Kwame Brown suspended for the rest of postseason

[Full Surface]

He reportedly called in sick in Game 4. He didn't even arrive in the arena. Way to give up on your teammates!

[fgrep15]

[MC Hao]

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Kwame Brown will not participate for the remainder of the playoffs.

"Coach Jordan and I met with Kwame this morning," said Grunfeld. "The three of us felt it was best for both the Wizards organization and Kwame that he no longer participate in the remainder of the playoffs. The team will move forward in our participation in the playoffs, and we will have no further comment regarding this issue. We are moving forward. This is an exciting time for both the team and Washington, D.C."

Brown averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games this season. He played in three postseason games, averaging 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.

hmmm...ok.

[Drex]

He's a FA this off-season, right??

[$Chris Bosh$]

wouldnt be suprised if hes gone in the offseason

[DipSetVC]

Come on fgrep, let's have a post on how he was going to drop 30 and 15 on the Bulls, just give up on this bust.

[Alcoholic]

Wizards suspend Brown for rest of playoffs
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Associated Press
Posted: 3 hours ago



WASHINGTON - Kwame Brown joined the Washington Wizards to much fanfare as the first high school player chosen No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. Now it appears likely he'll leave the team in disgrace, suspended on Tuesday for the rest of playoffs.


The Wizards told Brown he was no longer welcome, leaving him behind as they flew to Chicago for Wednesday's Game 5 of their first-round series against the Bulls.

"We had some philosophical differences," president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said.

Brown is in the final year of his contract and hoped to have the type of breakthrough season that would net a huge payoff this summer. He played just four minutes in Saturday night's Game 3, then didn't attend Sunday's practice or Monday's Game 4 victory. The team had said he was absent because of a stomach virus.

Asked whether Brown was really sick, Grunfeld said: "He talked to our trainer and he told him he had a stomach flu."

Asked whether Brown was upset over a lack of playing time, Grunfeld said: "Everybody likes to play as much as they can. That's typical for the NBA."

Brown won't travel with the Wizards or participate in any practices for the remainder of the season.

"We're going to do things a certain way. These players are committed to that," said Grunfeld, referring to the remaining players on the roster. "And those are the type of players we want around us."

The suspension - announced after Brown, Grunfeld and coach Eddie Jordan met for about 10 minutes before practice - throws into serious doubt Brown's future with the team.

He turned down a multiyear contract extension last fall, making him a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Grunfeld had previously said he would like to keep Brown. On Tuesday, he was more ambiguous.

"He's still part of our organization," Grunfeld said. "We'll deal with that in the offseason. He's going to be a restricted free agent in the summer, and we'll deal with that at the appropriate time."

A message left for Brown's agent was not immediately returned.

Brown has been a major disappointment since the Wizards drafted him out of Glynn Academy High School in Georgia in 2001. After a miserable two years dealing with the demanding Michael Jordan, Brown showed glimpses of his potential last season when he followed a 30-point, 19-rebound game against Sacramento with a 27 and 11 performance against Atlanta, but he often languished in single digits.

He averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for the season, just enough improvement for the Wizards to hope that his long awaited breakout was on the horizon.

But Brown broke a bone in his right foot during a pickup game last summer and started the season on the injured list. He played in just 42 games, starting 14, and was essentially a big-body role player off the bench. He averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds and was frequently booed at home.

Brown's numbers were much better on the road - a result, he claimed, of the treatment he received from the Wizards' fans. Gilbert Arenas even appealed to fans not to boo Brown before the Wizards' first home playoff game Saturday. The fans responded by cheering Brown graciously when he entered the game for his four minutes of play.

Brown began his first postseason with flair, scoring all of his 13 points in the first half of Game 1 at Chicago. But he scored just two points in 21 minutes in Game 2.

Brown's off-the-court lowlight was a DUI arrest in Georgia in 2003. Just 19 when he was drafted, Brown also struggled adjusting to life in the NBA. As a rookie, he was chewed out regularly by Michael Jordan and coach Doug Collins. Later, Brown spoke with bitterness about the criticism he received.

Four years ago, the Wizards imagined that Brown would one day lead them to the playoffs. Now they will continue in the postseason without him.

"This is not a distraction for us," Eddie Jordan said. "We're a close-knit family. We're moving forward. We're committed to winning."

Added forward Antawn Jamison: "I love Kwame to death, just like a little brother. Hopefully he can get situated."

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

"We had some philosophical differences," president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said

That's the best Ernie could come up with? That's about the lamest excuse for suspending a team member... Way to go Ernie...

[Full Surface]

Kwame Brown was a locker room cancer. He got in a fight with Brendan Haywood and constantly argued with Eddie Jordan during practice or in games.

He just showed his immaturity but faking to be sick, just because he played 3 minutes in Game 3.

[Null17]

is he mentally unstable or something? he's not even good enough to be acting like this

[Jeffx]

The handwriting's on the wall for this cat - good-bye & good riddance. Maybe he'll flourish in a new environment, who knows. For every KG & Kobe, there's a Kwame Brown, who wasn't ready for the NBA lifestyle at such a young age. It makes me appreciate Garnett even more.

[T-Comm55]

Well he is not going to be wizards next season. Before this incident many people were calling him a disappointment and now this, so the wizards will probably release him or trade him.

[fgrep15]

Come on fgrep, let's have a post on how he was going to drop 30 and 15 on the Bulls, just give up on this bust.

I don't really like Kwame that much, so I don't care to do that. He'll do good on another team, Washington is just not the place for him.

Kwame Brown was a locker room cancer. He got in a fight with Brendan Haywood and constantly argued with Eddie Jordan during practice or in games.

He just showed his immaturity but faking to be sick, just because he played 3 minutes in Game 3.

It's not even about him faking to be sick, but also no showing up to the arena at all? What did he do, stay at home and play videogames.

[Full Surface]

He probably maxed his ratings out on NBA Live. That's the only way he can be good.

[Andrew]

It seems like they both sides have given up on each other. A fresh start is probably in order, but Kwame needs to rethink his own attitude and approach to the game, otherwise history is just going to repeat itself. I agree with Dweaver, their official word on the situation is a bit weak and the playoff-long suspension seems a bit much, but I guess the Wizards are just fed up.

[beau_boy04]

what a pitiful story. Too bad his name will always be linked to Michael Jordan because it was him who decided to draft him.

I'm sure a team will be interested in his services though, just take a look at Glenn Robinson, Vin Baker, etc etc so yeah he will not be jobless. I truly hope he does stay unemployed though but i still wish him the best. He might be in drugs too.

[Fresh8]

Washington is definately going to let him go... but now after this, do u think teams will be fielding big offers anymore???

[Null17]

I doubt it. Probably a contract for role players or something...if he keeps acting like this he might end up rotting in some team's bench

[Fresh8]

exactly.. the bad publicity may make gms reevaulate his value... which means teams like the Lakers may have a chance at grabbing him!

[Matt]

lest we forget the 40+ million Adonal Foyle got for even more pitiful play.

He probably maxed his ratings out on NBA Live

LOL!!! this had me laughing, haha

[Bang]

I can just imagine...every day he comes back from a bad game (oh wait...that's every game..) he plays NBA Live where the wizards are 99 overall with Kwame as 99 overall. He plays through the whole season where he wins MVP, defensive player of the year and Most Improved Player, and wishes "if only life were this way".
Then he cries and cuts himself at night to dull the pain.

Washington will sign him to a max contract and trade him for Adonal Foyle.
(Man, I'd laugh for days for this one.)

I bet he also rated MJ 0 in NBA Live 2004. Everyday he probably plays 1 on 1 in nba live 2004. Maxed out Kwame VS Zeroed out MJ.

[air gordon]

a lot of money will be waiting in ATL

[Andrew]

If Kwame Brown's the guy they're waiting to give a lot of money to, their rebuilding plan is as strange as I said it was.

[air gordon]

haha. seriously it could happen if they don't get bogut's draft rights:

ATL will most likely miss out on dalembert, curry, chandler. so they'll pull a krause and overpay for 2nd tier big men like jerome james, kwame brown, stromile swift, etc

atlanta could be a good situation for him

[fgrep15]

Kwame really isn't bad, he can put up some good numbers in Atlanta. They want to trade Harrington, and they're going after Swift, Kwame and Chandler, maybe Curry too.

If Kwame can start there, he can put up numbers like 12-15 PPG, 8-9 RPG, and maybe a block or so...