Everything you need to know about D.C. Sports in one place.
As of right now, the Wizards' division includes the Miami Heat superteam, the Orlando Magic, who were arguably the best team in the East until their loss to Boston, and the Atlanta Hawks, who return pretty much everyone from their 53-win team last year. Granted, divisions don't really mean much in basketball, so this may all be irrelevant.
But still - this has to validate the team's build-slowly approach, right? In the short term, there's no way the Wizards could compete in their division. It's too tough. The worst thing, then, would have been to panic and sign a guy like Amare Stoudemire, who is a good player, but would kill all future salary-cap flexibility for a team that has a limited upside. Even with Amare, the Wizards are probably no better than third in the Southeast Division, so why bother? It's far better to keep the powder dry and make a run during John Wall's prime.
That doesn't mean the execution of this plan has been perfect. It hasn't. But the plan itself is genius.
Today's must-reads from around the SB Nation network:
- Donovan McNabb still hasn't signed a contract extension with the Redskins, which freaks Hogs Haven out. As well it should. Trading a high second-round pick for just one year of McNabb isn't exactly smart long-term planning.
- Hogs Haven also wonders if it's worth taking a flyer on Terrell Owens if Malcolm Kelly continues to struggle.
- What's wrong with Tyler Clippard? Federal Baseball asks the question here.
- Testudo Times counts down some of the greatest moments in Maryland sports history.