Long Term Plan? (merged threads)

[pancakes3]

last season, i would have totally agreed with McGee. the kid was just another juan dixon in the making - putting up big numbers on a ton of shots, made some noise in the tourney and was generally overhyped. however this season, he's inexplicably became a great setup man, putting up 6+ assists per game while still being the man and scoring almost 30 a game and grabbing 5 boards too. Those are great numbers no matter what conference you play in especially for a player as small as curry. the 20's are way too low for him to be drafted and if somebody picks him up there will be making a steal much like the pistons did with stuckey. I think where he's projected now in the late lottery is still underestimating his talent. i have a feeling that after march madness the hype machine will start up again and you'll see him being projected 5-10 in most mocks.

[nate33]

He doesn't have true point guard skills and he doesn't have the athletic ability of combo guards to make up for it.

There are two kinds of point guards in this league: those that are born to be PG's like Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Steve Blake; and those that learn to be a PG and can run an offense - even if they don't have the god-given instincts. Guys like Chauncey Billups, Antonio Daniels, Rajon Rondo and Devin Harris fit this mold.

I agree that Curry isn't a "born PG" with that innate court vision and instinctive ability to see a play before it develops. But he can develop into a Chauncey Billups style of PG. (So can Arenas, for that matter.)

[LyricalRico]

^ One interesting thing I see in common with the non-traditional PGs nate listed is that they are all good defenders. AD moreso in his prime but you get my point. I think there's a difference between a guy who not born a PG and learns as he goes and a guy who's a score-first PG, which is what Arenas is and what I would expect Curry to be.

I'm sorry but Stephen Curry will never be Chauncey Billups. I don't think he can be Devin Harris either because he doesn't have the ability to get to the rim at will. Curry is a shooter and I don't think that bodes well for him to carve out a niche at PG. He's basically a more reliable Juan Dixon IMO. Good enough to make it in the NBA and even be worth a mid first round pick for a team desperate for bench scoring. But if you're longterm plan hinges on drafting Stephen Curry, you need to change your plan IMO.

[Rafael122]

If Grunfeld picks Curry with our lottery pick, he shouldn't be GM. Curry is not a lottery pick and he would be exposed quickly. Hell, he's already been exposed for being too one-dimensional in college. Imagine when he has to face quicker and more athletic players in the pros? He can't defend those guys.

Here is Chad Ford's list of potential deals for Amare: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... rio-090207

You've got to be kidding me with these. If Kerr accepts any of these, he should be out of a job. With our top pick alone, we'd top any of those offers. I mean really, you add Jamison + the top pick and maybe a guy like Stevenson in the trade, and that would be the best offer on the table. I can't believe these are the best proposals Ford could come up with.

[MJG]

If Grunfeld picks Curry with our lottery pick, he shouldn't be GM. Curry is not a lottery pick and he would be exposed quickly. Hell, he's already been exposed for being too one-dimensional in college. Imagine when he has to face quicker and more athletic players in the pros? He can't defend those guys.

Here is Chad Ford's list of potential deals for Amare: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... rio-090207

You've got to be kidding me with these. If Kerr accepts any of these, he should be out of a job. With our top pick alone, we'd top any of those offers. I mean really, you add Jamison + the top pick and maybe a guy like Stevenson in the trade, and that would be the best offer on the table. I can't believe these are the best proposals Ford could come up with.

The problem is that they are trying to cut salary immediately, which we really cannot help them with, as we have no expiring contracts. If money weren't an object we could best most of those deals, but it is, so we're out of the loop.

[Rafael122]

Shaq and Richardson will make combined $34 million next season. These guys are not going to get traded.

Nash is due for an extension and he's 35 years old.

Barbosa will make $21 million over the next 3 seasons.

And the guys they trade for, the young bucks, like a Jeff Green who's gonna sign an extension in 2 years?

It doesn't make sense. They want to cut salary but the process will repeat itself in 2-3 years when they have to give some of these guys huge raises.

There's another option of trading Etan + Mike James + Caron Butler + 1st round pick for Amare + Dragic + Robin Lopez.

Butler comes off the books in 2 years, at that point, they could choose to let him go or trade him. James and Etan come off the books next season, at the same time Shaq's deal expires which would mean roughly $47 million off the books, with another $10 million off the books the season after that. Then there is our draft pick which will most likely be a top five pick.

A hell of a lot better than these trades proposed by Ford. Underachieving talent, role players for one of the better power forwards in the game.

[hands11]

I think Abe was willing to pay the luxtax in 2009 the day he agreed to resign Arenas. If the plan was to avoid the luxtax at all costs, EG wouldn't have traded the Memphis pick for Crittenton (while adding his $1.4M in salary in the process). Instead, he would have held on to the pick and packaged it with cash as a means to dump James or Etan.

I could see EG trading down from a pick in the 2-4 range to something a little lower if he dumps a lot of salary in the process. But there's no way he trades the #1 overall pick if the Wizards end up with it.

Yes, EG reported the Abe said it was ok to go into the tax if they needed to. Has the fact they we totally suck and the economy change that ? I don't know. He can't very well take the moneny with him when he goes. So who knows.

All I know is, all lot of people seem to be panicking. We can get out of this. It's not the best situation but it could suck a lot worst then it does. Everyone if just restless waiting to see what EG does so the topics are going round and round.

Just except it is going to be a long Feb.

For now, I'm just going to hope Crit keeps it up and hopefully continues to start. He is our best immediate hope for helping the other young players develop because if we can get a PG playing PG, they will help a ton.

[lupin]

If the Wiz got Amare before the end of this season, I think there would be a pretty good chance that the Wiz would at least double their win total (20+). That will decrease the likelihood of them getting a Top 5 pick.

I suppose if you give up a good talent from this current squad, like Butler, then maybe it would be a neutral trade when it comes to wins, but I don't know....

[Rafael122]

Yeah, that's another thing. The pick looks good NOW, but if we won 15 more games, that pick goes from top 3, to like 6-10 which softens the blow a bit.

[hands11]

Here's a nice scenario. Let's say we the #2 pick and Sacramento is #5. We could swap picks while swapping a bad contract for Salmons. Something like Stevenson + #2 for Salmons + #5 would be nice. Then draft Curry.

Of all the trade scenarios, this one is my favorite so far.

The Wizards really need to upgrade on the perimeter. A solid starter who can pass and score, with added length, like Salmons possesses is an upgrade at SG. Fits right in the lineup with Gil, CB, AJ, and BTH. Then you get insurance at PG should Gil not be right, or certain points off the bench at PG with Curry.

If the Wizards don't land the #1, which pretty much has to be Blake Griffin, I really like this idea.

We really do have several options. That's why I'm not really worried. But for now, we have to play it out. We currently have Crit. 6-5 200 21 year old PG. We have to see what the kid can do. He is our best prospect at PG since Blake left and honestly, I think he is better then Blake was. He has come a long way this year already. He is quickly moving into my - I think this kid could be something this year camp. He has some key things I like. One is, he doesn't seem like a goof. He isn't a NY. He seems like someone that is tough minded and focused. He was very unsure when he got here. A lot of that has already left him. He also tries hard on defense.

He has the potential to be a starting PG. He seems to have good court vision and I have already seen him do some of those things that you see PGs do that makes you know they are a true PG. Stuff I used to see Blake do back in the day that made me believe he would start one day in this league.

He has been driving and dishing very well lately and then last game, I saw him pull up from 18 ft with confidence and nail it.

The kid has very smartly and maturely brought his game along over the last 20 games. You can see him growing before your eyes. He is getting more comfortable out there.

Doing a little reading on the kid. I think he is made of good stuff and can be a leader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javaris_Crittenton


So sure, we can go PG. God knows I have been waiting for us to work that out for over 10 years. But we could go SG or SF or PF also. Really, anything but center at this point.

There is still to much up in the air to narrow in on what we are going to do. We need to play this out. I want to see if Crit keeps getting better. The better he gets, the more options we have.

[McGeeNArenas]

He doesn't have true point guard skills and he doesn't have the athletic ability of combo guards to make up for it.

There are two kinds of point guards in this league: those that are born to be PG's like Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Steve Blake; and those that learn to be a PG and can run an offense - even if they don't have the god-given instincts. Guys like Chauncey Billups, Antonio Daniels, Rajon Rondo and Devin Harris fit this mold.

I agree that Curry isn't a "born PG" with that innate court vision and instinctive ability to see a play before it develops. But he can develop into a Chauncey Billups style of PG. (So can Arenas, for that matter.)

The problem with that is Curry doesn't have the natural abilty of any of those players you mentioned. Curry to me just does not have the tools to be a starter in this league, at PG or SG. like I said, his BEST case is an OK sixth man in the league. That is not worth a lotto pick. I would throw a fit if Curry is on this team next year. Either we take Giffin, Rubio and maybe even Monroe or we trade the pick. I don't think anyone else, esp Curry, is anything to get excited about.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ruz and others, remember when I said the Wizards should sign Sessions for a portion of the MLE and not tie all that money up with Gil? In fact, I suggested they draft Chalmers as a backup to Sessions and some of you argued with my logic?

Ruz, did you say something about Sessions being a D League guy? He looked pretty good against Stuckey and Iverson. No?

[hands11]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... =informbox

( Is it the party line ? 11 days and counting)

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said Friday that he is receiving a steady stream of calls from rival general managers and team presidents interested in discussing trade possibilities but added that he is not actively looking to make a major move involving two key franchise cornerstones: forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

The trade deadline is Feb. 19 and as usual, chatter among teams has led to rumors involving several big-name players.

"I've gotten a lot of calls about a lot of our players and that's a good thing," Grunfeld said. "That means our players have value around the league. That means other people around the league value their abilities, but if you take the long view, we have a good nucleus of players and once we have all of our guys back, we feel that we can be a very competitive team. Now, you always have to consider any move that is going to improve your team but we like our group. We just have to get healthy."

[LyricalRico]

^ Meh, I never believe anything Ernie says to the media. He's too smart to be honest with them. But it is nice to at least hear him say SOMETHING. I think he's been too silent, letting Jamison/Butler/Taps do all the talking when it's Grunfeld who's really (finally) in charge now.

Maybe he'll continue to speak up beyond the All-Star break and push the team towards limiting the minutes of the vets and developing the young guys more aggressively.

[Rafael122]

This is where Ivan Carter should step in and figure out if Phoenix has called the Wizards about a trade.

[Ruzious]

Ruz and others, remember when I said the Wizards should sign Sessions for a portion of the MLE and not tie all that money up with Gil? In fact, I suggested they draft Chalmers as a backup to Sessions and some of you argued with my logic?

Ruz, did you say something about Sessions being a D League guy? He looked pretty good against Stuckey and Iverson. No?

Why is it that you post this after Sessions' career day? Remember this is what I said - He's not as good as Chalmers - because he doesn't have 3ball range, and he doesn't play defense, and... I said he's better than Ridnour. Now, is he turning out better than I thought? Yes, because he's shown an amazing ability to draw fouls. He got even more than Iverson last night. Of course, it was Iverson's jumper that won the game - as he was being "defended" by some D-Leaguer named Ramon.

So, yes - he is better than I thought - but... he's a free agent after this season, and somebody is going to overpay him. I'm glad it's not the Wizards.

I don't like the Arenas contract, but you don't make a decision on Arenas based on whether or not you can afford Ramon Sessions. You just don't. It has nothing to do with thinking creatively or outside the box. It'd be thinking outside the brain.

He was a D League guy because he played most of a season in the D League.

[Wizards2Lottery]

This is where Ivan Carter should step in and figure out if Phoenix has called the Wizards about a trade.

Ivan never comes out with interesting news.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Why is it that you post this after Sessions' career day?

I don't think it was even a career day, the 44 points.

The game where Sessions had 24 assists IMO was his career day.

Remember this is what I said - He's not as good as Chalmers - because he doesn't have 3ball range, and he doesn't play defense, and... I said he's better than Ridnour. Now, is he turning out better than I thought? Yes, because he's shown an amazing ability to draw fouls. He got even more than Iverson last night. Of course, it was Iverson's jumper that won the game - as he was being "defended" by some D-Leaguer named Ramon.

So, yes - he is better than I thought - but... he's a free agent after this season, and somebody is going to overpay him. I'm glad it's not the Wizards. :

Sessions went 18-21 from the FT line. Gil's only had more than 20 FTs a hand full of times his entire career. Sessisons is 22 years old, and has a lot of time to develop three point range.

My thoughts are this kid is young, good, healthy, and a much better prospect than what you think he is, Ruz. I believe hes got the potential to become a good defender, too.

[Ruzious]

Fair enough. I still prefer Chalmers.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Why is it that you post this after Sessions' career day? Remember this is what I said - He's not as good as Chalmers - because he doesn't have 3ball range, and he doesn't play defense, and... I said he's better than Ridnour. Now, is he turning out better than I thought? Yes, because he's shown an amazing ability to draw fouls. He got even more than Iverson last night. Of course, it was Iverson's jumper that won the game - as he was being "defended" by some D-Leaguer named Ramon.

So, yes - he is better than I thought - but... he's a free agent after this season, and somebody is going to overpay him. I'm glad it's not the Wizards.

I don't like the Arenas contract, but you don't make a decision on Arenas based on whether or not you can afford Ramon Sessions. You just don't. It has nothing to do with thinking creatively or outside the box. It'd be thinking outside the brain.

He was a D League guy because he played most of a season in the D League.

Sessions had 15 points, 17 assists, and 2 steals in the Bucks 122-110 win over Indiana.

Over the past 4 games, Sessions is averaging; 26.0 points, 10.5 assists, 4. 8 rebounds, 2.5 steals. He's made 46 of 56 FTs over the past 4 games. (Averaging 11.5/14 FTs per game.)

I think Sessions will be an all star within 2 years, if not by next season.