The recent Kobe for Gilbert trade rumors (shot down yesterday by Ernie Grunfeld — not that that means anything) should give you an indication that the Washington Wizards are at a crossroads season in regards to the franchise’s future. Gilbert Arenas has gone on record saying he will opt out of his contract at the end of the season and Antawn Jamison is in the final year of his deal. Something’s got to give…

After last Friday’s win in Orlando and upcoming games this week against the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons, Saturday night’s game at the Verizon Center against the banged up Boston Celtics had all the characteristics of a trap game. The Celtics were without Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and Tony Allen, among others, and losers of seven of their last eight games. Should be easy pickings, right? Well, almost. The Wiz built up a big…

Gilbert Arenas left the court at the Verizon Center yesterday as fans serenaded him with chants of “MVP! MVP!” after hitting yet another game winner at the buzzer. The Utah Jazz were Agent Zero’s latest victim, falling 114-111 in an incredible Martin Luther King Day matinée. Arenas, who tied a Verizon Center record with 51 points, traded three pointers with Utah’s Memet Okur down the stretch, but got the ball last and made Utah…

Washington D.C. lost one of its favorite adopted sons over the weekend as Arnold “Red” Auerbach passed away at the age of 89. Best known as the patriarch of the Boston Celtics, Auerbach had close ties to D.C., the city he called home for much of his life. Auerbach attended George Washington University from 1937-1940, starring on the basketball team as the team’s top scorer. In 1946, after stints in the Navy and as…

When the NBA calendar turns to March, teams are either start thinking about lottery choices or jockeying for playoff position. The Washington Wizards, after a slow start to the season, seemed to find their groove in February and catapulted themselves back into the playoff race, currently holding a precarious grip on the sixth seed in the East. Tonight on ESPN, they take on Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers, who currently trail the Wizards…

DCist was in the house last night when the Washington Wizards faced off against the Boston Celtics at the MCI Center as both teams fought for playoff positioning and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Boston’s Antoine Walker sat out with a knee injury, but All Star Antawn Jamison returned to action after an 11 game absence for the Wizards. Unfortunately, as well as Jamison played in his return, it…

>> Technically “opening night” was last night, but today’s full schedule marks the opening of the 2005 MLB baseball season. Washington D.C.’s own Nationals open their season at 3:05 p.m. in Philadelphia against the Phillies, the first of nine straight road games the Nats have to open the season (thanks MLB!). Yesterday marked the Nats final pre-season game, and the first at their new home at RFK Stadium. The home team sprinted to a…