If you took over as GM today, what would you do?

[nate33]

1. Start blogging about how smart I am and how accessible I am to the fans.

2. Upgrade the cupholders in the bathrooms.

3. Change the team colors so that they coordinate with the trademarks of my other businesses.

4. Work with the other owners and the league to engineer another lockout and grab more revenue from the players.

5. Use whatever cap space there is on solid veterans who actually can't play very well.

6. If an emerging young star becomes available, turn down the trade because we're capped out.

7. Institute "He a Bust" night, where all the great Wizards draft busts past and present can be honored with banners in the rafters of Verizon Center. A lucky fan would win a life sized Jarvis Hayes bobble head.

This is gold!

[GhostsOfGil]

7. Institute "He a Bust" night, where all the great Wizards draft busts past and present can be honored with banners in the rafters of Verizon Center. A lucky fan would win a life sized Jarvis Hayes bobble head.

"A life size arvis hayes bobble head" hahah!

[BigA]

"A life size arvis hayes bobble head" hahah!

That's actually based on a real incident. One night someone won the dance-off and they gave them a large Jarvis Hayes figure. Not life size or a bobble head, but it was at least 3 feet tall. The expression on the face of the recipient (unfortunately NOT water sprinkler guy) was priceless: "WTF??!!"

At least I'm pretty sure Jarvis was still a Wizard at that point. Prize packages for people who won the dance-off would often include memorabilia for guys who were no longer with the team.

[Nivek]

My plan is for sale -- $500k per year for 5 years.

[cwb3]

1. Move franchise to Richmond VA.
2. Apply for membership in the NBDL.

[TGW]

^^^I have no problem with Jarvis Hayes. He made a half-court shot that won me a pair of plane tickets anywhere in the country.

[Halcyon]

My plan is for sale -- $500k per year for 5 years.

Ted, hire this guy!!

[dobrojim]

My plan is for sale -- $500k per year for 5 years.

Ted, hire this guy!!

what Halcyon said!

think about it Ted. You're paying EG what? $5M? Save yourself 4.5M/yr. Is it realistic
that he could do any worse? I sincerely doubt it.

[closg00]

One thing that is Absolutely clear is that guys on this board can make better decisions and draft picks then the Wiz FO.

[Silvie Lysandra]

The team is in shambles.

* Vesely is now a confirmed bust with a capital B. He has no value in this league and will never be a guy that can't be easily replaced.
* Wall has been moderately disappointing for a #1 pick and may be damaged goods.
* Nene won't get healthy unless he gets rest.
* Okafor is an albatross contract.
* Ariza is only slightly better than Okafor on a production/cost basis and probably has negative value.
* Booker looks like he regressed in the offseason (though that may be injury-related). He can't stay healthy.
* Seraphin has regressed and plays soft.
* Singleton is improved from last year but still is not a rotation-caliber player.
* It's too early to tell about Beal, but let's just say he's not setting the world on fire as a rookie.
* Crawford looks like the only guy who has more value now than he did a year ago, and he still isn't that good.

Ted just hired you and has given you unlimited control, with the one caveat that he will not pay a luxury tax unless the team is contending. What is your plan?

I fire Wittman, and bring in someone who can fix K-Sera.

Firstly, I'd package Wall and Nene for whatever I can get the minute both can pass a physical at the same time. Let's just declare the Wall experiment over, if he blows up with another team, so be it. As it stands, even healthy, he has big holes in his game that will prevent him from being a superstar, unless fixed, and we absolutely cannot pay superstar money (which he will command) to a non-superstar (which he is likely to be). Let that be someone else's decision to make.

I'd go for this trade:

Wall, Booker and Nene for Ben Gordon and DeSagana Diop and a top 3 lottery protected pick, to become a unprotected pick in 2014 if the Bobcats get top 3 in 2013.

We give up Wall for a fairly cheap cost, but Wall will be better than anyone who goes outside the top 4 if healthy, and we get rid of Nene's contract.
I ride out Okariza, no real choice at this point.
I trade Jordan Crawford, Chris Singleton and Jan Vesely for Drew Gooden and Larry Sanders. I try to add sweetener like our 2nd rounder this year or a future first. Sanders is probably the best player in the deal but they shave a year off Gooden's contract while not taking back any large contracts in return.

I fire everyone, coach, medical staff, scouting team, everyone. I promote Don Newman to interim head coach, implement statistical tracking and analysis with a well-funded scouting department, and spend money to put in a competent, cutting-edge medical team. We ride the season out with:

Sanders/Okafor
Seraphin/Gooden
Ariza/Webster
Beal/Martin
Livingston/Price

We'll lose a lot of games, and hopefully get two top 10 picks. Assuming the Cats and Bucks accept lol. But we'll have regained financial flexibility and be in position to add some solid young talent. This is a team that Polythress or Shabazz would look good on, though Noel could be the most impactful player on the board and I wouldn't hesistate to take him if he was the BPA. We'll attempt to build around our big-man rotation and Beal, and in 2-3 years, hope to contend.

[payitforward]

Well... most sensible possibilities have been posted, so I suppose this'll be repetitive -- I'll be quick in those areas:

1. Tell the owner that he and his previous GM have mostly done nothing but make mistakes. We're starting over, and within financial constraints *I* not he will make the personnel decisions.

2. Replace the clowns and dunderheads who people our FO, top to bottom, w/ the best we can get out of the SA and OKC organizations (preferably). Med staff too -- don't let the door hit your butt on the way out.

3. Every player on the team, w/ the possible exception of Beal, would be on the trading block. The idea of acquiring Love for any player or combo of players is great, of course. But... not likely.

4. Trade no picks (unless somehow getting better ones back). We're starting over.

5. Always trade multiple players for fewer players. I.e. no trades of 1 for 2 and not even any of 1 for 1. Unless we send out a long-term salary for an expiring one.

6. Trade any long-term salary for a significantly shorter one. Try to do well, of course, but it doesn't much matter as long as we are able to clear salary obligations.

7. Fill in if/as necessary for this season from the D League or... off the street? Who cares.

8. Say out loud and publically that we are going to be terrible for a while. What we did didn't work (again) and we don't have a path that goes straight from here to "better." The good news is that we can't really get much worse than we are.

We don't have a single player (again, possibly other than Beal) who combines good, or potential of good, play with a good contract or a good contract *situation*. Not one.

I'd be happy to trade Wall and/or Nene for some combination of youth, underratedness, picks, and/or good contracts/cap room.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I also agree with previous suggestion to acquire a dedicated Dleague team. I've long advocated for this, and putting the team in Baltimore... The Baltimore Bullets of course! The idea being to cater to the large BBall fan base in B'more, and to have a team close enough to facilitate adding practice players when needed, and sending players there where they can be monitored for rehabs and playing time with our own coaches, etc.

[verbal8]

3. Every player on the team, w/ the possible exception of Beal, would be on the trading block. The idea of acquiring Love for any player or combo of players is great, of course. But... not likely.

Yeah I think Love would be my first target. I would do any deal that could put together Wall, Beal and Love. Maybe a 3 way with the Lakers sending Gasol to the Twolves and the Wizards sending Nene to the Lakers, probably some other incentives(like Seraphin, Webster and possibly Crawford) throw-in their. I know Nene isn't as good as the other guys in the deal, but the Wolves and Lakers are a little bit in a position of weakness.

[Earth2Ted]

I'd try to get two guys - Demarcus Cousins and Derrick Williams.

I would also target Cousins- he's just about as good as we can hope to trade for given the assets we have to work with.

Pair him with Wall, give them until their contracts run out in 2014 to see if they can build something, and if not, start over.

Kevin Love would be great, but there is just no way we are ever getting him.

[dangermouse]

I watched the Kings game today, apparently something happened off the floor and the coach didnt bring him back in for the rest of the game. If he was even on the bench. Anyone got details about that? I cbf waiting for the post-game so i switched to the Boston/Bucks game.

They actually did alright without him. I'm beginning to think he could actually be a legit target for us.

[penbeast0]

I certainly agree with getting a D-League team; put it in a town big enough to support it and small enough that it's a big deal . . . like minor league baseball . . . not sure Baltimore is that town with the Orioles and Ravens but Richmond certainly should be a consideration.

Not a fan of going after Cousins. He's a rebounder which is great, but he's also a poor efficiency shooter who thinks he's a star, not a good defender from what I've seen, and a headcase besides. I don't see him being worth what we'd have to give up. It's not like he's going to be available for Vesely and Okafor even if we take a contract like John Salmons with it (if so, okay, then I take the shot). But I'm not giving up a high lottery pick, Wall, or Beal for him.

[bawizards]

step 1) Make sure Ted markets in the baltimore area. I live 45 minutes north east from baltimore and you dont see anything Wizards related despite my area getting every Wizards game on TV. Ted has the luxury of having two big cities for the Wizards yet he neglects one. When you combine DC and Baltimore you have one of the biggest markets in the NBA. Also the DC metro area is the richest in the nation. Ted has no excuse for not being able to bring in enough revenue so the team can spend on free agents and they should be able to afford paying luxury tax. I see a lot of captials stuff in my area but nothing Wizards related.

step 2) Immediately get rid of this medical staff and get one that knows what they are doing. Hire someone from the Suns or anything IDC the medical staff needs to improve.

step 3)Blow up the coaching staff. Get a new HC along w/ a shooting coach, bigman coach etc. Seeing our young guys not improve shooting and big men regress is just painful to watch.

step 4) After doing steps 1-3 players this will show to the NBA that we care about winning. The big name stars will see that there is a lot of endorsment potential judging the size of the media market, the population and how rich this market is. This should put us in a position to potentially trade Okariza and pieces like Seraphin for an established bigman to go w/ Wall/Beal/and hopefully Shabazz

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Most of this has been said.
1. Get a new medical staff and model it as closely to that of the Phoenix Suns staff as possible.
2 Sack the coaching staff.
3. Invest in analytics.
4. I would probably keep Newman as the interim head coach because at the end of the season I would hire Dave Joerger as the head coach.

5. I would do a few roster moves.

--I totally agree with Chaos, trade John Wall ASAP. He and Nene are walking wounded. Get what you can while you can. I like Wall to Charlotte along with Trevor Ariza in exchange for Ben Gordon, Kemba Walker, and the Bobcats lottery pick, top 3 protected.

--I would waive Shaun Livingston
--I would trade Trevor Booker any first round pick I could get or even two second rounders. Another injured player.
--I would trade Crawford in any deal that would send Ariza or Okafor to any takers.

6. If none of the deals above happen, I would radically change the playing rotation. Martin and Webster are one-year, journeyman players. They are better than the young players (Beal, Singleton, and Vesely) but I would not start them. Okafor is overpaid and a terrible offensive player. He's not the future. The single biggest problem I have with this roster as constructed is it takes time from guys who need time on the court.

I would start Crawford, Beal, Singleton, Vesely, Seraphin.

The Wizards would still be no worse than 3-20 over the next 23 games with young guys putting up numbers. Nene is always hurting and a guy they want to manage minutes, so I would allow him to cruise. I know he can play but what does it matter at this point?

7. I would bring back Mack for Livingston.

8. After tanking with the young guys and making sure they got minutes, and after trading Wall for hopefully a top 5-10 pick; I would look forward to starting next season off like Houston started this season. Get as many picks as you can, blowing this team up. Trade Wall, Nene, Okafor, and Ariza by any means necessary.

9. Last, after naming Joerger the head coach, I would hire Troy Weaver to be the new GM. My work as hatchet man would be done, but I would LOVE to be involved in scouting.

10. Draft picks who are on my mind, no particular order preference: C. J. McCullom, Alex Poythress, LeBryan Nash, Tony Mitchell, Michael Carter-Williams, Erick Green, Alex Len, Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, Mason Plumlee, Jamaal Franklin, Otto Porter, Greg Echenique, Jeff Withey, Doug McDermott,Trey Burke, Isaiah Canaan, Michael Snaer …

Washington is so short of talent, most college and international players look good!

Summary: Sack the medical staff, the coaching staff, invest in analytics, trade some players, accumulate picks, HIRE DAVE JOERGER AND TROY WEAVER, and let me have my dream job in scouting (and providing behind the scenes advice as needed).

The biggest thing would be trading Wall for a lottery pick. That second pick in this draft can be foundational if it is Alex Len. I totally agree with Pancakes, that Noel is going to be the impact defender but I think Len will be as good as Pau Gasol was at his best. As a #2 guy who can score from the perimeter he can really help a team win in the future if he's got a beast next to him at PF--and Washington might.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'd try to get two guys - Demarcus Cousins and Derrick Williams.

I would also target Cousins- he's just about as good as we can hope to trade for given the assets we have to work with.

Pair him with Wall, give them until their contracts run out in 2014 to see if they can build something, and if not, start over.

Kevin Love would be great, but there is just no way we are ever getting him.

I think I would try to send Wall to Sacramento first. I would send them Wall and get back Jimmer and their lottery pick, unprotected just to start over. That would pretty much guarantee the selection of two of Noel, Muhammed, Cody Zeller, and Len.

Instead of taking on Boogie Cousins right now with Wall's future in doubt and Demarcus mindset also a concern, I would reboot. Blow the Wizards up and get multiple assets like Houston.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I'd try to get two guys - Demarcus Cousins and Derrick Williams.

I would also target Cousins- he's just about as good as we can hope to trade for given the assets we have to work with.

Pair him with Wall, give them until their contracts run out in 2014 to see if they can build something, and if not, start over.

Kevin Love would be great, but there is just no way we are ever getting him.

I think I would try to send Wall to Sacramento first. I would send them Wall and get back Jimmer and their lottery pick, unprotected just to start over. That would pretty much guarantee the selection of two of Noel, Muhammed, Cody Zeller, and Len.

Instead of taking on Boogie Cousins right now with Wall's future in doubt and Demarcus mindset also a concern, I would reboot. Blow the Wizards up and get multiple assets like Houston.

No way in the world would we trade Wall , that's backwards thinking. Wall is one of the only players on the team with all-star potential. And probably the only with superstar potential. I don't get why so many Wizards fans bash Wall, dude plays hard every game. He is a triple double threat and has all the tools to be an all-star.