The 2013 NBA Free Agency Thread

[rockymac52]

I think both rumors have some validity. I think the Wizards know we only have the minimum left, unless a team wants to do a sign and trade for our trash, which is unlikely. I think we're just getting our name out there, and hoping that somebody slips through the cracks and is overlooked, much like Webster was last year. That's probably the best way to get a value signing in free agency, and it's a great strategy.

But with Nate, I get the feeling that if he's going to sign for the minimum again, he'd prefer to go back to the Knicks, who are probably a better team, in a much bigger market, and who have a much bigger hole at PG where he could very feasibly end up starting.

[Nivek]

Nate Robinson rated about average in my stuff, despite being a subpar defender. But hey, at least the Wizards have Maynor locked up. He was ALMOST at replacement level this season.

[Ruzious]

Dallas board says Brandan Wright agreed to a 2/8 deal with them, but they're holding off signing the deal, because they have early Bird rights - so they can use more cap before they sign him. I'd liked to have signed him, even though it would have meant not signing Webster.

[verbal8]

Dallas board says Brandan Wright agreed to a 2/8 deal with them, but they're holding off signing the deal, because they have early Bird rights - so they can use more cap before they sign him. I'd liked to have signed him, even though it would have meant not signing Webster.

I think Wright would have been a great signing, even if it took a 3rd or 4th year to lure him from Dallas. What would have been really great would have been to split the MLE between a back-up Guard and a back-up Big. Collison and Wright would be my first choice, but I think even if it was say Brand and Will Bynum I think it would have improved the team more even if neither player was as good as Webster. Nate Robinson and Wright probably could have been fit in the MLE on 2 year deals.

[Ruzious]

Dallas board says Brandan Wright agreed to a 2/8 deal with them, but they're holding off signing the deal, because they have early Bird rights - so they can use more cap before they sign him. I'd liked to have signed him, even though it would have meant not signing Webster.

I think Wright would have been a great signing, even if it took a 3rd or 4th year to lure him from Dallas. What would have been really great would have been to split the MLE between a back-up Guard and a back-up Big. Collison and Wright would be my first choice, but I think even if it was say Brand and Will Bynum I think it would have improved the team more even if neither player was as good as Webster. Nate Robinson and Wright probably could have been fit in the MLE on 2 year deals.

I'd actually prefer to sign Wright for 4 years rather than 2 to keep him at that rate. He might never be more than a 25 minute a game player, but you don't find players with his efficiency and production rates at 4 mil per year. And if they could have gotten Oden with the remaining MLE, that would've made a tremendous use of the MLE in a perfect world - though I'd guess he'll find a better opportunity.

[80sballboy]

Forget Nate, that was interest before we signed Maynor. What about Drew Gooden. Kind of a stretch four. (but not really in terms of shooting 3s, is just soft). I know he's coming off a terrible year but only played 16 games. Used to be a decent rebounder. Better than Singleton, Vesely and Booker.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1711/drew-gooden

[deneem4]

Ivan johnson...toughnosed...sucks on offense but when okafor was out...we sucked on defense

[MikeTheKid]

Forget Nate, that was interest before we signed Maynor. What about Drew Gooden. Kind of a stretch four. (but not really in terms of shooting 3s, is just soft). I know he's coming off a terrible year but only played 16 games. Used to be a decent rebounder. Better than Singleton, Vesely and Booker.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1711/drew-gooden

I think the ship should said by Nate, Im a fan of him but were stacked at the guard and wing positions and I really think GRJ will contribute this year.

Drew Gooden however could be a good veteran presence. Apparently even though he got no time last year he was a mentor to the young players and a professional and we could always use more of that.

[jivelikenice]

^Not sure how we're stacked at guard. Who's the backup behind Beal? Who's the scoring 3rd guard?

[Dat2U]

Forget Nate, that was interest before we signed Maynor. What about Drew Gooden. Kind of a stretch four. (but not really in terms of shooting 3s, is just soft). I know he's coming off a terrible year but only played 16 games. Used to be a decent rebounder. Better than Singleton, Vesely and Booker.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1711/drew-gooden

I think the ship should said by Nate, Im a fan of him but were stacked at the guard and wing positions and I really think GRJ will contribute this year.

Drew Gooden however could be a good veteran presence. Apparently even though he got no time last year he was a mentor to the young players and a professional and we could always use more of that.

Based on what? The fact he's a veteran? At some point we should realize that all vets DON'T provide "good veteran presence".

And I'm not sure how were "stacked" at guard. Behind Wall & Beal are two guys that probably wouldn't be in a huge majority of playoff rotations.

[80sballboy]

Forget Nate, that was interest before we signed Maynor. What about Drew Gooden. Kind of a stretch four. (but not really in terms of shooting 3s, is just soft). I know he's coming off a terrible year but only played 16 games. Used to be a decent rebounder. Better than Singleton, Vesely and Booker.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1711/drew-gooden

I think the ship should said by Nate, Im a fan of him but were stacked at the guard and wing positions and I really think GRJ will contribute this year.

Drew Gooden however could be a good veteran presence. Apparently even though he got no time last year he was a mentor to the young players and a professional and we could always use more of that.

Based on what? The fact he's a veteran? At some point we should realize that all vets DON'T provide "good veteran presence".

And I'm not sure how were "stacked" at guard. Behind Wall & Beal are two guys that probably wouldn't be in a huge majority of playoff rotations.

So you want 5-7 Nate Robinson as your backup 2? I think if Ariza is there, they can move him or Webster to the 2 when Beal sits. Temple, while not the answer as the backup 2, can play there as well. I don't think Rice will be ready and personally I'd rather have Gary Neal, but I don't believe we can afford him.

As for Gooden, it was just a thought considering at one point, he was a decent rebounder and scorer. You can rip him apart for all his weaknesses but he's still better than what we have on the bench assuming he's healthy. (unless last year was beginning of the end).

[Dat2U]

So you want 5-7 Nate Robinson as your backup 2? I think if Ariza is there, they can move him or Webster to the 2 when Beal sits. Temple, while not the answer as the backup 2, can play there as well. I don't think Rice will be ready and personally I'd rather have Gary Neal, but I don't believe we can afford him.

As for Gooden, it was just a thought considering at one point, he was a decent rebounder and scorer. You can rip him apart for all his weaknesses but he's still better than what we have on the bench assuming he's healthy. (unless last year was beginning of the end).

I want Nate as our 3rd guard. I want him playing alongside either Wall or Beal. I'd think it would be a great idea to have a dynamic scorer coming off the bench, especially considering our lack of quality scoring options beyond our starters. Webster or Ariza can get spot minutes at SG but that doesn't address the fact that neither Maynor nor Temple are very good backups at this stage and we'd have to rely on either to be the 1st guard off the bench.

[jivelikenice]

I'd have to go back and look at it, but didn't Temple start at the 2 even before Martell got hurt? If Ariza and Martell were so capable of playing the two and the two and three are so interchangeable here, then why did Temple start?

[80sballboy]

So you want 5-7 Nate Robinson as your backup 2? I think if Ariza is there, they can move him or Webster to the 2 when Beal sits. Temple, while not the answer as the backup 2, can play there as well. I don't think Rice will be ready and personally I'd rather have Gary Neal, but I don't believe we can afford him.

As for Gooden, it was just a thought considering at one point, he was a decent rebounder and scorer. You can rip him apart for all his weaknesses but he's still better than what we have on the bench assuming he's healthy. (unless last year was beginning of the end).

I want Nate as our 3rd guard. I want him playing alongside either Wall or Beal. I'd think it would be a great idea to have a dynamic scorer coming off the bench, especially considering our lack of quality scoring options beyond our starters. Webster or Ariza can get spot minutes at SG but that doesn't address the fact that neither Maynor nor Temple are very good backups at this stage and we'd have to rely on either to be the 1st guard off the bench.

I seriously doubt he comes here for whatever low price we can give him and I have no issue with Maynor as the backup 1. Why in the world would they sign Maynor if they are going after Robinson? Makes no sense and we'll have to agree to disagree about Maynor. Pre-surgery, he was a decent backup. He appeared to be getting back to old form at Portland so we'll see.

[Dat2U]

Why in the world would they sign Maynor if they are going after Robinson? Makes no sense and we'll have to agree to disagree about Maynor. Pre-surgery, he was a decent backup. He appeared to be getting back to old form at Portland so we'll see.

Maybe because they realize they desperately need an upgrade at the position???

We definitely disagree on Maynor. He was never any good to begin with (and this is coming from a guy that initially liked him out of VCU). If he was any good, OKC wouldn't have been so quick to draft his replacement in Reggie Jackson before Maynor ever got hurt. Maynor was a marginal backup before the injuries and terrible one afterwards. Maybe he gets back to being marginal but even so, he'd still be one of the weaker 2nd string PGs in the league.

Maynor seems to be a unique case where his rep somehow has grown beyond his actual abilities even though he's never put up impressive stats, never wow'd anyone and never made a huge impact on the court.

Maybe people still fantasize about the time he beat Duke in the Tourney?

[Nivek]

Maynor has not been good and I don't think he will be. I hope I'm wrong and that the front office sees something in him that he hasn't shown previously. I think it was a poor signing on its own merits, and that missed opportunities because of it are only making it worse.

[dckingsfan]

Maynor has not been good and I don't think he will be. I hope I'm wrong and that the front office sees something in him that he hasn't shown previously. I think it was a poor signing on its own merits, and that missed opportunities because of it are only making it worse.

I see it the same way Nivek - others see it as a Webster "like" signing, I hope they are right. My guess is Maynor ends up being a very weak backup guard - fine if Wall is never injured (not ideal but fine). I could see us scrambling again this year for another backup PG.

[Nivek]

Maynor has not been good and I don't think he will be. I hope I'm wrong and that the front office sees something in him that he hasn't shown previously. I think it was a poor signing on its own merits, and that missed opportunities because of it are only making it worse.

I see it the same way Nivek - others see it as a Webster "like" signing, I hope they are right. My guess is Maynor ends up being a very weak backup guard - fine if Wall is never injured (not ideal but fine). I could see us scrambling again this year for another backup PG.

The name that comes to mind quickest for me is DeShawn Stevenson. He'd been terrible at previous stops. He was decent in Washington -- the best he'd ever play. So, I'm hoping it's one of those signings. One difference though -- Stevenson's first deal with the team was for one year at the minimum. The Wizards made a 2-year commitment to Maynor and used their BAE to sign him, which is a resource they now can't use to sign someone else.

If Maynor had been a one-year, minimum salary signing, it wouldn't bother me. At that price, why not take a look?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Lately, with the exception of Pargo, the guys the Wizards have added have been solid. I was mad about Mack being released, but AJ Price hit threes and played reasonably well at the minimum. They added Temple, and he couldn't run the offense but he has played good defense and also has been solid at the minimum. Heaven knows I was upset with the Okariza deal, but both Okafor and Ariza turned out to be solid additions. Webster had a career year, but I remember thinking that guy is hurt, just what we need to add to a team that doesn't manage injured players well.

I kind of expect Maynor to have a career year. How good he will be is debatable, but I expect him to be a good facilitator and to have a bounce back, healthy season.

[80sballboy]

Lately, with the exception of Pargo, the guys the Wizards have added have been solid. I was mad about Mack being released, but AJ Price hit threes and played reasonably well at the minimum. They added Temple, and he couldn't run the offense but he has played good defense and also has been solid at the minimum. Heaven knows I was upset with the Okariza deal, but both Okafor and Ariza turned out to be solid additions. Webster had a career year, but I remember thinking that guy is hurt, just what we need to add to a team that doesn't manage injured players well.

I kind of expect Maynor to have a career year. How good he will be is debatable, but I expect him to be a good facilitator and to have a bounce back, healthy season.

What was that word CCJ? Facilitator? That's something we're not used to seeing around here in terms of point guard play. We've had so many bad ones and you can break down every PER stat and assist/turnover ratio you want, Maynor can f-ing play for my team. As I've said before, I've watched many CAA games over the years and remember him as this skinny kid that just destroyed my Towson team year-after year (save for one game). Now health is another story and I didn't study his play with Portland last year but either way, he'll still be better than A.J. Price as a facilitator. You can break all the negatives down you want, but as AI once said, "we talking about a backup point guard! A backup point guard".