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

[Northwest Roddy]

and, of course, gratitude for Will Dawkins and team for pulling off a trade that seemed impossible given Beal's horrible contract and no trade clause. Thank you for bringing hope back to the fans!

[doclinkin]

Moved from the draft thread

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Northwest Roddy]

In less than two years, Will Dawkins turned this into this. He is an alchemist!

Brad Beal Bilal Coulibaly
Kyle Kuzma Bub Carrington
Deni Advija Alex Sarr
Kristaps Porzingis Kyshawn George
Daniel Gafford Jordan Poole
Corey Kispert Corey Kispert
Delon Wright Khris Middleton
Johnny Davis AJ Johnson
Taj Gibson Justin Champegnie
Anthony Gil Marcus Smart
Will Barton Anthony Gill
Monte Morris Tristan Vukcivic
Delon Wright Saddiq Bey
Kendrick Nunn Malcolm Brogdon
Xavier Cooks Colby Jones
Quenton Jackson Rachuan Holmes

[Northwest Roddy]

In less than two years, Will Dawkins turned this into this. He is an alchemist! (not too even mention all the picks and unprotected pick swaps)

Brad Beal Bilal Coulibaly
Kyle Kuzma Bub Carrington
Deni Advija Alex Sarr
Kristaps Porzingis Kyshawn George
Daniel Gafford Jordan Poole
Corey Kispert Corey Kispert
Delon Wright Khris Middleton
Johnny Davis AJ Johnson
Taj Gibson Justin Champegnie
Anthony Gil Marcus Smart
Will Barton Anthony Gill
Monte Morris Tristan Vukcivic
Delon Wright Saddiq Bey
Kendrick Nunn Malcolm Brogdon
Xavier Cooks Colby Jones
Quenton Jackson Rachuan Holmes

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Payitforward and doclinkin, here's someone who sees the vision already.

[YouTube]https://youtu.be/ZiHxdMPbq3Y?si=agFk4WArPRFNe2LH[/YouTube]

This is the most positive Wizards breakdown I've seen.

[payitforward]

I love the way kids step forward & get into it on youtube! Still just kids, obviously, but there's a lot of good thinking & observation in the video -- nice!

[nate33]

In less than two years, Will Dawkins turned this into this. He is an alchemist!

Brad Beal Bilal Coulibaly
Kyle Kuzma Bub Carrington
Deni Advija Alex Sarr
Kristaps Porzingis Kyshawn George
Daniel Gafford Jordan Poole
Corey Kispert Corey Kispert
Delon Wright Khris Middleton
Johnny Davis AJ Johnson
Taj Gibson Justin Champegnie
Anthony Gil Marcus Smart
Will Barton Anthony Gill
Monte Morris Tristan Vukcivic
Delon Wright Saddiq Bey
Kendrick Nunn Malcolm Brogdon
Xavier Cooks Colby Jones
Quenton Jackson Rachuan Holmes

It's a little deceiving to characterize the acquisitions of Sarr and Bilal as obtained via trading our old roster. We got those guys by tanking. (Although, one should give credit for Dawkins for acquiring the SRP's used to move up from 8 to 7 to get Bilal). It frankly doesn't look all that impressive when you take those names out. We gave up a couple of really good players in Porzingis, Avdija and Gafford to accumulate those assets.

Don't get me wrong. I like that we have management with patience and a long term plan that incorporates free agency, the draft, player development and tanking to accomplish our long term goals. I'm just saying the actual trades have merely been "fine", not extraordinary. The Bagley for Smart deal that landed us the #19 pick has been the best one of the bunch, but it doesn't offset the fact that we lost the Deni and Porzingis trades.

What I like most has been their ability to acquire value-neutral vets via trade or free agency, rehabilitate their value, and then turn them into future picks. They did it with Bagley, JV, and Jared Butler. And they might get something out of Smart and/or Middleton.

Ultimately, what matters most is their drafting. The jury is still out on that for the most part since they have been drafting so young; but I'm pretty optimistic that Bilal, Bub and George will outperform their draft position. Sarr is more of a question mark but I can't hate the pick. He had the most raw talent on the board when we picked him and I understand the upside gamble.

[smoothSeph]

With a lot of talk of the OKC influence, I’m seeing more of a Rockets build:

Jabari = Sarr
Amen = Bilal
Green = Poole
Eason = George
Sheppard = Bub
Sengun = (Flagg??)

Not all exact but play styles are kinda similar in our young guys. Fingers crossed on Flagg.

[doclinkin]

Sengun = (Flagg??)

Not all exact but play styles are kinda similar in our young guys. Fingers crossed on Flagg.

Sengun = Derik Queen. Offensively talented and highly productive at the lower level with questions if the defense would improve. Passing scoring rebounding skilled big. IIRC Sengun was younger coming into the league tho’.

[Frichuela]

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.

[smoothSeph]

Sengun = (Flagg??)

Not all exact but play styles are kinda similar in our young guys. Fingers crossed on Flagg.

Sengun = Derik Queen. Offensively talented and highly productive at the lower level with questions if the defense would improve. Passing scoring rebounding skilled big. IIRC Sengun was younger coming into the league tho’.

I could see that comparison. The Sengun/Flagg comparison for me was based on star power, the rest were play style related. If we’re in range for Queen I hope we package some picks up to get another lotto shot.

[9 and 20]

Definitely also have taken a moment to reflect on the young guys with decent potential on the roster. I'm excited to see what they have in store for this off-season. Would like to dump Kispert and hopefully Poole for some more stuff down the road. Happy to keep one or both of Middleton and Smart. Not sure what the plan is for Bey other than trying to flip him for another 2nd rounder or two.

I'm also worried about over performing next year if they get Flagg and do nothing else. Adding him might put as at 5th worst roster if they do nothing else, which leaves enough room to exceed expectations or for another team or two to stealth tank.

We may need to bring back Grundle and Tommy S. for front office consultations on player acquisitions at the deadline if things start off looking too good.

[Northwest Roddy]

Nate33, i understand the Advija and Porzingis trades should have netted more, but wouldn’t you describe the Beal trade as exceptional?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Definitely also have taken a moment to reflect on the young guys with decent potential on the roster. I'm excited to see what they have in store for this off-season. Would like to dump Kispert and hopefully Poole for some more stuff down the road. Happy to keep one or both of Middleton and Smart. Not sure what the plan is for Bey other than trying to flip him for another 2nd rounder or two.

I'm also worried about over performing next year if they get Flagg and do nothing else. Adding him might put as at 5th worst roster if they do nothing else, which leaves enough room to exceed expectations or for another team or two to stealth tank.

We may need to bring back Grundle and Tommy S. for front office consultations on player acquisitions at the deadline if things start off looking too good.

If they get Flagg, they need to let winning happen organically.

Carrington
Coulibaly
Flagg
George
Sarr

Bench: Poole, Smart, Champagnie, Holmes, Middleton, Smart, Bey

The last three players would be trade bait.

[Northwest Roddy]

CCJ, don’t forget AJ Johnson!

Plus whoever we get at 19

[Zonkerbl]

Whoever gave Porzingas a free agent contract was the loser in that trade. Dude is injured literally 50% of the time.

[nate33]

Nate33, i understand the Advija and Porzingis trades should have netted more, but wouldn’t you describe the Beal trade as exceptional?

Yes. And it looks even better in hindsight with the rapid decline of Beal and the rapid decline of the fortunes of Phoenix.

Interestingly, at the time when it happened, most on this board were disappointed in the return.

[nate33]

Whoever gave Porzingas a free agent contract was the loser in that trade. Dude is injured literally 50% of the time.

He played 57 of 82 games as the 3rd best player on the best team in the league last year and won a championship. He missed more games this year, but he is healthy for the playoffs and is likely going to be the starting center on a Finals team again.

[DCZards]

KP is an oft-injured vet who didn’t want to be here and the team was not going to resign. So anything the rebuilding Zards got for him was a win, imo.

The verdict is still out on the Deni trade.

Trading Gaff for a FRP and using that pick to draft George will turn out to be one of Dawkins’ best moves.

[AFM]

Fleecing Milwaukee for Kuzma was a masterpiece, holy st dude is atrocious