NBA Makes Their Move, Wizards Up Next

NBA Commissioner David Stern has handed down a season long suspension for Jarvis Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas, now the million dollar question in DC is what the Wizard will do with Crittenton, who becomes a free agent this off season (I promised sarcasm). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/01/27/AR2010012703330.html

Oh and there is Arenas to worry about too. The former face of the franchise has 4-years remaining on his 6-year, $111(m) contract. The word is Arenas no longer wants to play for the Wizards or President Ernie Grunfeld and they obviously are not all that excited about him anymore. The Wizards will explore all options but most likely this marriage will end quicker than John Edwards (Sex tape really?). It seems almost impossible to fathom anyone even the Knicks would want to trade anything of value for Arenas. A buyout seems much more likely and a major rebuild.

So who will own these Wizards? That is apparently not the slam dunk for Caps Owner Ted Leonsis after all.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4864550

Hopefully cooler heads will prevail because the Wizards need some good PR and no disrespect to the Pollin Family (but here it comes), the fan base wants Ted and no one else to own this team and yes that includes the Pollin Family. The only worse scenario for Wizards fans would be Dan Snyder getting control of the team. Abe Pollin did some great things for DC, but this franchise needs some new leadership and direction from the very top. Leonsis has done wonders with the Capitals and could do even more with an NBA franchise.

Some hardcore Caps fans have asked why would Ted want the Wizards with all their problems. Here is the reality of the NHL for you, a sorry TV deal with Versus and NBC. Outside of NHL markets the coverage is pathetic. ESPN practically ignores it. Today for example on Sports Center, the RED hot Caps were the 27th story some 46 minutes into the show (I know I have too much free time not my choice). There were 11 NBA games highlighted, 5 College Basketball games, even the X-Games, Golf, NFL pro bowl, and Tennis before the NHL. Also, for some strange reason the Devils and Sabres were in front of the Caps.

The NHL among the 4 major pro team sports is still a distant 4th. The NBA is still in a better position to generate revenue even in the downtrodden state the Wizards are in. Leonsis owning both would be win win for DC sports fans and the franchises involved.