Speeding Bullets: The Leonsis era has begun

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis spoke to Mike Wise on WJFK radio in DC and says he believes the Wizards will have one of the best backcourts in the NBA this year, with John Wall at point guard and Gilbert Arenas moving over to shooting guard and Kirk Hinrich coming off the bench. Big Stein fills us in.

The fans have told us, they would like more respect to the game, and tune down the music, tune down a lot of the defense chants, maybe pay a little bit more active homage to the past, he said, detailing how many older players hes reached out too, and how he hopes that they can deal both with fans and with current players. Were gonna try to do as many things as we can to reactivate the van base, because this is a basketball-mad city. The place loves basketball. And if we give them a good product and we service our [customers], I think well sell out these games, just the way we sell out every Caps game.

In addition to those most welcome alterations, Leonsis even plans to add ledges over urinals in the mens room so fans can answer that call of nature and still have some place to put their beer. Thats either fan-friendly or alcoholic-enabling, depending on how you look at it. Maybe both.

Leonsis also plans to change the lighting scheme at Verizon Center. CLICK HERE to read more about what it will look like and see an example of it.

Fourteen years after signing a $100 million contract with the Miami Heat, only to have it invalidated due to violations of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, former Washington Bullet/Wizard Juwan Howard now DOES move to South Beach. This will be Howard's 9th team, as well as two stops in Dallas and Denver.

Washington's vice president of basketball operations Tommy Shepherd was not hired by the New Orleans Hornets to be their GM, as some had speculated would happen. The job will go to Dell Demps instead. Demps has been in the San Antonio Spurs front office.

Also, other goings-on in the Leonsis empire.

The Wizards recently concluded a very successful Summer League tournament, finishing with a record of 4-1. Their only loss came in an overtime defeat by the Knicks, though John Wall and Javale McGee sat the entire game out. Wall [23.5 ppg, 7.8 apg] won Most Outstanding Player of the Summer League games and Javale McGee [19.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg] was named to the All-Tournament Team. McGee is already being rewarded for his performance in Las Vegas by being invited to the Team USA trials. Hell stay in Las Vegas and try to make the final roster of the national team that will play for the world championships in Turkey later this year.

Check out some Javale McGee highlights from the Summer League games. Dude got his slam on repeatedly. Also watch for his mothers reaction to some of these plays.

John Wall discusses his performance in the Summer League games.