<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND, Calif. -- Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan benched starting center Brendan Haywood for last night's game against the Golden State Warriors, a move Jordan said probably will be for the rest of the season. Etan Thomas made his first start of the season in place of Haywood. "It's something that we've thought about, and I hate to make change just for change sake," Jordan said before the team's morning shootaround yesterday at the Arena in Oakland. "I think it's going to be a change to improve our team, improve where we're going." Jordan said he met with Haywood, and the 7-foot center accepted the change. "He just said, 'OK, Coach,' and that was the extent of it," Jordan said. "It was a very brief conversation, and he was agreeable. I'm sure he's going to be professional. He's always played well under these circumstances. He's always responded the right way on the floor." Haywood is averaging 7.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 24.2 minutes a game this season, down a bit from last season, when he averaged 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 27.4 minutes a game. His blocks a game are down to 1.34 a game from 1.68 last season. Jordan is starting Thomas because he believes the 6-foot-10 center will be more physical. Thomas is averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.0 minutes a game. Jordan benched Haywood earlier in the season for two games in January, along with Antawn Jamison, a move that proved beneficial for the team. Haywood complained about the benching but had been starting since. While Thomas often has said he prefers to come off the bench, Jordan said he thinks Thomas will do fine as a starter. "There are times, when if you're playing well, let's just play well from the jump ball instead of playing well eight or nine minutes into the quarter," Jordan said. "I think it's a calling right now for him to step up and bring what we need -- a little more force and power and the ability to score in the post." </div> Source Brendan Haywood's game is completely wrong for the Wizards style of basketball. Haywood would be better suited for teams who run halfcourt offenses, where he could post up and set screens. He has a very reasonable contract and I could see him having an impact on a lot of teams in the league.
If they are not going to start Haywood because they think he is the wrong type, they should trade him to a team that really needs him in their half-court offense. I think he could be a really good scorer with high percentages.
