WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- Veteran small forward Jerry Stackhouse is questioning whether he will be a member of the Washington Wizards next season.
He made the revelation to the Washington Times in the midst of the turmoil created by the last week's firing of Michael Jordan as President of Basketball Operations and, according to the paper, the unexpected resignation of Wes Unseld as General Manager.
"It's up in the air," Stackhouse, who can opt out of the final two years of his contract this summer, told the paper. "I don't dislike the team at all. I like the players on the floor, and we have some young talent. The most important thing to me is that we can go forward. I'm at the point in my career that I just want to win. That will play a big part in any decision I make. Right now, I can't make an easy decision."
Stackhouse, led Washington in scoring this past season with 21.5 points per contest in 70 games, indicated he was concerned about the team's current instability.
"We don't have anything in place, so it would be premature for me to say what I plan to do one way or the other," Stackhouse said. "Nobody knows what's going to happen. They could go in a totally different direction, but whatever they do, all the focus has got to be about making the team better. It has to be on doing whatever it takes to make this team a winner."
He made the comments before the Times broke the news about Unseld. He had indicated on May 2 that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence. During the time, it had been reported that he would have both knees replaced.
It was thought he would come back to that position upon his return, but he told the Times that, when he is ready, he will do so in another capacity.
"No, I won't," Unseld told the paper when asked if he would continue as GM. ""I'll still be with the team, but I'm not ever going to do all of the leg work and the heavy scouting. My role is going to change."
His situation leaves the Wizards in need of a head of Basketball Operations, a full-time General Manager, and possibly a new coach. The future of Doug Collins appears to be in doubt with all the changes and turmoil.
