Post by J2 on Nov 16, 2013 14:47:02 GMT -6
Welcome! This is your go-to spot for all Wiz media! Hopefully I can bring the same kind of fun and entertainment to these sessions as I did with the previous sim league. Enjoy, and be sure to check out the season-by-season writeups!
WIZtory
1990-1991 Season: Year One
Scottie Pippen, the No.5 pick in the 1990 NBA Re-Creation Draft
Things started off great for the newly-rebranded DC Wizards, landing the No.5 pick in the draft, and selecting former Bulls SF Scottie Pippen with that pick. They struggled to find talent in later rounds, however. By the end of the draft, they had a starting lineup of C Jon Koncak, Pippen's Chicago teammate PF Horace Grant, Pippen himself, SG Byron Scott, and PG Nate McMillan. Key reserves included SF/PF Derrick McKey and G Craig Hodges, another former Bull.
After a dominating 5-1 preseason, Wizards fans were expecting quick success in the new NBA era. However, the Wizards stumbled out of the gate, hovering around .500 until injuries to McMillan & Grant derailed the team further. Scottie struggled in his role as the primary option on the team, and the rest of the squad had a hard time settling into their roles as well. They finished the season at 35-47, the 4th-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
1991-94: Winds of Change
New Wizard Nick Anderson, during his rookie year with Orlando
Jazz was a huge part of Wizard big man Wayman Tisdale's life
91-92: Failure to Launch
The Wizards started off the 1991-92 offseason with a bang, hiring a mysterious new general manger named Xist2inspire. A strange character who claimed to have been the Phoenix Suns' GM in another time, Xist wasted no time in reshaping the roster, much to the chagrin of the DC faithful. In the first major move of the offseason, PG Nate McMillan and popular young PF Horace Grant were shipped off to the Charlotte Hornets, along with the Wizards' 1992 1st rounder. In return, the Wizards received 22-year-old swingman Nick Anderson, fresh from a 24.1 ppg sophmore season. The trade came as a shock to many fans, and even angered some. But it was only a sign of things to come....
In an offseason that would come to be known as the "X-odus," the Wizards shipped out nearly all of their players from the previous season, leaving only Pippen, Grant Long, Eric Leckner, Mike Woodson, Craig Hodges, and Jon Koncak as returning Wizards by the start of the regular season. Perhaps the most important of the deals following the Anderson trade was a draft-day move that saw the Lakers receiving the #9 pick from the Wizards in return for big man Wayman Tisdale, who was coming off of a personal-best 23.6 ppg season, the second straight 20+ ppg season of his career. It proved to be another dividing move, as fans were unsure about the new win-now revamp that was seemingly underway. Yet another controversial move was made when the Wizards traded scorer Byron Scott to the Milwaukee Bucks for PG Darnell Valentine. After all the moves, fans were unsure what to expect for the regular season, and their fears were quickly validated as the Wizards stumbled to a league-worst 5-20 start, despite strong performances from Wayman Tisdale. An injury to Scottie Pippen seemed to seal the Wizards' fate, and fan discontent was at an all-time high, especially with their 1992 1st now in the Cleveland Cavaliers' hands.
"The Worm" rocks a Wizard blue hairstyle at the press conference announcing his arrival
In what was seen as a desperation move to salvage their season, the Wizards once again sent shockwaves throughout the league by trading Grant Long and a bevy of draft picks gathered through previous deals to the Boston Celtics for the 30-year-old rebounding force Dennis Rodman. Rodman, who last season went through a startling change last season due to his separation from the Pistons and father figure of a coach Chuck Daly, had quickly worn out his welcome in Boston and alienated the entire Celtics organization as well as fans with his bizarre behavior. Again, this did little to appease Wizard fans, as it was no secret that Xist was a huge fan of Rodman's, though a select few were excited at the idea of Rodman and a healthy Pippen teaming up. However, the team was never able to get on the same page before, or after, Pippen's return. The damage had already been done, and the Wiz finished with a dismal 24-58 record, the third-worst in the NBA.
92-93: "The Worst Offseason Ever"
After a horrific season, Wizard fans were expecting a strong showing in the offseason to make up for it. At first things seemed all right, even good, as the 1992 1st that was traded away fell from its projected spot (#3) down to #5, sparing DC the pain of having to see top rookie SG Latrell Sprewell selected with their pick. Further good news came when PG Avery Johnson signed with the team on the first day of free agency, thus completing the starting five. The good fortune was not to last, however. In the following days, 20+ offers were made to various players, and only one, C/PF Felton Spencer, agreed to join the Wizards. GM Xist2inspire called it "The worst offseason ever," but it was about to get worse. The combination of Xist's fanbase-alienating trades, the Wizards' terrible year, the lack of offseason success, and local gun violence in DC, not to mention lingering racial tensions from the 1991 Mount Pleasant riot and the 1992 riots over in LA, all came together and manifested themselves in various riots. Concerned, NBA league officials, under strong recommendations by the local police department, forbid the Wizards from holding any press conferences. Extra security was also assigned to members of the Wizards' front office. PF Dennis Rodman was quoted as saying, "It's a madhouse out here. People starting s***, throwing rocks, breaking glass, all that s***. Hell, I'm just sitting at home waiting for the f****** season to start."
Tensions rise and things get out of control in DC in some areas
Unfortunately, once the season started, it was more of the same misery that DC fans had come to expect. Nothing, other than injuries, happened during the season, and the Wizards limped to another sub-par record, 33-49. Needless to say, they did not make the playoffs.
93-94: End of an Era
After yet another disappointing season, both fans and front office alike were looking forward to the 1993 offseason, the draft in particular. Hailed as one of the deepest drafts in history, anticipation was high as to which young rookie would end up in DC. As it turned out, the answer to that question was "no one." In yet another highly controversial move, the Wizards decided to pass on the young PG out of Cincinnati, Nick Van Exel, and trade their #8 pick to Dallas for two future draft picks and cash. Once again, immediate help had been sacrificed in favor of an unclear "future plan." Free Agency was kinder to the Wizards this time around, and actually eased some of the fans' anger. Veterans Doc Rivers, Jay Humphries, and Tom Chambers were signed, Kendall Gill and Kevin Duckworth also joined the club. This time, it seemed that the Wizards had assembled a solid fucked to help out their quality starting five, and the start of the regular season seemed to validate that, as the Wizards managed to hold their own in a severely weakened Eastern Conference, hovering around the .500 mark. Unfortunately, the injury bug struck once again, this time biting starting PG Avery Johnson. While fans grumbled about not having Nick Van Exel to fill the void, Wizards management were forced to stand back and take a look at their situation. Their 3 biggest stars, Rodman, Pippen, and Anderson, were all due to hit Free Agency next season. Of the three, only Nick was willing to re-sign. Pippen, who had become discontent at being a big fish in a kiddie pool, wanted out, and had publicly stated that it would take an "unprecedented contract" to keep him in DC next season. Rodman, still the league's top rebounder at 32, also wanted top dollar for his services, money that Wizards management weren't quite willing to commit. With those factors in mind, the Wizards changed course once again. First, Tom Chambers & two draft picks were sent to Milwaukee for forward Robert Horry. Then, Dennis Rodman was shipped off to Charlotte for Sean Elliott and Vernon Maxwell. Finally, Scottie Pippen, the #5 pick in the NBA re-creation draft, was sent to the 1993 NBA Champion LA Lakers for Mark Macon, Brent Price, and cash. Fans were stunned. Despite Pippen's vocal displeasure with Wizard management, fans fully expected the Wizards to reach an agreement with their franchise player. Also, Rodman had become a fan favorite during his time as a Wizard, and fans mourned his departure. Plus, as many pointed out, it made little sense to start over when they had traded their 1994 & 1995 1st-round picks away prior. Lost in the general sense of disappointment was the "homecoming" of Robert Horry, who had been selected in '92 by Milwaukee with the Wizards' own 1st-rounder, and the new 4-year contract signed by Nick Anderson. Despite the apparent destruction of the team, or perhaps because of it, the new-look Wizards continued on where their predecessors had left off, fighting to post a .500 record. With the 8th seed still up for grabs, it seemed clear that the GM's job hung in the balance. But once again, the Wizards faltered down the stretch, failing to reach the .500 mark, and finishing 9th in the Eastern Conference, despite a strong season from Wayman Tisdale, who garnered 6th Man of the Year honors. Xist2inspire was fired immediately following the last game of the season, a 98-79 home victory over the Orlando Magic.
1994-98: Here Come (and There Go) The Wiz Kidz
94-95: Fountain of Youth
It didn't take long for the DC Wizards to find a new GM, Jay Felders II was named to the position within 24 hours of previous GM Xist2inspire's firing. A cold, somber, calculating figure, Wizards management hoped that the quiet J2 (as he preferred to be called) would yield better results than the jovial, free-spirited Xist did. Fans were impressed by his initial statements and presence, less so by his age. At 22 years old, J2 was the youngest GM in Wizards history, and was also among the youngest in the entire league. Fans were uncertain as to how this extreme youth movement would turn out. The offseason started off dreadfully, as a past mistake came back to haunt the Wizards. Their 1994 1st, which was now in the Minnesota Timberwolves' hands, jumped all the way from its projected #11 spot to #1. In a draft headlined by young studs Jason Kidd and Grant Hill, the news was devastating, and many took it as a sign that despite the change in GMs and shift in philosophy, DC's fortunes would remain the same. The only person who didn't seem to be fazed was GM Felders, and come Draft Day, he went to work. First went former big-time signee PG Avery Johnson and the Magic's 1995 1st rounder to the Orlando Magic for the 7th, 23rd, and 28th picks picks in the draft, as well as cash. Then came the big one, #7 was shipped off to the Nets for young PF rebounding force Tyrone Hill, the 13th pick in the draft, and more cash. Then #13 was traded to the Seattle Supersonics for #15 and more cash. And then, #15 was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for a future first and even more cash. Finally, both the 23rd and 28th picks in the draft, to the Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Hornets respectively, and the gain was C Pete Chilcutt and - you guessed it - even more cash. As would be expected from such a flurry, DC fans came away from the draft with a "the hell just happened?" mindset, but the facts stood: From just Avery Johnson and a future draft pick, the Wizards gained a new starter at PF, a future draft pick, a pinch hitter at C, and a boatload of cash, enough to upgrade certain training facility equipment for the upcoming season. The positive vibes continued into Free Agency, as 26-year-old C Duane Causwell, fresh off of an NBA Finals appearance with the LA Lakers, signed with the Wizards on Day 1. Joining him were 25-year old PG Keith Jennings and the returning Haywoode Workman. With the cap nearly filled the roster appeared to be set. The season started out promising, as the hot-shooting "Wiz Kidz" established themselves as outside shooting threats. An early surprise was the play of backup PG Brent Price, acquired last season in the Scottie Pippen deal. However, the young squad also proved to be streaky, posting a road record as bad as their home record was impressive. The new GM proved himself to be an opportunistic one, as an early-season deal landed the Wiz 24-year old PG David Wesley in return for the aforementioned Brent Price and fan favorite Wayman Tisdale. Fans were sad to see Wayman go, but held off on their anger, as the new acquisition quickly settled in, snatching the starting job away from Keith Jennings. Despite that, the Wizards continued to hover around .500, clinging on to the 8th spot. But then, an old friend came to visit as the season started to draw towards a close - the injury bug. The heart and soul of the team, Nick Anderson, was sidelined for two weeks. With teams hot on their tail, the Wizards valiantly tried to keep things afloat. With 5 games left,the Wiz were faced with a do-or-die situation for the 8th seed. They finished with a 38-44 record, good enough to tie the New Jersey Nets for the 8th seed...but not good enough to make the playoffs, as the Nets won out via tiebreakers. Another Wizards season came to a close without a playoff berth, but fans were somewhat positive, as this was a fresh young squad with a bright future ahead of them. However...
95-96: Sacrifices & Surprises
...Sean Elliott, Keith Jennings, and Tyrone Hill were traded to Minnesota for Aaron McKie, Walt Williams, Jeff Martin, and the 16th pick in the draft just before draft day. The news spread like wildfire throughout DC, as fans were stunned at this sudden turn of events. The official statement was that it was a salary dump, a claim backed up by the new Free Agency rules and upcoming contract extensions of young guns David Wesley & Robert Horry. The feeling among most was that it was a sly move to take the Wizards out of the playoff picture, so that they would be in the running for one of the many young talents in the 1996 NBA Draft, most notably Georgetown phenom Allen Iverson. Such feelings only intensified when the Wizards also traded away their 16th pick, thus leaving the Wizards without a drafted rookie on draft day for the 5th straight year. Mark Macon also found himself on the chopping block in Free Agency, as the Wizards declined his qualifying offer, thus leaving him free to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Wizards did manage to sign young free-agent Center Stanley Roberts (another "homecoming" of sorts, as he was drafted by the Lakers with the pick that was traded away for Wayman Tisdale), but coming into the season, no one knew quite what to expect. It was safe to say that no one expected a red-hot 7-1 start, however. The strong play of Nick Anderson, David Wesley, and Duane Causwell was largely unexpected as well, though rumors of Causwell & Wesley's strong training camp performances had been spreading prior to the season. Wesley, in particular, was having a breakout season, even earning NBA All-Star honors. The Wizards' strong start put them in firmly in the playoff picture from Day 1, and after picking up veteran SG Kevin Edwards & familiar face Derrick McKey, the Wizards found themselves 5th in the East. Facing a strong, experienced Raptors franchise in the 1st Round proved too much for the young DC squad however, and they went down 4-2, thus bringing their season to a close. At 48-34, they had made a 10-game improvement over last season, and David Wesley received the 1995-96 Most Improved Player Award in recognition of his stellar season. Things were looking up, and the failures of the previous regime seemed to be in the past.
The "Wiz Kid" himself, point guard David Wesley, being interviewed after a daytime game
96-97: High Risk, Huge Reward
After what could only be viewed as a wildly successful season, Wiz fans were highly optimistic heading into the offseason, owning the 20th pick in a strong draft, and enough cap space to make some moves in Free Agency. Yet it was not to be, as the Wizards, unable to find a suitable deal to move up in the draft, and unimpressed with what was left, traded their pick away, thus continuing the Wizards' sad tradition of not selecting anyone on draft day. This fact alone wasn't what made the deal controversial, what made it controversial is that fan favorite backup guard Chris Childs was packaged along with the 20th pick for shooting guard Rex Walters & cash. The move left many scratching their heads, as it could best be described as a lateral move. But, most moved on and prepared for Free Agency. A major shocker came when Robert Horry was offered a 4-year contract worth $20,188,000. Needless to say, this was quite a bit more than anyone expected, and also a bit more than what many felt he was worth. After many tense hours where rumors and discussions were had, the Wizards announced that they would match the offer and retain Horry's services for the next 4 seasons. While it was good that last season's core would remain, the size of the contract meant that adding adequate pieces to that core would be difficult. As expected, the Wizards incoming FA class was a bit underwhelming, as Gheorghe Muresan, Sean Rooks, Lee Mayberry, and former Wizard Lorenzo "Enzo" Williams were brought in for the new season.
Power Forward Joe Smith became an instant favorite in DC largely due to his college days
The Wizards didn't exactly ease any fears right off the bat, as a middling 11-13 start left many wondering if last season's "success" was indeed the best the Wizards could hope for. Once again, GM J2 showed no hesitation at the thought of changing direction, and longtime team leader Nick Anderson was sent away to the Denver Nuggets for former Maryland star and DMV native Joe Smith. The trade stunned many, as Nick had been considered the heart and soul of the Wizards. Had the trade been for any other player, fans would've rioted immediately, but since Smith was a hometown hero, the prevailing train of thought was "let's wait and see." No one had to wait long, however, because the Wizards immediately responded by winning 11 games in a row. David Wesley continued to grow into his new role as team leader, making the All-Star Team (and later garnering All-NBA honors). Despite now being firmly in the playoff hunt, J2 wasn't quite done with the tinkering, as Lorenzo Williams was sent to the Kings for a draft pick, and Duane Causwell ended up joining Nick Anderson in Denver. Making his return to the Wizards was Horace Grant, an old fan favorite who was traded as a part of the "X-odus" back in 1991. The Wizards ended the season on a 6-game winning streak, and finished with a record of 48-34, the same as last season, only this time good enough for the 4th seed. Securing homecourt for their 1st Round matchup against the Orlando Magic was definitely a boost, but last season's failure to defend homecourt against the Raptors still loomed large. Physical reminders of their past failures faced them, as Pervis Ellison (who helped eliminate the Wizards as a member of the Raptors last season) and Scottie Pippen (the Wizards' former franchise player who soured on the team during the Xist2inspire era) were both in Magic uniforms. Many felt that this would be the test that defined the Wizards' season. The Wizards passed that test with flying colors, and it was safe to say that no one expected the Wizards to sweep the Magic. The joy that DC fans felt at their first playoff win in 15 years was short-lived however, as the Boston Celtics, 4-time consecutive Eastern Conference Champions, awaited them. The Celtics would be shorthanded for the matchup, as their starting PG Tim Hardaway would miss the entire series due to a severely broken finger suffered during their 1st-Round matchup with the Miami Heat. Still, the Celtics were heavy favorites to dispatch the young, inexperienced Wiz Kids...which made it all the more shocking when the Wizards took Game 1 in Boston. With the tone set, the series surprisingly became a back-and-forth affair, with the Wizards finding themselves back in Boston for a Game 7, with Boston's franchise Center, Alonzo Mourning, out with a stress fracture in his left foot. The Wizards were able to seize the moment and win the series, moving on to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1979. Opposing them were the New York Knicks, another Atlantic Division foe who, led by perennial All-Stars David Robinson and Reggie Miller, were erasing their past failures with a dominant regular-season and impressive playoff run. As it was quite obvious that the Wizards had caught a lucky break against the Celtics, the Knicks were expected to take the series easily. What happened was the exact opposite, as the Wizards demolished the Knicks for their second series sweep of the playoffs, capping it off with two 25+ point victories in front of over 18,000 raucous fans at the capacity-filled US Airlines Arena. The special jerseys they had worn throughout the season to honor the 1978 NBA Champion Washington Bullets had proven to be an omen, as in just three short years as GM, J2 had taken the Wizards to their first NBA Finals in 18 years. The ending proved to be bittersweet, as the Wizards were taken down 4-2 by the Dallas Mavericks, a veteran team hell-bent on avenging their 2 Finals losses in 1990 & 1994. Still, there wasn't a fan in DC that held their head low, as this had truly been a season to remember, and a stellar foundation for a new era to start.
97-98: Future's Tense
Star Forward Robert "Hollywood" Horry lived for the spotlight
If last offseason could be considered a high point for Wiz fans, this offseason could only be described as a euphoric madhouse. Expectations were at an all-time high, as the Wizards, fresh off a NBA Finals appearance, owned the 10th pick in the draft and cap space in a massive Free Agency class. Older fans pointed out that the Wizards had historically never made much of a splash in the offseason, and even less so in recent years with their noted history of trading away picks. Younger fans retorted that no, those were the old Wizards. These Wizards, under J2, would do things differently. The truth was, as it usually is, somewhere in between. Draft day went rather well, as Kentucky SG Ron Mercer became the first Wizards draft pick in nearly a decade. Joining him was Texas Tech C Tony Battie, acquired in a draft day trade with the Orlando Magic. Both players were around the age of Joe Smith, so it seemed that the seeds for a new core were already being planted. Then came Free Agency...and things slowly went sour. Horace Grant, the veteran Center who had anchored the team's post during the playoffs, balked at the idea of signing a single-year deal, and left for a two-year deal in Detroit. Young foreign-born Center Gheorghe Muresan also felt that he was worth more than the Wizards were offering, and found a deal more to his liking in Milwaukee. Having lost their two best Centers to the Central Division, it was vital that the Wizards sign someone to fill the void...which made it all the more disappointing when no one did. Not all was lost, however, as Marcus Liberty and former Washington PG Muggsy Bogues were brought in to provide bench help for team leaders Robert Horry and David Wesley. Wesley, a former Piston PG himself, was also instrumental in luring young Pistons PG Anthony Goldwire to DC. Still, the hole at in the middle loomed large, and in what could only be described as a panic move, the Wizards traded their 1998 1st-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks in return for promising young big man Lorenzo Williams. But by the time Training Camp rolled around, Lorenzen had revealed himself to be an average talent, nothing special. Further bad news came when David Wesley, the team's de facto leader, showed up at camp having done absolutely nothing during the offseason. Despite major improvements from star Robert Horry, young gun Aaron McKie, and #10 pick Ron Mercer, DC faithful couldn't help but look at their frontcourt, which by now consisted of the 7'2", 364-pound Thomas Hamilton, rookie Tony Battie (who had also had a great camp), the aforementioned Lorenzen Wright, frontcourt leader Joe Smith, as well as returning Wizard big man Yinka Dare, and think that this offseason was a disappointment at best, an utter disaster at worst. The lukewarm attitude carried over to the regular season, as the Wizards tripped and stumbled their way to a 43-39 record and the 6th. 40+ wins was nothing to sneeze at in a very competitive Eastern Conference, but after two back-to-back seasons of almost 50 wins, and fresh off of a Finals appearance, fans were rather disappointed and looked forward to the playoffs. The Miami Heat quickly squashed that enthusiasm, cruising out to a quick, dominating, and easy 3-1 lead in the series. The writing was on the wall for the Wizards...but then another playoff miracle occurred. 3 straight games, 3 straight victories, 2 blowouts, 2 wins in Miami. In a shocking turn of events, the Wizards eliminated the #3 seeded Miami Heat, 4-3. Unfortunately, the unexpected outburst drained the Wizards' energy, making them easy pickings for their next opponents. The Milwaukee Bucks, who were experiencing their own renaissance, gave the Wizards a taste of their own medicine and swept them, thus ending their season.
1998- : Explosion
98-99: "The Most Hated Man In Washington Since John Wilkes Booth"
What happens when Public Enemy No. 1 is also the franchise player? New Wizard Juwan Howard was about to find out, as his contract signing helped bring an abrupt end to the Wizards' successful run
Even though last season was disappointing, fans were still pretty optimistic heading into next season. Sure, they didn't have a draft pick, but so what? Sure, the East was a lot tougher this season, but so what? The core was still together, and the Wizards had a ton of cap space to blow in FA. But no one anticipated the storm that was to come. First Aaron McKie, the defensive-minded SG who had floated in and out of the lineup during the last few seasons, signed a 4-year offer sheet worth $22 million with the Houston Rockets. This came as a shock to many, but was overshadowed by the $35 million dollar offer sheet inked by the Charlotte Hornets' Juwan Howard. While this seemed like great news at first, the next 24 hours proved to be the exact opposite. It was revealed that Howard (who wanted out of Charlotte by any means necessary) and his agents had tampered with the contract sent to them by the Wizards, declaring him to be an UFA rather than an RFA. This way, not only would the Hornets lose him, but they would also get nothing in return. Once discovered, the league refused to believe that the Wizards were innocent in the deal, and (since the Hornets were quite fed up with Juwan at this point) thus decreed that the Wizards would have to not only sign Juwan, but would also have to sign-and-trade for him (this was a bit of poetic justice, as the Wizards had denied Charlotte's requests for a sign-and-trade earlier). Additional sanctions were issued, such as a no-trade clause for Howard and a $7.5 million limit in FA, but the forced trade was a killer, as it ensured that the Wizards would have hastily change direction. The decision was made to rebuild around hometown hero Joe Smith, and thus star PG David Wesley was shipped off to Charlotte for Juwan Howard. Robert Horry was sent off to Denver a few hours later, further ensuring that Juwan Howard's stay in Washington wouldn't be easy. With the FA sanctions in place, the Wizards found themselves unable to land any meaningful free agents, and had to settle for journeymen such as Travis Best and Darnell Mee. Two Wizards made their return, but unfortunately they were Yinka Dare and Thomas Hamilton. The outlook was rather bleak for the Wizards, a stark contrast from the enthusiasm of years prior. An article written by Washington Post reporter Johnny Junior pretty much summed up everything that had happened to this point - the article had a picture of a grinning Juwan Howard and the headline "The Most Hated Man In Washington Since John Wilkes Booth."