The Wizards were a lousy 26-56 in Flip Saunders’ first year calling the shots. He will need to improve this year if he wants to continue being the head coach of the Wizards. Saunders has a career record of 613-452 (57.6%) during the regular season and he is 47-51 (48%) during the post season. Saunders is used to winning and I have a feeling that he could get the Wizards going in the right direction this year but it’s going to take more time to get them back into the playoffs.

22-year old JaVale McGee will enter this year as the Wizards’ starting center as he played pretty well after they traded Brendan Haywood to the Mavericks last year. McGee played in 60 games (19 starts) for the Wizards last season and he averaged 16.1 minutes, 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. McGee has now played in 135 games (33 starts) in his first two years with the Wizards and he has averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. The Wizards would be happy with McGee if he excelled on D and as a rebounder this year.

25-year old Hilton Armstrong will be one of McGee’s backups this year. Armstrong played in 33 games (0 starts) for the Kings, Rockets and Hornets last season and he averaged 10.2 minutes, 2.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 224 games (37 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he has averaged 12.5 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

20-year old rookie Kevin Seraphin was a first round pick last June. He played in 97 games (47 starts) in the last three years in France and he has averaged 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Seraphin will likely be brought along slowly for the Wizards this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WIZARDS CENTERS IN 2010-11: C

After the Wizards traded Antwan Jamison to the Cavaliers, Andray Blatche broke out big time. The Wizards hope that Blatche can continue to roll this year. Blatche played in 81 games (36 starts) for the Wizards last season and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 14.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He has now played in 319 games (100 starts) in his first five years with the Wizards and he is averaging 20.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. I look for him to have a true breakout year for the Wizards in 2010-11.

22-year old Yi Jianlian came over in a deal with the Nets. He played in 52 games (51 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Yi Jianlian has now played in 179 games (152 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he has averaged 26.4 minutes, 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He will likely be the first big man off the bench for the Wizards in 2010-11.

22-year old Trevor Booker was a first round pick last June. He played 32 games for Clemson last season and he averaged 30.8 minutes, 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Booker played in 134 games in his four years in college and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 12.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per game. The Wizards will likely bring him along slowly.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WIZARDS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B+

26-year old Al Thornton will likely be the starting small forward for the Wizards this year. He played in 75 games (46 starts) for the Wizards & Clippers last season and he averaged 27.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Thornton has now played in 225 games (144 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he has averaged 30.6 minutes, 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Thornton is a solid team player who doesn’t need to be the focal point of the offense.

30-year old Josh Howard didn’t get to show much for the Wizards last season as he was injured. Howard played in 35 games (12 starts) for the Wizards & Mavericks last season and he averaged 26.2 minutes, 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has now played in 435 games (371 starts) in which he has averaged 31.6 minutes, 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. If Howard can stay healthy the Wizards will likely find 25-30 minutes a night for him in 2010-11.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WIZARDS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B-

28-year old Gilbert Arenas will be shifting from the point to the shooting guard position in 2010-11. He played in 32 games (all starts) for the Wizards last season and he averaged 36.5 minutes, 22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Arenas has now played in 465 games (439 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 37.3 minutes, 22.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Shooting guard probably suits Agent Zero more than the point but he will have to adjust to not having the ball in his hands as much in 2010-11 but I don’t think it will be much of a problem for him.

Kirk Hinrich will probably be the top back to Gilbert Arenas and John Wall so he will likely almost get starting minutes between the two jobs and he’s a very capable player.

25-year old Nick Young will be #3 in line at shooting guard for the Wizards this year. Young played in 74 games (23 starts) for the Wizards last season and he averaged 19.2 minutes, 8.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 230 games (30 starts) in his three years with the Wizards and he has averaged 19.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Young is a good long range shooter as he has hit 38% of his shots behind the three point line in his NBA career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WIZARDS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B