Official 2023 Wizards OFFSEASON Thread

[payitforward]

...a 3-way trade with Boston getting Beal, NYK getting brown, and us getting assets is the best fit

What are the absolute minimum "assets" from the Knicks that would work in your view?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Btw, if any of the rest of you would like to weigh in with praise for how terrific I am -- no problem!

Feel free. Now's the time!

I think you’re terrific.

I like people who have their own minds, and who push. And I also like when, along the way, I learn a lot of other things, having nothing to do with hoop.

So, yeah: I appreciate you. Don’t stop posting. Don’t hold back. (Though if you could ease up juuuust a bit on telling us that whether a player was a good pick has nothing to do with whether the pick was used well [though I will say — that distinction never occurred to me, and has influenced my thinking!])

Seconded.

Payitforward, you are terrific!

[AFM]

Okay guys, I think that's enough.

[badinage]

And now back to our regularly-scheduled pissing match …

[payitforward]

There's a difference between on the one hand thinking you're right in what you're saying & on the other hand over-estimating what you really know.

Anyone choosing between me & e.g. nate as Wizards GM, or between me & Dat, would be nuts to choose me.

Not just those two either, btw....

[The Consiglieri]

PIF big ups to you. Whenever a poster calls you out for your condescending tone (which I’ve done on occasion) you don’t take offense…but instead you take it seriously and, typically, respond with an apology and a pledge to do better. I like that about you.

Most of us have been guilty at times of addressing other posters in a language and tone that comes across as condescending or a little mean-spirited.

As dckings points out, unlike what we say to someone in person, the stuff we write doesn’t have the benefit of displaying the “true” tone or intent of a remark. And, of course, there's no facial expression, body language, etc. to take into account.

That’s the main reason, imo, that misunderstandings occur…and why we should be particularly careful about what we say in writing and, most importantly, how we say it.

No doubt, I've run into problems at extremeskins, forgetting that unlike CPND, w/extremeskins, I wasn't on the board for decades, so people hadn't gotten used to the mix of my online written temperament versus my actual three dimensional life version (shy, introverted, but good humored, and extremely conflict averse, super high in the agreeability trait), so some, who hadn't eventually come to realize I actually do take my opinions seriously, but not too seriously, and I'm not as much of an axe wielding argumentative --- as I may come across, have been very annoyed at my takes and assumed, probably because they were poorly written, that I was 100% convinced of something being right or true, rather than something being likely, and based on evidence based evidence.

The written word complicates all of this, and as you guys have mentioned (and its a big deal with us introverts), while being social can be exhausting, oh man do we ever prefer communicating where we can read affect, tone, and the rest. Not having those cues is a nightmare for those of us who are introverts, even if the solitude of the keyboard is less exhausting.

[Kanyewest]

I asked Chat GPT what the Wizards what the Wizards should do. Can't wait to see how the Chat GPT develops players like Rui. Chat GPT may have already created cap space somehow.

As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions or preferences, but based on the data available, I can provide some recommendations for the Washington Wizards this offseason.

Address the Center Position: The Wizards struggled defensively last season, and improving their frontcourt defense should be a priority. The team could look to acquire a skilled center who can provide rim protection and rebounding.

Develop Young Players: The Wizards have some promising young players on their roster, such as Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija. The team should focus on developing these players and giving them more playing time to help them grow and improve.

Improve the Bench: The Wizards could benefit from adding depth to their bench. This could be achieved by signing experienced role players who can contribute off the bench, or by developing the team's younger players.

Evaluate Coaching Staff: The Wizards had a disappointing season, and the coaching staff will need to be evaluated to determine if any changes need to be made. The team could look for a new head coach or assistants to provide fresh perspectives and help the team improve.

Be Strategic with Free Agency: The Wizards will have some cap space to work with in free agency, and they should use it wisely. The team should target players who can help address their needs while also being mindful of their long-term salary cap situation.

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[Rafael122]

Utah is going to be used as a dumping ground for teams w/bad contracts and Ainge is just going to collect first round draft picks in return.

[payitforward]

Utah is going to be used as a dumping ground for teams w/bad contracts and Ainge is just going to collect first round draft picks in return.

It's kind of amazing what Danny Ainge has done in, seemingly, no time at all.

He's got 5 guys w/ guaranteed salaries for about $44.6m.
(Sexton, Markkanen, Fontecchio, Kessler & Ogbaji)

Rudy Gay & Damion Jones have player options they're almost certain to pick up for a total of just over $9m.

Talen Horton-Tucker & Jordan Clarkson also have player options for @$11m & $14.25m respectively. TH-T, who isn't a very good player IMO, would be nuts not to pick up his option. I'm guessing Clarkson will pick up his as well.

Kris Dunn, Luka Samanic & former Wizard Vernon Carey Jr. have non-guaranteed contracts for '23-4. Ainge seems sure to pick up Dunn's for $2.5m, given how well he played -- in 26 minutes a game no less! How's that for a bargain pick up? I don't know about the other two.

Kelly Olynyk also in non-guaranteed -- at $12.2m. He's not worth anything like that, given the level of his play at this point in his career. But, he ate up almost 2000 minutes, & money being no issue at all for Utah, no surprise if he's be back.

If it goes anything like the above, then (including Olynyk) Ainge will bring back 11 guys for a total of $93.5m. He's got a lottery pick (pre-ping-pong balls he picks right after us) & the #26 pick from Philly. Those two picks would leave him at @ $101m for 13 guys.

I don't know what they're paying Danny Ainge in Utah, but he definitely earned it!

[FAH1223]

Utah is going to be used as a dumping ground for teams w/bad contracts and Ainge is just going to collect first round draft picks in return.

It's kind of amazing what Danny Ainge has done in, seemingly, no time at all.

He's got 5 guys w/ guaranteed salaries for about $44.6m.
(Sexton, Markkanen, Fontecchio, Kessler & Ogbaji)

Rudy Gay & Damion Jones have player options they're almost certain to pick up for a total of just over $9m.

Talen Horton-Tucker & Jordan Clarkson also have player options for @$11m & $14.25m respectively. TH-T, who isn't a very good player IMO, would be nuts not to pick up his option. I'm guessing Clarkson will pick up his as well.

Kris Dunn, Luka Samanic & former Wizard Vernon Carey Jr. have non-guaranteed contracts for '23-4. Ainge seems sure to pick up Dunn's for $2.5m, given how well he played -- in 26 minutes a game no less! How's that for a bargain pick up? I don't know about the other two.

Kelly Olynyk also in non-guaranteed -- at $12.2m. He's not worth anything like that, given the level of his play at this point in his career. But, he ate up almost 2000 minutes, & money being no issue at all for Utah, no surprise if he's be back.

If it goes anything like the above, then (including Olynyk) Ainge will bring back 11 guys for a total of $93.5m. He's got a lottery pick (pre-ping-pong balls he picks right after us) & the #26 pick from Philly. Those two picks would leave him at @ $101m for 13 guys.

I don't know what they're paying Danny Ainge in Utah, but he definitely earned it!

Don't forget Justin Zanik who just re-signed with the Jazz to continue being their GM under Ainge who's the CEO.

Watch on YouTube

[9 and 20]

Unlike the Wiz with Beal, Utah traded Mitchell at the right time. And, it's usually better to be a year too early than a year too late with stuff like this.

[80sballboy]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[Frichuela]

Read on Twitter

Man…this Wes guy…

[payitforward]

Uh oh..
At the same time, that's what you expect him to say -- even if their goal is to trade him.

Only... who's goal? We don't have a GM !!

[NatP4]

Sounds like the opinion of a good portion of this board.

Huge mistake to bring him back.

[queridiculo]

If I'm in the incoming GM, I'd have a hard look at the Celtics situation and try to do whatever I can to swap Beal for Jaylen Brown.

[Rafael122]

If I'm in the incoming GM, I'd have a hard look at the Celtics situation and try to do whatever I can to swap Beal for Jaylen Brown.

Wiz get: Gallo, Simons, #3
Blazers get: Brown
Celtics get: Beal

Gallo declines his player option. Wiz draft Scoot at 3, then go BPA at 8. I'd probably try and flip Morris for some seconds or something.

PG - Wright/Scoot
SG - Simons/Davis
SF - Deni/Kispert
PF - Porzingis/Whitmore
C - Gafford

I mean this team is top 4 pick bad but they get out from Beal's contract, get two lottery picks in a great draft and start the process there.

I'd strip it down even further by signing and trading Kuz and KP and get back whatever I can.

[payitforward]

If I'm in the incoming GM, I'd have a hard look at the Celtics situation and try to do whatever I can to swap Beal for Jaylen Brown.

I can't say I'd be excited to acquire Jaylen Brown. He's a "good not great" mid-career player who's going to wind up making too much $$.

What this team needs to do is rebuild. From scratch.
Which means that any trade, whether we're trading Beal or anyone else, should be structured so that as much as possible of the return is in the form of future-facing assets -- draft picks & very young players.

In any case, there is no trade available which will improve us immediately! No trade that will turn us into a better team right now.

By & large, trades don't make you better immediately -- except in the sense of balancing your roster.
Searching through decades of transactions to find a few exceptions is beside the point.

We all think the trade for Porzingis was excellent. We gave nothing we wanted to keep -- rather the opposite.
Yet, we were a 35-win team without him, & we've been a 35-win team with him. I.e. he didn't make us better.

Of course a trade that includes future assets can improve your future!
Depending on how those future assets work out, that is.... E.g. in the Porzingis trade, we also received a future R2 pick. Who knows? Maybe it will bring us the next Nikola Jokic.

In the meantime, we need to trade Brad for as many future-oriented assets as we can get! To help this team rebuild.