The All-Time Best Wizards Lineup

Jamaal Anderson by Contributor Written on July 08, 2009

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CLEVELAND - APRIL 30: Caron Butler #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrates a 88-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 30, 2008 in Cleveland
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

I've been meaning to do this for some time, but didn't realize the amount of research on stats and other stuff that were needed and would take some time.

But I did my best, and I think I put together the ideal Wizards team with a couple subs and coaches. So we'll see how it goes.

Hope you enjoy.

Starting Point Guard

CLEVELAND - APRIL 19:  Gilbert Arenas #0 of the Washington Wizards smiles in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2008 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, O

Gilbert "Agent 0" Arenas

He may not be a "true" point guard, but that hasn't stopped him from transforming the awful Wizards of the 90's and making them reemerge as a playoff-bound team.

Taken from the Warriors in 2004 as a free agent, Arenas became one of the league's best scorers while averaging nothing less than 19 points in all his seasons here (save the past two seasons in which he was injured), including third best in the league with 29.6 in 2005-06.

Arenas has made three All-Star teams, and his career stats on the Wizards are 22 points and 5.6 assists (averaging 6.1 assists in 2005-06).

And, except for this disastrous year, the Wizards have not missed the playoffs with Hibachi, whilst they missed the playoffs for 15-16 years before he came along.

Starting Shooting Guard

NEW YORK - JUNE 21:  Former NBA star Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe attends Saint Vincent's Midtown Hospital spring gala on June 21, 2004 at the Marriott Marquis, in New York City. (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe

He had his best years individually while being with the Bullets, though he achieved more team wise with the Knicks later.

After being selected second by the Bullets in the '67 draft, Monroe exceeded expectations as he averaged 24 points and finished the season with a Rookie of the Year Award.

Every single year with the Bullets, Monroe achieved averages of 21 point or higher while once having a career best 25.6 average in the 68-69 season while making All-NBA First Team that same season.

He led the Bullets to the top of their division twice and conducted us to the Finals before being swept by the Bucks.

Starting Small Forward

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Bobby Dandridge

He not only provided the Bullets with points (second-leading scorer for the team), but was also a great defender.

The Bullets signed Dandridge in '77 as a FA. In 1977-78, Dandridge averaged 18 points per game and was a huge contributor for the Bullets as they won their first title.

The next year, Bob would achieve 20 points a game, helping the Bullets attain the NBA's best record, and bringing them to the Finals (where they would eventually lose).

In '79, Bob made his last All-Star team, as a great career was ended by injuries.

Starting Power Forward

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Elvin "the Big E" Hayes

He took advantage of the opportunity of playing for a good team after playing for the sub-par Rockets for some time.

After the Bullets obtained him in a trade in 1972, Hayes played great, averaging a double-double in eight of his nine seasons there. He also reached career highs such as 23 points per game in the 1976-77 season and a unheard of 18 rebounds per game in the 1973-74 season.

With the Bullets, Hayes won four division titles, three conference champions, and one title. He would also come to be on three All-NBA First Teams.

Starting Center

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Wes Unseld

Even though Unseld was one of the worst coach/managers, he was amazing as an undersized center during his career.

After being drafted second in the '68 draft, Unseld completed a feat that only Wilt Chamberlain had done and that no one has done since: he somehow managed to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same season.

He averaged 13 points and a dominating 18 boards as his Bullets went from last place (34-46) to winning the division title with a 56-26 record.

Unseld went on to become a phenomenal rebounder, averaging a double-double in 12 of 13 seasons. He led the Bullets to four NBA Finals, winning one while he was named Finals MVP.

In 1981, Unseld ended his great career.

Coach

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Dick Motta

With the Bulls, Motta got credit as he made them a great defensive team in the 70's. He did as good of a job, if not better, with the Bullets.

Every single season that Motta coached the Wizards, they made it to the playoffs, with a division title in '79, and a championship victory in '78.

Motta has racked up 935 career wins.

Two Subs

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 9:  Rod Strickland #1 of the Toronto Raptors brings the ball upcourt during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 9, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The Raptors won 94-84.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly ack

Rod Strickland (above) and Kevin Porter

I couldn't decide on one, so I picked two.

Neither played that long with the Wiz (Strickland for four years and Porter for six) but both did a great job when they were there.

Strickland, who was acquired in '96, helped the Bullets reach the finals for the first time in nine years while averaging 18 points and nine assists. The next season, he led the league in assists with 10.

After that, everything went downhill and he left the team in 2001.

Porter, on the other hand, was drafted by the team in the third round (back then they had third rounds) and started for the Bullets team that got swept by the Warriors in the finals. He led the league in assists that year, a feat which he would accomplish three times in his career before retiring in '83.

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written on July 08, 2009 Rankings/List

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