Wizards Interested in DeJuan Blair!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

i'd give up Booker even if personally I like him, and think he's more talented simply because the roster demands a viable PF option who can grab rebounds when Okafor/Nene aren't on the court. Booker is a good change-of-pace guy and can play PF in a pinch but his value comes offensively with the mismatches he presents - a poor man's Faried with injury and size concerns. Plus, Booker's not going to see a lot of minutes this season anyway. If we can get Blair simply for the purpose that Seraphin won't be on the court? It'll be worth it.

Booker AND Seraphin for Blair, Bonner, and a first round pick makes sense to me.

It might not make sense to the Spurs, but I like it.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'd trade Singleton or Ves for Blair, but NOT Booker, and especially NOT Ariza. Booker is far more mobile and is underrated. Ariza is a fantastic wing defender and a player capable of playing PF against small ball teams.

SAS could use Singleton for sure as an extra athletic defender.

I would trade Booker for Blair in a heartbeat. Trevor is in a contract year. Booker is good and I agree, underrated, mhd. He's also missed a lot of games injured. The main reason I would definitely trade him is his minutes would disappear.

Singleton for Blair is a no-brainer.

Ariza makes far more money and can only be traded if SA includes salary to match.

The trade I suspect will happen is Kevin Seraphin for Blair, which even though Blair is better probably helps SA a lot.

Hopefully it's Vesely. Vesely is the one who has voiced displeasure with how he's been coached here, so dealing him would make sense. It's a shame to give up on a #6 pick, but I think most fans would be happy to get Blair.

[FreckleFace]

I always liked him... This is the tough guy player we need on the bench and with the injuries WE ALWAYS have.. we need solid depth and he's it!


Get It Done Ernie!

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Last season was Blair's worst (PPA of 88), but he was above average each of his previous seasons. He's not horrible defensively -- in my stuff, he was below average this season, but not by a ton. Remember, his defense gets measured against Duncan, who's an all-time great on D. He's an upgrade all the way around over the guys the Wizards currently have in reserve big man spots.

II'm not sure why the Wizards are trying to sign & trade for him. Maybe he has an offer from another team that's above the minimum. Seems like he would have been a good candidate for the BAE. Sigh.

That's likely, IMO.

Right.

Aren't we all out of exemptions ?

This deal isn't making a ton of sense to me yet.

Replacing him for Kevin ... MEH. He is a better rebounder but he is 6-7 275. Is that really the kind of help we need at back up center ? It would be an ok deal I guess. Kevin hasn't proven he can be a tough rebounder yet. Not that he still can't. Thats your risk. Kevin does have some nice hooks. Just not sure he is maturing properly though. Blair is defiantly a more experienced smoother more focused basketball player. And he is more mature though a similar age.

PF would be more interesting, but Booker is already a rebounder. And an inch taller and more athlete to run with our runners. I was thinking this would be the year he stays healthy from his interviews. Never was injured in college.

For Singleton ? Well we get to see how his shooting looks today. Singleton is actually my underdog from the Ves, Kevin, Booker, Singleton group. While summer league doesn't prove you can do it in real games, we know Singleton some already so we should be able to see if he has improved on things.

Now if SA wants to do a package with Splitter in it, now that starts to make a lot more sense.

We need another tall center that can rebound and hit FTs.

I'd certainly do something like Ariza, Seraphin, Vesely for Splitter, Blair.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would trade Booker for Blair in a heartbeat. Trevor is in a contract year. Booker is good and I agree, underrated, mhd. He's also missed a lot of games injured. The main reason I would definitely trade him is his minutes would disappear.

Singleton for Blair is a no-brainer.

Ariza makes far more money and can only be traded if SA includes salary to match.

The trade I suspect will happen is Kevin Seraphin for Blair, which even though Blair is better probably helps SA a lot.

Hopefully it's Vesely. Vesely is the one who has voiced displeasure with how he's been coached here, so dealing him would make sense. It's a shame to give up on a #6 pick, but I think most fans would be happy to get Blair.

I actually am probably the last man on earth who still thinks Vesely is a serviceable NBA player. I think since he's got one more year on his deal, I would wait and see if he can't be moved for someone like Derrick Williams later.

Super, most fans would be ECSTATIC to see Vesely gone and you're right about him coming out and expressing dissatisfaction. If he did get traded for Blair, I predict the Spurs would figure a way to make Jan successful. Wizard fans would love Blair. Could be a win win deal Vesely for Blair.

However, I can't see the Spurs making that deal. League-wide Jan Vesely is considered a disaster and a bust IMO.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I always liked him... This is the tough guy player we need on the bench and with the injuries WE ALWAYS have.. we need solid depth and he's it!


Get It Done Ernie!

[SUPERBALLMAN]

The Spurs would be a good team for Vesely to go to. They have other euro players, and value his style of effort, passing, and intangibles. They wanted Kirilenko, maybe they could view Vesely as a younger potential poor man's version.

[thinker07]

I don't see how SA could/would hold out for that much return on a S & T. They have no interest in re-signing him and I wouldn't expect that he would be getting more than $1.5 mil-ish per year. The question is do they have ANY interest in ANY little piece we have?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'd certainly do something like Ariza, Seraphin, Vesely for Splitter, Blair.

This seems to be about right and very realistic, too!

As much as Pop loves Splitter, Seraphin is a protege on the French National team of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw. He and Vesely are 23 years old. Ariza is the ball hawk who can hit threes that the Spurs needed against Miami. Blair is out of the rotation and on the way out. This is a good deal, Super.

I like that the Wizards keep Booker, who is the one Ernie's kid who was a great pickup. (Outside of the lottery picks.)

[willbcocks]

I'd certainly do something like Ariza, Seraphin, Vesely for Splitter, Blair.

This seems to be about right and very realistic, too!

I like that the Wizards keep Booker, who is the one Ernie's kid who was a great pickup. (Outside of the lottery picks.)

I don't think the splitter part is realistic. He is one of their key players, and a center. They just resigned him. Why move him?

Vesely might work if SA is interested...

[hands11]

hands, to say Booker is a rebounder without quantifying it and comparing the two is the reason why some GMs don't get it.

To compare height and weight with Seraphin also fails to consider rebounds, possessions, and potential wins. Blair isn't 6' 7". He's more like 6' 5 1/2". He's listed at 275 but he was 315 at Pitt, and probably goes in the 280s now. He's never going to look or be as athletic as Seraphin. Kevin is never going to get rebounds like Blair.

hands, you really want to wait to see what Singleton might be? Come on out and say you don't like Blair at all. It's okay to me and fine if that's the way you feel. I think you know what I said years back and I think if he comes to the team you're going to become a fan real quickly of Blair. He's a basketball player.

Booker is a basketball player who brings it, too. I like him.

Kevin Seraphin really, really, really had a bad season last year. I believe, however, Kevin Seraphin is EXACTLY what the Spurs need. I get that he can score and not be a liability defensively. But dude is a LOUSY PLAYER in WS/48. It's what he doesn't do that hurts teams. He jacks shots and doesn't rebound. He doesn't get 50/50 balls. Seraphin is nowhere near the basketball player that DeJuan Blair is. Blair was winning gold medals abroad in junior national games years ago. He carried a team to the Final Four. His stats were BETTER than Blake Griffins, per the stat geeks at Wages of Wins (and me, too). To go by height and athleticism, yes, Seraphin is better. But no way on earth is Seraphin the better basketball player .... yet.

Why would I do that? I think I paid him compliments for the advantages he would bring. I'm just not convinced its in a area that the Wizards should be focusing.

Blair for any of those players based on what they have actually already done, and experience, and NBA maturity, Blair wins vs... fill in the blank. As you just said and I also said when I posted, he is the better basketball player. He is a better known vs players that have questions.

And yeah, your right. If he was here, I would have no problem cheering him on.

I was just adding my two sense beyond that static comparison. Considering fit and upside.

I know he is one of your long shot favorites. I can understand you might be defensive about other input. Just because I'm not doing back flips doesn't mean I think the idea sucks. There is a lot of grey between those two things.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'd certainly do something like Ariza, Seraphin, Vesely for Splitter, Blair.

This seems to be about right and very realistic, too!

I like that the Wizards keep Booker, who is the one Ernie's kid who was a great pickup. (Outside of the lottery picks.)

I don't think the splitter part is realistic. He is one of their key players, and a center. They just resigned him. Why move him?

Vesely might work if SA is interested...

willb, see my edited post, above. I know Pop loves Splitter and they rely on him, but they get three players for him.

[nuposse04]

So we need a stretch 4 and we're willing to expel w/e assets we have for Blair? I'd sign him for the minimum or a little more, but wouldn't trade anything worth a damn for him (although we don't really have anything worth a damn outside of Ariza and picks). I absolutely believe Booker is a comparable, if not more useful player (I think Booker had better range on his J the season before when he was healthier) the problem is that Booker hasn't proved that he can stay healthy.

I think Blair is a good "energy" forward but I'm not sure exactly how good he is offensively. Does he have some post moves? How developed is his jumper? I guess I should be excited that we could get someone better Jan/Singleton.

[truwizfan4evr]

If Ves goes to spurs would Pop make Ves very useful?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

hands, to say Booker is a rebounder without quantifying it and comparing the two is the reason why some GMs don't get it.

To compare height and weight with Seraphin also fails to consider rebounds, possessions, and potential wins. Blair isn't 6' 7". He's more like 6' 5 1/2". He's listed at 275 but he was 315 at Pitt, and probably goes in the 280s now. He's never going to look or be as athletic as Seraphin. Kevin is never going to get rebounds like Blair.

hands, you really want to wait to see what Singleton might be? Come on out and say you don't like Blair at all. It's okay to me and fine if that's the way you feel. I think you know what I said years back and I think if he comes to the team you're going to become a fan real quickly of Blair. He's a basketball player.

Booker is a basketball player who brings it, too. I like him.

Kevin Seraphin really, really, really had a bad season last year. I believe, however, Kevin Seraphin is EXACTLY what the Spurs need. I get that he can score and not be a liability defensively. But dude is a LOUSY PLAYER in WS/48. It's what he doesn't do that hurts teams. He jacks shots and doesn't rebound. He doesn't get 50/50 balls. Seraphin is nowhere near the basketball player that DeJuan Blair is. Blair was winning gold medals abroad in junior national games years ago. He carried a team to the Final Four. His stats were BETTER than Blake Griffins, per the stat geeks at Wages of Wins (and me, too). To go by height and athleticism, yes, Seraphin is better. But no way on earth is Seraphin the better basketball player .... yet.

Why would I do that? I think I paid him compliments for the advantages he would bring. I'm just not convinced its in a area that the Wizards should be focusing.

Blair for any of those players based on what they have actually already done, and experience, and NBA maturity, Blair wins vs... fill in the blank.

I was just adding my two sense beyond that static comparison.

hands, I'm sorry. Simple as that.

I really didn't mean to put words in your mouth, especially when that's not what you were saying. I didn't read it that well and just reacted to one part, Singleton. (I wouldn't even have pondered that, but that's besides the point).

[pancakes3]

So we need a stretch 4 and we're willing to expel w/e assets we have for Blair? I'd sign him for the minimum or a little more, but wouldn't trade anything worth a damn for him (although we don't really have anything worth a damn outside of Ariza and picks). I absolutely believe Booker is a comparable, if not more useful player (I think Booker had better range on his J the season before when he was healthier) the problem is that Booker hasn't proved that he can stay healthy.

I think Blair is a good "energy" forward but I'm not sure exactly how good he is offensively. Does he have some post moves? How developed is his jumper? I guess I should be excited that we could get someone better Jan/Singleton.

A lot of people point to the rebound where Blair flips Thabeet as a watershed moment but really that entire game showcased precisely what Blair is able to do. He's short, but he's an absolute workhorse, and a skilled one at that. The only shame is that he's so short and can only play bench minutes.

[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WASWhKKQfY
[/youtube]

hahaha, someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with these gosh dern youtube links!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If Ves goes to spurs would Pop make Ves very useful?

The quote feature is great.

If he did get traded for Blair, I predict the Spurs would figure a way to make Jan successful. Wizard fans would love Blair. Could be a win win deal Vesely for Blair.

This is what I said one paragraph before that.

I actually am probably the last man on earth who still thinks Vesely is a serviceable NBA player.

Successful and serviceable are the terms I used.

FWIW -- Jan's rookie season he started the last 15 games. He was successful as a rookie. The Wizards went 8-2 the last 10 games starting both Seraphin and Vesely. Those guys will do fine for SA.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

This seems to be about right and very realistic, too!

I like that the Wizards keep Booker, who is the one Ernie's kid who was a great pickup. (Outside of the lottery picks.)

I don't think the splitter part is realistic. He is one of their key players, and a center. They just resigned him. Why move him?

Vesely might work if SA is interested...

willb, see my edited post, above. I know Pop loves Splitter and they rely on him, but they get three players for him.

Spurs get younger and retool a bit. As CCJ pointed out Seraphin has the french connection with Parker and Diaw. A big with soft hands around the basket and good foot work, and again Vesely with his intangible skills at 6-11. Ariza is a playoff tested defensive wing who also fits in well with what they do.

This move doesn't add the coveted stretch 4, but gives the Wizards nice size and depth in the front court with Okafor and Splitter, with Nene and Blair also able to play some center. Blair, Booker, Singleton would be solid depth behind Nene. This group should be solid on the boards and low post scoring.

[hands11]

That's likely, IMO.

Right.

Aren't we all out of exemptions ?

This deal isn't making a ton of sense to me yet.

Replacing him for Kevin ... MEH. He is a better rebounder but he is 6-7 275. Is that really the kind of help we need at back up center ? It would be an ok deal I guess. Kevin hasn't proven he can be a tough rebounder yet. Not that he still can't. Thats your risk. Kevin does have some nice hooks. Just not sure he is maturing properly though. Blair is defiantly a more experienced smoother more focused basketball player. And he is more mature though a similar age.

PF would be more interesting, but Booker is already a rebounder. And an inch taller and more athlete to run with our runners. I was thinking this would be the year he stays healthy from his interviews. Never was injured in college.

For Singleton ? Well we get to see how his shooting looks today. Singleton is actually my underdog from the Ves, Kevin, Booker, Singleton group. While summer league doesn't prove you can do it in real games, we know Singleton some already so we should be able to see if he has improved on things.

Now if SA wants to do a package with Splitter in it, now that starts to make a lot more sense.

We need another tall center that can rebound and hit FTs.

I'd certainly do something like Ariza, Seraphin, Vesely for Splitter, Blair.

That seems more then fair.

Ariza is a know that would plug right in with them.

KS is Blairish with more upside. Continued coaching and time and he will keep getting better.

Ves would be a great project for them. I think Ves could turn into a valuable player in SA. The fresh start would be good for him. Plus, he is a system guy and SA is a established system team. I have like the Ves in SA idea for a while now. Interesting they are talking a trade where it could actually happen.

in return, the Wizards get the center help they need and replace questions with upside for solid production and maturity and winning experience on a great SA team.

[AFM]

Why would they trade Splitter? They just gave him a huge contract, so obviously they value him. They aren't going to trade him for scraps/