Washington Wizards Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the

game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests

that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I

have decided to defy those odds. 

The Washington Wizards entered the NBA in 1961 as the Chicago

Packers before being renamed the Zephyrs one year later. The

franchise moved to Baltimore one year later and were rebranded as

the Baltimore Bullets. The franchise moved to Washington DC and

were then named the Capital Bullets. One year later, they were

named the Washington Bullets. In 1997, they were rebranded as

the Wizards. 

The franchise has appeared in four NBA Finals with the lone title

coming in 1977-1978. The franchise has seven division titles. The

team remained a regular playoff participant in the 1980s but since

the 1987-1988 campaign postseason berths have been infrequent.

In the last 32 years, Washington has been to the playoffs just nine

times. 

Today, I put together a Wizards Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Wizard for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions.

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs

to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is

all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Wizards during a season of being a championship

team does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on

the Heat during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on

this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get

considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the

franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t

just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would

remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask

yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starting five

Point guard: John Wall

The previous three seasons have been injury-plagued ones for Wall

but his nine-year career has been strong enough that he's the best

point guard in franchise history and one of the best players

regardless of position. What was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010

draft.

During his career, Wall has averaged 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and

9.2 assists. Wall is a five-time All-Star and the Wizards all-time leader

in assists, assists per game and steals. 

Shooting guard: Bradley Beal.

The Wizards selected Beal with the third overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Beal and teammate John Wall have formed an outstanding but

unheralded backcourt. Beal has been a tremendous long-range

shooter in over 500 career games with the Wizards.

Beal is a two-time All-Star and was NBA All-Rookie second team in

2013. He has career averages of 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0

assists. Beal has averaged at least 20 points per game and his last

five seasons. 

Small forward: Greg Ballard.

Ballard's starring role with the Bullets came after he helped contribute

to the franchise's 1978 NBA championship. Ballard, however,

enjoyed a solidly productive career despite not making any All-Star

appearances.

Throughout his career with Washington, Ballard averaged 13.5 points,

6.4 rebounds, 2.4 and 1.2 steals per game. Ballard also helped the

franchise to multiple postseason appearances as a starter at small

forward.

Power forward: Elvin Hayes.

Hayes was acquired in a trade from the San Diego Rockets and

teamed with Hall of Famer Wes Unseld to form a dominating frontcourt

tandem. Hayes and Unseld led Washington to three NBA finals in a

five-year span with 1978 culminating in a championship.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Hayes was a 12-time All-Star

and six-time All NBA (three as a first-teamer) . He was also a two-time

NBA All-Defensive second team. In a Washington uniform, Hayes

averaged a double-double with 21.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per

game. 

Center: Wes Unseld

Unseld spent all 13 years of his playing career with this franchise.

Unseld was known for his rebounding, ability to set screens and ignite

a fast-break with his outlet passes. Unseld made up for his lack of

size with brute strength and determination. Unseld, who later went on

to become the franchise’s head coach, helped lead Washington to

three NBA Finals appearances in five years with 1978 culminating

with a championship.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Unseld was NBA Finals MVP in

1978, NBA MVP in 1969, five-time All-Star, All NBA first team in 1969

and NBA Rookie of the Year in 1969. Unseld averaged 10.8 points

and 14.0 rebounds per game. He also averaged 3.8 assists per

contest. 

Bench (Alphabetical order)

Gilbert Arenas:

Though Arenas is known for his firearms possession, he had eight

highly successful seasons with Washington. Arenas spent his first

two seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. While with

Washington, he was a three-time All-Star, All-NBA second team in

2007 and two more times as a third-team choice. He was the NBA

Most Improved Player in 2003. In a Washington uniform, Arenas

averaged 25.0 points and 5.7 assists per game.

Walt Bellamy:

Bellamy's five years with the franchise overlapped the eras with the

Chicago Packers and Zephyrs along with the Baltimore Bullets.

Bellamy was the Rookie of the Year in 1962 and made four

consecutive All-Star appearances. During his time with the franchise,

Bellamy averaged 27.6 points and 16.6 rebounds per game on the

way to a Hall of Fame career.

Phil Chenier:

Though Chenier's time with the franchise overlapped both the

Baltimore and Washington areas. Chenier spent eight of these 11

seasons with the franchise and helped deliver a championship in

1978. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time All NBA. During

his time with Washington, Chenier averaged 17.9 points per game

and was one of the best shooting guards in the NBA.

Bob Dandridge:

Dandridge spent much of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks but

had for impactful seasons with Washington. In a Bullets uniform,

Dandridge averaged 18.3 points per game and was an All-Star in

1979. He also helped the bullets become champions in 1977-78.

Antwan Jamison:

Jamison played six of his 17 seasons with Washington. Jamison

along with Tom Chambers are the only two players in NBA history

to have scored at least 20,000 career points and not be inducted

into the Hall of Fame. Both of Jamison's All-Star appearances

came in a Washington uniform. During his career with the franchise,

Jamison averaged 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Gus Johnson:

Johnson was one of the best two-way players of his time as he

spent nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the franchise during their

time as the Baltimore Bullets. All five of Johnson's All-Star

appearances came as a Bullet. He was also four-time All-NBA

second team, two-time NBA All Defensive first team and NBA

All-Rookie first team. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of

Fame. 

Bernard King:

Though King is a Hall of Famer, and in a sense his legacy is

“what could have been” because he missed two full seasons

with a knee injury. However, based on what he did on the court,

he is more than deserving of his Hall of Fame status. King was one

of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Though he only played

with the Bullets for five seasons, King averaged 22.0 points per

game with Washington.

Jeff Malone:

Malone was a very efficient scorer and an excellent mid-range

jump shooter. He spent eight seasons with Washington with both

of his All-Star appearances coming with the franchise. As a member

of the Bullets, Malone averaged 20.2 points per contest

Jack Marin: 

Marin played six of his 13 Seasons with the Baltimore Bullets. He

was NBA All-Rookie first team in 1967. During his time as a Bullet,

he averaged 16.7 points per game.

Earl Monroe:

Monroe was given the nicknames “Black Jesus” and “Earl the Pearl."

He was the perfect blend of basketball and showmanship. Though

the majority of his career was as a New York Knick, his time with the

Baltimore Bullets we're still quite impactful. He helped lead the

Bullets to an NBA Finals appearance in 1971. With the Bullets,

Monroe averaged 21.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

Head coach: Dick Motta

Motta only coached the Bullets for five seasons and is the only

coach in franchise history to lead them to an NBA championship.

Until another coach accomplishes that feat, one will be hard-

pressed to surpass Motta, who led the Bullets to 185 victories and

a franchise-record 27 playoff wins. Motta was known as a strict

disciplinarian who built physically tough teams. 

Team: 1977-1978

Though the regular season record may not look impressive at

44-38, the fact that this is the only team in franchise history to hoist

the Larry O'Brien trophy makes it hard to go any other way. The

Bullets are one of four NBA champions to win fewer than 50 regular

season games in a non-lockout shortened campaign. The Bullets

were beset by injuries to the point where they lost 13 of 18 games

at one point but the team rallied to make the postseason defeating

the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers on

the way to the NBA finals where they defeated the Seattle

SuperSonics in seven games. Hayes and Dandridge each

averaged over 19 points per game.