Washington Wizards Shopping Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee After Altercation

Fresh off of trading long-time Wizard and more recent malcontent Gilbert Arenas, the Washington Wizards had to hand down a pair of suspensions to their young stars.

Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee were each given one-game suspensions for engaging in an altercation with one another outside of a club last week. With two young players supposedly being big pieces in the Wizards' future, the Wizards could have a problem on their hands.

No matter the severity of the confrontation, it may have spurred the recent rumors of the team shopping both Blatche and McGee.

Washington is 7-22 and hurting for some kind of spark even in the early stages of rebuilding. Injuries to John Wall have hindered that development of chemistry, but now it seems Blatche and McGee aren't even on the same page socially.

How can the Wizards succeed when their best big men are at odds with each other?

While McGee is still a project and Blatche seems content to play for himself, they have some value because of their potential and relative youth.

McGee hasn't progressed this season as many had hoped he would, and there comes a time when potential is not enough to keep a player around. Blatche flirted with being more potential than substance, but has become a steady contributor for the Wizards since assuming the starting role with Antawn Jamison traded to the Cavaliers.

The lack of consistency and immaturity shown by both players could scare off any potential buyers.

McGee is averaging the second most blocks in the league with 2.5 per game and his 8.2 rebounds per game are on par with Pacers center Roy Hibbert, Heat forward Chris Bosh and Rockets forward Luis Scola. He is shooting 54-percent from the field, but is only taking around seven shots per game. His game consists of alley-oops, put backs and fast break points.

Simply put: McGee hasn't developed his own game and relies too heavily on others to create for him rather than creating for himself.

Blatche is a borderline head case and the problem only seems to get worse each year. Early in his career, he had various legal troubles and never put in the work in the gym. He never earned his spot, but the Jamison trade gave him a chance to show what he can do when given the chance. While he has done well averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, he has shown a lack of interest in defense or any real offensive scheme.

He is the type of player who has the ability to be special, but prefers to force his game instead of letting his teammates help him through slumps.

Best case scenario would give the Wizards a late-first round pick for the duo, or a prospect and a second round pick. It is difficult to gauge the value of two players who have both impressed and underwhelmed at different points during the season.

This rumor may just be a message for Blatche and McGee to straighten up or they'll be shipped out.

Given the level of commitment the Wizards have shown to Blatche with his preseason contract extension and the continued hope that McGee will eventually get "it," it is doubtful that the Wizards will do much more than passively shop the two.

They have invested too much in both men and would be foolish to do anything but reach for some kind of steal of a trade that isn't likely to come their way.

Still, wouldn't it be a shock to everyone to see both players sent elsewhere in the name of team chemistry and Wall's future as the face of the franchise?