Washington Wizards: New Uniforms Fit the New-Look Roster

Since taking over as owner of the team early last year, Ted Leonsis has made a point of turning the Washington Wizards into a franchise that listens to its fans. In line with his involvement with the Washington Capitals, Leonsis has reached out to fans and people within the organization to find ways to improve the team on all fronts.

The most recent improvement comes in the form of new uniforms, featuring a return to the classic Bullets red, white and blue design with the Wizards name.

However trivial the uniform and color change may seem, it shows progress after a time of relative stagnancy in recent years.

Three years ago, the Wizards were figuring out that they didn't have a winning combination. Gilbert Arenas played all of two games, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison couldn't carry the team, and coach Eddie Jordan was on his way out. After being ousted from the playoffs by the Cavaliers in three consecutive seasons, it was clear the Wizards needed a change.

From 2008 to 2010, the Wizards won just 45 games and earned the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

John Wall was just the first piece of the puzzle to be added. Midway through the 2009-2010 season, it was a series of subtractions that laid the foundation for what the Wizards have become. Jamison, Butler and Brendan Haywood were traded in a much-needed roster purge. It took an entire season before Arenas himself was traded, but it finally happened.

Nick Young, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee are the only players remaining from the 2008 roster.

In the last year, the Wizards added three first round picks in Wall, Trevor Booker, and Kevin Seraphin, and swung a deal for another first-rounder in Jordan Crawford. Instead of a roster of players on the wrong side of 30, the Wizards are now loaded with young talent learning to play together.

Now the 2011 draft is on the horizon, and the Wizards once again have multiple first round picks at their disposal.

One of their picks is statistically likely to be in the top five, with the other coming later in the round. Still, given their activity last season before, during and after the draft, they could end up with another pick and even more talent to build for the future.

These aren't the same Wizards that wasted the first overall pick on Kwame Brown or dumped $100 million on an injured player. With Ted Leonsis at the helm, this Wizards team is forward thinking and fiscally responsible.

Only one player currently on Washington's roster has a yearly salary over $6 million, and that is Rashard Lewis. His contract was a necessary evil since it was the only reason the Wizards were able to deal Arenas to Orlando. 

There is finally a reason to be excited for basketball in the nation's capital and it begins with the simple uniform change. It brings a certain pride with the classic red, white and blue, reminiscent of the 1978 NBA champion Bullets.

Hopefully it all points to a future return to the playoffs and ultimately an NBA championship. For now, we can all rest easy knowing the out-of-place teal and gold are a thing of the past for the young Wizards.