Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part V

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I just don't understand how they could justify keeping Vesely on this team another year.

[RT31]

Interesting that Otto's agent per DX is David Falk.

[fishercob]

Greetings from 35000 feet, few low wiznerds. I was at a conference in Vegas and watched the lotto unfold in a crowded sports book. Made quite the scene. I feel foolish for predicting that we'd move up to 2 for so long. What egg on my face!

There are a million options to consider at this point. Anyone who says they know what the Wiz should do hasn't done enough research. Way too many moving parts and scenarios.

But before I get into that -- Wooooooo! Hell yeah wiz fans. We needed and deserved that good fortune. The sad sack days are behind us.

So the best thing for us right now is for team to fall in love with Oladipo (which seems to be hAppening per chad does), mclemore, Burke (if he doesn't go second) Bennett, etc.

Can we figure out a way to cone of our this with one good player and a second upside guy.

For instance: what if mclemore goes 2 and New Orleans is dying to take Burke and fears Utah or someone will move up for him. Would they deal Ryno and 6 for Seraphin and 3. We could still take Len or porter.

Would Minnesota take Oladipo, nene and a future pick for love?

Would Milwaukee give 15 (gobert, Adams?), Ilyasova and a future first for mclemore?

I'll be pleased if porter is the pick. I see deng/prince in him -- with stretch 4 potential given his age and ability. For a year, sure we can keep porter, web an Ariza. Might be good for porter to learn from Rza on D.

I'd also be open to dealing Trevor for the right opportunity. Denver has long term money issues. Could we pry gallinari? Paul millsap s&t? Something with Boston to get their pick for taking on some of their longer deals?

We will have many choices to make. Not so confident in who is making them, but hoping the blind squirrel can stumble into a nut or two.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Sorry if this has been posted.

What about something like Vesely, Seraphin, our 3 picks to Utah for Kanter and picks 14 & 21 ?

[DCZards]

People shouldn't assume that Wall would be cool with a trade for Cousins just because they're friends and former Kentucky teammates. Nobody knows better than Wall that Cousins is a headcase and John might not be all that eager to have Cousins attitude in the Zards locker room.

[The Consiglieri]

I love that article on Otto though and his family. Sounds like Beal, sounds like a guy that can start for 10 years and consistently be a great robin. Problem is that we have 3 robin's, if he's a robin, and no Batman.

Consig, I have had the same thoughts about Beal's and Porter's family background. A lot of similarities when you look at the consistent guidance/support they've both received from parents, uncles and brothers.

I think the Zards do have a Batman--John Wall. I don't know why you would expect Bennett to be any more of a Batman than Wall could turn out to be.

Bennett may be a Batman. At worst, he should be a lethal scorer with some issues on the defensive end that may or may not be able to be coached up. I see no signs of a crummy attitude and he was perfectly fine in the interview. Felt to me like people were essentially looking for responses to dislike, to paste a rep on Bennett that doesn't exist. He didn't come off as remotely cocky, arrogant, foolish or immature. Just sounded like the 19 year old basketball player he's been.

Totally agree here. I don't know why some posters have felt the need to disparage Bennett's attitude, character or smarts...with little or no evidence to back up their claims.

I see Wall as more of a distributor, than a Batman type, he will be setting up the theoretical Batman, ideally a poor man's Chris Paul, while Bennett could be our Griffin (not comparing their games, or upside, just what Bennett would represent in talent level if everything went right, and little to nothing wrong). W/how Wall played down the stretch, before everyone went down with injury, now that could be a Batman, but i've only seen him play like that for about 25 games in his career, usually he's a great distributor w/a very weak shot, particularly from range, if that run was something he's building on, rather than an aberration, then yep, we've got our batman.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Oladipo is probably as good or better than Beal at SG.

An insane, brass balls move would be to draft Oladipo and trade Beal along with Seraphin and Vesely for Cousins and a pick.

I don't see any reason to believe that VO is going to be as good or better than Beal...at least at this point. Beal has already proven his NBA metal, imo, while Oladipo hasn't done squat at the next level. EG could end up looking like a fool if he traded one of last year's top rookies (and one of the best young shooters in the game) with the HOPE that Dipo is as good or better.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, ccj, but this sounds eerily similar to some of your "the Zards should dump Wall" talk. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Since you went there Kyrie Irving is younger and already an all star, DCZ. Trade Kyrie for Wall? Cleveland would not because they have years before they have to give up a max deal.

Since you went there, Cousins and a pick still is not an absurd offer for Wall.

You like to attack the messenger. That post had a preface and was made lightheartedly. No way Beal gets traded but I think in five years Oladipo could be (even) better than Beal.

What I do believe is Oladipo is going to exceed expectations and might become the best player in this draft bar none.

[montestewart]

My head was swirling with possibilities at #8. It's even more confused now. Picking at #3, I keep imagining worst case scenarios: Noel (injuries), Porter (not quite a valid third option, but lessens wiggle room/cap space to add bigs), Oladipo (can't play SF much, forces moving Beal for less than value), Bennett (no-D tweener), Len (came out too early and picked too high). Fears compounded by the person making the pick. Even trade down scenarios are troubling: stats and YODA aside, Zeller fits in perfectly with many of my prejudices against skilled white bigs, Hoosiers (Effries trauma), Duke (I know, but his brother went there; who said it was rational?). Olynyk, Muhammed, Gobert all smile and say, "What could possibly go wrong?"

I'll let you decide.

[Dark Faze]

I don't know if I even trade Porter for Kanter straight up.

I know we need a big, but I think we'll be able to use the cap space from Nene and Okafor eventually expiring to get one.

Kanters raw numbers look good, but he got worse defensively this year and his offensive and defensive ratings are poor.

I'd be surprised if Porter wasn't the better player in a few years.

[The Consiglieri]

Mike Wise:

"The truth: Grunfeld can’t take a chance on this June’s No. 3 pick not being a key contributor this upcoming season. He has one year remaining on his contract with the team. He can plan for the future all he wants, but that’s a fact. Don’t trade the pick to save your job, trade it for a fan base that hasn’t seen the playoffs in five years."

He is so stupid.

I also disagreed with his column today. He seems to be starting with the
premise that we won't make the playoffs next year unless we draft or
trade for a definite contributor. I just don't think that's true.

When the team was 2/3's healthy, Nene obviously was nursing a severe injury all year that nearly caused him to retire, the team played at a 45-48 win clip for an 82 game season. If this team is healthy next year, particularly in regards to Beal, Wall, Nene, Okariza etc, this team will win 45 minimum and grab the 5th or 6th seed. And I projected 28-36 wins last year when i thought the team was healthy, after Wall came back and played well, i revised the #'s in march to 27-30 wins. I really tend to aim relatively low in my expectations based on my readings of things, and honestly, a healthy wizards teams win floor for next year is probably 41 or 42 wins. Ceiling probably 50.

[NortheastWiz]

My dream draft is walking away with Otto Porter, Erik Murphy, and James Ennis . I wouldn't make any trades, and we would be prepared incase Webster finds a new home and hopefully it makes Ariza jump ship. I am still not 100% convinced that Ariza Is staying. A lot of playoff teams can use him.

[The Consiglieri]

Fwiw, I was just listening to ESPN 980 and Brian Mitchell dropped a few nuggets.

Apparently, he talked to someone (in the Wiz organization ?) who said that Len is a REAL possibility at #3.

Also, Cleveland is comfortable taking Len 1st overall.


Take it with a grain of salt but nothing would surprise me.

The comment about 8 and 3 might be a smoke screen, but if it isn't, Len makes the most sense to be the guy they're talking about. Very little evidence Porter or Bennett could have been there at 8. Still, i doubt it. If we get Len, we'll be trading down, he doesn't make sense that high, earliest off the board is probably 5 or 6.

[nate33]

Sorry if this has been posted.

What about something like Vesely, Seraphin, our 3 picks to Utah for Kanter and picks 14 & 21 ?

Kanter is going to cost more than that. At best, we trade the #3 and one of Ernie's Kids straight up for Kanter. You can forget about getting any picks back.

[pancakes3]

Would Ariza leave 3 million dollars on the table just to chase a ring that he already has?

[stevemcqueen1]

Len would be awful at 3. That's the one outcome I absolutely do not want to see.

[stevemcqueen1]

Oladipo is probably as good or better than Beal at SG.

An insane, brass balls move would be to draft Oladipo and trade Beal along with Seraphin and Vesely for Cousins and a pick.

I don't see any reason to believe that VO is going to be as good or better than Beal...at least at this point. Beal has already proven his NBA metal, imo, while Oladipo hasn't done squat at the next level. EG could end up looking like a fool if he traded one of last year's top rookies (and one of the best young shooters in the game) with the HOPE that Dipo is as good or better.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, ccj, but this sounds eerily similar to some of your "the Zards should dump Wall" talk. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Since you went there Kyrie Irving is younger and already an all star, DCZ. Trade Kyrie for Wall? Cleveland would not because they have years before they have to give up a max deal.

Since you went there, Cousins and a pick still is not an absurd offer for Wall.

You like to attack the messenger. That post had a preface and was made lightheartedly. No way Beal gets traded but I think in five years Oladipo could be (even) better than Beal.

What I do believe is Oladipo is going to exceed expectations and might become the best player in this draft bar none.

Dipo couldn't have gone 3rd in last year's draft. Beal is better than him and probably always will be. Beal looks like the best SG in the NBA under 23 and a multiple All Star appearance guy.

But that doesn't mean Dipo won't be the best player out of this class.

This class is far weaker than last year's.

[sfam]

Fwiw, I was just listening to ESPN 980 and Brian Mitchell dropped a few nuggets.

Apparently, he talked to someone (in the Wiz organization ?) who said that Len is a REAL possibility at #3.

Also, Cleveland is comfortable taking Len 1st overall.


Take it with a grain of salt but nothing would surprise me.

The comment about 8 and 3 might be a smoke screen, but if it isn't, Len makes the most sense to be the guy they're talking about. Very little evidence Porter or Bennett could have been there at 8. Still, i doubt it. If we get Len, we'll be trading down, he doesn't make sense that high, earliest off the board is probably 5 or 6.

He could also have been referring to Bennett, as some mocks had hi slipping to us. But I think EG was just running his mouth to make noise. Why believe anything he says at this point. Then again, he told everyone about Ves so go figure.

[No-Man]

Cavaliers can say whatever they want, Noel is a lock to go nº1.

You just dont trade the 1st pick, nobody would, and you just dont pick guys like Porter 1st, it would embarassing long term.

I don't get the Oladipo love either, sure, I'd love to have a guy like him in my team, for like 6-7m$/year, like I'd like to have Tony Allen.

Beal is another story, he can be really good, a difference maker in both sides.

Kanter is unreachable, Kanter would go 1 this year without the slightless doubt, he's a monster.

[BruceO]

i remember during the vesely draft i was sooo annoyed when someone asked leonsis about the possibility of drafting kanter and his attitude was that of have you seen him play? like he was a total unknown and wouldn't translate. I mean why be so uncertain and you have so much at your disposable, proffesional scouts, resources etc. Its moot because the jazz drafted him and i knew they would because their gm and gone to watch him practice and destroy their bigs in the team. That should have been enough..that..the hoop summit and professional scouts looking at him, talking to him

[AFM]

Imagine Porter Nights at the Verizon Center. Everytime Porter hits a 3, every adult (and hey children too why not) gets a free porter on tap.