Whitney's Season Over? (2024)

With Whitney's status uncertain, the Wizards signed guard David Vanterpool for the rest of the season. Vanterpool, a graduate of Blair High in Silver Spring, had been with the team on two 10-day contracts and has impressed the coaching staff, especially with his defense.

"It's not there yet," said Whitney, who did take part in some light drills during practice yesterday. "There's some swelling still. It's not ready. It's from repeatedly tearing it down. It's going to take longer than it normally would.

"Yeah, I'm concerned. I'm frustrated. I want to be out there playing."

When asked if there was a chance he could return this season, Whitney said: "Hopefully. . . . It's a possibility. It's killing me [mentally]. I watch all the games and it hurts me. It's hard. I'm trying to do everything I need to do to get it right and I'd like to come back."

The injury bug didn't bite just Whitney. It appears to have wiped out half the Wizards' back court.

Veteran swingman Mitch Richmond has not recovered from a strained right knee suffered March 10 against New Jersey and is not expected to play against the Indiana Pacers tonight at MCI Center. Richmond, who has missed the past six games, did some light work at practice yesterday. He declined to comment and his return status is undetermined.

Hubert Davis, who has been starting in Whitney's place, also is doubtful for tonight's game because of a strained right hamstring. Davis, who injured his leg in Friday's loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles and aggravated it further in Saturday's loss at Utah, did not practice yesterday.

Richard Hamilton likely will start at point guard, Courtney Alexander probably will start at shooting guard and either Laron Profit or rookie Mike Smith will start at small forward for the depleted Wizards, according to Coach Leonard Hamilton.

Veteran forward Michael Smith, who was sent home and suspended for the final two games of Washington's recent western road trip because of a profanity-laced outburst on the bench in the fourth quarter of last Wednesday's victory at Golden State, returned to practice. However, he has lost his starting job to Christian Laettner, at least for tonight's game.

"It's in the past and there's no need to keep throwing it out there," Smith said of the incident and suspension that will cost him $48,000 in wages, a penalty that he already has appealed. "I just have to come back out there and play my game. . . . If I do [start], if I don't, it doesn't matter."

Center Jahidi White will be the only player starting who was in the starting lineup when Washington opened the season Halloween night against Orlando. White lost his starting job to Calvin Booth after hurting his knee in December and he did not start again until Booth had elbow surgery just before getting traded to Dallas, along with Juwan Howard and Obinna Ekezie on Feb. 22.

As for Whitney, he was enjoying a career season until he was sidelined March 5. The career backup played in 59 games and started 31, averaging 14.2 points and six assists as a starter. At least one member of the coaching staff said Whitney would be his selection for the team's most valuable player for what he did on the court and for being a positive influence during a tough season.

Though Whitney said he would play if he could, he said he learned a lesson by playing hurt too long and doesn't want to make matters worse by coming back too soon.

"I wasn't trying to prove to anybody that I could be a starter because I know I could be," Whitney said. "Now it's about doing the right thing. I want to strengthen the ankle so I won't have any lingering effects next year."

Chris Whitney has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle since March 4.