Predict Wiz Opening Day Roster 2010

[Dat2U]

Oh, I think its very likely that Blatche is our backup center this coming season. Yi will probably be the first big off the bench & Blatche will slide over. I think Hilton Armstrong is more for depth in case of foul trouble or injuries. He's really a 3rd stringer at best. Anything we get from Seraphin or Booker this year will be gravy.

[nate33]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

[Ruzious]

It doesn't matter much offensively. Blatche is going to play the same role offensively no matter who he's playing with up front. And defense will depend on matchups. If Jav or Yi can't guard their man, then Dray is going to have to switch to him - center or pf. The wildcard is Seraphin. Armstrong is not likely going to be in the rotation - unless there's an injury. Again, the owner has said - this is a rebuilding year - hence, Jav will get starting minutes unless he's amazingly lazy - and at that point, people here will inevitably blame the coach for the player being lazy... per usual.

[closg00]

It doesn't matter much offensively. Blatche is going to play the same role offensively no matter who he's playing with up front. And defense will depend on matchups. If Jav or Yi can't guard their man, then Dray is going to have to switch to him - center or pf. The wildcard is Seraphin. Armstrong is not likely going to be in the rotation - unless there's an injury. Again, the owner has said - this is a rebuilding year - hence, Jav will get starting minutes unless he's amazingly lazy - and at that point, people here will inevitably blame the coach for the player being lazy... per usual.

Agree, this is probably a more accurate description of what will occur, I still disagree about Armstrong's role based upon how Flip uses players. I expect a Blatche/Mcgee combo to start like last year, with McGee sharing Center minutes with Armstrong,simply because Armstrong's has better fundamentals despite him being a ho-hum Center. Yi is nearly as in-effective as McGee at Center but he could also see some time alongside Dray. I don't expect to see much of Seraphin this year. Again, Flips tight rotation being the reason.

[doclinkin]

I suspect we'll see an open competition to see who plays next to Dray. But I never buy the optimistic predictions on the injuries and don't expect Dray to be available early. Kid has screws in his foot, has been adding weight, I can't imagine that heals all that quickly. I'd love to be pleasantly surprised on that.

Starting the year I'd bet we see a frontcourt of Yi/McGee, which should lead to defensive misery for a while. Both are inconsistent, both think they are more skilled than they have shown. We'll see flashes of stellar talent, and long stretches of headshaking play. I'd bet Flip's sensibilities are offended and he'll yank either or both on a quick hook after teachable moments. I have no doubt we'll see Armstrong in there in relief of either, and Seraphin/Booker will see minutes as well as Flip tries out his roster. If we sign Singleton then yeah I imagine he takes the lions share of the surplus minutes here, even takes the starters job.

Ultimately though, who plays well with John Wall will see the most playing time. This is one reason I suspect Seraphin will be earning real minutes by the end of the year in relief or replacement of McGee. Kid has the raw tools: big hands, athleticism, solid foundation, desire to play in the low-post, and a back to the basket game that is better developed than his face-up game. This makes him a better target for the dump-off dunk on a slashing attack, resulting in easy assists. His desire to bang and hold his ground on defense, block shots, hedge the pick and recover-- these will ensure he makes the coach happy as well.

His strengths mesh well with other players weaknesses, even if he's undertall. Eventually we'll see him next to Dray, playing PF on defense, low-post on offense. And I suspect we'll see a few strong defensive line experiments trying him next to Booker, McGee, Kirk etc.

Young players are inconsistent, it goes with the territory, but when you can string those flashes of brilliance together is when you become a productive player. This year we'll have to live with a few long moments of rueful dismay waiting on those breath of fresh air highlight plays. By years end though I'd bet the future looks promising.

[hands11]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

I was all pulling for us to sign Singleton but if we do sign him, what is that saying about Booker ? Signing Singleton would give us 13 players. Booker would need to be made inactive and just hang around for the practice team until someone get injured.

[no D in Hibachi]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

I was all pulling for us to sign Singleton but if we do sign him, what is that saying about Booker ? Signing Singleton would give us 13 players. Booker would need to be made inactive and just hang around for the practice team until someone get injured.

What is says is Bookers selection was a mistake because Singleton provides everything we can expect from Booker for at least the next two seasons at the veteren minimum. Further, even at Bookers peak I think Singleton will be at least 75% as good for a fraction of the cost.

[nate33]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

I was all pulling for us to sign Singleton but if we do sign him, what is that saying about Booker ? Signing Singleton would give us 13 players. Booker would need to be made inactive and just hang around for the practice team until someone get injured.

I think Booker has the length and athleticism to do what Singleton does on the defensive end once Booker has a year or two under his belt. So if nothing else, Booker can be a relatively cheap replacement for Singleton in two years when Singleton start to decline.

The upside is that Booker has a chance of doing more than Singleton. He already has shown signs of having a better mid-range jumper. If Booker can get that range out to the 3-point line, and/or if he can prove to be an effective defender of starting-caliber small forwards, then Booker will ultimately be a better player than Singleton.

[dobrojim]

I'm all over a Singleton signing

I liked Hudson from the SL stuff I saw too.

Singleton as a solid 4th big
Hudson as a 13/14th player

[verbal8]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

I was all pulling for us to sign Singleton but if we do sign him, what is that saying about Booker ? Signing Singleton would give us 13 players. Booker would need to be made inactive and just hang around for the practice team until someone get injured.

I think Booker has the length and athleticism to do what Singleton does on the defensive end once Booker has a year or two under his belt. So if nothing else, Booker can be a relatively cheap replacement for Singleton in two years when Singleton start to decline.

The upside is that Booker has a chance of doing more than Singleton. He already has shown signs of having a better mid-range jumper. If Booker can get that range out to the 3-point line, and/or if he can prove to be an effective defender of starting-caliber small forwards, then Booker will ultimately be a better player than Singleton.

I think Booker has the potential to be a contributor offensively. Singleton is a great rebounder and a scrappy defender, but he is an offensive liability. I don't expect a ton from Booker this, season but I think in 2 or 3 years it will be boom or bust for him. The upside is that he will either carve out a niche for himself with tough D and become and offensive threat in transition. The downside is he won't figure out a way to score without being far superior athletically and the strong defense he displayed in college will not translate to the NBA.

[hands11]

Wow. I didn't remember reading so many people wanting Singleton before when I was saying how I really wanted to see him added. I had kind of fadded on the idea but yeah. Singleton would be a solid dude. We could use a mature, tough guy, rebounder like him to stregthen the front court and the locker room. Beside Dray, what real reliable talent do we have up there ?

It's not like we have a excellent vet presence on this team as it is. Gil, Kirk, Howard and Dray.
Singleton would immediate get ranked right up with with Kirk as the two top mature level headed vets. That would be good for the team. One in the front court. One in the back.

Sign him and leave Booker as a practice team player until someone get dinged.

[nate33]

Wow. I didn't remember reading so many people wanting Singleton before when I was saying how I really wanted to see him added. I had kind of fadded on the idea but yeah. Singleton would be a solid dude. We could use a mature, tough guy, rebounder like him to stregthen the front court and the locker room. Beside Dray, what real reliable talent do we have up there ?

It's not like we have a excellent vet presence on this team as it is. Gil, Kirk, Howard and Dray.
Singleton would immediate get ranked right up with with Kirk as the two top mature level headed vets. That would be good for the team. One in the front court. One in the back.

Sign him and leave Booker as a practice team player until someone get dinged.

Yup. I've been saying this for a while. Singleton can be the Kirk Hinrich of the front court. I just love the way he plays and I think he would be a good mentor for Blatche, McGee, Seraphin, Booker and Yi. Word is that the Wizards are still interested in signing him. My guess is that they've offered him the vet minimum but Singleton is looking elsewhere to see if he can get more.

I would have preferred Singleton over Yi. I don't think Yi will pan out to be anything more than a backup "stretch 4". I'd rather have Singleton's defensive intensity and leadership to help teach the other young bigs how to play the game.

[hands11]

Wow. I didn't remember reading so many people wanting Singleton before when I was saying how I really wanted to see him added. I had kind of fadded on the idea but yeah. Singleton would be a solid dude. We could use a mature, tough guy, rebounder like him to stregthen the front court and the locker room. Beside Dray, what real reliable talent do we have up there ?

It's not like we have a excellent vet presence on this team as it is. Gil, Kirk, Howard and Dray.
Singleton would immediate get ranked right up with with Kirk as the two top mature level headed vets. That would be good for the team. One in the front court. One in the back.

Sign him and leave Booker as a practice team player until someone get dinged.

Yup. I've been saying this for a while. Singleton can be the Kirk Hinrich of the front court. I just love the way he plays and I think he would be a good mentor for Blatche, McGee, Seraphin, Booker and Yi. Word is that the Wizards are still interested in signing him. My guess is that they've offered him the vet minimum but Singleton is looking elsewhere to see if he can get more.

I would have preferred Singleton over Yi. I don't think Yi will pan out to be anything more than a backup "stretch 4". I'd rather have Singleton's defensive intensity and leadership to help teach the other young bigs how to play the game.

Probably the case. But if they really want him, come time of the signing, I would give him a little more then the min. Just a little something something to make him feel better about the deal. Doesn't have to be much. Just somethng.

[LyricalRico]

Strictly based on injuries we can expect because of the curse:

C - McGee
PF - Blatche
SF - Howard
SG - Hinrich
PG - Grossman

[hands11]

Agreed. Blatche will play 15-20 minutes a game at center. I think the Wizards will end up signing Singleton and Singleton will eventually take Yi's spot. By the end of the season, our crunch time front court lineup will be Singleton at PF and Blatche at C. They'll be the only big men on the roster that Flip can trust.

I was all pulling for us to sign Singleton but if we do sign him, what is that saying about Booker ? Signing Singleton would give us 13 players. Booker would need to be made inactive and just hang around for the practice team until someone get injured.

What is says is Bookers selection was a mistake because Singleton provides everything we can expect from Booker for at least the next two seasons at the veteren minimum. Further, even at Bookers peak I think Singleton will be at least 75% as good for a fraction of the cost.

So because a vet in Singleton is more prepared to give us what we need to start the season, Booker was a mistake ? We haven't even seen him in camp yet ?

[hands11]

With Camp starting in 10 days, I bumped this thread.

We have 12 players and they say Dray and Howard will be ready. Maybe not ready to start but they they are slated to be ready in camp.

Seraphin is all better.
Howard is ahead of schedule
Dray is running.

Wall/Kirk
Gil/Nick
AT/Howard
Dray/Yi
McGee/Armstrong/Seraphin

Booker in there as a floating defender. Hopefully able to cover 3 positions. Jefferies type.

Now we have to finally find out where, where and how they line up Dray, McGee, Yi, Armstrong, and Seraphin and what they do with Booker.

Seems the roster is set. Only way I see it changing is if Booker doesn't make it. And that seems like it would be a stretch. You have to think they want him active on the roster.

[leswizards]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... _on_floor/

I always felt the Wizards should have done something similar with Gil, Caron and AJ. I don't remember Flip or EJ ever constructing a rotation to make sure at least one of the big 3 was on the court at all times, but maybe my memory is wrong. Going forward, I hope Flip constructs a rotation that keeps 2 of the following 4 (Arenas, Wall, Howard, and Blatche) on the court at all times (that is once they are all healthy and Wall has proven he is worthy of ~36 mpg).

[hands11]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/69177/20100919/heat_will_always_keep_at_least_one_member_of_big_3_on_floor/

I always felt the Wizards should have done something similar with Gil, Caron and AJ. I don't remember Flip or EJ ever constructing a rotation to make sure at least one of the big 3 was on the court at all times, but maybe my memory is wrong. Going forward, I hope Flip constructs a rotation that keeps 2 of the following 4 (Arenas, Wall, Howard, and Blatche) on the court at all times (that is once they are all healthy and Wall has proven he is worthy of ~36 mpg).

Yeah, we could have been a lot better than what we saw with what we had.

Had they even just tried to spread it out by letting Dray start at PF and moving the other pieces around I would have been a lot happier. They could have done it but never did.

I don't blame Flip as much as EJ. Flip was coming onto a new team. Moving one of AJ or CB so Dray could start would have been a lot to ask from him in that short time that he had them all but I have little doubt that Haywood and Dray in the post would have been a better core.

[closg00]

Fabricio Oberto, whose free agent rights are owned by the Washington Wizards, is still not sure if he is in the team’s plans for this season and could learn if he’s returning to Washington as soon as today. Oberto, 35, came to Washington last year after four successful years (including one NBA title) with San Antonio, hoping to provide some much-needed depth on the front line for what was expected to be a significant postseason contender, and the Wizards signed used a bi-annual exception to sign him for $1.99 million. Instead, once Antawn Jamison got injured in the preseason, Oberto got pressed into duty immediately and found himself starting the first seven games. And things couldn’t have looked much more promising when he used his cheeky between the legs.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sport ... z105adkMN7

Somethings gotta give, Hamady still hasn't been invited to camp.

[no D in Hibachi]

Does it really matter whether Hamady was invited to camp or not? SL isn't the end all be all for fringe prospects, but it is very telling. It was clear within 5 minutes that VV couldn't play, just as it was clear as day during this years SL that Hamady can't play. If you think of it from a GM's perspective what 13th or 14th man would be more important to a team which has 4 young bigs who all figure to take the lions share of PF and Center minutes? Would it be another young, raw, inexperienced player who doesn't project to ever be a regular, or would it be a grizzled vet who can help teach the young players? Remember, neither are expected to play. As a GM I'd much rather have the end of bench vet. He requires less coaching so Flip can better allocate his time to helping Blatche, McGee, Seraphin, and Yi. One way or another if either Hamady or Oberto log more than 2-3 minutes per game I consider it a negative.