HoopsHype.com Rumors

“It’s not all about me. I’m not a selfish person, a selfish type of player. All I want to do is win. If we winning, I’m cool with anything. So that’s all that matters to me.” – John Wall, on what contract amount he’s willing to accept. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

“That kid’s future is very bright. He’s just gotta keep that weak-ass ankle under control. Do not edit that, okay? Exact words.” – Martell Webster, on Bradley Beal. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Martell Webster, Bradley Beal 

“That’s a good question. That’s a great question, actually. I don’t even know how tall I am. I’m hoping 6-4. I’m 6-4, 6-5 on a good day.” – Bradley Beal, when asked to clarify how tall he is. So, basically he didn’t really clarify. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal 

When a basketball shot splashes through the net, it’s not uncommon for other players to call it a “wet ball,” meaning nothing but net. But at some point the Wizards started calling it “Watergate,” and last week a curious media member asked why. It turns out that A.J. Price is behind the new team term. “I came up with a lot of stuff. I got a lot of words that these guys are running around here stealing, but it’s all good,” he told us. “Watergate was something I got from my trainer in high school. Years back, I don’t know where he got it from, and I just took it and ran with it. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, AJ Price 

Garrett Temple grew up in nearby Baton Rouge, and I asked him how he felt about the name. "Out of the 30 NBA teams, I really wished it wouldn’t be New Orleans,” he said. “But, it is the state bird. I learned about that in sixth grade in Louisiana history, that the pelican was the state bird. Not that I’ve seen a lot of pelicans in New Orleans. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Garrett Temple, New Orleans Pelicans 

“I wish we could just get the Jazz back, because there’s a lot of jazz in New Orleans,” Temple continued. “There’s not a lot of jazz in Utah. I don’t know what Utah would be. Do a name trade, something.” Washington Post

Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Garrett Temple, New Orleans Pelicans 

On Thursday, the Wizards cleaned out their lockers, said goodbye to their friends, signed some yearbooks and got ready to go home for the summer. Kevin Seraphin spent the day taking a tour of the city on his segway. (Fun fact: Seraphin bought the segway from JaVale McGee.) Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Kevin Seraphin, Javale McGee 

“A key thing for us is try and keep Martell,” Leonsis said about the small forward who will become a free agent July 1, “and see what we’re going to do with John to keep him with the team for a long, long time. I think the fans would expect that to try to keep the nucleus of the team together and add around it.” CSNWashington.com

Washington Wizards, Free Agency, Martell Webster, Ted Leonsis 

If there’s no deal reached before the start of next season, Wall would become a restricted free agent in 2014. Owner Ted Leonsis said during the television broadcast of Wednesday season-ending loss to the Chicago Bulls that the team will see what it can do to keep Wall “for a long, long time.” Washington Times

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Michael Lee: John Wall said he won't try to recruit free agents to join #wizards this summer. "I’m not going to go out & beg nobody to come play for us." Twitter @MrMichaelLee

Washington Wizards, Free Agency, John Wall 

The most interesting nugget likely came when he was asked by Chenier about what the team’s focus would be during the offseason. “Well there’s lots of ways to improve the team: trades, free agency,” Leonsis said. “Obviously — unfortunately — we’ll have another high pick. And maybe we’ll get lucky and move up a couple of spaces so that we can pick 1, 2 or 3 again. We see Bradley Beal, he’s a real player, he was picked third. And you’re right, we’re gonna have a really really good backcourt with him and John. “But free agency, I think, is a way that we can use to improve the team,” Leonsis continued. “And probably the key thing for us is to try and keep Martell [Webster], and see what we’re gonna do with John [Wall] to keep him with the team for a long, long time. I think that the fans would expect that, to try and keep the nucleus of the team together and then add around it.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Free Agency, John Wall, Ted Leonsis 

Starting small forward Martell Webster will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and bringing him back will be one the Wizards’ priorities, according to sources with knowledge of the Wizards’ plans. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Free Agency, Martell Webster 

“You want to get all you can, make your money and that’s what I’m going to do, make as much as I can,” said Wall, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick, who is averaging a career-high 18.4 points and has led the team to a 24-24 record since returning from a knee injury. “But I also want to make sure that everything with my teammates is getting better, that my team is getting better. If it’s me making the money I’m making and we’re still losing, it’s not fun. You get paid, but you’re paid to lose. I want to get paid to win, paid more for being in the playoffs. I just love the game and want to win. That’s the main thing.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

You mentioned how Gilbert Arenas changed his personality after the gun incident and Tiger Woods publicly apologized after his scandal, and yet both still struggled. Conversely, Kobe blocked out his legal situation in Colorado and played some of the best basketball of his career. Why is he able to do this while others can’t? Tim Grover: Because Kobe and Michael had the ability not to think of external things. When they stepped between the lines, it was like, “This is my safe haven. No one can touch me here. Nothing’s gonna happen. All that other stuff, once the whistle is blowing and I step across that line again, it’s still gonna be there, so I can’t let the other stuff affect me and the end result of what I do. I’m focused in on thing. I play basketball. This is what I do. I can’t let that other stuff distract me from doing this.” It’s the ability to shut it all down, not from a physical standpoint, but from a mental standpoint. Land O'Lakers

Washington Wizards, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Gilbert Arenas, Tiger Woods, Tim Grover 

Emeka Okafor’s wife, Ilana, is due to give birth to the couple’s first child at the end of May, and the new father is finding it a little intimidating. Okafor sat down to dinner with Phil Chenier, and Wizards Magazine was there to document the chat about fatherhood. “The whole process is a bit unnerving to me,” Okafor said. “Just thinking about the actual birthing process. I’m also not looking forward to losing sleep. I hear the first six months can be a little bit rough.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Emeka Okafor 

On why more NBA players don’t interact with fans on Twitter: “It’s something that has been perpetrated by the front office of the NBA, telling us not to do that. So basically, [they’re] telling us that we need to be above other people in society because [we’re] better than that. Better than what? What am I better than?” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Martell Webster, Twitter, David Stern 

After our recent pedicure interview, Martell Webster shared his thoughts on the experience. “My feet look exactly the same as when I came in here,” he said, as seen in the video above. “I never see the difference because my feet are so ugly, but you know what? I don’t care. I’m comfortable with myself and who I am. And I have terrible feet, and I’m still going to wear Birkenstocks.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Martell Webster 

On being smart with his money: “There’s a fine line between not having concerns, and being careless with your money. In the moment, when the money’s coming in and you have a steady income, and in this job you can make great money, so it doesn’t matter then. But if you’re not taking care of your money while you’re in the moment, later you’re going to find yourself struggling. It’s a testament to a lot of guys who have come through this league, not just in this league but football, baseball – if you’re not managing your money well and doing smart things, then you can find yourself on the losing end once it’s all said and done.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Martell Webster 

Wizards forward-center Kevin Seraphin heads into this offseason having to decide between advancing his NBA career or maintaining his commitment to his country. Seraphin has played a prominent role for the French national team in each of the past two summers and helped France finish sixth at the London Olympics. But Seraphin’s third season with the Wizards fell short of his expectations despite averaging a career-high nine points per game, leaving his participation at 2013 Eurobasket in Slovenia in doubt. “I don’t know. That’s something that I really want to,” Seraphin said of representing France, “but the thing is now, I try to improve. The [Wizards] want me to improve, too. I try to be better for my team, for sure.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Kevin Seraphin, FIBA, France, Eurobasket 

Tired of maintaining a mummified look as plantar fasciitis in his left foot never fully healed and as soreness in his right knee worsened, Nene has decided to sit out the Wizards’ final two games, Monday in Brooklyn and Wednesday in Chicago. For Nene, making it through 61 games was no small feat after being tested physically and mentally in his 11th season. “How tough? Tough enough to think about the end of my career? Yeah, that’s how tough it was,” he said. “It was so hard to play the way I did it. I thought to end my career because it’s so painful, my body can’t support. I’m glad I finished the season, but the way I suffer, I hope, never again.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Nene