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

[FAH1223]

Yea, but they're not good basketball players, hell they have a ton of improvement to reach average. I was being told we traded a really good player for a chance at a home run, and it looks like they're getting more of the same...base hit single.

Dawkins is going into year three, with 9 picks that he drafted. If he can't hit one franchise player in 9 tries at bat, I think it's safe to assume he's not the draft guru he's being touted as. Just saying, FAH. I think the guys on this board collectively could do better if given 9 at bats.

You're expecting an SGA level prospect?

How many guys selected after Bilal in 2023 fit that bill?

In 2024, we have 4 guys from the 1st round. Who in the 2024 NBA Draft was billed as a franchise player before that draft? A draft people were saying would be the worst since 2000. WHO?!!!

[DCZards]

Thus far Dawkins has done just fine with the hand that he's been dealt. While none of his draft picks look like stars at this point, all four of his FRPs look like they could have solid to excellent NBA careers.

Plus, at the trade deadline he moved Kuzma for another 2024 FRP (Johnson) and traded for the 18th pick in this year's draft. That's damn good work.

Takes patience though to see exactly what these youngins' will turn out to be and patience is often in short supply...especially in the immediate aftermath of a disastrous lottery.

Go Zards!

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

A bunch of singles and no home runs.

Traded Deni for the right to the 6th pick and some middling prospects.

So far, not impressed with this front office at all. Just because they are marginally better at drafting (and that has yet to really be proven, as Shep's draft picks are still better than Dawkins, but time will tell) doesn't make them better than their predecessors. Hell, Grunfeld's rebuilds looked better in retrospect than this one. At least he hit with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison in his rebuild.

This is just an exercise in futility for the sake of accumulating a bunch of draft picks. At some point, the draft picks have to produce or show that they have something special and they haven't. None of them are special.

So far, #soWizards

Your going to get a lot of backlash for this because people are going to be raw after falling to 6th last night, but spot on. Dawkins has shown little at this point, just that simple. His vision isn't anything special, accept if you love draft picks for the sake of them being shiny and new. Can't say anything about his draft picks either until they retire and we know for sure what their careers looked like.

The DaWkInToLoGy fever persists.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Dawkins has done fine thus far with the hand that he's been dealt. While none of his draft picks look like stars at this point, all four of his FRPs look like they could have solid to excellent NBA careers.

Takes patience though to see exactly what these youngins' will turn out to be and patience is often in short supply...especially in the immediate aftermath of a disastrous lottery.

Go Zards!

Excellent careers? Based on their performance so far?

[payitforward]

...Dawkins is going into year three, with 9 picks that he drafted. If he can't hit one franchise player in 9 tries at bat, I think it's safe to assume he's not the draft guru he's being touted as.

Really?
You're a smart guy, TGW. Not a dummy. That's obvious. & you've been here a long time -- you're a valued member of this gang of pointlessly obsessed fans of a historically terrible franchise.

But, when a person gets so totally alienated that all he's capable of is kicking dirt... maybe it's a good time start all over?

In your case, your posts make it seem like you are simply paying no attention at all, just enjoy making critiques.

Will hasn't drafted 9 guys. he drafted 2 guys in '23 & 3 in '24 -- for a total of 5.

...I think the guys on this board collectively could do better if given 9 at bats.

Great. But, given the above I'm not sure how much help you'd have been!

Not to mention that you only want to say "wrong guy" never "I would have taken... instead."

What would you have done with the #8 pick in the '23 draft?
No answer. Hence criticism of the pick is meaningless.
As to "the guys on this board," we were all pretty solidly behind the pick of Bilal.

What would you have done with the #35 pick in the '23 draft?
No answer. You didn't even know we had that pick, did you?
& you have no idea who was available, right? & no idea what we did with the pick, right?

What would you have done with the #42 pick in the '23 draft?
No answer. We picked Vukcevic. Was there someone you liked better?
Actually, you have no idea who went in the subsequent picks, do you?

What would you have done with the #2 pick in the '24 draft?
No answer. Makes the criticism hollow.

What would you have done with the #14 pick in the '24 draft?
No answer. You can't even tell me who else was available, can you? I mean without going to look at the list.

What would you have done with the #26 pick in the '24 draft?
No answer. We traded up to 24, but without doing some research you can't even tell me what we gave to move up two spots, can you?
& you have no idea at all about whom we might/should have drafted either at 24 or 26, do you?

Hey, I'm retired. I've got time for all this stuff. You're probably still working. Might not be able to follow as closely as I do. & you're probably better off for it too! But, in that case maybe you cool the rhetorical blasts some....

[DCZards]

Dawkins has done fine thus far with the hand that he's been dealt. While none of his draft picks look like stars at this point, all four of his FRPs look like they could have solid to excellent NBA careers.

Takes patience though to see exactly what these youngins' will turn out to be and patience is often in short supply...especially in the immediate aftermath of a disastrous lottery.

Go Zards!

Excellent careers? Based on their performance so far?

What did players like Jalen Brunson or Derrick White or, even, Giannis look like after their rookie seasons? I'll tell you...like just guys.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Dawkins has done fine thus far with the hand that he's been dealt. While none of his draft picks look like stars at this point, all four of his FRPs look like they could have solid to excellent NBA careers.

Takes patience though to see exactly what these youngins' will turn out to be and patience is often in short supply...especially in the immediate aftermath of a disastrous lottery.

Go Zards!

Excellent careers? Based on their performance so far?

How did players like Jalen Brunson and Giannis look after their rookie seasons? I tell you...like just guys.

I mean you can play that game all day long with everything if you want to cherry pick exceptions.

[FAH1223]

A bunch of singles and no home runs.

Traded Deni for the right to the 6th pick and some middling prospects.

So far, not impressed with this front office at all. Just because they are marginally better at drafting (and that has yet to really be proven, as Shep's draft picks are still better than Dawkins, but time will tell) doesn't make them better than their predecessors. Hell, Grunfeld's rebuilds looked better in retrospect than this one. At least he hit with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison in his rebuild.

This is just an exercise in futility for the sake of accumulating a bunch of draft picks. At some point, the draft picks have to produce or show that they have something special and they haven't. None of them are special.

So far, #soWizards

Your going to get a lot of backlash for this because people are going to be raw after falling to 6th last night, but spot on. Dawkins has shown little at this point, just that simple. His vision isn't anything special, accept if you love draft picks for the sake of them being shiny and new. Can't say anything about his draft picks either until they retire and we know for sure what their careers looked like.

The DaWkInToLoGy fever persists.

My same question to TGW.

WHO THE HELL IS THE FRANCHISE GUY THAT DAWKINS MISSED IN 2023 AND 2024?!!!

[penbeast0]

Dawkins has done fine thus far with the hand that he's been dealt. While none of his draft picks look like stars at this point, all four of his FRPs look like they could have solid to excellent NBA careers.

Takes patience though to see exactly what these youngins' will turn out to be and patience is often in short supply...especially in the immediate aftermath of a disastrous lottery.

Go Zards!

Excellent careers? Based on their performance so far?

What did players like Jalen Brunson or Derrick White or, even, Giannis look like after their rookie seasons? I'll tell you...like just guys.

Giannis may have had meh numbers but he looked like something special whenever I saw him as a rookie. Just an extraordinary physical specimen with a good rep for being willing to work at it.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

A bunch of singles and no home runs.

Traded Deni for the right to the 6th pick and some middling prospects.

So far, not impressed with this front office at all. Just because they are marginally better at drafting (and that has yet to really be proven, as Shep's draft picks are still better than Dawkins, but time will tell) doesn't make them better than their predecessors. Hell, Grunfeld's rebuilds looked better in retrospect than this one. At least he hit with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison in his rebuild.

This is just an exercise in futility for the sake of accumulating a bunch of draft picks. At some point, the draft picks have to produce or show that they have something special and they haven't. None of them are special.

So far, #soWizards

Your going to get a lot of backlash for this because people are going to be raw after falling to 6th last night, but spot on. Dawkins has shown little at this point, just that simple. His vision isn't anything special, accept if you love draft picks for the sake of them being shiny and new. Can't say anything about his draft picks either until they retire and we know for sure what their careers looked like.

The DaWkInToLoGy fever persists.

My same question to TGW.

WHO THE HELL IS THE FRANCHISE GUY THAT DAWKINS MISSED IN 2023 AND 2024?!!!

Trading Avdija for Bub Carrington was an epic miss, so there's the start of things.

[FAH1223]

Trading Avdija for Bub Carrington was an epic miss, so there's the start of things.

EPIC?

Deni had an above average season. He isn't going to be an All-Star. We got a 2029 1st rounder for him too!

I have NO problem with that trade. I am still STUNNED we got essentially two 1st rounders for him.

[TGW]

Yea, but they're not good basketball players, hell they have a ton of improvement to reach average. I was being told we traded a really good player for a chance at a home run, and it looks like they're getting more of the same...base hit single.

Dawkins is going into year three, with 9 picks that he drafted. If he can't hit one franchise player in 9 tries at bat, I think it's safe to assume he's not the draft guru he's being touted as. Just saying, FAH. I think the guys on this board collectively could do better if given 9 at bats.

You're expecting an SGA level prospect?

How many guys selected after Bilal in 2023 fit that bill?

In 2024, we have 4 guys from the 1st round. Who in the 2024 NBA Draft was billed as a franchise player before that draft? A draft people were saying would be the worst since 2000. WHO?!!!

Fine if that's the position their taking, but then why trade Deni, (who is young, cheap, and coming of an excellent year with marked improvement) for a non-lottery pick in the worst draft snce 2000? Make it make sense. Why stack up all these picks in what you agree is a crappy draft year? It's not a good strategy anyway you slice it.

edit: and I also want to add why is it totally acceptable to heap praise on Dawkins for the job he's doing, but it's too early to actually judge his performance thus far? Can't have it both ways.

[TGW]

Trading Avdija for Bub Carrington was an epic miss, so there's the start of things.

EPIC?

Deni had an above average season. He isn't going to be an All-Star. We got a 2029 1st rounder for him too!

I have NO problem with that trade. I am still STUNNED we got essentially two 1st rounders for him.

a. you don't know that. If he averages 20, 7, and 5, which is entirely possible given his trajectory, he will be an all-star or at least get a lot of votes.

b. check the Blazers fan sites across the web. The general consensus is that they would do that trade 10/10 if given the chance. Not so much here in DC...there are alot of fans that are still pissed about that trade.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Trading Avdija for Bub Carrington was an epic miss, so there's the start of things.

EPIC?

Deni had an above average season. He isn't going to be an All-Star. We got a 2029 1st rounder for him too!

I have NO problem with that trade. I am still STUNNED we got essentially two 1st rounders for him.

That's the problem, that you have no problem with that trade. That your STUNNED is even more telling.

I'll reiterate,: EPIC, EPIC miss to trade Deni (a young guy on an amazing contract who has improved every season) for that return. Light as a feather.

But Dawkins fannies gonna do anything to save face, I get it.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Trading Avdija for Bub Carrington was an epic miss, so there's the start of things.

EPIC?

Deni had an above average season. He isn't going to be an All-Star. We got a 2029 1st rounder for him too!

I have NO problem with that trade. I am still STUNNED we got essentially two 1st rounders for him.

a. you don't know that. If he averages 20, 7, and 5, which is entirely possible given his trajectory, he will be an all-star or at least get a lot of votes.

b. check the Blazers fan sites across the web. The general consensus is that they would do that trade 10/10 if given the chance. Not so much here in DC...there are alot of fans that are still pissed about that trade.

They can't be bothered with facts. They were told it was a good trade, to the bait, ran with it, and now won't back down from it.

Deni very well may be a all-star next season, at least produce like one, it'll be up to how much that roster and how it improves, which by the way is a younger roster than the Wizards last I saw.

[DCZards]

Excellent careers? Based on their performance so far?

How did players like Jalen Brunson and Giannis look after their rookie seasons? I tell you...like just guys.

I mean you can play that game all day long with everything if you want to cherry pick exceptions.

They are far from exceptions. There are a ton of players who improved significantly between their rookie season and their third or fourth seasons…including Deni.

Deni does indeed look like he could be an all-star someday. Did he look that way as a rookie or second year player?

[GoneShammGone]

You know, a lot of this criticism of the rookies would hold more weight with me if you just, you know, like, waited until they turned 20.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

How did players like Jalen Brunson and Giannis look after their rookie seasons? I tell you...like just guys.

I mean you can play that game all day long with everything if you want to cherry pick exceptions.

They are far from exceptions. There are a ton of players who improved significantly between their rookie season and their third or fourth seasons…including Deni.

Deni does indeed look like he could be an all-star someday. Did he look that way as a rookie or second year player?

Yeah but he was also on a bum team trying their best to fight for a play-in birth. He earned his court time with stellar defense, he was basically ignored on offense so Beal and Kuzma could look cool.

[FAH1223]

a. you don't know that. If he averages 20, 7, and 5, which is entirely possible given his trajectory, he will be an all-star or at least get a lot of votes.

b. check the Blazers fan sites across the web. The general consensus is that they would do that trade 10/10 if given the chance. Not so much here in DC...there are alot of fans that are still pissed about that trade.

IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE? Especially if Giannis is going WesT? With all of the talent out there? Nah man.

They can't be bothered with facts. They were told it was a good trade, to the bait, ran with it, and now won't back down from it.

Deni very well may be a all-star next season, at least produce like one, it'll be up to how much that roster and how it improves, which by the way is a younger roster than the Wizards last I saw.

Deni Avdija is not going to be an All-Star. I will eat a sock if he does make it.

He's a good player. He will have a long career as your 4th or 5th option.

He's going to be 25 years old. I think he is what he is going to be at this point.

Meanwhile, you and TGW already think Bub Carrington won't even be as good as Deni and we have another 1st rounder as an asset to use!

Grunfeld or Sheppard would have never made forward thinking trades to build up asset capital. The Wizards ALWAYS had to GIVE UP ASSETS to get off MESSES that the front office created!

Again, you and TGW don't answer the question. WHO IS THE FRANCHISE GUY THAT DAWKINS MISSED OUT ON?!! IN 2023 AND 2024?! It SEEMS you guys think Deni Avdija is a franchise player and Will gave up on him too soon.

[FAH1223]

You know, a lot of this criticism of the rookies would hold more weight with me if you just, you know, like, waited until they turned 20.

IT IS INCREDIBLE.

They shad on Tommy and rightfully so.

And all these guys that got drafted are already bums! And they have already made conclusions of them not even being as good as Deni!