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Wizards Wrap: John Wall redeems himself on the mound, and Ted looks silly after trophy fib

John Wall manages to get the ball to the plate, and Ted Leonsis gets some egg on his face in this week's busy Wrap.

By Jeff Newman
USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards might have zero shot at the playoffs, but it's been a pretty busy week for the Wiz in the news. We'll try to cover all the bases in this week's Wrap:

  • John Wall took a second crack at throwing out the first pitch at Nationals game, and he did much better this time, because he could have only done much better this time. [Nationals Journal | CSN Washington (video, article)| Wizards blog]
  • So remember that awesome WaPo story about how Ted Leonsis heroically rescued Washington's lone Larry O'Brien trophy from the doldrum of an ex-employee's closet? Turns out it was a bunch of hooey, the Post has written a new story, and Ted looks like a silly goose. [Washington Post | Mike's thoughts | Ball Don't Lie |Wizards Extreme]
  • Chris Miller sat down for a series of must-watch interviews with Wall and Bradley Beal. [CSN Washington (Part I | Part II | Part III)
  • With the season pretty much over for the Wiz, Martell Webster is thinking about shutting it down after having to leave Wednesday's game against the Heat with a lingering abdominal injury. [Us | Washington Examiner]
  • If he does, could it be the last Wizards fan see of Webster, who may have priced himself out of Washington with his play this season. [Truth About It]
  • Sounds like Randy Wittman plans on giving his young forwards some more burn in the final three games of the season. [Washington Post]
  • But is there even enough room for all of them all in the rotation? [CSN Washington]\
  • How would you grade Wittman's performance this season? [Wiz of Awes]
  • Last summer ESPN ranked Wall as the 55th best player in the NBA. But after a breakout month for Wall, The Worldwide Leader has moved him all the way up to 21st. [ESPN]
  • You're already aware of Wall's love affair with the right elbow, but in case you needed some more evidence, here ya go. [Grantland]
  • Here's an extensive breakdown of why Wizards fans should be excited about Wall. [King James Gospel]
  • Great story about how Wall's emergence coincided with him receiving some tough love from Emeka Okafor. [Washington Post | Mike | Wizards Extreme]
  • Speaking of Okafor, just how valuable is he to the Wizards' defense? [Thomas]
  • BNIE is cool with the race for ninth, but says the pressure is on Ernie Grunfeld for the Wiz to place better next season.
  • Elvin Hayes doesn't see the point in winning late-season when you're out of the playoff race. Wes Unseld does. [Us]
  • What is the point, by the way? [Truth About It]
  • The guys over at Wiz of Awes take a look towards the future in this roundtable.
  • Mike is worried about Nene.
  • In this FanPost, averagebro takes a crack at explaining why the Wizards are so putrid on the road.
  • Bradley Beal told reporters last week that it was probably a mistake for him to try and play through so many injuries his rookie season. [Us | Washington Post | Washington Examiner | CSN Washington]
  • Of all the challenges he faced as a rookie, the toughest for Beal was playing an 82-game schedule. [Wizards Insider]
  • Cartier Martin is tired of playing on one-year deals. [CSN Washington]
  • If you could keep Martin, A.J. Price and Garrett Temple, would you? [Wizards Extreme]
  • NBA drama is very much like middle school drams. Thankfully John Wall and Roy Hibbert are mature dudes. [Us | DC Sports Bog]
  • Bernard King, who had a good run with the Bullets after his elite years with the Knicks, can now add "Hall of Famer" to his resume. [SB Nation | Wizards Insider]
  • Jordan Crawford has forgotten he had a career B.C....Before Celtics, that is. (See what I did there?) [Boston Globe | ESPN Boston | CSN Washington | Wiz of Awes]
  • The Wizards have generally played good three-point defense this season, but they've also given up three of biggest 3-ball assaults in team history this year, and two this week in consecutive games against the Knicks and Heat. [CSN Washington]
  • The Wizards seem set in the backcourt with John Wall and Bradley Beal set to form one of the best young backcourts in the NBA, so the obvious choice for the team in the first round of the 2013 draft is, Michael Carter-Williams? [CSN Washington]
  • I think most fans would prefer Anthony Bennett. [Wiz of Awes]
  • Could Frank Vogel's postgame presser in Washington end up being a critical turning point in the Pacers' season? [Truth About It]
  • James Singleton is back in the NBA, and everything is right with the world. [Wizards Extreme]
  • Are the 76ers hoping Doug Collins resigns? [Philly Inquirer | Ball Don't Lie]
  • This isn't Wizards-related, but it's the greatest thing you'll ever see.
  • Nope, I'm sorry. This is.