2012 Draft, Part VI (Draft Week is Here!)

[MF23]

Are you guys f'n kidding me? Why wouldn't someone trade Saraphin and #3 for Harden? James Harden is easily one of the top 20 players in the NBA. Intellegent, athletic, young and proven. I better not hear EG turned down that trade! That's a championship backcourt you embrace as the nucleus of the team end of discussion!

I'll do #3 for Harden. Yes, Seraphin would be a sticking point if they asked...I would say no. The Wizards need to stop throwing in assets when the package offered is more than suitable.

So no, I wouldn't do Seraphin + 3 for Harden. I'd rather have Beal and Seraphin than Harden.

I like projections and seeing how players develop but I'm calling a time out on that play. James Harden is such a good basketball player I might trade John Wall for him. I like the potential of the #3 pick and Saraphin can be a solid starter in the NBA but neither of those 2 prospects have proven poop in the NBA. Sorry, Saraphin still needs to learn how to run plays and rebound before he's even a trustworthy starter on a decent team. Not a knock on dude but Harden is a pure beast and 23 years old. No brainer!

[davidgrant]

Drummond is the player I have been waiting on for a decade. In two or three years we will have the best young bigman and point guard every night no matter the match. A superstar big and superstar point under age 24 both with great character is the foundation of a dynasty. Its Leonsis destiny to ensure that wizards become a dynasty. Leonsis deserves to be the one responsible not eg. We can focus on role players once we are stuck in middle of the draft because we wont ever be in a position to draft a franchise player.

Draft Beal, then sign DeMarcus Cousins when he becomes a free agent.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I want and expect us to stay at 3. I want the pick to be Beal. I think it will be Barnes.

IMO Ernie values Barnes' two productive seasons at one of the top programs very highly, and considers him more of a sure thing. Beal came on strong at the end of the season, but Ernie is looking at the whole body of work. Ernie, I suspect, is also very enamored by Barnes' intellect and marketing potential, and Ernie probably had Barnes rated as a top 2 pick if he had come out last season. In addition, it seems to me Ernie values Jordan Crawford much higher than most of us here do, and he believes he is a legit starter at SG.

[Ruzious]

No, but based on your posting style lately, I'm expecting that you will.

I think your problem with my "posting style" is that I've been disagreeing with you lately.

I don't really have a problem with your recent change in style, and I definitely am not bothered by you disagreeing with me.

[DCZards]

The 3rd pick and Seraphin is too much for Harden. I prefer Seraphin and Beal/MKG, either of whom could likely be as good as Harden.

[sfam]

The 3rd pick and Seraphin is too much for Harden. I prefer Seraphin and Beal/MKG, either of whom could likely be as good as Harden.

If OKC is going to do this, why wouldn't they just make this offer to the Cats? Seems to me that Harden would answer their need for a bonifide star.

[7-Day Dray]

Miami proved that you don't need a dominant big man. Dallas' dominant big was a jump shooting 7-footer. Dwight Howard needs a good team around him to win a ring and in fact, he had a pretty good one a few years back. He needs a great player. That's what it's all about. Duncan is the quintissential big. Smart, agile, now old. But still very good.

I'd rather have guys that know the game and know how to play it instead of just an athletic freak. Or a guy with an incredible wing span. Been there, done that.

Where do you expect us to get our superstar then (unless you think Beal will be a superstar, which I definitely don't).

[Terpman]

#3 + Kevin Seraphin for James Harden. Do it. Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Throw in Durant and you got a deal.

Seriously - that's the worst trade proposal I've seen this year.

[80sballboy]

Are you guys f'n kidding me? Why wouldn't someone trade Saraphin and #3 for Harden? James Harden is easily one of the top 20 players in the NBA. Intellegent, athletic, young and proven. I better not hear EG turned down that trade! That's a championship backcourt you embrace as the nucleus of the team end of discussion!

Because Seraphin is the future. Nene is brittle and Okafor might be a one-year rentral. Not easy to find quality bigs and Seraphin might be one.

[Ruzious]

Are you guys f'n kidding me? Why wouldn't someone trade Saraphin and #3 for Harden? James Harden is easily one of the top 20 players in the NBA. Intellegent, athletic, young and proven. I better not hear EG turned down that trade! That's a championship backcourt you embrace as the nucleus of the team end of discussion!

I think I'd do it - but I'd have to be sure he'd want to play in DC. Otherwise, he could take a 1 year deal as an RFA next offseason and become a UFA the year after that.

[80sballboy]

Miami proved that you don't need a dominant big man. Dallas' dominant big was a jump shooting 7-footer. Dwight Howard needs a good team around him to win a ring and in fact, he had a pretty good one a few years back. He needs a great player. That's what it's all about. Duncan is the quintissential big. Smart, agile, now old. But still very good.

I'd rather have guys that know the game and know how to play it instead of just an athletic freak. Or a guy with an incredible wing span. Been there, done that.

Where do you expect us to get our superstar then (unless you think Beal will be a superstar, which I definitely don't).

Considering the fact that Ernie has only drafted one All-Star (Redd), it would have to be Wall and a bunch of good players. I agree that Drummond has potential but I don't want to wait another 3-4 years another possibility. In fact, I do think MGK has the "it" factor and could be a star if he finds a jumper. But Beal is more of a need pick.

[80sballboy]

Are you guys f'n kidding me? Why wouldn't someone trade Saraphin and #3 for Harden? James Harden is easily one of the top 20 players in the NBA. Intellegent, athletic, young and proven. I better not hear EG turned down that trade! That's a championship backcourt you embrace as the nucleus of the team end of discussion!

I think I'd do it - but I'd have to be sure he'd want to play in DC. Otherwise, he could take a 1 year deal as an RFA next offseason and become a UFA the year after that.

Oh yeah, that's kind of a risk isn't it?

[dangermouse]

You don't need to include Seraphin because we have the leverage. It isnt a question of whether or not the value is fair, it's just simply unnecessary. I'd throw in Booker, maybe, but they would be sending back #28.

I'm 50/50 on whether the Bobcats would do the trade for Harden. I'm not sure if they want to trade completely out of the lottery. On the other hand, they get a bona fide all-star caliber player.

[Jimmy Recard]

I want and expect us to stay at 3. I want the pick to be Beal. I think it will be Barnes.

I will never forgive Ernie if he drafts Barnes

[MF23]

Top 20 players aren't easy to draft or develop. He's 23 years old and MKG might become as good as Harden. Beal I doubt he can get to that level and that's not a knock of Beal who's the most NBA ready player in this draft. The Wizards have had a top 20 player once maybe twice in the last 20 years.

With Saraphin can we stop overrating players. It's just dumb to me like Paxson holding on to Deng and Hinrich instead of grabbing HOF'r Kevin Garnett in a trade.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I think the Wizards will keep the pick at #3 regardless.

The only trades that interest me are the trade down scenarios for more picks. But Grunfeld feels the Wizards already have enough young players and he doesn't want to add several more. He may consider trade offers for a high quality vet, but I think trade downs for more picks doesn't interest him. Laron Profit on 980 today said the Wizards could sell the 32 for cash because they don't believe they need more young players. But when all is said and done, I am very confident they will keep the #3.

But, personally, I am very open to dealing the #3 and #32 to Portland for the 6 & 11, or to Houston for their 3 picks, 12, 16 & 18. At 6 & 11 we could likely get Rivers or Waiters and Ross. At the Rockets' picks we could get something like Ross, Harkless, and Terrance Jones. But hey, that's just me. Apparently we already have too many good young players.

[Benjammin]

Since the Wizards don't have cap room, they'd have to trade the 3rd pick and some combination of three of the following: (Seraphin, Booker, Crawford) to be able to acquire Harden. The 3rd pick itself has no cap space value for a trade. If Vesely were included, then you would only need to add one additional guy from that list.

[7-Day Dray]

You guys are crazy. I do think some people slightly overrate Harden (like when people call him a superstar), but he'll most likely be better than everyone in this draft except Davis.

#3 for Harden is a no-brainer. And if we added another asset, we could probably get #28 back (apparently OKC doesn't really want the pick).

[SUPERBALLMAN]

This is what I'm preparing myself for...

Wizards select Barnes #3.

Wizards sell #32 for cash considerations.

[Terpman]

Since the Wizards don't have cap room, they'd have to trade the 3rd pick and some combination of three of the following: (Seraphin, Booker, Crawford) to be able to acquire Harden. The 3rd pick itself has no cap space value for a trade. If Vesely were included, then you would only need to add one additional guy from that list.

Vesely & Crawford if I was willing (I'm not).

I think Beal or MKG has to be the piece we add.