Official 2023 Wizards OFFSEASON Thread

[80sballboy]

Tyus Jones' number last season:
Starter - 22 GP, 33.2 MINS, 16.4 PTS, 4.0 REBS, 8.1 ASTS, 1.5 TOV, 1.8 STLS (50.0/41.5/77.8) +1.8

Bench - 58 GP, 20.8 MINS, 7.9 PTS, 1.9 REBS, 4.1 ASTS, 0.7 TOV, 0.7 STLS (39.7/35.0/83.0) +0.9

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1626145/traditional?SeasonType=Regular+Season

In 2021-22 season, the Grizzlies were 19-4 when he was a starter.
Tyus Jones averaged 12.7 points, 6.6 assists, 1.0 TPG and 3.2 rebounds in 23 games as a starter in 2021-22.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=tyus+jones+starter+stats+2021-22#:~:text=Tyus%20Jones%20averaged%2012.7%20points,a%20starter%20in%202021%2D22.

Is he a superstar? Of course not. But can he be a more than effective starting point guard for 2-3 months? Yes. He's a lot better than Monte Morris except as a 3-point shooter where Morris has the slight edge (39.2% career to 35.7% though Tyus has shot 39% and 37.1% the last two seasons). I'm iffy about the defensive ratings, but his numbers were pretty good (113.5). Despite his lack of size, he's not a bad defender and offensively, is strong in the PNR. I assume he and Kuz will work well together.

[Rafael122]

I don't foresee Tyus Jones getting any more than his current contract unless he becomes an all star this season.

[nate33]

I don't foresee Tyus Jones getting any more than his current contract unless he becomes an all star this season.

Bruce Brown got $22M a year.
D'Angelo Russell got $18M a year.
Dennis freaking Schroeder got $12.7M a year.

Tyus Jones is going to cost more than $15M.

[NatP4]

I definitely think the “buyers” price is always higher at the deadline. Definitely starting him in the first half of the year, and moving him for the best offer.

He’s not “a lot” better than Monte Morris. He’s about the same or slightly better. This is a rotation guard, nothing more. Delon Wright is a better player, and we’re struggling to get a 2nd round pick for him.

[payitforward]

I definitely think the “buyers” price is always higher at the deadline. Definitely starting him in the first half of the year, and moving him for the best offer.

He’s not “a lot” better than Monte Morris. He’s about the same or slightly better. This is a rotation guard, nothing more. Delon Wright is a better player, and we’re struggling to get a 2nd round pick for him.

There's not a huge gulf between the players on their numbers, although yeah Jones is a bit better.

Yes, Delon is better than either of them, but he's also 31. Makes the comparison in trade contexts more complex than it might otherwise seem.

Main point: we didn't go out & try to acquire Tyus Jones. He wasn't a target. He simply came to us as part of a trade we couldn't avoid.

[DCZards]

Main point: we didn't go out & try to acquire Tyus Jones. He wasn't a target. He simply came to us as part of a trade we couldn't avoid.

I’m curious. How do you know to what extent the Zards did or did not target Jones?

[WallToWall]

Tyus Jones' number last season:
Starter - 22 GP, 33.2 MINS, 16.4 PTS, 4.0 REBS, 8.1 ASTS, 1.5 TOV, 1.8 STLS (50.0/41.5/77.8) +1.8
Bench - 58 GP, 20.8 MINS, 7.9 PTS, 1.9 REBS, 4.1 ASTS, 0.7 TOV, 0.7 STLS (39.7/35.0/83.0) +0.9

Those starter vs bench numbers are ridiculously different. Especially if we are to assume that he was mostly going against other bench players when he was on the bench. Its like he needs to be a starter to get into the flow of the game.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Crazy I thought Todd was a throw in with zero value, included more to just give the kid an opportunity because he wasnt getting one here. And Phoenix turns around and gets 3 2nd round picks for him?! And we only got 1 2nd for Monte Morris?

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272408/Suns-Acquire-Three-Second-Round-Picks-From-Grizzlies-For-Isaiah-Todd-Pick-Swaps

The Phoenix Suns acquired three second-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies for Isaiah Todd and two first-round pick swaps in 2024 and 2030, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Grizzlies will send the Suns a 2025 second-round pick acquired from New Orleans and their own second-round picks in 2028 and 2029.

The Suns had no control over any of their draft picks through 2030 before making the trade.

ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI/ESPN

[payitforward]

Main point: we didn't go out & try to acquire Tyus Jones. He wasn't a target. He simply came to us as part of a trade we couldn't avoid.

I’m curious. How do you know to what extent the Zards did or did not target Jones?

O Zards....
In general, it's possible to understand people's intentions by watching what they are doing & thinking about it.

Isn't it kind of obvious what W/D's intentions are? What they are doing?
Isn't it perfectly clear that they are undertaking a complete rebuild of the Wizards? From the ground up.

& haven't we been able to observe what Winger & Dawkins are "targeting?" Namely draft capital & extremely young players.

Or are you suggesting that -- in the 15 minutes we had to do that deal when KP opted out & signed with Boston while the Celtics moved Smart to Memphis -- we were the ones who shaped it?

Or, better yet, that having decided to gut the roster to the walls & begin a complete rebuild of the Wizards, Winger & Dawkins had a veteran point guard in his 7th season on their "get" list?

Really...?

OTOH, I'm sure that Winger/Dawkins "liked" Tyus Jones. Why not? He's good. He's a little better than the under-rated Monte Morris. Not enough better that it makes the slightest difference on a team with no chance to win many games -- & no intention of winning either! The opposite.

But a good acquisition nonetheless, b/c he has value & can be traded if/when it seems like the right thing to do.

[DCZards]

PIF…you’re drawing conclusions based on what you personally “think” Winger & Co. are up to.

I don’t believe the new FO is doing the “complete” teardown and rebuild that you assume (and hope) they’re doing.

[GoneShammGone]

Crazy I thought Todd was a throw in with zero value, included more to just give the kid an opportunity because he wasnt getting one here. And Phoenix turns around and gets 3 2nd round picks for him?! And we only got 1 2nd for Monte Morris?

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272408/Suns-Acquire-Three-Second-Round-Picks-From-Grizzlies-For-Isaiah-Todd-Pick-Swaps

The Phoenix Suns acquired three second-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies for Isaiah Todd and two first-round pick swaps in 2024 and 2030, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Grizzlies will send the Suns a 2025 second-round pick acquired from New Orleans and their own second-round picks in 2028 and 2029.

The Suns had no control over any of their draft picks through 2030 before making the trade.

ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI/ESPN

Seriously! What is going on here? The pick swaps seem like a even bet... how is it possible that Isaiah Todd is worth 3 second round picks? Does he have an uncle in the Memphis front office?

[payitforward]

I'm not exactly alone in using the phrase "complete rebuild" (or "complete reset") in reference to what Winger/Dawkins are doing.

Then again, I suppose the word "complete" is subject to interpretation: I wouldn't have expected them to trade Gafford, Avdija, Davis or Kispert this off-season. & we did bring back Kuzma.

Plus, you may know them better than I.

[WallToWall]

I take Winger at his word, when he said that he would evaluate everyone and decide how to move forward. It is possible that some of the players from last years roster will still be here when we call the rebuild as complete. I don’t envision every player from last years roster to be traded. I can see Kispert or, to a lesser degree, Avdija sticking around past the rebuild.

[doclinkin]

The Phoenix Suns acquired three second-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies for Isaiah Todd and two first-round pick swaps in 2024 and 2030, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Grizzlies will send the Suns a 2025 second-round pick acquired from New Orleans and their own second-round picks in 2028 and 2029.

The Suns had no control over any of their draft picks through 2030 before making the trade.

Seriously! What is going on here? The pick swaps seem like a even bet... how is it possible that Isaiah Todd is worth 3 second round picks? Does he have an uncle in the Memphis front office?

Not an even bet. You are trading 2 top 30 picks for 3 2nd round picks of unknown value but given that Memphis had the 2nd best record in the west, and have depth and a good front office, you can assume they will be late rd 2. Not worth so much. Todd is a throw-in.

[payitforward]

I take Winger at his word, when he said that he would evaluate everyone and decide how to move forward. It is possible that some of the players from last years roster will still be here when we call the rebuild as complete. I don’t envision every player from last years roster to be traded. I can see Kispert or, to a lesser degree, Avdija sticking around past the rebuild.

Sure.

This amounts to semantics -- what one means by "total rebuild."

To me, "total" means a down to the basics rethinking of the team & what it should be, how it should it be built, what the goals are.

If you come in as a new FO, & the first thing you do is trade the face of the franchise, the guy around whom the team has been built, the guy whom the team gave a super-max less than 12 months earlier, & from that trade you wind up getting entirely 1) young & unproven players plus 2) draft capital (picks & swaps going forward for up to 7 years, no less!), that indicates a rebuild.

If the next thing you do is move the guy who was, obviously, your biggest recent acquisition by far & your second most important player...

...I'd say, willy nilly, you have just started on a thorough rebuild of your team.

The fact that you didn't trade every single player on the roster in the first 4 weeks of your new GM's tenure is evidence of nothing whatever. Well... evidence of common sense!

The fact that you brought back your only other player with a name recognizable to casual fans (Kuz) certainly doesn't indicate anything limiting the rebuild. This is a business. It's run by businessmen. That's what MIchael Winger is -- a businessman. He's likely to make sensible business-oriented decisions, or at least to try to!

He & Dawkins aren't likely to bet their whole futures on Jordan Poole, Patrick Baldwin & Ryan Rollins. Not doing that doesn't indicate that we aren't rebuilding.

It's obvious that we are. That's exactly what we're doing!

[DCZards]

From interview with GM Will Dawkins during summer league game.

On what he likes about Kuz, Poole and Jones: Established young guys that “still have a career arc that’s going up.”

On Tyus Jones: “a connector on the floor and off the floor.”

[Frichuela]

From interview during summer league game.

GM Will Dawkins on what he likes about Kuz, Poole and Jones: Established young guys that “still have a career arc that’s going up.”

Dawkins on Tyus Jones: “a connector on the floor and off the floor.”

Makes sense. It would not surprise me if Tyus gets inked to an extension.

The question is who is going to be the back up point guard? I assume Delon will be traded and the Heat are reportedly Interested in trading for Shamet…

[FAH1223]

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[doclinkin]

Watch on YouTube

I'm not exactly alone in using the phrase "complete rebuild" (or "complete reset") in reference to what Winger/Dawkins are doing.

Then again, I suppose the word "complete" is subject to interpretation: I wouldn't have expected them to trade Gafford, Avdija, Davis or Kispert this off-season. & we did bring back Kuzma.

Plus, you may know them better than I.

Dawkins calls it a "re-shaping" and cites the additions of Tyus and Poole, then veterans Gallinari, Shamet, Muscala, as key features of why he wouldn't call it a re-build.

Makes me wonder if some part of the Ted vision of a mid-build is still in effect. That he doesn't want to bottom out for a few years in a row to earn a flotilla of picks a la Houston. Wants to see competitive product on the floor.

That said it it's likely Dawkins being politic and not wanting to leave out the veteran names. He acknowledges the roster is overfull right now so he will still need to reduce it. Somebody's getting cut or traded.

Intriguing to me though if he thinks Gallo, Shamet, Muscala are part of the plan. I do like the idea of Gallinari as a model for PBJr, Vuk (if he is not stashed), Bilal, even Kuz and Deni. Though I expect he ends up with a buy-out. Still while he was groundbound before the ACL injury, there are aspects of his game that Kuz etc could learn from. No matter what, we are built around a young core, so any veterans will be there to help shape the young cats, not prevent them from developing.

[GoneShammGone]

The Phoenix Suns acquired three second-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies for Isaiah Todd and two first-round pick swaps in 2024 and 2030, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Grizzlies will send the Suns a 2025 second-round pick acquired from New Orleans and their own second-round picks in 2028 and 2029.

The Suns had no control over any of their draft picks through 2030 before making the trade.

Seriously! What is going on here? The pick swaps seem like a even bet... how is it possible that Isaiah Todd is worth 3 second round picks? Does he have an uncle in the Memphis front office?

Not an even bet. You are trading 2 top 30 picks for 3 2nd round picks of unknown value but given that Memphis had the 2nd best record in the west, and have depth and a good front office, you can assume they will be late rd 2. Not worth so much. Todd is a throw-in.

So Memphis believes that they are going to be good enough, or the Suns will be bad enough, that the pick swaps will help them? Fair enough, I guess, for 2030, but 2024 is kind of interesting. Basically they are saying to Phoenix: "We think you will be worse then us next year, despite Durant, Booker and Beal. Wanna bet on that?"

Guess we can infer from that what they think about Beal's impact on winning. Or maybe they just love Isaiah Todd?