Draft Thread Continued. 2011 part two...

[hands11]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTaOwRLXPV4[/youtube]

There's your guy

Wizard 2.0

Wall: vs We didn't have a true PG before. with Crawford vs Gil:
I like this type Gil like player as a back up better than the starting PG.

Nick 2.0 vs DS - advantage Nick hands down.
D Williams vs CB: A see him as a baby tough juice without the injuries. Plus Booker to back him up.
Dray vs AJ: Adv Dray. He is taller, younger better defender. Neither can leap. Adv Dray.
McGee vs Haywood: Haywood was a better defender and stronger. McGee is way more athletic with more upside and more offense. Adv Haywood in his prime her... for now.

I see this version 2.0 of the Wizards that EG and Ted are putting together as better than what EG put together the first time under Abe. Adding D Williams would seal the deal.

McGee and the center position in general is still a question mark until it isn't and that is a huge deal.
This is still the position that gives me the most concern. McGee could be great but until he is, this is a hole. Adding a quality back up center would dramatically change this team.

This team has a good chance to be way better than the Wizards version 1.0

[hands11]

To expand on thinker's post, we have the following draft odds:

Top 2 picks .245
Top 3 picks .378
Top 4 picks .477
Top 5 picks .828

Lets hope that Barnes declares. I agree with the recent poster that said that the longer he waits, the more likely he is to declare. What do you guys think the most likely draft order is if Barnes does declare? I see:

(1)Irving
(2)Williams
(3)Barnes
(4)Kanter

After that, things look to drop off.

Barnes worries me. If we are going to get a SF, I want someone with a motor to drive. Does Barnes have that heart that Williams has ? I don't see it.

If we don't get a Williams type, I would rather Booker start at SF and draft a SF with the ATL pick and get the help we need at center. I would still let McGee start next year but I solid true back up center would do this team wonders. Unless you want to roll the dice on Hamady being the answer.

[DirtyDez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KfE-fOB-9I&feature=related[/youtube]

Fire up the D-Train to DC bandwagon!!!

[dangermouse]

I hope he doesnt slim down too much to lose the Tweener lable (i still think he could play PF in a pinch). Hes quick enough to be a 3, when hes driving he looks like a 3. His handles may need work but i dont think hes much of a play maker. I like his toughness though, he seems like he doesnt mind banging and taking contact. Hopefully he can keep that when he is a bit lighter on his feet.

[Hoopalotta]

Jeff (CT)
Do you have an updated mock for us?

Chad Ford
Yes. Here it is: http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2011/mockdraft Perry Jones is gone. Harrison Barnes still there for the moment. Other guy in there that I worry about is Jonas Valanciunas. Keep hearing his contract situation is messy and he may be a Rubio type that's a couple of years away from being allowed to play for the NBA. That could affect his draft stock.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/37862

Yeah, this is what I've been thinking is the case from assorted chitter-chatter. I like Valentine, but it could potentially be a long wait. 2 years is bad, but once it gets stretched out like that, there's the potential for extra complications; thus, Kanter probably moves up for me, pending more info.

[dangermouse]

Played the lottery machine 5 times:

1st: Minnesota won, Wiz pick 4th (Kanter)
2nd: Minnesota won, Wiz pick 6th (Kemba)
3rd: Toronto won, Wiz pick 5th (Johnny V.)
4th: Minnesota won, Wiz pick 3rd (Barnes)
5th: Houston won (wow), Wiz pick 2nd (DWill)

Only cracked the top 3 2/5 times... Thats bad. If we dont get a top 3 (or even top 4) pick, this draft will be terrible for the rebuild. Picking where we are placed (4th - Kanter) might be ok, maybe we can trade up depending who is above us... I guess its all down to workouts and who actually declares. But dropping (which happened twice) will be a catastrophe.

I remember using the ESPN draft machine last year, and actually getting the first pick 3 times out of 5. But that was the night before draft day...

I might do another 5 closer to draft lotto day and post the results again.

[Rafael122]

Jeff (CT)
Do you have an updated mock for us?

Chad Ford
Yes. Here it is: http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2011/mockdraft Perry Jones is gone. Harrison Barnes still there for the moment. Other guy in there that I worry about is Jonas Valanciunas. Keep hearing his contract situation is messy and he may be a Rubio type that's a couple of years away from being allowed to play for the NBA. That could affect his draft stock.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/37862

Yeah, this is what I've been thinking is the case from assorted chitter-chatter. I like Valentine, but it could potentially be a long wait. 2 years is bad, but once it gets stretched out like that, there's the potential for extra complications; thus, Kanter probably moves up for me, pending more info.

SHOCKER at who Utah picks with their two draft picks. My mock had Utah taking the Jimmer and Jonas.

[closg00]

I am starting to reconsider my thoughts on the doom and gloom of picking 6th or 7th, it may not be THAT-bad actually. We still have ATL's pick to take a swing with a prospect, there will be an abbreviated season, and with everyone healthy (Jinx), we certainly should be in the mix to make the playoffs w/o a top-pick. Draft and stashing one of Lithuanians wouldn't be so horrible - in a year or two we add another 7-footer to our mix.

[fishercob]

Wiz have the 18th pick via the Atlanta pick FYI.

Awesome. Pretty sure it was 22 when we made the trade. Way to go Kurt!

[Dark Faze]

I'm not entertaining any thoughts other than Williams. I'll consider any pick whatsoever other than him, any trade other than that to be a failure.

I know this sounds ridiculous to most of you but I won't apologize. We are launching a rebrand this summer with new jerseys and a potential new logo. We lucked out with some fantastic trades and draft picks. We're going to win 30 games next year barring horrible injuries. We WONT get a huge impact guy in the draft next year. The time to strike is NOW. Get the high flying potential all-star and fill your holes through trades and free agency. Placing your hopes in 2012 is insane--there is a potential lockout and sohpmore limit.

There's no doubt in my mind Williams would win ROTY next year. Doesn't matter if its in a bad draft...the Wizards need the publicity. We wouldn't have been in any discussion at all Without the attention Wall gathered, and having another guy like that this year would hopefully start to garner more comparisons to OKC's turnaround, which would inspire our players in turn.

The alternative? Settle for Kanter. Maybe he's as good as advertised, maybe not. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Either way he doesn't immediately start over Blatche, and our team gains little moral at all from his addition. Worst case scenario is there is a rookie sophmore limit next year and we win 26+ games...and get a scrub. 2 years with almost nothing to show for it. All of a sudden Walls rookie contract is looking a little shorter...

Screw all that. Lets get the guy who is going to have the bright lights on him next year and build morale for the team. Wall/Young/Williams with Crawford as a sixth man. Not bad at all. Blatche and McGee get one more year to show us their stuff and then we make a decision...but we'll have a ton of money available to bring in a great player to take their slot.

Williams or bust.

[GhostsOfGil]

chadfordinsider Chad Ford
Sources say Wolves, Cavs, Raptors, Jazz and Kings would all take Kyrie Irving 1. Wizards, Pistons & Bucks - Barnes or Derrick Williams

looks like there is a good chance that williams drops to 3.

i still think kanter would be a good pick at 3 or 4 if williams and kyrie are gone. High risk but higher reward. in short, toughness and post presence is what we need the most and thats what he could bring.

[pcbothwel]

I pretty much agree with you faze as Williams is just looking better and better, but I still wouldnt discount Barnes coming out. Carolinas lack of shooters aloud a lot of teams to play zone D against them, therefore stagnating his driving ability. When teams went man up, he would always look to drive on them.
I think we also need to consider what we would need to trade to get Williams if we pick around 4 or 5. I would certainly give up our pick, a future protected 1st and take on some salary. Ideas?

[Hoopalotta]

I'm not entertaining any thoughts other than Williams. I'll consider any pick whatsoever other than him, any trade other than that to be a failure.

I know this sounds ridiculous to most of you but I won't apologize. We are launching a rebrand this summer with new jerseys and a potential new logo. We lucked out with some fantastic trades and draft picks. We're going to win 30 games next year barring horrible injuries. We WONT get a huge impact guy in the draft next year. The time to strike is NOW. Get the high flying potential all-star and fill your holes through trades and free agency. Placing your hopes in 2012 is insane--there is a potential lockout and sohpmore limit.

I would endorse this reasoning, though I wouldn't rule out a trade or Barnes, should he declare.

But the basic idea of why we can't count too much on things working out at the top of the 2012 draft is the same way I see it. Detroit was pretty gross this year, but they still won 30 games and wouldn't be sitting pretty even if the top of the draft was nice. So I certainly wouldn't want to aim for 30 wins without another core player having been added.

We could try and go slash and burn and deconstruct things further and shoot for 19 wins next year, I guess, but that's really not a realistic choice in business terms or with Wall's druthers.

Here's Wall's retweet from a few days ago:

@jimmywa11 Thanks RT @Strankonia: @SELF_MADEest89 i hope that @jimmywa11 wont be on the wizards forever or they at least hey give him some help

It's not that we need short term payoff, but let's just say a lot of peripheral assets could be coughed up for a more central piece without me complaining. And yes, we should be wary of penciling in a top lottery piece coming in next year for multiple reasons. So, Williams seems the obvious central piece floating out there now, but I wouldn't just rule something else out.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I'd be happy with any pick in the top 4. Irving, Williams, Barnes & Kanter are all palatable. The dropoff after that would hurt.

Come on Irene, work your magic!!

[Dark Faze]

I should say that I wouldn't be mad if we got Barnes...I like the kid and think he could be similar to Luol Deng who is doing wonders for the Bulls youth movement.

But I guess I just assume that he won't be in this draft. Would still prefer Williams but Barnes is the only other option I'd really like.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If the Wizards should pick 5th, I think I would rather see them try for a whole different type player. Initially I didn't like Motiejunas, but after watching him appear to be close to ambidextrous and a shotmaker with legit size, I think he's a good pick. Another thing he does exceptionally well is pass the ball. His touch passes remind me of Larry Bird's. He's about the same age as John Wall--so, I believe him coming from a pro club like Benetton Treviso at that age says he's a great prospect.

At 18 the best pick for the Wizards is Kenneth Faried.

All this talk about unknowns like Biyombo makes me think about Kevin Seraphin and how he went at 17. The guy has potential, but what kind of year did he have as a rookie? OTOH how did four-year NCAA product Trevor Booker do? One thing for certain is Faried rebounds even better than Booker--and Trevor turned out to be pretty good rebounder. Another thing I believe is Faried is an even better defender than Booker. Just as good a shot blocker and probably a little bit more instinctively quick as a man defender. I believe those who do not project Faried as a starter simply because of his size are missing the mark completely. If Faried does not make it as a PF starter, he will probably make it as a SF starter. I see Faried as nothing but a quality player good enough to start, but probably a spectacular sixth man.

I'd try to get somebody like Singler in round two if he slips. Chandler Parsons might be a good pick up. I like the character/profile of Charles Jenkins, but he's another scoring guard as is Marshon Brooks. Those guys are lower on my list due to the emergence of Jordan Crawford. Diebler would be a good pick as well. (Okay, I admit to trying to get a couple white players on the team.)

I would be content, even if the Wizards don't get Derrick Williams, if they come away with Faried (who I believe can start at SF ahead eventually), Motiejunas, and Parsons/Singler. Change the character of the bigs. If there's not a great banger at C, then go for energy and passers and shot makers.

[FAH1223]

[dangermouse]

Rolling off the Atlanta ideas in the trade thread that involve us getting the 1st pick, or at least getting Irving:

There could be some voodoo in there somewhere. I call it the Kirk Karma Konnection. Or KKK for short.

Bulls win the draft a couple of years ago taking Rose #1, relegating Kirk to the bench. We trade for him, the year we win taking Wall #1, relegating Hinrich once again to the bench, this time in Washington. We trade Kirk, who finally gets a chance to start in Atlanta....

This leads to us winning/getting Irving this year. We get offers, Atlanta offers us the best deal, we move Irving to the Hawks, and Hinrich once again comes off the bench behind Irving for the Hawks...

The funny thing is, with the running joke about Hinrich's name... I cant even remember if its Kurt or Kirk for real, and im too proud to google it.

[Rafael122]

Rolling off the Atlanta ideas in the trade thread that involve us getting the 1st pick, or at least getting Irving:

There could be some voodoo in there somewhere. I call it the Kirk Karma Konnection. Or KKK for short.

Bulls win the draft a couple of years ago taking Rose #1, relegating Kirk to the bench. We trade for him, the year we win taking Wall #1, relegating Hinrich once again to the bench, this time in Washington. We trade Kirk, who finally gets a chance to start in Atlanta....

This leads to us winning/getting Irving this year. We get offers, Atlanta offers us the best deal, we move Irving to the Hawks, and Hinrich once again comes off the bench behind Irving for the Hawks...

The funny thing is, with the running joke about Hinrich's name... I cant even remember if its Kurt or Kirk
for real, and im too proud to google it.

Its Kirk Hinrich but some on this board call him K-Honey for reasons unknown.

[Ruzious]

I'm tempted to say no - out of hand (hands?) - to both Montie and Vesely because of their low rebound rates. Vesely is especially bad at 3.6 bounds per game - playing 27 minutes a game - that, and he supposely can't shoot. But I won't write off Montie just yet - as there's always hope for a guy that size with his skills. And it would be nice to have someone who can pass up front. Blatche occasionally tries but turns it over too much.