The newest member of the Washington Wizards walked into Verizon Center on a chilly Friday just a couple hours before tipoff. Point guard Ramon Sessions hit the floor with 6:09 to play in the Wizards’ no-show 127-89 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sessions was 0-for-2 on the night.
“Those first 24, 48 hours are tough,” Session, who joined his seventh career NBA team when he was shipped to the Wizards, said. “You’ve got to come meet everybody, learn the plays, it’s a lot. But if a team wants you, it’s one of those things I take it as a blessing.”
The Wizards acquired Sessions on Thursday by sending veteran point guard Andre Miller to the Sacramento Kings. Sessions is expected to increase the pace the Wizards’ second unit plays at, as well as provide more scoring.
Sessions said he’s happy to move to a team playing well and thankful he will find some consistent minutes, neither of which were happening in Sacramento.
“Knowing my role and knowing what I’m going to do in a system that fits me,” Sessions said. “Nothing against [Sacramento], that system wasn’t in my favor in a way. This system is totally up and down and that’s how I play my game.”
The departure of Miller does produce a void, however.
“First of all, it’s tough seeing Andre leave,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. “I had him as a rookie and had him here at the end (of his career). When you’re using “professional,” that’s who Andre is. He came in here a year ago about this time and helped this team. Not only what he did on the floor, but in the lockerroom. That’s going to be sorely missed. No question about it.”
The Wizards will give Sessions, who is also under contract for next season, a hard look as John Wall’s backup.
“John’s going to be here a long time and we got to continue looking down the road, not today, but down the road of finding quality people that can back him up and give him opportunities for rest,” Wittman said.
Wittman also said the 6-foot-3 Sessions could play alongside the 6-foot-3 Wall at times with Bradley Beal (leg) out.
Wittman mentioned the importance of Friday night’s game against the Cavaliers. If the Wizards are able to move into the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference, they will move to the bottom side of the playoff bracket and possibly deal with the No. 2 seed, likely the Toronto Raptors, in the conference semifinals, should they reach them. If they finish in the No. 4 or 5 spot, that means a first-round matchup against Cleveland or even the Chicago Bulls with a semifinal series looming against the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks. The three division winners are guaranteed a spot in the top four playoff seeds.
“I want our guys focused; 28 [games to play] is going to go by fast,” Wittman said. “In the blink of an eye, it’s going to be over.”
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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