After Washington Wizards management parted ways with longtime franchise player Gilbert Arenas over the guns in the locker room incident, traded the ever enigmatic and often knuckleheaded Javale McGee and oft times frustrating SG Nick Young during last season, the writing was on the wall that owner Ted Leonsis and GM Ernie Grunfeld have decided to change the losing culture surrounding basketball in the nation’s Capitol.
That’s why it comes as no surprise that Wizards management has decided to use their Amnesty Clause to part ways with multi-talented, yet often out of shape and malcontented big man Andray Blatche. Blatche had signed a 5 year – $35 million deal with Washington back in 2010.
After setting career highs across the board back in 2010-2011 by averaging 16.8 ppg, 8.2 rebs, and 2.3 steals, management soured on the former 2nd Round Draft pick out of HS in 2005, after several off the court incidents involving a carjacking and subsequent shooting back in ’05, an arrest for solicitation of an undercover officer in ’07, charges of speeding, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license for the 3rd time in 2008, and was suspended from the team for brawling with a teammate at a nightclub. Blatche was often at odds with head coaches Flip Saunders and Randy Wittman and was eventually banished for the remainder of last season after playing in only 26 contests.
Despite having immense physical gifts packed in an impressive 6’11 and 260lb frame, Blatche often found himself on the wrong end of many highlight reel videos getting dunked on because of some horrific defense, earning him boos from the Wizards home crowd over the past few seasons. In fact, Andray has become a cancer in the locker room with many of his teammates seemingly taking pleasure whenever Blatche gets dunked on or gets his shot blocked.
On the flip side, Blatche is still only 25 years old and undeniably has the offensive skills to average 20-10-5 if he can ever get right upstairs. Will some team take a chance on the talented yet unfocused big man, or will his name be added to the list of uber talented, yet under-achieving players like Derrick Coleman, JR Rider, and Shawn Kemp?
Check out some of Andray Blatche’s Career Failures:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
