Presti's Tree Reaches DC: The Official Will Dawkins Thread

[The Consiglieri]

Absolute masterclass in asset management. My guess is they will flip Smart and/or Middleton at the next deadline to a team that needs the cap savings and are willing to trade a first round pick.

They have about $138 million in guaranteed salary for 2025-2026, which gives them roughly $18 million in cap room. They'll have their lottery pick, Memphis' pick which stands at 27, and Phoenix's second round pick which is currently 46.

I agree. I just hope Ted has the stones to see this through to the 2026 Draft Class.

Read on Twitter

He may be losing patience already . For once, the Wiz aren't on the treadmill of mediocrity and fighting for play-in spots. I for one, have never been this excited about the future of the Wizards.

One of Flagg/Harper/Bailey with one of AJ/Boozer/Arenas would be incredible with Sarr/Bilal/Kyshawn/Bub.

That sir haliburton dude is the biggest moron on the planet, and probably 17. How anyone on earth can sit and watch the past 44 years of 32-42 win seasons going nowhere, 8 seed or 8th pick every god ----ed year for my entire lifetime (well, since Kindergarten) and we finally execute a full tank, for the first time ever, and they immediately complain, ---- and moan non-stop, meanwhile, the commanders did one full tank season, accidentally, across the street, and were instantaneously transformed by 1 freaking draft, and that is not the 1 player changes everything sport that Basketball can be (though admittedly, QB can have that orders of magnitude impactfulness).

These fans just boggle my mind. How --- damned stupid are you? Seriously? This may not work, but they are actually tanking properly in time for back to back Wemby/Luca/LeBron-lite kinds of drafts, exactly what we should have been doing the past 38 years, and they're complaining after half a season for it? Just so insanely stupid they should have their fan passes revoked. We could have taken a short cut, but those twitter posters are exactly the same idiots that didn't want to trade Beal when we absolutely had to trade Beal before the roof totally caved in for max value, and its those clowns that gave Leonsis and the Sheppard regime the backing to avoid trading Beal in order to preserve their paycheck, ticket sales, at the expense of our teams future and the only short cut through misery in the offing.

Just insanity. Take the twitter mic away from these fools.

[FAH1223]

Troy Halliburton has sources inside F Street. I take what he says pretty seriously.

[leswizards]

I am really happy with what happened the past few days. Got rid of arguably one of the most over hyped yet worst players in the nba, and may have gotten good value for him. Got a good mix of draft picks, young players, and good veterans who are probably done, but one can hope that next trade deadline that bring value back.

[Frichuela]

Troy Halliburton has sources inside F Street. I take what he says pretty seriously.

At this point, we better hope Ted has learned his lesson and has the patience to stomach another season of suckitude at the minimum (I mean 2025-26).

For once, it looks we have a front office with a clear plan.

[The Consiglieri]

Troy Halliburton has sources inside F Street. I take what he says pretty seriously.

I was exclusively speaking to his innane distaste for a disappointing season. This is necessary, period, full stop. Get over it, it's another 2-3 years max of suck after 44 years of suck. It is nothing, especially for a youngster, the only people who should be bummed are 80+ers who may not see what comes of it, but even then, they'll know that we're on the first sane path we've been on since 1979 and that can be some solace.

[MDStar]

Has anyone done a side by comparison of where we were roster talent, cap, picks from the day Will took over until now? I'm extremely curious about the difference, which I'm sure is stark.

[doclinkin]

Has anyone done a side by comparison of where we were roster talent, cap, picks from the day Will took over until now? I'm extremely curious about the difference, which I'm sure is stark.

Right. Well all you need to know is that as of right now Corey Kispert is the only player on next years roster who was here under the prior regime.

[Tyrone Messby]

Okc has TEN! First rounders between 2025-2027. Wow

[doclinkin]

Okc has TEN! First rounders between 2025-2027. Wow

With AJ Johnson we have 8 first rounders 2024-2026

So far.

[9 and 20]

Dawkins has some work left this off-season. Bit of a log jam of vets.

Smart, Poole, Middleton, Bey, and Kispert all play positions where young guys will need minutes. Bilal, AJ Johnson, Bub, Colby Jones need to see the floor more than that first group of guys. Hopefully we win the lottery and get Flagg, but we might have Dylan Harper to throw into the mix too.

Kispert is definitely tradeable. Poole might have played himself into that category too. Smart and Middleton are both negative contracts I think.

Did some great work at the deadline. Hopefully that carries over into the off-season.

[Frichuela]

NBA expert Sam Vecenie of the Athletic on the Wizards trade deadline. Bottom line, he likes how this FO is operating:

“ I really like what Washington has done with asset acquisition under the Michael Winger and Will Dawkins regime. This cycle, it was turning a player amid a career-worst season into a positive asset. The Wizards traded Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a 2028 first-round pick swap that might look quite good if Giannis Antetokounmpo departs the Bucks at the end of his current contract. Johnson is a total flier, a project guard with skill whom the Bucks selected in the first round last year. For the Bucks, a team in the middle of what should be a contention window, it was a terrible pick that made no sense. For the Wizards though, a team that has a lot of time and is in the middle of rebuilding, it’s possible Johnson could turn into an interesting player with his athletic fluidity and explosive potential as a shot-maker.

They also turned Jonas Valančiūnas, whom they signed in the offseason to a three-year, $30 million deal with a non-guaranteed third season, into two second-round picks. Any time you can use your cap space, pay a player for half a year and end up moving on at the deadline for positive value, it’s a win. Then they traded Marvin Bagley III and Johnny Davis as expiring deals to take on Marcus Smart from the Grizzlies and Memphis’ first-round pick this year. They added a lot of draft capital while taking on decent role players who won’t necessarily get them out of the tanking zone, but who should help their young players mature and develop.

The Wizards’ front office is going to be judged by their next two drafts. But for now, they’re winning on the margins and setting themselves up for success.“

[doclinkin]

^^^^ and they doesn’t even touch on how we picked up Jared Butler for nothing then turned him into a 1st round pick from Philly

[WallToWall]

Props to Winger and Dawkins for these trade deadline moves. Turning a handful of 2nds into a couple 1sts, a 1st pick swap, and AJ Johnson (a 1st rnd pick) was masterfull.

[doclinkin]

Props to Winger and Dawkins for these trade deadline moves. Turning a handful of 2nds into a couple 1sts, a 1st pick swap, and AJ Johnson (a 1st rnd pick) was masterfull.

Right? We sent out six seconds but got two back.

So for the cost of 4 second round picks and players we didn't need, we got 1st round picks in 2025, 2026, 2024 (...retroactively) and a pick swap timed for the year after Giannis' free agency (player option for the 2027-28).

[WallToWall]

Props to Winger and Dawkins for these trade deadline moves. Turning a handful of 2nds into a couple 1sts, a 1st pick swap, and AJ Johnson (a 1st rnd pick) was masterfull.

Right? We sent out six seconds but got two back.

So for the cost of 4 second round picks and players we didn't need, we got 1st round picks in 2025, 2026, 2024 (...retroactively) and a pick swap timed for the year after Giannis' free agency (player option for the 2027-28).

Exactly! Thats some Houdini level stuff. I hope others see it!
One could make the case that the value we got out of the older players is the same value we could get if we were to trade Middleton and Smart. Basically what I am saying is that the combined value of [Kuz, Val, Bags, PBJ, Davis] = [Middleton, Smart]. So a net-zero just considering these players. Butler, who I was sad to see go, was worth a coupe of 2nds at best, and we got a 1st.
I think of it as... for six 2nds + Butler, we got two 1sts + 1st pick swap + AJ Johnson.

[FAH1223]

Watch on YouTube

[dobrojim]

That was a really nice interview. He comes across extremely well on multiple levels.
I managed to sit and watch the whole thing. Will is a very impressive guy. Thanks for posting.

[AFM]

That was a really nice interview. He comes across extremely well on multiple levels.
I managed to sit and watch the whole thing. Will is a very impressive guy. Thanks for posting.

Don't fall for this obvious Cult of Dawkins propaganda. How this guy has a job after trading The Hebrew Hammer for two cents on the dollar, I'm gonna need someone to explain that to me.

[payitforward]

A terrific interview for sure.

[Northwest Roddy]

My gratitude for today is to Matt Ishbia and the Suns trading for Bradley Beal. If we still had Beal, there would still be two more max years left on his contract, and we couldn't see daylight until the 2027 season. Thank you Suns!