The Washington Wizards.
A team known more for their injuries off the court than their actual play on the hardwood floor, are coming off a disappointing 19-63 season worth repressing deep, deep in the fans subconscious. But there was light at the end of the tunnel that maybe, just maybe some lucky bounces would leave the Wizards with the number one pick (Hello Blake Griffin!) Yet evil magic appeared and poof, Washington ended up with pick number five. Rather then have some rookie that wouldn't be able to contribute for another few years, the Wizards went into "win now" mode and traded the pick for some depth in the form of Randy Foye (You know that guy traded for some young cat named Brandon Roy) and Mike Miller.
So for the optimistic D.C. fans I have some good news for you, the Washington Wizards are a team with Coach Conference-Finals Flip Saunders, All-Star Caron Butler, ever-reliable Antawn Jamison, offensive-duo Foye and Miller, Javale Mcgee (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in his last Summer League game), healthy-duo Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, and ever improving Andray Blatche . Not a bad team, especially in the East (Where losing records make the Play-offs happens).
WAIT!
I think I'm forgetting someone. Some blogging spy. What's his name..?...OH that's right Gilbert Arenas! Now I know he isn't perfect with his gigantic contract, three surgeries in two years, and build a pool worth "more than your house" ways, but hear me out.
Arenas is one of the few players in this league of the worlds greatest athletes that can carry a team on his back. He was a second round draft pick out of the University of Arizona (Jordan Hill has a tough act to follow) that picked the number zero because he fought for his minutes. He went through adversity entering college and then had even more to prove when he entered the NBA Gilbert Arenas LIVES for big games. Has everyone already forgotten how he did this, this, some how did this, and lets not forget THIS! Gilbert hung 54 against the Suns in a double-overtime thriller, exploded for another 60 against LA (not the Clippers) in LA, and averaged 28.4 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals just a few, short years ago. And yes I know all the information stated above is from the past, but the point I am trying to make is that Gilbert has handled the pressure before, he has been the Superstar his team needed, and most importantly he has delivered. Since he picked up a basketball he has gone threw hard times and has always been victorious.
Clearly Agent Zero has his work cut out for him with high expectations for his team entering next season, the Wizards have more offensive fire-power than the blitzkrieg attack. And yes we all know the old cliché "defense wins championships", but this Washington team just might be that group that has too much scoring for Boston or Cleveland to defend. Maybe that's too much to expect from a Arenas led team just coming off a season like they had, but for someone who has had a career of the hard knocks and a low shot to succeed, I would say he has a good chance of making something out of nothing.