gain: 20.2 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game With Ernie Grunfeld showing how ruthless he is when it comes to losing players, he went out to retaliate and it looks like it?s going to benefit for the Wizards, so let?s see how the final roster looks. Breakdown: Starting Lineup [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gilbert_arenas.jpg[/IMGL]G Gilbert Arenas 6?4?, 215 lbs 2005-2006 Stats: 29.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.1 apg, 42.3 mpg There?s no doubt you can see Gilbert?s desire to win an NBA Championship, which he?s gunning for one by the next couple of years and if Ernie Grunfeld does not do a lot to improve the roster, Gilbert may be gone by off season 2008. Gilbert Arenas has shown from since his rookie year that he?s a great leader, explosive, a great shooter, a playmaker, and very passionate. He?s leapfrogged in his second year with the Wizards playing 25 more games and scoring 6 more points and again last year scoring 29 points with 44% shooting. The last two years, the Wizards were sent home from the playoffs because their lack of containing key players, such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and there has been roster moves from here and there and with the new additions. He?s also quite attracted the media over the summer claiming that he got a foul call during the FIBA Championships. He?s going to have a lot more on his back this season and now it?s time for the two-straight year 3rd All-NBA teamer Gilbert Arenas to prove them wrong. [IMGL] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/IMGL]DeShawn Stevenson 6?5?, 210 lbs 2005-2006 Stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 32.3 mpg Deshawn Stevenson?s been brought to fill in the role of Jared Jeffries who?s job was to make a presence on the defensive end. Deshawn Stevenson has been known for his perimeter defense and the Wizards hope it will help the 36% the Wizards let from the perimeter last year. Last year, he?s been able to start all 82 games and score a solid 11 points to help the Orlando Magic, but he did have recent history with Orlando?s front office being frustrated by the lack of playing time in Winter of 2004 that he requested a trade out of Orlando. But recently this past off season, Deshawn opted out of the third and final year of his contract with Orlando and signed a two year minimum contract with the Washington Wizards looking to raise his stock values for a bigger contract in the future. For now, he?s looking to become a fan favorite in DC and help the Wizards get further into the playoffs. [IMGL] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg[/IMGL]Caron Butler 6?7?, 228 lbs 2005-2006 Stats: 17.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 36.1 mpg When Larry Hughes left Washington to join the Cavaliers, the Wizards knew they were missing a huge part of their lineup. Ernie Grunfeld went out and traded 1st pick overall bust Kwame Brown for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins. For Caron Butler quickly made a presence and replaced Larry Hughes with career high stats 17 points and 6 rebounds in 36 minutes. He quickly became a crowd favorite and worked his way up to the starting lineup creating chemistry between him, Arenas and Jamison becoming the new ?Big 3?. Caron soon earned the nickname ?tough juice? for his aggressive and passionate play. He earned his nickname after playing against the Cavaliers last year in the playoffs averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds. With his strength and athleticism, he?s able to drive to the hole, post up and set for rebounds. Caron Butler is going to be entering his 5th NBA season and look to improve his career numbers, become an all-star, and help lead this team far into the playoffs this season. [IMGL] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/IMGL]Antawn Jamison 6?9?, 235 pounds 2005-2006 Stats: 20.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 40.1 mpg Antawn Jamison is coming out of his best year as a Wizard scoring twenty points, grabbing 9 rebounds a game, and shooting career high 39% behind the arc, which puts the Wizards fifteenth in the league when it comes to three point shooting. Throughout his whole career, Antawn Jamison has been looked as a weak power forward not being able to guard the bigger men in this league, which has been part of the 11-32 record that happens when the opponent scores 100 or more, 25th in blocks, and 21st in defense overall last year. Antawn will need to bulk up and become a bigger threat on the defensive end if they want to improve these stats, 9 rebounds are impressive, but he still lacks behind the bigger power forwards in this league. The Wizards are lucky to have a combo forward like Antawn that can score behind the arc or down-low, but would become more noticeable if he was more aggressive. [IMGL] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg[/IMGL]Brendan Haywood 7?0?, 263 pounds 2005-2006 Stats: 7.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.6 apg, 23.8 mpg After a season in 04-05 that left fans hoping that he would breakout and become an elite center in this game, he?s become a let down the previous years. Brendan was disturbed of how he was involved with the offense, which led to arguments with head coach Eddie Jordan and it certainly wasn?t a positive. He?s going to have to know that his offense will come out of getting the offensive rebounds and that he will need to play his game and be a threat on the defensive end. Brendan will be a guy that will play noticeably decent every now and then, but he?s going to have to take advantage of every opportunity of what?s coming his way this season, or he?s out of Washington. Breakdown: Bench [IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/darius_songalia.jpg[/IMGL]Darius Songalia 6?8?, 248 pounds 2005-2006 Stats: 9.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.6 apg, 23.8 mpg A veteran presence, defense and a 6?8? power forward who is already familiar with shooting in the Princeton offense and bodying up on big men in the league. That?s what the Wizards will expect from off-season pickup Darius Songalia. After Arenas? made his comments about opting to leave in 2008, Ernie Grunfeld quickly attacked to improve on the front-court who can pick and pop, shoot, and know the system. This signing will sure add stability and consistency to the Wizards lineup at both forward positions. Darius is great talent to have and he plays with a lot of energy. Looking to establish a presence off the bench, he should he a breakout year.
