WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan has nothing on Charles Oakley when it comes to bitterness over the Washington Wizards' season. Jordan ripped his teammates several times in recent weeks, but Oakley has been simmering all season, complaining about the work ethic of younger players and his lack of playing time. "I think the fans have been cheated out of a lot,'' Oakley said. "We should be in the playoffs, a fourth or fifth seed. We shouldn't be struggling to get in the playoffs.'' Whether Oakley will be a part of that struggle is in question. He has been hobbled for two weeks with a knee injury that he says is "just a bruise,'' even though coach Doug Collins said it might be bad enough to keep the 39-year-old forward sidelined the rest of the season. Oakley was listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against Sacramento. "I've been available for 73 games. I think I've probably played in 30, so what's my percentage?'' Oakley said. "I'm just going to get myself healthy for myself and go from there.'' Actually, Oakley has played in 42 games, but he is averaging just 12 minutes. He often has been used in the second half to provide a defensive spark. During the only stretch in which Oakley played 15-plus minutes for five straight games, the Wizards played their best basketball of the season. It was in late February, when he was a key contributor in victories over New Jersey, Indiana and Houston. "I'm sure Oak was hoping to play 25, 26 minutes a game,'' Collins said. Oakley said this season is worse than his one-year return to Chicago, where he routinely criticized the Bulls' rebuilding plans. The Bulls were young and expected to lose, while the Wizards were expected to be contend with Jordan and Jerry Stackhouse. Washington (34-39), just back from a 2-4 West Coast road trip that ended with a loss at Denver, trails Milwaukee by one game for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. "We've been saying all year we're going to be patient, patient -- shoot, it's life or death,'' Oakley said. "Take care of me while you can. Don't wait. My days might be numbered. You're talking about next year. Don't be like that.'' Oakley has gone back and forth on whether this season will be his last. Collins thinks Oakley will leave Washington and try to sign with a title contender. Wherever he ends up, one thing is certain: Oakley will pine about the good old days. Just a mention about today's young players gets him riled up. "Basketball is not the same,'' Oakley said. "I have the same love for the game, but people in basketball operations don't really address basketball like they should. I think they're into the hype. They're into the young generation. "I think maybe 20 percent of the young guys understand what it takes to be a great player.'' Oakley said that includes the Wizards' young players, who for the most part have been disappointing. At the top of that list is Kwame Brown, who remains a marginal contributor nearly two full seasons after being chosen straight out of high school as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. "When you're the No. 1 draft pick and not starting, you need to look at the mirror at yourself and see what's wrong,'' Oakley said. "We're not in the playoffs. If I'm the No. 1 pick and not in the playoffs, I've got to take that on my shoulders.''
Having watched oakley for a few seasons with the Raptors, I can say with conviction that Charles Oakley is better in theory than he is in reality.
how does this make him a future rocket? If he stays healthy, Oakly is the kind of guy the rocks need. Some one to stand up for the other players. A tough guy like OAK.
Please retire ugly Oakley. You are an ugly player. (Not good looking, either.) Never let Oak don Rox gear!!!
I just cant think that the Rox would be so stupid! Its about time they stopped bring in players so far past their prime.
I'm really surprised how many people dislike the idea of Oakley in a Rocket jersey. If anything, I would think the Rox are the perfect team for a longstanding playoff, i repeat, playoff savvy veteran. For the right price, I think Oak would make a very good fit. What I found most interesting about this piece is: 1) the fact that Oakley, health permitting, may try his hand at free agency this summer 2) given his competitive spirit, he believes in playing for a contender 3) he would be an ideal match for a #1 pick center who PLAYS like a #1 pick (hint hint, he's 7'5" and he recently got his collarbone broken per Clutch ) If the price is right, would it really be that stupid to bring Oak onto this team??? I mean, isn't the missing ingredient for our team "mental toughness?" and "consistent defensive intensity?" And if so, doesn't Oak fit the bill? Even at the age of 40??? theSAGE
Is it just me or is he whining and bashing his teammates where he's been recently? Didn't he do this in Toronto, too? I love his toughness and he's one of the baddest men in the NBA, but he can keep the attitude... a step down for a young team in my opinion. He seems like a guy that can have your back and turn around and stab you in the back within days.
Well, I know this isn't a poll thread, but check this out. Who looks "MEANER" at power forward? vs. This analogous visual may help us make that determination: vs. theSAGE
yup, I just love how Chicago and Wash said one of the reasons they brought him in was to be a mentor. yeah, he did a great job with Chandler, Curry, and Kwame. Lot of hustle and d in their game now.
Doug collins says he thinks Oakley will sign with a championship contending team, which eliminates the Rockets for next season. Oakley won't sign with the rockets and wait the 3-4 years it's gonna take for the rockets to be a championship contender. Hell, even Jordan can't play the game at 44 and I think Oakley knows his clock is ticking.
I agree. Oak would be a valuable addition. I remember the last time we played Washington, he was a major factor. Eddie was scared of him and he gave Yao some trouble too.
I don't love Oakley. But I don't hate him. He's not awesome, but he's not horrible. He can still play. And at least he doesn't care about killing people. Anyone who tries to go into the paint will get hacked down by him. He would be a good enforcer for Yao Ming.
at least Oakley would have defended Yao after gettin elbowed from Mutumbo. we need someone tough, but not Oakley
I could see Oakley signing with the LAKERS and pairing him with Shaq a lot quicker than seeing him sign here and get limited minutes with the PF logjam of Mo Taylor and Eddie Griffin. Oakley would get a lot of minutes in LA at PF if he signed there. I mean, the Lakers are starting Mark Madsen for goodness sakes! He has to be the worst starting player in the NBA!
It's funny even just to imagine how oakley call the WHOLE team out if he's in rockets uniform. Selfish.....unmotivated.......soft........repeated mistakes .....so on and so on. The team would break down during the training camp.
All the Rockets will have to offer Oakley or anyone else is the MLE. If they resign Posey for a reasonable amount, they will probably only have about $2m-$3m left of the MLE before they go into Luxury Tax range. Personally, if Posey is re-signed I don't see any significant FA signing this summer. IMO, trading Rice's expiring contract along with some combination of Cato, Griffin, or Mobley and maybe Taylor is all that will happen. If anything happens. It could be a very different storty if the Rox and Posey fail to come to terms. I'd look for the above trade scenarios to get a viable SF l4eaving someone like Oakley off of the Rox radar.
There is a mythology surrounding Charles oakley, much of it attributable to his having been a character who spent most of his years in New York, and like all myths, there is some truth to it, however distant. I watched virtually every game he played in his years with the Raptors, and will attest that Oakley does indeed: 1) Stand up for teammates. 2) Stand up to teammates. 3) Make people pay for coming into the post area. 4) Still rebound pretty damned good for a guy his age, and with his mileage. But I can also say that Oakley does the following: 1) Insult anyone he feels like insulting, in public, through the press, whether that person is an opponent, a teammate, a coach, a fan, or a member of upper management. 2) Have to throw at least one behind the back out of bounds or into the hands of an opponent pass a game, irrespective of how close/big the game is, and often more than one. It can almost make you cry. 3) Get into fights in practice before big games for personal reasons ( one was about a girlfriend, another a gambling debt), thus getting kicked out of games when he is needed, even down the stretch of a run for the playoffs...More than once... 4) Take stupid foulsfor personal ( I'm the Bigger Man!) reasons at incredibly innapropriate times, like in overtime. Boggles the mind. 5) Have nights where he jacks up shot after shot from the perimeter even when he's ice cold, and someone else is hot. 6) Complain...all the time...about everything...even the 'selfishness of today's younger players within 24 hours of having done 3)...I'm not kidding. On the whole, while admitting that he does bring some things that would be great here, I have to say that bringing in Charles Oakley would be a huge mistake...The idea of Oakley is much, much greater than the reality of having him on your team.
How many rings has Oakley helped a team win. Playoff savy, the guy is a cancer when things aren't going will, and nothing more then a bully at his best. Please retire Holyfield, oops I mean Oakley.
