Ernie Grunfeld Receiving Calls Concerning Possible Wizards Trades

The Feb. 19 trade deadline is quickly approaching and Washington Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld has received several phone calls about potential trades.

According to the Washington Post, Grunfeld said, "I've gotten a lot of calls about a lot of our players and that's a good thing. That means our players have value around the league. That means other people around the league value their abilities, but if you take the long view, we have a good nucleus of players and once we have all of our guys back, we feel that we can be a very competitive team. We just have to get healthy."

Several teams have called about All Stars Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison. Even though they mean a lot to the Wizards, when you're losing, anybody is in play and they can be traded. Although Grunfeld is not shopping Butler and Jamison, he will listen to offers that other teams throw out there.

''Now, you always have to consider any move that is going to improve your team but we like our group," Grunfeld said.

Players that could be dealt for the Wizards before the trade deadline:

1. Mike James: Will make $6 million this season, two years left on deal.

2. Etan Thomas: Will also will make about $6 million, two years left on current contract.

3. Darius Songaila: Will make $4 million this season, three years left on deal.

4. Oleksiy Pecherov: He's a young guy but has not made much improvement.

5. Juan Dixon: He probably will not be returning next season, but he can be traded.

According to several sources, the Wizards would love to trade Thomas. Grunfeld would have pulled a deal early in the season to trade Thomas along with Antonio Daniels for Chicago Bulls guard Larry Hughes. The deal failed once Hughes was injured.

If Grunfeld does not make a move by the deadline, he will likely negotiate a trade this summer and possibly make a coaching change. I think Grunfeld would love to make his moves in the offseason because he can put in a new coach and then see what his mindset is. Then he can concentrate on the draft.

Washington is tied for the league's worst record at 11-40, which would give the team good odds in landing the No. 1 overall draft pick in the lottery.

Hopefully Oklahoma's Blake Griffin can be the Wizards' savior if he doesn't return to Norman for one more season of college hoops.