RealGM

Over on the trade boards, fans of several teams said their team may put their 2008 pick in play.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic. ... 59&start=0


A Wizards fan said that they might use their pick to get out from Etan Thomas' contract who makes about $7 mil over the next two years. On the floor, he works hard on defense, but he may not be able to get back on the floor after his heart surgery. Trading away Walker would add $7 mil, and remove the timing of getting rid of his $9 mil deal at the same time as Juwon Howard, Troy Hudson, and Buckner all in the summer of 2008 for free agency. With late picks going for $3 mil, saving $7 mil seems like a realistic price, particular if Arenas is serious about taking less salary and staying with the Wiz if they keep Jamison and the veteran team together.

My question to wolves fans is whether there is a legitimate prospect in the #16-#18 range that would be worth paying the extra $7 mil to acquire, and jeopardizing our free agency ambitions? Would rev's friend Hibbert last this long?

I would say go for it. Etan can be effective when on the court as a tough interior presence and rebounder. I would really try to get rid of jaric in another deal. Hopefully we get Rose with our pick and in the 16-18 range, we could certainly pick up a decent center option. R.Lopez, McGee, Hardin, maybe Thabeet and Hibbert could be around at that point.

Rose and Thabeet would be a successfull draft. Maybe get POB in here as well.....

Thabeet - POB
Jefferson - Thomas
Brewer - Gomes
McCants - Foye - Snyder
Rose - Foye

Lopez twins? :E

I guess it all depends on who's there with the Wiz pick. If we were able to grab Rose and someone like Thabeet was available, I'd probably do it. Granted we add an extra year with Thomas' contract, but not sure what else we could get with Walker's expiring. It does delay our ability to be major players in free agency until 2010, but at the same point we might have enough that we don't need to make a major move.

Prefuse's lineup for next year looks pretty good to me.

I have been following the site here for a few years, but finally decided I had to post a thought on this. Try and be gentle.

Following a few threads on who we have been scouting and knowing our luck in the draft I am going off the asumption for this scenario that we are picking 5th-ish and Beasley, Rose, Lopez, and Mayo (could see Bayless instead of one if he comes out) are gone.

There has also been some recent talk of the Wolves' interest in the Italian small forward or possibly another prospect at this position (randolph?).

Combining these items with the thread on avaiable draft picks, would the following be of interest or am I misvalueing picks and players....

Draft Galinari with the #5

Trade to Toronto McCants (they have stated they have interest in a SG or SF for the pick, though not sure on how they value him and they may view him as a one year rental unless they can work out an extension) for their pick #17 ish? (believe McCants was a fringe lotto as well) and Baston for Salary purposes (not sure what his trade kicker does here but he is an expiring as well)

Draft Thabeet, McGee, Hibbert (whoever is avilable and top on our list at center) with the #17


Eventual Starting Line up
Foye
Brewer (the continue work on his jumper may make this possible)
Galinari (the ball handling skills make up for Brewer's deficiency here)
Jefferson
Thabeet

Telfair
Jaric
Gomes
Smith
etc on the bench

Not sure if we need to add sweetner, maybe one of our second rounders this year. Draft Omer Asik or another international player to keep stashed for next year.

The eventual line up makes us much longer and bigger. Scoring may be an issue. Foye would need to step up, Jefferson continue to improve, Brewer hit the mid range shot, Thabeet dunk his put backs, and Galinari show range and be creative with his skills and size.

Brewer locks down the tougher SG/Sf matchup, Thabeet the PF/C match up (not sure on his man def though), but would give us some possibilities.

Thoughts?

EDIT: May be selling low on McCants, probably don't want to throw in the second rounder... but for the stability and balance in line up and possible better team play, I still think I would do it. Had wrote this up yesterday and had posted it before reflecting more on it.

If Thabeet enters the draft he won't get off the bench for at least two years people. Penciling him in as our starter next year is just ridiculous.

I do like this trade scenario though. I think it would be wise to do the player swap because I think an expiring contract will be more use to us next summer not this summer. By next year we will have enough young pieces that swapping an expiring and some of those left over pieces for a contributor would make sense.

As for using the pick, I personally like McGee. Etan/Mcgee (limited minutes) would make a fine Center rotation for next year. McGee will be able to step in and start when Etan's contract is through. No Thabust please.

Winter Wonder wrote:I have been following the site here for a few years, but finally decided I had to post a thought on this. Try and be gentle.

No need to be gentle. That was one of the best first posts I've ever seen.

Oh no, wasn't implying he would be starting for us off the bat. Not by a far stretch. Was commenting on an "Eventual Starting Line Up" for the future. Heck, not thinking either rookie would start immediately, probably not Brewer either. Nonetheless, I liked the balance it started to bring us. And also stated I wasn't sold on any one of the center prospects more than another, just that those were the ones potentially at the pick that may be of interest to us, though I see potential in all of them, and there we may differ.

Winter Wonder wrote:
Eventual Starting Line up
Foye
Brewer (the continue work on his jumper may make this possible)
Galinari (the ball handling skills make up for Brewer's deficiency here)
Jefferson
Thabeet

Telfair
Jaric
Gomes
Smith
etc on the bench

That's not a bad lineup.

Welcome to the board!

Depending on who's available, I'd be interested enough to listen.

Question(s):

What is the value for McCants? Is it a mid 1st round pick?

Just a thought:

What about Walker for Harpring and Utah pick (~23)?

IMO, Harpring is much better than Thomas for a similar salary.