Larry

Hughes

Hughes said he is still feeling too much discomfort to play but said he thinks he will be able to play again this season.

It would be Washington’s first game following the All-Star break. If he can hit his target, it would mean Hughes would miss seven more games before returning.

The Wizards have eight games before the break. “Larry’s talking about coming back early,” Jamison said. “He’s doing everything possible.” Hughes, who has been out for almost three weeks, has been limited to running and shooting left-handed layups.

Brown’s season has been a washout, but Hughes should be able to give owners a fantastic two months down the stretch.

Hughes, mediocre as a point guard last season, has been impressive now that the Wizards have moved back to his natural position. He’s someone to watch.

Hughes is also listed as questionable for Friday’s exhibition finale, though the Wizards say his sitting out is just precautionary.

Since returning from injury, Lue has come off the bench to play an average of 7.5 more minutes per game than Hughes, and Collins appears committed to going with what has worked recently. Neither player will have a lot of value under this arrangment.

Hughes has missed at least one practice in an effort to stay healthy enough to play. The Wizards may have to continue to give him days off from practice to try and keep him healthy for an entire season. You might consider seeing what you can get for Hughes given his injuries and the fact that the returns of Gilbert Arenas and Jerry Stackhouse will take away from his scoring.

Hughes was not pleased about playing just 23 minutes in Tuesday’s blowout. He was also off the floor for most of the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss as coach Eddie Jordan played point guards Steve Blake and Brevin Knight together in attempt to generate an offensive flow. Hughes is also dinged up, and the return later this month of Jerry Stackhouse won’t help his scoring.

If it turns out that Hughes can’t play, Juan Dixon will have to step up and do some scoring for the Wizards.