Meet Your Newest Wizards

 

The Wizards today began the process of “retooling”. The trade sends out a fan favorite in Caron Butler, one of the best quotes in the locker room in Brendan Haywood, and Soulja Boy’s favorite player Deshawn Stevenson  to the Dallas Mavericks for James Singleton, Quinton Ross, Drew Gooden and Josh Howard. We will be talking about this deal for the next couple weeks and from everything that is being reported by the likes of Michael Lee, Mike Jones, Truth_AboutIt.net and BulletsForever I don’t believe we are done dealing.

I’m not surprised at all the different emotions coming from fans on sports radio @ 106.7 the fan DC, message boards and the Wizards blog-o-sphere. It’s a bit of a frustrating time for all Washington Wizards fans and it’s not just this trade that contributes to that but the combination of bad news that has surrounded this team in recent months. While we are talking about bad decisions, our cash considerations got a big fat DNP last night at the Rookie vs Sophmores game while DeJuan Blair and his lack of ACL’s was doing this...

Now, to your new Washington Wizards... James Singleton

2003 All-Ohio Valley Conference 1st Team 2004 Italian LegaDue Championship Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and Import of the Year 2005 Italian SerieA All-Star Game MVP:

Singleton was undrafted and started his professional career in Italy playing with the Sicc Cucine Jesi (Lega2) during the 2003-2004 season, averaging 20.8 points and 12 rebounds per game. He received Eurobasket All-Italian Lega2 Player of the Year award. He later signed with the Olimpia Milano (Serie A) team. He averaged 11.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and two steals in 46 games during the 2004-2005 season, helping his team reach the Italian SerieA League Finals. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2005 Italian League All-Star Game. During his tenure, Singleton was a fan favorite for his high-flying acrobatics and his tenacious defense. http://bit.ly/bKgSmX

 

Interesting connection in the video below. Sam Cassell critiques one of our newest Wizard when the two where together with the Clippers. Looks like we have might have another prankster on our hands too.

Finally enjoy a much more entertaining Singleton highlight mix:

 

Quinton Ross

 

WAC Player of the Year honors: 2002–03 First Team All-WAC honors: 2003 Ap Honorable Mention All-America: 2003 Another former Clipper who was in LA with Sam Cassell.

 

 Drew Gooden

2003 Cover athlete for EA Sports NCAA March Madness 2003 2007 NBA Eastern Conference Champions with the Cavaliers Big 12 Conference Player of the Year Andrew Melvin Gooden … was nicknamed “The Truth” in college … opened the Drew Gooden Reading and Learning Center at Cleveland’s East End Neighborhood House in September 2005 … won the NBA Community Assist Award in October 2005 … named the Al Lerner Community Service Award winner at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards in February 2006 … has been named among professional athletes as “Good Guys in Sports” by The Sporting News on three occasions … his father, Andrew Gooden, played basketball in Finland … plays the piano … after his sophomore season in college, played against Michael Jordan at Jordan’s camp in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Wizards are the 8^th team Gooden will have played for after stints with the Memphis Grizzlies (2002–2003), Orlando Magic (2003–2004), Cleveland Cavaliers (2004–2008), Chicago Bulls (2008–2009), Sacramento Kings (2009), San Antonio Spurs (2009), Dallas Mavericks (2009-2010).

 

 

Josh Howard

 

Howard spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia and then went on to Wake Forest. Deciding not to forego his senior year at Wake Forest University, Howard became the first member of his family to graduate from college. He was the unanimous selection as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player of the year in 2003 (first since David Thompson in 1975) and led Wake Forest to its first outright regular season league championship in 41 years. He is the second (after Shane Battier) ACC player to amass 1000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 200 steals, 100 blocks, and 100 three-pointers. Howard was named the national player of the year by FOX, College Insider and Basketball Digest. He was also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and the James Naismith Award in 2003. In his senior season, Howard averaged 19.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 1.5 bpg,and won multiple awards, including ACC Player of the Year, All ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team, and AP First Team All-America. http://bit.ly/bbZSDS

 

Here are a couple of highlight mixes to get you excited about Howard's athletic ability when healthy:

...and here is one last one with an interesting choice for the musical background: