How do you fix this team?

[JonathanJoseph]

The worst thing we could do IMO is sell low. Or make a reactionary move simply b/c were frustrated with their progress. I wouldn't have a huge problem taking both Blatche & McGee into next year. But I'd make sure at least one of those two was coming off the bench.

If they don't care about playing well as starters, how do you think they will react to being benched? Especially when it would probably be for a less-experienced player? It won't be pretty, I can promise you that. What you consider "selling low' right now might look like a king's ransom by then.

I disagree completely. Discipline works wonders. Blatche and McGee have been taught during their Wizards tenure that starting means you get to take "shots" without repercussion. They are both young and impressionable and under contract. If there are better options on your team, you sit them down. Problem is, right now there are no better options.

[nate33]

Just as an aside, I suspect much of our improvement next year will have very little to do with who we draft. I think we'll see massive offseason improvement from Wall, Booker and Seraphin; plus modest improvement from Crawford and McGee. Blatche will probably have a bounce back year where he'll play a bit more like the second half of last season.

[Induveca]

Nate, if we hope for Blatche to return to last year's form......we'll likely be a bottom feeder yet again. Only way he reaches that lowly plateau is by becoming our first option when he's healthy. That would mean we would be rolling with the same group, or Wall's offense hasn't improved or a guy like Harrison Barnes ends up being a clone of Marvin Williams.

Sadly, I think the only way we get better is with Blatche NOT being one of our top 3 options. I'd do my best to ship him/Young (is a S&T possible with him?) out for Gerald Henderson/filler.

Then pray we get Barnes/Faried/solid 2nd rounder.

Wall
Henderson
Barnes
Faried
Seraphin

Yes we'd lose a lot, but we also would have serious effort in the paint and 5 guys with star potential, play with toughness (Barnes being the exception...jury still out).

[nate33]

Don't get me wrong, Induveca. I'm not advocating that we continue to build around Blatche. I'm just saying that I think this season was a bit of an aberration due to his injury. I say this because he started playing well (well, much better at least) once he finally got a few games off to heal up. Blatche may be not a very good player, but he's not as bad as he was this year either.

I say the picks won't matter much for next year because rookies rarely make an impact unless their first tier superstars like Griffin and Wall; and none of the picks save perhaps Irving figure to have that kind of impact. Quick, who was the 6th pick in this draft? I don't know either. I'd have to go look it up.

I have the highest hopes for Booker and Seraphin. I really think they have a chance to be MUCH better next year. Booker has figured the NBA game out except for the shooting part. He already looks like a rookie Paul Millsap. Give him a jumper and he'll be a real difference maker. Seraphin has a ways to go yet but he has shown some real nice instincts.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Just as an aside, I suspect much of our improvement next year will have very little to do with who we draft. I think we'll see massive offseason improvement from Wall, Booker and Seraphin; plus modest improvement from Crawford and McGee. Blatche will probably have a bounce back year where he'll play a bit more like the second half of last season.

+1

I am confident they will be better because each guy EG acquired has talent and will improve, regardless, with time and experience in the league.

More than anything they need a visionary, highly positive coach who they like, respect, trust, and know is a winner. I truly believe those guys, a couple picks who are winners (D. Williams, Sullinger, Barnes, Jimmer, Jenkins) a couple vets who are teacher/mentors (Grant Hill, Greg Foster, Juwan Howard, etc.) with Dave Joerger could get these guys to 35-40 wins and the playoffs.

[fishercob]

CCJ, that would be sweet.....

[Zonkerbl]

I'm sorry but the word "playoffs" has been banned from this forum until the end of next season.

You may use the euphemism "my little pony" to refer to them instead: Could get these guys 35-40 wins and perhaps my little pony.

[Severn Hoos]

CCJ - you're showing your age again....

I assume you meant Jeff Foster? Although maybe Greg Foster could make a comeback. Remember that dude? He was so stiff he made Kwame look smoooooooooth.

And I'm also on board with a youth movement including the coach, with Dave J. leading the way. Probably reduces the likelihood of short term success, but bodes better for the long term.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ - you're showing your age again....

I assume you meant Jeff Foster? Although maybe Greg Foster could make a comeback. Remember that dude? He was so stiff he made Kwame look smoooooooooth.

And I'm also on board with a youth movement including the coach, with Dave J. leading the way. Probably reduces the likelihood of short term success, but bodes better for the long term.

Wow. It's a wonder I didn't say Foster Brooks! Scary, I didn't think that former Bullet made any imprint on the recesses of my mind. Sev, suddenly I recall Greg Foster and Tim Hardaway playing for UTEP. They don't have a program any more, do they?

Yeah, I meant Jeff Foster and yes I am old.

Greg is tall. His game was ... Well, he looked like a player when he was standing in his uniform or sitting on the bench.

[Ruzious]

Greg Foster trivia (can you imagine a better tangent?) - entered the NBA the same year Tony Massenburg did. Foster lasted only 13 years in the NBA - compared to Massenburg's 15 years.

Put either of them next to Tim Duncan, and you got a championship - some might say.

[pcbothwel]

For all the talk about trading or keeping McGee/Blatche seem to be forgeting their contract situation. Blatche already has an extension and will certainly get in better shape for next year as he'll be healthy and our rebuild process becomes clearer.
McGee's situation is gonna be like ten-times Nick Youngs this year. An unwarrented McGee extension could truly set this Franchise back. I think we need to guage interest in him during this offseason as he will either get a hefty extension from us or walk for nothing.

[eitanr]

For all the talk about trading or keeping McGee/Blatche seem to be forgeting their contract situation. Blatche already has an extension and will certainly get in better shape for next year as he'll be healthy and our rebuild process becomes clearer.
McGee's situation is gonna be like ten-times Nick Youngs this year. An unwarrented McGee extension could truly set this Franchise back. I think we need to guage interest in him during this offseason as he will either get a hefty extension from us or walk for nothing.

I wouldnt disagree here. I definitley do not feel the team should look to deal JaVale McGee. As bone-headed as he may be at times, getting a guy at the 5 with those physical gifts who has a report with our franchise player is just too rare to give up.

As for Blatche, I'd try using him to net another pick in the 8-12 range and would be willing to take on a deal that expires in 2012 to do so. If that can't get done, then I'd be more than happy keeping him rather than dealing him just to deal him. His play of late has been better and he will likely rebuild some value next season.

[LyricalRico]

McGee's situation is gonna be like ten-times Nick Youngs this year. An unwarrented McGee extension could truly set this Franchise back. I think we need to guage interest in him during this offseason as he will either get a hefty extension from us or walk for nothing.

Finally, somebody else notices this. Great post.

[Ruzious]

McGee's situation is gonna be like ten-times Nick Youngs this year. An unwarrented McGee extension could truly set this Franchise back. I think we need to guage interest in him during this offseason as he will either get a hefty extension from us or walk for nothing.

Finally, somebody else notices this. Great post.

I'd say decent post. Don't rush to do something stupid. You can always to do something stupid later. Seriously, there will be options - simply because he'll be a Restricted FA (unless the CBA changes that) - that gives the Wiz options. If he tests free agency, the Wiz have can always match.

[LyricalRico]

^ Matching only makes sense if 1) McGee accepts a low bid from another team or 2) McGee takes a quantum leap forward and actually deserves a market value contract. I don't consider either possibility to be likely.

[pcbothwel]

^ Matching only makes sense if 1) McGee accepts a low bid from another team or 2) McGee takes a quantum leap forward and actually deserves a market value contract. I don't consider either possibility to be likely.

Exactly,
And Ruz, I didnt say rush to do something stupid. What im saying is we should not look to trade Blatche, If a team wants to overpay for his potential..fine, deal him. But he is already signed to an extension and should step it up as his B-Ball IQ seems quite higher than his intellectual IQ . His value really cant get much lower and he is a savy bigmen with rare skills that a contender might really like at the deadline next year or so.

The problem EG has made(even though his moves post Abe have been pretty damn good) is that he drafts low IQ players that tantalize with upside(blatche, NY, Java) and when their rookie deal is up, it is hard to evaluate their true value.
McGee has no real trade value to a contender at the deadline next year and then puts us in the bind Rico pointed out.

BTW, im hearing the possibility of a lockout is quite high as the owners want the players to make a lot of concessions. Major changes are coming with regard to players salary and contract length. This makes drafting Valanciunas and keeping him overseas for a year quite valuable.

[verbal8]

^ Matching only makes sense if 1) McGee accepts a low bid from another team or 2) McGee takes a quantum leap forward and actually deserves a market value contract. I don't consider either possibility to be likely.

The threat of matching is a big deterrent in the size of contracts offered to Free Agents. Basically teams with the cap space don't want to have it tied up for a week while waiting for the original team to potentially match.

On the other hand restricted Free Agents don't usually have the intriguing upside that McGee does. I definitely could see a capped out team offering him the full MLE(if there is one), but his value would probably be higher. Teams with cap space are probably looking for more proven performers(at least initially).

[Ruzious]

^ Matching only makes sense if 1) McGee accepts a low bid from another team or 2) McGee takes a quantum leap forward and actually deserves a market value contract. I don't consider either possibility to be likely.

Exactly,
And Ruz, I didnt say rush to do something stupid. What im saying is we should not look to trade Blatche, If a team wants to overpay for his potential..fine, deal him. But he is already signed to an extension and should step it up as his B-Ball IQ seems quite higher than his intellectual IQ . His value really cant get much lower and he is a savy bigmen with rare skills that a contender might really like at the deadline next year or so.

The problem EG has made(even though his moves post Abe have been pretty damn good) is that he drafts low IQ players that tantalize with upside(blatche, NY, Java) and when their rookie deal is up, it is hard to evaluate their true value.
McGee has no real trade value to a contender at the deadline next year and then puts us in the bind Rico pointed out.

BTW, im hearing the possibility of a lockout is quite high as the owners want the players to make a lot of concessions. Major changes are coming with regard to players salary and contract length. This makes drafting Valanciunas and keeping him overseas for a year quite valuable.

I'd rather take that risk of getting nothing for him (which I don't think will happen) than rushing to make a move that hurts the team. Of course, if there's a good trade opportunity, then it should be considered. But most of the suggestions have not been good.

I agree with you on EG, but we have to deal with what we have.

Signing Blatche to the extension has turned out to be a mistake. I doubt the Wiz could trade him for nothing. Because of that contract, he has negative trade value.

[mhd]

From Ted:

"We saw Jordan Crawford play hard and score a lot of points - 27 to be exact. He can get his shot off and he is fearless going to the rim. He is a rookie. John Wall, Nick Young and Jordan Crawford - that is a very young back court with promise and upside. We will have to add a vet to the mix in the future but I feel pretty good about our back court on the go forward"

[hands11]

Just as an aside, I suspect much of our improvement next year will have very little to do with who we draft. I think we'll see massive offseason improvement from Wall, Booker and Seraphin; plus modest improvement from Crawford and McGee. Blatche will probably have a bounce back year where he'll play a bit more like the second half of last season.

+1

I am confident they will be better because each guy EG acquired has talent and will improve, regardless, with time and experience in the league.

More than anything they need a visionary, highly positive coach who they like, respect, trust, and know is a winner. I truly believe those guys, a couple picks who are winners (D. Williams, Sullinger, Barnes, Jimmer, Jenkins) a couple vets who are teacher/mentors (Grant Hill, Greg Foster, Juwan Howard, etc.) with Dave Joerger could get these guys to 35-40 wins and the playoffs.

Oh yeah. They have lot of players, who if they get 20% better each, will have more impact that a rookie.

That said, a solid high pick PF can also give them much need depth and that can also have a huge impact.

They will be a lot better next time they suite up.