Yi to the Wizards for Ross

[DCZards]

Just got a call from the Wizards that patched me into this live conference call with EG (hosted by Dave Johnson) for season ticket holders. Kinda cool.

A question was just asked about Yi and impact on blatche. EG says Yi will have to earn his minutes. EG likes the fact that Yi is going to get some international experinece this summer.

Question about GA playing two-guard. EG says he has discussed with GA and GA "responded very well." EG said Ga is "really looking forward to playing with John" and "not having as much of the ballhandling responsibility."

Question to EG about going after a Boozer or Bosh. Said they are going to "follow what the caps did" building through the draft and youth. Put a core together of "young guys that we can be competitive with for years to come." Wants young guys who can grow together and "save our powder" to get that "one guy" who can put us over the top someday down the road.

[Ji]

Just got a call from the Wizards that patched me into this live conference call with EG for season ticket holders. Kinda cool. A question was just asked about Yi and impact on blatche. EG says Yi will have to earn his minutes. EG likes the fact that Yi is going to get some international experinece this summer.
Question about GA playing two-guard. EG says he has discussed with GA and GA "responded very well." EG said Ga is "really looking forward to playing with John" and "not having as much of the ballhandling responsibility."

Question to EG about going after a Boozer or Bosh. Said they are going to "follow what the caps did" building through the draft and youth. Put a core together of "young guys that we can be competitive with for years to come." Wants young guys who can grow together and "save our powder" to get that "one guy" who can put us over the top someday down the road.

there are not many guys like that? D Howard? Durant? This was the year to do it(Lebron)

[DCZards]

Question for EG about what "needs" still might be addressed through free agency and cap money: EG says the top need is another "perimeter player" and said someone might even emerge from the summer league team.

Question about Mike Miller: Wouldn't commit on Mike other than saying they would have some conversations with Mike and his agent at the "appropriate time."

Question about helping young players make the leap/transition (socially) from high school/college: EG says assistants Sam Cassell and Gene Banks have been good mentors, and the league has training in finances, etc., where they are lectured by current players.

Have Wizards done research into Yi's age? EG responds: His birth certificate says that he is 22 years old." Yi is a "good complement to some of the young point guards, will spread the floor, good in pick and roll."

[WizarDynasty]

I'm am an EG basher but the moves he has made this season have definitely made up for the crappy moves he has made in the past. His moves have catapulted him with "TED the Savior's" vision, into an above average GM. He was definitely below average before discarding Haywood, Jamison and Butler...moves i had been screaming for a year before. Closer and closer to a dynasty. Pat on the back, now don't do anything stupid like trade arenas or our young bigs.

[closg00]

Question for EG about what "needs" still might be addressed through free agency and cap money: EG says the top need is another "perimeter player" and said someone might even emerge from the summer league team.

Question about Mike Miller: Wouldn't commit on Mike other than saying they would have some conversations with Mike and his agent at the "appropriate time."

Question about helping young players make the leap/transition (socially) from high school/college: EG says assistants Sam Cassell and Gene Banks have been good mentors, and the league has training in finances, etc., where they are lectured by current players.

Have Wizards done research into Yi's age? EG responds: His birth certificate says that he is 22 years old." Yi is a "good complement to some of the young point guards, will spread the floor, good in pick and roll."

Great Insider stuff Zard, thanks! Did anyone ask about a big-man coach?

Hayes and Scheyer are being brought-in to audition for the 3-point specialist position. Scheyer did not shoot a good overall % but his 3-point shooting was pretty-good so we would have some versatility with him being a back-up PG/3-Point shooter. Obviously MM won't be returning.

[DCZards]

Caller/season ticketholder supporting Gilbert. Thinks he can come back strong. Hopes Ted and the Wizards FO feel the same way.

Any interest in trading for Carmelo? EG wouldn't talk about carmelo but "any time a great player becomes available you have to be interested."

Josh Howard question: Josh's rehab (ACL) is "coming along well" but might not be ready until middle of training camp or a month into season. EG said Wizards will not exercise the 11.5 mil option on Josh "so he will become a free agent" but "we'll talk to Josh and his agent" about possibly resigning.

Still discussing possible trade scenarios with other teams.

Final thoughts by EG:

"Where planning on building through the draft and building with youth. Putting a solid core together that can be competitive for many years. That's our goal" as expressed by the owner.

Adding guys like Booker/Seraphin who play with "toughness and real grit." To go with Blatche, McGee, Young, all of whom showed real improvement last year, especially Blatche.

[DCZards]

Question for EG about what "needs" still might be addressed through free agency and cap money: EG says the top need is another "perimeter player" and said someone might even emerge from the summer league team.

Question about Mike Miller: Wouldn't commit on Mike other than saying they would have some conversations with Mike and his agent at the "appropriate time."

Question about helping young players make the leap/transition (socially) from high school/college: EG says assistants Sam Cassell and Gene Banks have been good mentors, and the league has training in finances, etc., where they are lectured by current players.

Have Wizards done research into Yi's age? EG responds: His birth certificate says that he is 22 years old." Yi is a "good complement to some of the young point guards, will spread the floor, good in pick and roll."

Great Insider stuff Zard, thanks! Did anyone ask about a big-man coach?

Hayes and Scheyer are being brought-in to audition for the 3-point specialist position. Scheyer did not shoot a good overall % but his 3-point shooting was pretty-good so we would have some versatility with him being a back-up PG/3-Point shooter. Obviously MM won't be returning.

Conference call just wrapped up. Nothing on big man coach. I think you're right about MM not returning. EG didn't sound too enthusiastic about that. The words EG kept repeating were "building with a young core."

[NOODLESTYLE]

I guess it was only a matter of fate that Yi goes to Washington...

[closg00]

绵

[Ruzious]

I wasted time from my vacation reading the first 5 or 6 pages of this thread. People are complaining for the sake of complaining. This is a no risk move with potential benefits. This move fits exactly with Ted's philosophies and is exactly the kind of move the Wiz should have made. Whining about it shows a pre-existing agenda, boredom, stupidity, or more than 1 of the above.

[Benjammin]

^^^^^

Isn't what a message board/forum is for, egregious and gratuitous kvetching, not cogent, dispassionate and reasoned analysis?

[mhd]

Ruz, you are also a Bucks fan. Scouting report on Yi?

[closg00]

Ruz, you are also a Bucks fan. Scouting report on Yi?

None needed, Yi is a well-known at this point, he's a tissue-soft 7-footer who can shoot a little.

[montestewart]

I wasted time from my vacation reading the first 5 or 6 pages of this thread. People are complaining for the sake of complaining. This is a no risk move with potential benefits. This move fits exactly with Ted's philosophies and is exactly the kind of move the Wiz should have made. Whining about it shows a pre-existing agenda, boredom, stupidity, or more than 1 of the above.

But I didn't start complaining until like page 15!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Question for EG about what "needs" still might be addressed through free agency and cap money: EG says the top need is another "perimeter player" and said someone might even emerge from the summer league team.

Question about Mike Miller: Wouldn't commit on Mike other than saying they would have some conversations with Mike and his agent at the "appropriate time."

Question about helping young players make the leap/transition (socially) from high school/college: EG says assistants Sam Cassell and Gene Banks have been good mentors, and the league has training in finances, etc., where they are lectured by current players.

Have Wizards done research into Yi's age? EG responds: His birth certificate says that he is 22 years old." Yi is a "good complement to some of the young point guards, will spread the floor, good in pick and roll."

Yi is somewhere between 25 and 27 years old. Call him 26. Doesn't make any difference to me.

[montestewart]

^
Yi's age might matter if they were resigning him, but doesn't really matter right now. He must be younger than Ross.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Great Insider stuff Zard, thanks! Did anyone ask about a big-man coach?

Hayes and Scheyer are being brought-in to audition for the 3-point specialist position. Scheyer did not shoot a good overall % but his 3-point shooting was pretty-good so we would have some versatility with him being a back-up PG/3-Point shooter. Obviously MM won't be returning.

Conference call just wrapped up. Nothing on big man coach. I think you're right about MM not returning. EG didn't sound too enthusiastic about that. The words EG kept repeating were "building with a young core."

Two guys who could coach this group of bigs: Kermit Washington or Rasheed Wallace.

Washington (per Wiki) assisted Pete Newell at the Big Man camp for 15 years. His one season as an NBDL assistant that team won the D League title. Kermit's from DC. He'd be overjoyed to be embraced back into the NBA after "the punch".

Rasheed would be PERFECT for Yi and McGee. Blatche has figured things out. Wallace plays like a knucklehead but he's one of the smartest players at both ends. Too bad he hates Flip, because he'd make a great assistant coach. He started his career a Bullet/Wizard.

[Benjammin]

Question for EG about what "needs" still might be addressed through free agency and cap money: EG says the top need is another "perimeter player" and said someone might even emerge from the summer league team.

Question about Mike Miller: Wouldn't commit on Mike other than saying they would have some conversations with Mike and his agent at the "appropriate time."

Question about helping young players make the leap/transition (socially) from high school/college: EG says assistants Sam Cassell and Gene Banks have been good mentors, and the league has training in finances, etc., where they are lectured by current players.

Have Wizards done research into Yi's age? EG responds: His birth certificate says that he is 22 years old." Yi is a "good complement to some of the young point guards, will spread the floor, good in pick and roll."

The fact that EG mentioned the need for another perimeter player ( I see the 3 spot as the weakest on the team right now both starting and depthwise) may still keep Josh Childress in the mix although the second comment about someone perhaps emerging from the summer league team is the other possibility. (I assume Cartier Martin will be on the roster, not sure if he means someone else in addition).

[yungal07]

I wasted time from my vacation reading the first 5 or 6 pages of this thread. People are complaining for the sake of complaining. This is a no risk move with potential benefits. This move fits exactly with Ted's philosophies and is exactly the kind of move the Wiz should have made. Whining about it shows a pre-existing agenda, boredom, stupidity, or more than 1 of the above.

Thank you.

I would have never thought such a small trade like this would cause whine to be poured.

[Benjammin]

The off-season takes on an unnaturally large focus for the Wizards this year because many of us assume that the season itself will not be particularly successful, although it may be very interesting watching the young guys play.

I admit to being part of the ones nitpicking over a second round pick in the Yi deal, but hey it's cheap therapy, you must acknowledge.