Wizards Wrap: Wrapping up another manic season

On a day when most of us are probably distracted by things way more important than basketball, if you feel the need for a diversion, feel free to comb through this weeks's Wrap, in which we'll try to put a nice, tidy bow on another manic, disappointing Wizards season:

• Lots of goodies in these "end of season" stories. [Washington Post (Optimism, offseason outlook) | Washington Examiner (Report card, offseason ?s, Wittman's passion) | AP | CBS DC | Wiz of Awes | Wizards Extreme]
• Several Wizards intimated in their exit interviews with the media that they'd rather the team not use its first-round draft pick and acquire a veteran instead. This would make Mike sad.
• By the way, the Wiz have the eighth-best odds of winning the lottery after losing a coin flip to the Pistons today.
• Still, don't expect to hear about Wall pleading with any veterans to come join the Wiz. [CSN Washington]
• Here's some links to audio of said exit interviews. [District Sports Page]
• And more on Wall's exit interview. [Truth About It]
• If you haven't read James Herbert's profile of Wall, do it. Now. [SB Nation]
• What were the Wizards' top 10 moments this season? [Wizards Insider]
• Jason Reid pretty much nails it with this column about John Wall and how whether he deserves a max contract and whether he will get one are two different things. [Washington Post]
• Wait a minute, do doctors expect Bradley Beal to grow another few inches? Because that would be amazing. [CSN Washington]
• As expected, Wall and Beal dominate this video-list of the Wizards' top 10 plays of the season. Can you guys think of any plays that got snubbed? [NBA.com]
• With Wall and Beal in tow, the Wizards appear to be as well-positioned as any team in this year's lottery to have a rebound season next year. [E$PN Insider]
• Randy Wittman has been rightly praised for holding the team together through a horrific start to the season, but his tear ducts might deserve a share of the credit. [CSN Washington]
• Sounds like Ted is on board with Wall's plans to keep both he and Martell Webster around. [CSN Washington]
• BNIE asked the eternal question: Is there anything that could get Ernie Grunfeld fired?
• We all knew Nene was hurting this season, but not so much that he actually contemplated retirement. Yikes. [CSN Washington]
• The word 'Watergate' means one thing to 99.99999% of the United States. It means something else to the Wizards, even though they play about two miles from the real thing. [Truth About It]
• Trevor Ariza came on strong for the Wiz towards the middle of the season, but battles injuries down the stretch and is focused on coming back healthy next season. [CSN Washington]
• Beal says he wants a stretch four for next season. Which draft prospects fit that mold? [CBS DC]
• Here's a draft profile of Cody Zeller, who will likely be available whenever the Wizards pick in the first round. [Wiz of Awes]
• Not only was Marcus Smart's decision to return for his sophomore season probably a bad move financially, but it could also affect which prospects are available when the Wizards pick. [Washington Examiner]
• If you like math, you'll enjoy this suggestion for how to revamp the NBA's draft lottery system. [Truth About It]
• Rasheed Wallace has retired, which means that somehow Juwan Howard, who has to be pushing 80, is the last remaining ex-Bullet in the NBA. [CSN Washington]
• Eddie Jordan-to-Rutgers is a done deal. [AP]
• OK, so the DC Sports Bog has been on fire this week with the Wizards-related posts, so I decided to just group them all here at the end...
• As pointed out by Dan Steinberg, our optimism that the Wizards will have a better season next year has become something of an annual tradition.
• Bet you guys thought the Wizards lost all their swag with their Steez, but you'd be wrong.
• Webster recently got a pedicure. Somehow that turned into two (brilliant) Bog posts. [Part I | Part II]
• It didn't take much divination to conclude Jan Vesely wasn't exactly confident when he stepped to the free throw line this season, but who could have guessed he was downright petrified?
• Congrats are in order for Emeka Okafor, who's expecting the birth of his first child next month.
• I'm pretty sure the segway was invented so that Kevin Seraphin could one day ride one.
• Garrett Temple grew up new New Orleans. He isn't a fan of the name "Pelicans."
• We can officially add "filing taxes" to the long list of things people would rather do than watch the Wizards.