I belive we all have seen those comments. Just a few examples: Let's say Gilbert is back to the player he once was (or maybe a little bit worse) and he, Caron and Antawn all stay healthly for 82 games. Are the Wizards contending for the Title next season?
I like their team. They have 3 All-Star Caliber players in Arenas, Jamison, and Butler. Promising young players like McGuire, McGee, Young, and Foye. And veterans like Miller, James, and Oberto. If the young guys can develop some consistency, there's no reason for them not to be contenders.
They are a contender for home court and the second round. The top 3 of the east are better than them - by a wide margin.
To me, they look like the Dallas Mavericks of the Eastern Conference (circa 2000 and beyond). All that talent yet no balance or accounting for how all these egos and scorers will gel together. They would be very wise if they dumped Miller's expiring contract for a 4/5 that can rebound, play defense and give them a little nastiness. Cough, Boozer, cough.
This guys seem pretty loaded, even against the Magic, Cavaliers or Celtics Foye vs. Nelson vs. Williams vs. Rondo Arenas vs. Carter vs. West vs. Allen Butler vs. Lewis vs. James vs. Pierce Jamison vs. Bass vs. Varejao vs. Garnett McGee vs. Howard vs. O'neal vs. Perkins -rocketblaze
I say yes. If Gilbert is healthy and comes back in original form, the Wizards have a legitmate "Big 3." Like another poster said, they are somewhat loaded. However, I'd say they are on the weaker end of actually contending... If only the Rockets were healthy.
I would've said "yes" if all their players played up to their capability or near their peak. However, I don't think they will, thus the "no".
They'll make playoffs and probably get as far as the Eastern Semifinals IMO. I wouldn't be putting money on them to make it to the NBA Finals though.
Anyone who knows basketball knows the Wizards aren't going to do **** until they start prioritizing defense and accounting for opponent baskets, something they have absolutely ignored in the past 5 years. I don't care how many explosive options they have on offense, if you can't make stops down the stretch or make your opponents work for their baskets, you aren't going to make it far in the NBA.
I was going to post something like this until I saw this post. That said, like the Mavs/GSW of the Don Nelson era, they still might get to the 2nd round. But that's about it.
The Arenas, Butler and Jamison core hasn't been able to win more than 45 games during their regular season tenure together even when they were healthy and they've never even made it to the EC Finals. The East has gotten stronger. Much Stronger actually and Arenas will NEVER ever be as good as he was a few years ago and Jamison is getting up there in age. Contenders? Hardly. Sub .500 team knocked out of the playoffs in round 1 if not 2? Very Likely.
They can be a 48-50 win team on paper. Foye and Arenas if healthy is the best backcourt tandem they've had. Then Mike Miller is a solid player off the bench who could even start. They're not being too absurd in thinking they have a chance, cuz after the top 3 teams in the East theres a huge dropoff anyways. Its wide open for the 4 through 8 playoff spots.
As constructed now even if injuries don't bite them, the Wizards don't have a championship roster. But who's to say that a February trade won't put them into elite status. Doubtful, but I wouldn't rule it out.
People are delusional if they think the Wizards are contenders. They're a 7th-10th seed at best. Arenas isn't going to be the same player he was from 2004-2007. He was basically out for 2 entire seasons with major injuries. And at that time, the trio of Jamison, Butler, and Arenas couldn't get past a young Lebron team that didn't even have Mo Williams.
I said no...on paper they look like they could do some damage and even upset a team or two. But then again we looked good on paper too and two of our stars are injury plagued too arghhhh....and theres only one ball