2012 NBA Draft

[Ruzious]

Tony Wroten Jr the freshman Guard from Washington (state). We should seriously consider him if we have a top 10 pick. He might be the most talented freshman in the country.

Tony Wroten wouldn't be a bad second pick. He has Wall/Rose/Westbrook athleticism, and is taller than all 3. His stats this year are pretty good, 16.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.2APG, .503FG%, .286 3Pt%, .543FT%, 1.66Stl, 6.75FTA, 0Blk, 4.25 TO in 26.75min. He is the kind of guy you could take at 12-15 and hope to develop into a very tradeable commodity. I'd love to take him if we could get a high enough pick on a BOYD type deal, or if he drops low enough that we could buy his pick. I think Wroten probably should go in the mid to late teens, as he hasn't shown any ability to distribute the ball and may not exactly have a position, but the success of the Westbrook pick may push Wroten into the top 10.

With regards to trading the rights to Drummond if we win the 2nd pick, unless Drummond turns things around, I would be all for it. Drummond reminds me of a Kwame Brown or JaVale McGee. Whatever 'it' is, Drummond doesn't have it. My board for the Wizards probably looks like:

The to's and FT% for Wroten are just horrible. I'd think he'd be best served by staying in school.

As for the Drummond/Kwame comp, the differences are Drummond has great hands compared to terrible hands for Kwame, and Drummond is a much more effective shot-blocker - and he does it in a way that won't get him fouls. If Kwame had just those 2 traits, he could have been an all-star caliber NBA center.

[theboomking]

The to's and FT% for Wroten are just horrible. I'd think he'd be best served by staying in school.

As for the Drummond/Kwame comp, the differences are Drummond has great hands compared to terrible hands for Kwame, and Drummond is a much more effective shot-blocker - and he does it in a way that won't get him fouls. If Kwame had just those 2 traits, he could have been an all-star caliber NBA center.

Agreed about Wroten, but he is a boom or bust player a lot like Drummond. Again, you are talking about a PG that is taller and just as long as Wall, and probably just as athletically talented as anyone in the league.

Regarding Drummond, you are right about the hands and the shot blocking. Drummond however has played in 11 games and scored in single digits in 6 of the 11. Drummond only has double digit rebounds in 2/11 games. Drummond is a huge, supremely athletic specimen with both ideal length, and bulk. Here are some of his stat lines:

12 min 0 pts 4 reb
18 min 8pt 5reb
12 min 4pt 4 reb
22 min 9pt 5 reb
17min 1pt 1reb
25min 12pt 4reb
36min 4pt 7 reb

We are talking about a generational athlete. He should grab 10 points and 10 rebounds just off of physical superiority if he played with determination. Drummond was constantly mentioned as a once in a decade big man of the same caliber of The Admiral, Hakeem, Oden, Dwight, etc. In truth, Drummond has been more in line with a Derrick Favors that doesn't rebound as well. I worry that Drummond doesn't have what it takes between the ears and in the chest. This team can ill afford to wait 5 years for Drummond to develop.

[rockymac52]

Question for the board:

If we end up with the #3 pick and both Davis and Drummond are off the board, should we consider trading down? I'm just not that thrilled with Sullinger or Perry Jones, and I'm not sure if Harrison Barnes will be much of an upgrade over Singleton (assuming Singleton continues to hone his jumper). What if we could somehow acquire, say, the 6th pick and the 9th pick? We could come away with someone like Robinson or Henson PLUS Gilchrist.

Wow, that's tough. First thing though, I think our ratings of these players change dramatically over the course of this year. Sullinger, who, now has apparently a longer wingspan and an extra inch of height, might really make us believers this year, for instance. We might be salivating over the guy come draft time. But if things stay as they are, if we could get a #6 and #9 for the #3, I think we take it, because the draft is deep enough in the top 10 that there probably isn't that huge a dropoff.

Completely agree. Right now it looks like Davis and Drummond are in a tier above everyone else. Davis might even be in a tier above Drummond as well. But if the draft was today, I'd rank those two players 1 and 2 on the Wizards' draft board, and I think many, if not all, other NBA teams would have them 1 and 2 as well. So if we ended up #3 and missed out on those two, then I say trade for 2 other lotto picks, like the 6 and 9. From the 3rd best player in this draft to almost the 15th arguably, all of them have considerable upside and could end up as allstar caliber players, some more than others obviously, but they're all in a similar boat, and none of them appear to be "surefire" (or real close) allstar caliber players.

There's the guys like Perry Jones and Barnes that clearly have a lot of star potential, but haven't even been able to be that star at the college level at times. Barnes has shown some improvement in this regard, and to be fair, he plays on a stacked team filled with future NBA players, so it's understandable that he might not absolutely dominate and put up 20+ PPG. Jones has taken a while to develop, is a bit of a tweener, and has shown an astounding lack of a killer instinct, and is known for disappearing in games and taking a back seat while his teammates are forced to take the big shots and step up when they need it.

Remember, this draft is crucial for the Wizards. We need to come away with an allstar caliber player to play alongside Wall, and ideally this guy would be producing at that level by his 3rd year in the NBA at the latest. We can't afford to wait around much longer.

I'd much rather take something like Beal/Rivers and Robinson/Henson over just Sullinger or Jones. UNLESS by the end of the year we have reason to believe that Sullinger, Jones, or another player is much more likely to become a star in this league than the other options in the later lottery.

[mohammed10]

I think we'd have to jump all over Davis if he's available, but I'd be happy with anywhere in the top 5.

The way this team is playing, I don't think top 5 Lotto pick will be an issue...

[rockymac52]

Recall last year when it was widely reported that the T'Wolves were willing to deal the #2 pick for JaVale McGee and the #6 pick. We balked at that offer and I still firmly believe that was the right decision, given the lack of elite talent in last year's draft. However, let's say something similar happens again this year. We end up with the #6 pick in the draft, and a team with the #2 pick is willing to trade it to us for McGee and our pick.

So in theory it would end up being something like:

Drummond for McGee and Robinson

Do we bite? I suppose it all depends on how we view the player(s) we can get at #6 and the player(s) we can get at #2, as far as star potential (and McGee as well of course), but if Drummond is seen as a future allstar caliber player, and McGee is the same as he's been the past few years, and the guys in the picture for the #6 pick are seen as potentially solid starters, but not quite allstar caliber players, do we pull the trigger?

Hard to say without knowing how Drummond and these other players in the mix for the top 5 are ultimately valued and how good they're projected to be (and how soon), but I'd be strongly considering making this move. Especially considering we'd avoid handing McGee a huge contract when he's a RFA very soon.

[dobrojim]

You gotta like Gilchrist right now. He could be our ace in the hole
if nick leaves. That said, I've seen him in limited minutes but
he just seems like the complete package perhaps minus the kind
of range that Young has. On a rookie contract, he'll be a GREAT value.

[dangermouse]

deep and good draft full of players in positions of need for us...

only 66 games in the season...

couldnt have picked a better year to be the worst team in the league.

[Mr. Grundle]

You gotta like Gilchrist right now. He could be our ace in the hole
if nick leaves. That said, I've seen him in limited minutes but
he just seems like the complete package perhaps minus the kind
of range that Young has. On a rookie contract, he'll be a GREAT value.

Love this kid. He's the next Dwayne Wade. I'd take him #2 overall ahead of Drummond at this point.

[B-easy]

If there is a next wade it's got to be Wroten, he had another solid game yesterday. Turnovers are going down as well, the main problem is his FT%.

[hands11]

You gotta like Gilchrist right now. He could be our ace in the hole
if nick leaves. That said, I've seen him in limited minutes but
he just seems like the complete package perhaps minus the kind
of range that Young has. On a rookie contract, he'll be a GREAT value.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mic ... rist-5707/

Not impressed by the interview.

compare to

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bradley-Beal-5759/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Perry-Jones-5713/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jar ... nger-5029/

[dobrojim]

when how someone does in an interview changes a game
outcome, let me know.

edit to add - if interviews are important to you, what's wrong with this?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mic ... rist-5707/

[tontoz]

Recall last year when it was widely reported that the T'Wolves were willing to deal the #2 pick for JaVale McGee and the #6 pick. We balked at that offer and I still firmly believe that was the right decision, given the lack of elite talent in last year's draft. However, let's say something similar happens again this year. We end up with the #6 pick in the draft, and a team with the #2 pick is willing to trade it to us for McGee and our pick.

That trade isn't possible because McGee won't be under contract at that point. He is a free agent this summer and if he isn't traded by the Feb trade deadline then we can't trade him until the July free agency period.

[Ruzious]

The to's and FT% for Wroten are just horrible. I'd think he'd be best served by staying in school.

As for the Drummond/Kwame comp, the differences are Drummond has great hands compared to terrible hands for Kwame, and Drummond is a much more effective shot-blocker - and he does it in a way that won't get him fouls. If Kwame had just those 2 traits, he could have been an all-star caliber NBA center.

Agreed about Wroten, but he is a boom or bust player a lot like Drummond. Again, you are talking about a PG that is taller and just as long as Wall, and probably just as athletically talented as anyone in the league.

Regarding Drummond, you are right about the hands and the shot blocking. Drummond however has played in 11 games and scored in single digits in 6 of the 11. Drummond only has double digit rebounds in 2/11 games. Drummond is a huge, supremely athletic specimen with both ideal length, and bulk. Here are some of his stat lines:

12 min 0 pts 4 reb
18 min 8pt 5reb
12 min 4pt 4 reb
22 min 9pt 5 reb
17min 1pt 1reb
25min 12pt 4reb
36min 4pt 7 reb

We are talking about a generational athlete. He should grab 10 points and 10 rebounds just off of physical superiority if he played with determination. Drummond was constantly mentioned as a once in a decade big man of the same caliber of The Admiral, Hakeem, Oden, Dwight, etc. In truth, Drummond has been more in line with a Derrick Favors that doesn't rebound as well. I worry that Drummond doesn't have what it takes between the ears and in the chest. This team can ill afford to wait 5 years for Drummond to develop.

Boom, you're over-analyzing Drummond. The only reason you're downgrading him is because your expectations were too high. He has not played himself out of being at top 2 pick in this draft.

As far as Wroten, I haven't seen him play outside of a HS game, so I shouldn't comment, but wake me up when he has a halfway decent assist/to ratio.

[willbcocks]

Too early to be counting w/l for every tank in the league, but I'll do it anyway: our tank is strong now. Most of our rivals already have two wins. It's very hard to see us being any better than the 4th worst team in the league, and we are in a strong position for bottom 3.

[Ruzious]

NJ's playing like they want to give us a run for our money, and the CharBobs will be there, but I think we got the inside track on the bottom 1th of the NBA. Interesting - all 3 of those teams are probably best at PG than any other position.

[Jay81]

if we get the #1 pick..i would consider trading down to #3 or #4 and adding another lottery pick if possible

[mohammed10]

if we get the #1 pick..i would consider trading down to #3 or #4 and adding another lottery pick if possible

Woah - slow down there, pal. We all know the Wizards are waaaay too cursed to get another #1 overall.

[Ruzious]

One player I mentioned before but who we've really just glossed over is Meyers Leonard. Physically and skills-wise, the guys is a legit phenom - a hair OVER 7 feet, well built, athletic and nimble footed, good length, has a good touch around the basket, solid hands, and even has good offensive skills - and seems unselfish. And he's putting up good - if not great numbers - a bit over 13 and 8 with 2.4 blocks and 61% shooting. But he did next to nothing last season as a frosh, and there were immaturity issues - which he owned up to. When push comes to shove, is he mentally tough enough for the NBA? I think that's really the only question about him - and I'm not sure what the answer is or will be. But he most likely will be a lotto pick.

[theboomking]

One player I mentioned before but who we've really just glossed over is Meyers Leonard. Physically and skills-wise, the guys is a legit phenom - a hair OVER 7 feet, well built, athletic and nimble footed, good length, has a good touch around the basket, solid hands, and even has good offensive skills - and seems unselfish. And he's putting up good - if not great numbers - a bit over 13 and 8 with 2.4 blocks and 61% shooting. But he did next to nothing last season as a frosh, and there were immaturity issues - which he owned up to. When push comes to shove, is he mentally tough enough for the NBA? I think that's really the only question about him - and I'm not sure what the answer is or will be. But he most likely will be a lotto pick.

I also like Meyers Leonard, but if you are the Wizards, can you pick him? You would have to add a late lotto pick somehow. Lets say we trade back. At what draft slot would you choose Meyers?

Ruzious, I am sure you are right that Drummond won't fall out of the top two. What I am saying is that he isn't currently in my top two. Maybe faced with the actual decision, I'd still pick him at two, but it would sure make me nervous.

I am really loving Gilchrist. His stats aren't overwhelming, but he is has been extremely efficient, is a tough gritty player, an excellent defender, and has had his best performances in Kentucky's biggest games. I really think Gilchrist could be a borderline star on a championship team.

[Ruzious]

Yeah, I was a huge Gilchrist fan from day 1, but I still need to see him make a jump shot.