Washington Wizards

Mejia's Offseason Grade Losing Larry Hughes hurts -- that can't be denied. He was the Wizards' primary defensive catalyst on a team that offered very little resistance, and managed to co-exist with Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas beautifully. Losing local hero Juan Dixon also presents a problem; he had that fearless demeanor that made him a clutch performer, giving Washington a feared scorer off the bench. At the same time, the franchise was able to turn disappointing Kwame Brown into Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, players who should offset those losses. Grade: C.   Key Players Gilbert Arenas: Arenas has evolved into a terrific scorer, but he's so much more than that. Antawn Jamison: Jamison offers terrific rebounding and scoring.   Role Playing Brendan Haywood, Center Developing consistently: After delivering his best season as a professional, there's cautious optimism that he's finally ready to take his contributions to the next level, establishing himself as one of the Eastern Conference's top centers. Given his physical gifts, he should be at that level already, but he's been slow to mature mentally and still doesn't rebound as well as he should given his size. His continued growth will be a key factor in determining Washington's fortunes. Jared Jeffries, Forward Glue guy: Jeffries started 71 games last year and may very well be back in the starting lineup this year despite the return of Jarvis Hayes and acquisition of Caron Butler. No matter his role, expect Eddie Jordan to use him plenty, taking advantage of his versatililty on defense, ability to crash the boards and established chemistry with scorers Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. Jarvis Hayes, Forward Booster shot: A fractured kneecap ended his sophomore season prematurely, but if he's able to make it back healthy, the Wizards will take full advantage of his scoring prowess. He can really fill it up, excelling with a strong mid-range game.   Burning Question Will losing Larry Hughes ground the emerging Wizards? The trio that played such a huge role in Washington's resurgence broke up when Hughes bolted for Cleveland, and there is valid trepidation that it will set the franchise back. Not only did he and Arenas play off each other, playing at an All-Star level, but he also served as the team's top perimeter defender, leading the league in steals per game. It may indeed take multiple players to help replace him, but the team is hoping that through new acquisitions Caron Butler, Antonio Daniels and Chucky Atkins, they will get the job done.

Caron Butler should be a good replacement for Larry Hughes, who departed to Cleveland. (Getty Images)     Team Projections Projected finish: 2nd, SE Division Projected win total: 43-47 Team MVP:Gilbert Arenas Leading scorer:Arenas Leading rebounder:Antawn Jamison Leading assists:Arenas Top defenders:Jared Jeffries; Antonio Daniels   Stat Rankings Stat Rank Total Pts Scored 6 100.5 Pts Against 23 100.8 Rebounds 9 42.8 FG% 22 43.7   PROJECTED STARTERS PG Gilbert Arenas Don't count him out as a contender for the league's scoring title. SG Antonio Daniels No longer considered a bust after reviving his career in Seattle, he's going to be a big part of Washington's plans. SF Caron Butler Will Washington be the location where he finally blows up? PF Antawn Jamison – The team can't afford any extended absences from their top scoring forward. C Brendan Haywood The Wizards are hoping he'll develop more of a killer instinct. Team Depth Chart   Player Movement Movement Player Pos. Key re-signing Michael Ruffin C Key loss Larry Hughes SG Key gain Caron Butler SF Player Movement Chart