The Wizards are hoping that a healthy roster, a few new additions and a new head coach will help the team get back to relevance and into the fairly stacked upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. But reconstructing a group that won just 19 games a year ago might be a project that will take longer than a single campaign to complete.
The good news is the Wizards have plenty of positives going for them as they head into the season.
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
The Drew League in the heart of Watts is the longest, and most competitive, running summer league in the world, going strong for over 30 years. It's also where NBA stars like Nick Young, Baron Davis, Paul Peirce, Bobby Brown, Gabe Pruitt and many others show up to display their skills.
In this exclusive FanHouse video we visit the league and find out which NBA players have been dunked on and never returned. The Drew, as it's known, is much more than a basketball league; it's the only entertainment for a community that has no bowling alleys, theaters, or arcades.
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
Nick Young of the Washington Wizards and Gabe Pruitt of the Boston Celtics are best of friends dating back to their days as college teammates at USC. In fact, they may have even put USC basketball back on the map. In this exclusive video we catch up with the two promising players as they stop by the Roadstar Motorspots mansion party. Find out why Pruitt, who was offered $400 to jump in a three-foot pool, is not happy to see the Lakers in the finals, what Young will look like in 10 years, and how Nick was able to get phone numbers at the event.
About 10 years ago, Nike had a hot basketball sneaker campaign called Nike freestyle. In what looks like an UNDRCRWN promotion, the Washington Wizards' young guns (and Mike James) have decided to create their own version of the freestyle ads. Here's a look at the vid:
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
Many people consider the NCAA Tournament to be the biggest sporting event of the year, and that includes NBA players. In this hilarious video we catch up with Wizards star Caron Butler (UConn) as he has a very funny exchange with teammate Nick Young (USC) over their alma maters' chances. But just because you are a basketball player does not mean you are into the tournament, as Andray Blatche admits he is not into "Match Mardness." Also in this video we find out which Wizards player looks like President Obama and which one does not.
I like predictions vastly more than I do overviews. Why, you ask? Because no one cares about predictions later. That's because no one is ever right. Actually I take that back; people remember predictions if you say stupid things on national television and make it apparent that you suck at your job.
The Charlotte Bobcats will win the Atlantic. Okay, maybe not. But I can quasi-dream. In reality, I think the Orlando Magic will win the division. Also, reality: I lied about being "bold". Maybe. See, it turns out that even Magic bloggers agree that we could all question whether the Magic can repeat last year.
Actually, it was Al Horford, who finished with 29 first-place votes. Durant finished with 28. It's too bad the ballots aren't open -- I'd love to see which NBA coach actually thought Durant was no better than the sixth-best rookie this year. (Remember, coaches can't vote for their own players but aren't limited by position.) Luis Scola (26 first place votes), Al Thornton (20) and Jeff Green (15) rounded out the first team.
The Wizards may be down 0-2, but their spirit is hardly broken. If anything, the team seems determined to stave off pressure by keeping the mood light and breezy, such as by carving messages into the back of their heads, a fad that's been unfortunately out of vogue the last couple of decades. From Dan Steinberg's D.C. Sports Bog:
"A little something I brought out of the archives," Caron Butler said. "Took it back. I thought about DeShawn's party, and just said man I want to go with the '80s theme. Did it myself. It help my rhythm out. It ain't been there."
Really, you did it yourself? Big mirror, huh?
"You saying I've got a big head?" Caron replied.
(Either that or a steady hand and the ability to write backwards.) Ah yes, DeShawn Stevenson's 80's party -- here's to hoping Butler shows up to tonight's game decked out in vintage L.L. Cool J gear. Butler isn't the only one getting into the mood -- Nick Young showed up wearing a fresh high-top fade, telling Steinberg he'll have a message of his own carved in by game time. But here's what I want to know: when did Tuff Juice officially become Tough Juice? Did Butler partake in some kind of NBA Cares literacy program that I missed out on?
Below the jump, a bonus picture of a pre-crazy, Pistons era Dennis Rodman, one of the NBA's original players to use the back of his noggin like a billboard.
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded NBA Correspondent, brings his exclusive NBA reporting to FanHouse. Check back here regularly for more videos.
In this video Nick Young tells us some of the hazing rituals of the Washington Wizards. Around 2:30 into the video, one of Nick Young's teammates also has some hilariously harsh words about him.
Why is it that Washington attracts the most eagerly public athletes of any major sporting region? And why is it that NBA players' birthday parties always look more fun than mine? I mean, when you've got a video made of Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashian hosting your birthday party, you're doing alright, I think. Which is what Caron Butler has, as you will see in the following video. (Highlights include dancing beginning at 3:30 and Nick Young in some sort of policeman's outfit at 4:12, although I highly recommend the whole thing).
I'd kind of like to know -- and maybe I don't already because I am so freaking hip -- who's laying the tracks down on the soundtrack for this thing. Because it's just flat out sick. I'd also like to know if Caron has my new address, because my invite still hasn't shown up. More importantly though, I find it really bizarre that Gilbert Arenas appears to be on his best behavior at these things, as if he's not some crazed, wacky personality in public or something.
FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.
The Drew League in the heart of Watts is the longest, and most competitive, running summer league in the world, going strong for over 30 years. It's also where NBA stars like 
Many people consider the NCAA Tournament to be the biggest sporting event of the year, and that includes NBA players. In this hilarious video we catch up with Wizards star 
The NBA 
