Free Agents Thread

[dangermouse]

Ive seen a lot of Haddadi in intl. ball, he is fairly skilled for a 7 footer and is a bit quicker on his feet than he looks, hes definitely not just a plodder, or at least has or had the potential to be more than that. From what I saw he is nothing more than a back-up C in the NBA though. Hes nowhere near the level of Gortat, and I wouldnt expect a similar breakout given more minutes, although I will admit that i havent seen very much of him in Memphis, i only saw them play once or twice this year.

I'd expect the Grizz to do everything in their power to re-sign Gasol and i think they will be successful unless some other team out there offers him something crazy. Could happen. Because of that, Mayo is gone. Not sure about Battier, but i could see him staying or going to a contender.

We could get Haddadi, probably for a decent price. I dont think there are many teams desperate for a backup C. Maybe Blazers? Pryz will be available as well, so its hard to see Haddadi high on anyones list.

I dont think we even need him that badly. But if we signed him for peanuts he would make a good backup for McGee and we could send Seraphin to the d-league to learn the game getting more minutes.

[nate33]

I think the best thing to do with our roughly $12M in cap space is to sign one youngish free agent to a Nick Collison style front-loaded contract. I'd lean toward Nick Young, but I'd also consider Wilson Chandler or Aaron Afflalo. Whoever it is, it must be someone who can shoot and defend. If all those guys proved to be too expensive, I wouldn't mind throwing a ton of money at Shane Battier on a one year contract. Pay him $10M for one season if that's what it takes. That guy wins wherever he goes and I'd love to have him around to teach our players some professionalism.

So basically, I have three criteria:
1. Must be able to shoot.
2. Must be able to defend.
3. Must have a minimal cap hit in 2012/13 and beyond.

[TGW]

Wilson Chandler would be my number one target. He shoots the 3, defends, and rebounds. He's a guy you can plug into a contender and he'll be a contributor. He's not a superstar, but he plays the right way.

We also NEED a veteran bigman. A guy who can teach our young bigs how to play the right way and is productive. Singleton would have been great this past year -- EG screwed the pooch by letting him go. Bring him back, or someone like him.

[LyricalRico]

Wilson Chandler would be my number one target. He shoots the 3, defends, and rebounds. He's a guy you can plug into a contender and he'll be a contributor. He's not a superstar, but he plays the right way.

Agreed. Split the money between Nick Young (declining contract) and Chandler (appreciating contract) and then use whatever combination of Blatche, Lewis, and our pick to upgrade the frontcourt. That's the simplist offseason plan, although not my fave.

[fishercob]

I think the best thing to do with our roughly $12M in cap space is to sign one youngish free agent to a Nick Collison style front-loaded contract. I'd lean toward Nick Young, but I'd also consider Wilson Chandler or Aaron Afflalo. Whoever it is, it must be someone who can shoot and defend. If all those guys proved to be too expensive, I wouldn't mind throwing a ton of money at Shane Battier on a one year contract. Pay him $10M for one season if that's what it takes. That guy wins wherever he goes and I'd love to have him around to teach our players some professionalism.

So basically, I have three criteria:
1. Must be able to shoot.
2. Must be able to defend.
3. Must have a minimal cap hit in 2012/13 and beyond.

My only question about this plan relates to opportunity cost. If we do such a deal with Nick/Chandler whomever, what opportunities are we losing out on by tying up that cap space this coming year? Would we be losing the chance to tie up McGee on the relative cheap via a similar type deal? Would we be screwing up a chance at using that cap space to absorb a star in a trade? I'd just like to have a better sense of my options.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

In DX's most recent mock, they've got the Wizards picking Walker (4th), Klay Thompson (18th), and JuJuan Johnson (34th).

That scenario says no more Nick Young IMO. I noticed Thompson way back early in the Pac 10 season, and recall posting that he's Mychal Thompson's son, has an MLB player brother, and his mom was a volleyball athlete. He's a shooter with good size at SG. However, I soured on him a bit from watching enough games to spot what I think are flaws in his game (forces shots not within the flow of the game, and often does not make impact on the court when his shot isn't dropping). I gave up on him character-wise (as far as his bloodlines and all making him low risk) when he got cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession. To me, him smoking weed doesn't faze me but him getting caught makes me wonder.

For DX to have Klay Thompson up to #18 in their mock I wonder if they don't have some inside info, and if that might not be saying Nick won't be back?

IF the Wizards do not pursue Nick as a FA that would impact the money they have to expend on whomever they do choose to pursue.

[LyricalRico]

^ i think at this point that DX is still just ranking players based on their grading system. I don't think they actually matchup players with teams until well after the lottery.

[nate33]

I don't think it's possible to have "inside info" on the Nick Young decision. I think it's a foregone conclusion that the Wizards will extend the qualifying offer to Nick Young. After that, it'll depend on how high the bids are from other teams.

[Rafael122]

Jeff Foster has done a real good job being an intimidator of sorts for the Pacers this postseason. He's knocked Rose down a couple of times. I've been pimping this guy for like a year and a half. Dude just rebounds the ball well and plays defense, no nonsense, bring your lunch pail to work type of guy.

[nate33]

I've always liked Foster too. He'd be a nice free agent "goon" to add on a one-year contract. I don't think he'd choose to come here though. Other teams in "win now" mode would probably offer more than we would, and/or he'd probably be willing to play elsewhere for less.

[spaceman_E]

Klay Thompson - trying to do too much.

Could this be a product of playing on Washington St.? He was probably needed to do this. I wouldn't dock him too much for that.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Klay Thompson - trying to do too much.

Could this be a product of playing on Washington St.? He was probably needed to do this. I wouldn't dock him too much for that.

I only saw one game of Thompson, but I thought he got outplayed by Justin Holiday.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Wizards look into acquiring Wesley Johnson from the TWolves to address the SG spot if Young is not retained.

[Dat2U]

In DX's most recent mock, they've got the Wizards picking Walker (4th), Klay Thompson (18th), and JuJuan Johnson (34th).

That scenario says no more Nick Young IMO. I noticed Thompson way back early in the Pac 10 season, and recall posting that he's Mychal Thompson's son, has an MLB player brother, and his mom was a volleyball athlete. He's a shooter with good size at SG. However, I soured on him a bit from watching enough games to spot what I think are flaws in his game (forces shots not within the flow of the game, and often does not make impact on the court when his shot isn't dropping). I gave up on him character-wise (as far as his bloodlines and all making him low risk) when he got cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession. To me, him smoking weed doesn't faze me but him getting caught makes me wonder.

For DX to have Klay Thompson up to #18 in their mock I wonder if they don't have some inside info, and if that might not be saying Nick won't be back?

IF the Wizards do not pursue Nick as a FA that would impact the money they have to expend on whomever they do choose to pursue.

Not interested in marginal prospects with character issues. That's a no go for me. Plus he's historically struggled in Pac-10 conference play while dominating inferior comp outside of his conference. I.E. The Jarvis Hayes syndrome. I don't think he's worth a 1st rounder IMO.

[dobrojim]

I forget if this has already been raised and quashed but if
he could be had for a reasonable price, Jeff Foster (IND)
would be a nice vet big to have at the end of the bench.

[closg00]

He will probably want to go to deep playoff team, but what about Tayshaun Prince? Prince would be a nice vet to have on the team and he plays D. Don't know about his current health though.

[LyricalRico]

He will probably want to go to deep playoff team, but what about Tayshaun Prince? Prince would be a nice vet to have on the team and he plays D. Don't know about his current health though.

I would certainly pursue him if Flip is still the coach. Maybe he accepts a Collison-like contract if we were to make some other moves. Problem is those "other moves" would have to include finding a taker for Lewis.

Lewis+Blatche for Brand+Iggy? Then sign Prince instead of Young? All after drafting Kanter?

McGee/Kanter/Seraphin
Brand/Booker
Prince/#18
IggyCrawford
Wall/Crawford

Basically a better version of the Sixers, with some impact to our 2012 plans.

[TGW]

Making a drastic move is not necessary. I'm actually ok with signing Josh Howard for the minimum as a stopgap solution. We need to bring in a veteran bigman. James Singleton would have been perfect this past year because he plays the right way and he's productive. Jeff Foster is not coming here, although he would be perfect as well. If the NotSonics were willing to part with Collison for Blatche, I'd consider that as well. We need players that play the right way -- no more athletic dummies.

[nate33]

I'd actually take Mo Evans over Josh Howard. At least Mo Evans will show up.

Also, I'd like to use all of our cap room on a frontloaded Nick Collison contract for a good starting wing(presumably Young). That leaves only vet minimum options to fill up our end of the bench. Howard probably still has enough name recognition to get more than the vet minimum. Mo Evans probably won't cost more than the vet minimum.

[Ruzious]

About the only player on that list I'd be willing to throw a little money at is Marc Gasol.

Gasol might be the best player on that list, but there are a few diamonds in the rough and quality role players IMO.

When it comes to free agents the question for me is not 'who is sorta good?' but instead 'does this guy represent a building block for a championship?'

You can win with Marc Gasol. He rebounds a bit, defends bigs, passes, and makes his teammates better. He's proven himself clutch at a championship level more than once (albeit in a different league) and knows how to elevate his game even in elimination situations. As a keystone center he represents a solid investment who will prove worth the money paid for him, even if (unlike others cited, where you might get players as cheaply off the d-league) he doesn't come at a bargain rate. He is the one player that, say, Miami lacks. The question is not whether he would be an upgrade over whomever we got now -- we suck now. Incremental upgrades lead to a durable mediocrity. But when buying a player on the meat market you most always overpay for quality, and the only player on the list that looks to me worth overpaying for (a little) is Baby G.

Doesn't matter though since the timing is off. Teddy won't spend yet until it looks like the team is ready to add that next-level vet.

He and Randolph are showing - you win playoff games with players like them. Look at the Memphis rostrum other than them. Conley's a good (not great) PG, but right now - they have mediocrity at the 2 and 3. They're hanging with OkC, because they have skilled physical big'ns that are hard to match up with. Btw, neither Gasol or Randolph are great defenders, but they beat up on ya - and score and rebound.

[closg00]

^^^
You need bangers, preferably bangers with some skillz. I'd take a look at Tiny Gallon who is being stashed w/o a contract by Boston. I'd also consider taking Jordan Williams with our 2nd round pick should he fall out of the 1st round (doubtful)