Buying time

1. I don't think the Wiz have another parts that Uta would consider although teaming AK-47 with Agent Zero would be an incredible gimmick..imagine Agent Zero slaying the division with AK-47 headline.

2. Yes, and Yes

3. That he sucked?

4. Considering how Caron got pushed around last season..NO

5. Mrs. 50

6. Hooplah Nation!

7. LOL

1 I like AK as a player, but the way the NBA is set up now, you not only have to have good players on your team, but you have to have good contracts too. His isn't. Unless you're one of those teams that doesn't mind paying the tax, you can't really afford to absorb a deal like AK's.

2 Nope, see above.

3 Not sure. He was an efficient scorer who didn't rebound or play defense well against the stronger, quicker 4s in the NBA last season. The reports I've read suggested he was moving around better at Eurobasket, and that's a good sign, but it's hard to envision him turning into a rebounding monster or strong post defender. Another board per game would be nice though.

4 Depends, of course, on what he lost and how he lost it. If he worked out alot and lost fat, then he should be quicker and more explosive. That's a good thing.

5 See above. I don't think weight is the main issue here. I recall Exree Hipp of the Maryland Terrapins coming into his senior season with folks telling him he was a lock for the NBA if only he gained 20 pounds. He spent the summer eating fried chicken and hamburgers, and completely stunk his senior year.  He was never heard from again. The weight itself is much less an issue than what it's made of. If Butler and Stevenson lost fat and kept the same muscle mass (or even added some), then their weight loss is very likely a good thing. If the weight they lost was muscle mass, then that's probably not going to help them.

6 I read blogs a lot, including TrueHoop, FreeDarko, Wizznutzz, the Post's Wizards Insider, and the Bog. I also visit mainstream outlets like SI, ESPN Page 2 and ESPN (although it's a lot less fun there since they made most of the content accessible only by subscription). I'd have to say I am coming to prefer the blogs. As I've said before, you and Jake do a great job here.

7 Pasta.  

1/2. I think AK is a fine player, but this team is going to need the cap space to sign Gil to a max deal next summer, and they don't want to have all their money put into three players for the long term.  Depending on the how the season goes, I see us either sticking with our current big 3 all year, then having a decision next summer regarding Jamison-in-his-twilight-years vs cap space or else making a major splash with a mid-year Jamison trade to a team that wants that cap space (I'm thinking on the scale of Jermaine O'Neil here).

We also need to keep in mind that this team has prospects at the 4 (OPec, Andray) and nothing at the 5.  If Andray makes strides this year, the team probably moves Jamison and lets Andray become the starter.  We take on a 4 with a huge long-term deal, that basically turns Andray into trade bait.

3. meh.

4/5. I think the lost weight for both players is a good thing, but then again I'm a wizards fan, so I know nothing about defense ;-)

6. I read truehoop rumors, dimemag, Wiz Insider, and nba.com.  Go blogosphere go.  (I'm biased, though, I'm studying bloggers for my dissertation.)

7.  Er, um, who?