The Wizards overcame a 24-point deficit against the Clippers on Tuesday night to avoid entering Thanksgiving on a low note. Despite the impressive comeback win though, Washington is still just 6-11, and the fact that the club fell into a 24-point hole to begin with is a reason for concern, as Bradley Beal said after the game, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com.
“That’s why everything is not fixed,” Beal said. “At the end of the day we can’t be naive and say we won after being down 20. We were getting our asses kicked. We have to take a step back and realize we still have a lot of things to fix. We won tonight, but we have to keep it going and know that if we get down to Toronto [on Friday night], the same result might not happen.”
It’s been an eventful week for the Wizards, who had a contentious practice last Thursday and will reportedly listen to trade inquires on just about anyone. We relayed several more Wizards updates on Tuesday, writing that the Hornets have inquired on Beal, John Wall wants to finish his career in D.C., and the Wizards are trying to move on from various distractions.
We’ve got more news out of Washington to pass along today, so let’s dive in…
- Within Bontemps’ article (linked above), he notes that several executives told him on Tuesday that finding a trade partner for Wall would be “difficult at best.” One exec was more blunt: “If they can get anything for Wall and don’t do it, they are idiots.”
- With Wall’s value being questioned, head coach Scott Brooks vehemently defended his star point guard after Tuesday’s game, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “John, he’s been taking hits. Let’s face it,” Brooks said. “You hear all the reports that he’s heavy. The guy has 7% body fat… He’s in great shape. I like the way he plays. He plays hard.”
- Brooks intends to find more minutes for backup guard Tomas Satoransky, who played a key role in the Wizards’ comeback on Tuesday, according to Hughes. A restricted free agent at season’s end, Satoransky has been one of the club’s most effective bench players over the last couple seasons.
- Responding to reports that detailed the heated comments made during last Thursday’s Wizards practice, Markieff Morris expressed his distaste for the leaks coming from within the organization, as Hughes writes in another article for NBC Sports Washington. “It’s f***ed up what’s going on,” Morris said. “The comments that’s coming from the locker room, that’s f***ed up.”
- In a column for Sports Illustrated, Chris Mannix explores what the Wizards need to do to fix their issues, and whether longtime GM Ernie Grunfeld can be trusted to make those moves.
The Wall trade is to Phoenix.
These work:
John Wall for Ryan Anderson.
Wall + Oubre for Anderson and Mikal Bridges or Josh Jackson.
Off that base of Wall Anderson, I’m really not sure which way I am trying to balance.
Seriously!!! Wall in 1 game does more than Anderson in all his career, what a dreadful trade… don’t give up your day job buddy!
I don’t understand why all the hate to Wall, he is a very good player, always steps up his game in the playoffs, always deliver the goods, a real star.
You’re missing the point. If the Wiz feel they should/must move on from Wall, they will only get pennies on the dollar. Anderson is of course no where near the player Wall is but he is on a 2 year deal to Wall’s 5 – and that savings is how the Wiz justify the talent loss. Phoenix needs a PG and Wall-Booker-Ayton-Bridges/Warren is a serious team for a few years.
I’m in agreeance with you.
Wall/Booker/Ayton would be a great tandem.
Could possibly see Bridges being used in a trade though
john walls similar to a young drose – insane talent and extremely selfish pad stats
but weren’t the bulls winning?
Unhappy after a big comeback. . . that’s major unhappy.
Messages were sent to management, who are very reluctant to be serious about trading.
Wall wants to finish his career in D.C….. yeah, VERY BIG chance that happening due to his mammoth contract