And the latest from that world: the franchise is ranked 93rd out of 122 professional sports franchises assessed via ESPN’s annual “Ultimate Standings” list, down 30 spots from last year. Furthermore, Washington is ranked 22nd amongst NBA teams, which doesn’t seem as terrible considering the markets and franchises ranked below the Wizards — Chicago Bulls (23), L.A. Lakers (26), and New York Knicks (29) — but it is still … not good.
But you know what: Big Whoop. The Washington franchise has long suffered from a lack of respect, generally and almost always self-inflicted. And while the business operations of the team has been more sound under Ted Leonsis’ “double bottom-line” — although, one could certainly question how sound of a business decision it was to invest in an Arena Football League team (the AFL might not even happen now) instead of a D-League team — Leonsis has yet to really move the needle beyond anything but lateral from the Abe Pollin regime.