Wizards have big injury problems; Jamison might play soon

WASHINGTON -- In recent seasons, the Washington Wizards could be described as injury plagued. Those woes have continued this preseason.

Not only is star guard Gilbert Arenas not available for at least the first month of the season due to surgery on his left knee, but starting center Brendan Haywood is scheduled for surgery to repair torn ligaments in his injured right wrist next week.

The Wizards got a little good news before Friday night's game with Detroit when Antawn Jamison, who bruised his right knee in Monday's game in Dallas, said his injury is not quite as bad as originally thought.

"I just got through seeing the doc, and he said everything looks pretty good," Jamison said. "It looks like one of those day-to-day things."

When Jamison, who averaged 21.4 points and a career-high 10.2 rebounds last season. was injured, he said he thought he would be ready for the season opener against New Jersey on Oct. 29.

"I definitely should be ready," Jamison said. "I am aiming to play the last two preseason games."

Haywood injured his wrist during training camp, and it's estimated he will miss 4-to-6 months. Neither he nor Arenas will accompany the team on the trip to Berlin and Barcelona that begins Saturday.

"I've never been through this before," Haywood said. "When I'm healthy, I'll be back out there. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later."

Haywood, a center whose 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season were career highs, will be replaced by Etan Thomas, who sat out last season after heart surgery, fourth-year player Andray Blatche and first-round draft choice JaVale McGee.

Coach Eddie Jordan said he tries not to fixate on the spate of injuries.

When asked about it when Haywood and Jamison were hurt, he said he still didn't.

"I don't want to say that," he said. "It's who's next?"

Guard Juan Dixon (sore right calf) and Nick Young (sore left knee) didn't dress for Friday's game.

Jordan thinks Washington has enough left on the roster to make sure they will be competitive without Arenas and Haywood.

"Hopefully, we can hold the fort till they come back," he said.