2006-2007 Finish: 54-28

What went well

No one has never accused GM Darko of not having the necessary stones to make it big in the NLL. He employs a Wizkid-style "winning is all that matters" ethic, making cutthroats trades with little regard for fiscal concerns. This is probably why the Wiz have won their division three years in a row.

The 2005-06 season ended with a loss to the Sixers in the second round of the playoffs. This ending did not sit well with GM Darko. As soon as the season ended, he changed the future course of the Wizards. He shipped out franchise hope and dream Chris Bosh (along with Jeff Foster and Julius Hodge) for the rough-and-ready Pau Gasol. The roadmap of the Wizards destiny had changed.

Some think GM Darko is the George Steinbrenner of the NLL, trading and acquiring anyone without regard for the fanbase. He's hungry for the win. When training camp began for the new season, GM Darko opened the trapdoor on his 'loser' team (they won their division!) in a series of trades: Jarvis Hayes left for Shawne Williams, Matt Bonner to Memphis for Ersan Ilyasova and Maurice Ager, Luke Ridnour to Golden State for Josh Childress, star Shaquille O'Neal to Seattle for Antoine Walker and Gerald Wallce and finally Damon Stoudamire and Ilyasova to Golden State for Brent Barry. Couple that with the arrival of rookie signees Quincy Douby and Shannon Brown and that's quite a different team than the one that lost to the Sixers months before.

But GM Darko wasn't finished yet. Not satisfied with composition of his club, Wallace and the rights to Juan Navaro went to Detroit for Chauncey Billups. This was a big risk because there was talk that Billups wanted to test the FA market. After a few more minor trades, the newest form of the Wizards took shape and were ready to conquer!

What didn't

But it didn't work. Sure, the Wizards won their division again and seemed unstoppable. But injuries to players like Caron Butler and Gasol hurt them and they ended the season with peep, losing four games to two to the surprising and lower-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Perhaps GM Darko made one trade too many.

Stars

- Chauncey Billups, PG-

The Billups pick-up turned into a boon for the Wizards. Even though Wallace was a great player, Billups brings class to this organization. He had a career year with this club, hitting 24.6 points per game and doling out 7.4 assists. Everyone knows that Billups will not test the market and stay with the Wizards, something that makes the deal worth the risk. He is a solid point guard and will be for seasons to come.


-Caron Butler, SF-

This season will always come back to haunt Butler. It was supposed to be the one where he led the team to glory, but instead he spent the end of it on the bench in a suit. But looking at his numbers, Butler could say this was his best season yet. He hit 23.1 points on 53% shooting and some pretty astonishing dunks. If he wasn't so injury-prone, this guy could become one of the league greats.


- Pau Gasol, FC-

Another solid season for Gasol in a different uniform. Twice this season he was selected Eastern Conference Player of the Week and he dazzled the crowds with 18.1 points per game and 11.5 rebounds. This made the fans ask, "Shaq who?"

Goat

-Antoine Walker –F

Out of shape and overpaid, Walker did not do much to help the Wizards this season. It is sad to see how much this once NBA Live cover star has fallen. He managed a measly 6.1 points per game and only started 25 games. Definitely not worth $14 million (thanks to our favorite GM in Seattle). The Wizards luckily found a taker in Detroit at the season's end.

Looking to the future

Expect more trades and soon. That first round exit does not sit well with GM Darko and fans should expect nothing short of a complete roster overall. Childress and Joel Przybilla were sent to Minnesota (his name comes up a lot in trades, eh?) immediately before the draft for much-move big man Troy Murphy. Walker got sent to Detroit for Etan Thomas and Randolph Morris. Already this looks like a bad move for the Wizards. Thomas is out after heart surgery and they are desperate for someone to take Morris's ridiculous contract. Good luck!

As it stands, the team looks good going into the new season. No new draftees of note will sign with the club and the only major FA to sign is Billups. That being said, the Wizards are already over the cap and signing a $10 million a year player will certain cost them. Dropping Morris will help some with salary, but to re-sign Billups in the current state will hurt the GM rating. The only other concern is the bench is looking a little weak. With only Aaron Williams to back-up Gasol and Murphy, the Wiz better pray no one gets hurt. If this team wants to compete next season, they need to shore up that bench, even if it means trading a star player.