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

[sfam]

Fords last take on the Wiz

Analysis: The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court -- Okafor likely will be their starting 5, Nene Hilario their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.

With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole at the 2. I think this makes Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He's a perfect fit for this new roster.

Trade Scenarios: If the Wizards believe they are in danger of losing Beal to a team moving up in the draft, don't be surprised if they offer the Bobcats the No. 32 pick to move up one spot. The Wizards might also entertain a James Harden offer from the Thunder for Beal. Finally, if Beal is off the board, the Wizards have talked to several teams about moving down to Nos. 5, 7, 8 and 9.

Wizards' Big Board:
1. Bradley Beal
2. Harrison Barnes
3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
4. Thomas Robinson

I think drafting for need is the right move if the players rate out as being equal. But Harrison Barnes before MKG? I really doubt Barnes rates as equal there. Lets hope Beal is still on the board at #3.

It will be Beal-Watch @ pick# 2

[Ruzious]

^ 5, 7, 8 & 9? Well, that about covers it.

Honestly, that area of the draft kind of sniffs of a Blatche dump.

That's didn't really come out right, but you know what I mean.

Come out right? Ewww. That's actually an accurate description and could happen. I could see us ending up with Waiters - which might not be a terrible thing.

[Hoopalotta]

Come out right? Ewww.

Yeah, I was thinking of making it even more overt and going for "drop" with my verb.

[closg00]

Hmm, so if some-team snags Beal at 2, we skip Barnes and trade-down for Waiters/Rivers?

[nate33]

^ 5, 7, 8 & 9? Well, that about covers it.

Honestly, that area of the draft kind of sniffs of a Blatche dump.

That's didn't really come out right, but you know what I mean.

Nah, those are just the draft slots where it's possible to trade down and still end up with a wing like Barnes or Waiters. If we're going to send out a smoke screen to scare Charlotte from trading the #2 pick, we need that smoke screen to be credible. Nobody will believe a threat to trade down to #22 or something.

[dangermouse]

Please Ernie.... No Barnes..

[7-Day Dray]

We're going to draft Beal. Have fun being the next Milwaukee Bucks 2.0. Ernie.

[Hoopalotta]

^ 5, 7, 8 & 9? Well, that about covers it.

Honestly, that area of the draft kind of sniffs of a Blatche dump.

That's didn't really come out right, but you know what I mean.

Nah, those are just the draft slots where it's possible to trade down and still end up with a wing like Barnes or Waiters. If we're going to send out a smoke screen to scare Charlotte from trading the #2 pick, we need that smoke screen to be credible. Nobody will believe a threat to trade down to #22 or something.

Well, from a smoke perspective I understand, but were it that a deal actually went down with the Kings, Raptors or Pistons, it seems that it would be a financially motivated Blatche trade (I was going to say Warriors too, but I don't see a money saving contract on their roster).

I don't know what sort of actual talent they'd really be able to kick in.

[tontoz]

We're going to draft Beal. Have fun being the next Milwaukee Bucks 2.0. Ernie.

I don't see any rumors about the Cavs, OKC or the Spurs targeting Barnes or Drummond on a trade up. Maybe they know something you don't.

[sfam]

We're going to draft Beal. Have fun being the next Milwaukee Bucks 2.0. Ernie.

Drafting Beal is FAR better than potentially drafting the next Kwame. At least agree that taking Drummond is a high risk pick, one which could land us at the crappy end of the lottery for years to come if it doesn't work out.

[sfam]

Logically, Charlotte's best choices are MKG and Robinson. Considering their lack of a winning spirit, I would have a really hard time passing on MKG if I were them. Assuming the trade has really broken down between #2 and #4, I'm now inclined to believe they take MKG, leaving us Beal.

This would mean the front of the lottery goes:

1. Davis
2. MKG
3. Beal
4. Waiters???? - or Barnes obviously
5. Robinson either as trade or keeper for Sac
6. Drummond??? - Would Portland really go to the well again? I say yes.
7. Barnes - or Waiters

[tontoz]

If the Wizards are ever going to make a play for Harden now is the time. A Nene + 3 for Harden/Perkins makes some sense for both teams (assuming we can find a 3rd team for Perkins). OKC doesn't have any post scoring and Nene's contract isn't that much bigger than Perkins'.

They save money because Beal will be on his rookie contract for the duration of Nene's deal.

[hands11]

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

I'm thinking Draft X has it about right.

They have moved things around a bunch over the last couple mouths but they finally caught up.

I remember Beal at like 14 or lower when I first slated him for us. That would have been a great value for someone.

Drummonds has dropped a lot. So has Perry.

But it looks pretty accurate now.

[Nivek]

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.

You keep saying Harden is a top 20 player. I'm not convinced that he is.

He might not be top 20, but he's at least top 30 right now and he's 22 years old.

[Nivek]

can you imagine if Sacramento traded their 5th pick today for Thadeous young and Lou Williams. Thats essentially what we did a few years ago with our 5th pick

Actually, that deal would be a lot better for Sacramento than the Miller & Foye for the 5th pick deal Washington did. Young and Williams are both good players.

[fishercob]

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

I'm thinking Draft X has it about right.

They have moved things around a bunch over the last couple mouths but they finally caught up.

I remember Beal at like 14 or lower when I first slated him for us. That would have been a great value for someone.

Drummonds has dropped a lot. So has Perry.

But it looks pretty accurate now.

If Givony had just listened to you earlier he wouldn't have had to waste all that time circling the globe scouting prospects!

[Nivek]

Sidenote: Last guy from STL to play for the Wizards.....Larry Hughes :/....Hopefully he fairs better than Larry..which he will (Kid's got an unbelievable work ethic and a much better shooter)

You mean the Larry Hughes who had his career-best season in Washington, who led the league in steals and made the All-Defense team, and then signed a FAT free agent contract to play with Lebron in Cleveland?

I think we'd all be happy if Beal fares better in Washington than Hughes did.

[nate33]

If the Wizards are ever going to make a play for Harden now is the time. A Nene + 3 for Harden/Perkins makes some sense for both teams (assuming we can find a 3rd team for Perkins). OKC doesn't have any post scoring and Nene's contract isn't that much bigger than Perkins'.

They save money because Beal will be on his rookie contract for the duration of Nene's deal.

Is Harden's value really this high? After all, he is about to sign a max contract.

I'm not so sure how much leverage OKC has. Harden is going to be offered a max contract by somebody. OKC is going to lose one of Harden or Ibaka. Their only option is to trade one or both of those guys for (hopefully) equivalent talent at a much lower price. How many teams can offer this?

I say we offer just the #3 and be done with it. Don't give them Nene. We would need to include filler to make it work out. It pretty much has to be Ariza. Either that or make it Harden + Perkins for #3 + Okafor.

[DCZards]

You keep saying Harden is a top 20 player. I'm not convinced that he is.

He might not be top 20, but he's at least top 30 right now and he's 22 years old.

I can see top 30...but is he worth the 3rd pick AND Seraphin?

[Nivek]

Drummond is aerodynamic

This reminds me: the Wizards new uniforms next year will be designed to increase the aerodynamics of every player on the roster ...