The NBA released their schedules for the upcoming 2009-2010 season, and upon first glance, it appears as if the Wizards are still viewed as one of the must-see teams, despite their dismal 19-63 record last season.

The Wizards play 16 nationally televised games (ESPN, NBATV, TNT) this year, which is up from 11 the previous year. Their first nationally televised game will come at home on November 4th against Dwyane Wade and the upstart Miami Heat. The second game on national TV will be November 18th at home against Shaq, LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Former Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan will get his first crack at his former team on November 24th at the Verizon Center, when he brings his Sixers to town. Sticking with the former Wizards theme, Etan Thomas and his new team, the Oklahoma City Thunder will come to town on November 29th. Former Wizards forwards Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov will now make their grand returns to Washington, D.C. in Minnesota Timberwolves uniforms on February 17th.

Former Timberwolves Mike Miller and Randy Foye will get to face their former teammates in Minnesota on December 26th. This will also serve as a homecoming for head coach Flip Saunders, who spent 10 years there as President and head coach.  Saunders second homecoming of sorts comes on December 6th, when he returns to Detroit, the site of his last coaching gig.

Other dates of note include January 24th and 26th, when the top draft pick Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers and then the world champion L.A. Lakers visit the Verizon Center. Also of local interest, former Georgetown Hoyas forward DaJuan Summers and his new team the Detroit Pistons come to town on November 14th. DC area native, and former UNC guard, Ty Lawson comes to town with the Denver Nuggets on February 19th.

January appears to be the most favorable month of the schedule to the Wizards, since they have 11 home games. March seems to be the most problematic as there are 11 road games including a brutal West Coast trip that has the Wizards playing Utah, Denver, Portland and the Lakers in succession.

The Flip Saunders era officially begins on Tuesday, October 27th on the road against the Dallas Mavericks.

The full schedule can be seen here.