The Washington Wizards, pushing for their first playoff berth since 2008, acquired disgruntled point guard Andre Miller from the Denver Nuggets on Thursday in a three-way trade that also involves the Philadelphia 76ers. The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players — forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers. Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016. Washington receives a protected 2014 second-round pick from the 76ers. Miller hasnt played since his shouting match with coach Brian Shaw in the waning minutes of a loss to the 76ers on New Years Day. The Nuggets initially suspended Miller for two games, then rescinded the suspension and announced that he would instead be excused from all team activities for personal reasons. "Obviously we did our homework," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said. "I think that was an isolated situation, an isolation incident. Were going to move past that." Miller, who turns 38 next month, has played with five teams over 15 NBA seasons. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 assists for the Nuggets this season. The Wizards are under pressure from owner Ted Leonsis to end their playoff drought, with both team president Ernie Grunfeld and coach Randy Wittman in the final year of their contracts. Washington is currently fifth in the watered-down Eastern Conference, but the team has lost five of seven to fall two games under .500. "Our goal was all along to make the playoffs," Grunfeld said. "Weve put ourselves in a position where were right there." The Wizards will be counting on Miller to add depth to a rotation that has been shrinking during the season, with Wittman asking more from All-Star John Wall and other starters while relying less on the bench. Maynor, acquired last summer to be Walls backup, has disappeared almost entirely, having played just seven minutes in the last 27 games. Vesely has been a major disappointment since being selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He has played in 33 games this season, and only five of the last 14, while averaging 3.2 points. Grunfeld said Vesely didnt develop quickly enough into the player the Wizards were expecting. "He wasnt consistent enough for us," Grunfeld said. Jack Johnson Jersey . Wheeler said Kane was just making a joke that was misunderstood and misinterpreted by "Winnipeg folks" and the media once again. Wheeler repeated that he believes Kane is a player who has the ability to help the Jets get to the next level as they try once again to reach the playoffs in 2014. He made the comments initially in an interview, when asked how the Jets could compete in the Central Division with teams that have made some high-profile off-season signings. 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They take a toll mentally on their opponents.St. Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Jared Spurgeon and Mikko Koivu scored 1:55 apart in the third period to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kyle Brodziak had a second-period goal and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for the Wild, who snapped a four-game losing streak at home and picked up just their second win in their last eight games overall. We were far from perfect, but I thought it was a solid team win, said Minnesota coach Mike Yeo. Jonathan Bernier stopped 26 shots for Toronto, which fell to 2-4-0 on its seven-game trip. We had our chances, we just didnt put them in, Bernier said. The Maple Leafs entered the third down a goal, but Cody Franson scored on a 5- on-3 power play to tie it up. Franson beat Kuemper on a one-timer from the high slot at the 2:37 mark. Minnesota regained the lead when Spurgeon rippeed a slap shot from the right circle past Bernier at 7:23.dddddddddddd. Koivu then scored a power-play goal off a pass from Thomas Vanek at 9:18. Bernier robbed Vanek with a sprawling save in a scoreless first period. Mike Santorelli appeared to score a power-play goal at 7:45 of the second period, but the tally was waved off because David Clarkson made contact with Kuemper in the crease. A short time later, the Wild grabbed the lead. Brodziak had a pass or shot from Charlie Coyle deflect in off his left skate at 10:14. Game Notes Coyle had two assists ... Minnesota defenseman Jonas Brodin rejoined the lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury ... Toronto forward Nazem Kadri missed Fridays game with a lower-body injury ... The Maple Leafs conclude their trek Saturday in Winnipeg. ' ' '59). ' ' '