Offseason Plan

[FAH1223]

Tyus Jones is going to get a $60m/4 offer from Grizz. That’s why they traded Melton.

I was thinking $55M. But I could see it. They need Ja Morant insurance due to injuries and Ja’s rookie max won’t kick in until 2023-24.

[gambitx777]

So let's assume Beal opts out and he's an URF we can still sign him but we can sign other people with cap room first right? Cuz we can re sign Beal with rights as an URF so when he opts out does that generate cap room we can then use to go out and sign some players? Or is that not how that works

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[XtremeDunkz]

So let's assume Beal opts out and he's an URF we can still sign him but we can sign other people with cap room first right? Cuz we can re sign Beal with rights as an URF so when he opts out does that generate cap room we can then use to go out and sign some players? Or is that not how that works

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

No there's a "cap hold" equal to his current salary + a certain percentage that is held against the teams cap.

Only way to get rid of that is to renounce his rights which removes the bird exception.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[gambitx777]

So let's assume Beal opts out and he's an URF we can still sign him but we can sign other people with cap room first right? Cuz we can re sign Beal with rights as an URF so when he opts out does that generate cap room we can then use to go out and sign some players? Or is that not how that works

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

No there's a "cap hold" equal to his current salary + a certain percentage that is held against the teams cap.

Only way to get rid of that is to renounce his rights which removes the bird exception.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I wasn't sure how that worked it's been a while since we've had someone in a situation to opt out

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Fifty-six posts in one day! Outstanding...

I gotta read what I missed.

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

From all that this team has done since the season ended, I conclude that there is no offseason plan. The FO has no concrete goals, so there can be no strategy to achieve those goals.

The Washington Wizards are not an uphill path. We're not a team that is getting better, improving year by year.

Instead, we are a team that is still trying to recover from a decade+ of disastrous leadership. The guy who owns the team seems to be in the way of that recovery, & the current GM doesn't have the standing with that owner to stop him from blocking the path forward.

Both of these facts are understandable. In particular, it's easy to see why Tommy Sheppard -- having been promoted from within -- doesn't have effective power vis a vis Leonsis.

Things aren't going to get better any time soon.

I totally agree with you. The Wizards, they are very content with status quo!

The plan? They got theirs and it's up to us to keep being a fan cuz we don't have a choice

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

From all that this team has done since the season ended, I conclude that there is no offseason plan. The FO has no concrete goals, so there can be no strategy to achieve those goals.

The Washington Wizards are not an uphill path. We're not a team that is getting better, improving year by year.

Instead, we are a team that is still trying to recover from a decade+ of disastrous leadership. The guy who owns the team seems to be in the way of that recovery, & the current GM doesn't have the standing with that owner to stop him from blocking the path forward.

Both of these facts are understandable. In particular, it's easy to see why Tommy Sheppard -- having been promoted from within -- doesn't have effective power vis a vis Leonsis.

Things aren't going to get better any time soon.

Tommy will get partial credit if he trades Kuz and KCP on the last years of their deals. Full credit if he also gets Beal out of here.

He gets a full on F if we go into the season with maxed out Beal, Johnny Davis, and an MLE point guard. Might convince me to bump that to a D-.

I agree with this as well.

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

WUJR big off-season move was purchasing a $3.7M Potomac home, I guess he feels pretty-good about job Security.

The contract is fully guaranteed... In my opinion it isn't about job security.

You buy the house knowing that you can always win it out or sell it.

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would love Tyus Jones on the full MLE. I think he has another level he can get to in his prime, but if he doesn’t, still well worth MLE money.

Another high level competitor. Can play him at the 1 and Davis&Beal at the 2/3.

Jones Davis
Beal Kispert
KCP Avdija
Rui Kuzma
Porzingis Gafford

Tyus Jones and Boogie Cousins.

Boogie is like Klay Thompson. He is still playing at a very high level having work through two devastating injuries. He bangs and he hits three's and he rebounds and I believe he would be the perfect player next to "Chris tapps porzingas"

Late at night and my eyeballs are hurting so I'm going to leave Google Miss Translate

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would love Tyus Jones on the full MLE. I think he has another level he can get to in his prime, but if he doesn’t, still well worth MLE money.

Another high level competitor. Can play him at the 1 and Davis&Beal at the 2/3.

Jones Davis
Beal Kispert
KCP Avdija
Rui Kuzma
Porzingis Gafford

At this point I see Davis as more of a backup SG with the ability to play some minutes at SF.

I don’t think he has the playmaking and ball handling chops (at least right now) to be the primary backup at PG.

Why on Earth are people calling Johnny Davis a freaking point guard???

If anything he is Bradley Beal replacement. I see him being Bradley Off the Bench for a year or two until Brad moves on

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I don’t think it matters too much. His role will probably to come in and bring energy and play hard on defense and be a combo guard primary/secondary offensive option. He’s going to handle the ball a ton in the pick and roll.

Maybe they do sign Jones and another vet min backup PG so Davis doesn’t have to bring the ball up the court. Something like this:

Jones (Vet min PG)
Beal Davis
Kispert Avdija
Rui Kuzma
Porzingis Gafford

We may already have that vet min backup PG in Dunn.

Dunn
Davis
Advidja
Kuzma
Porzingis

Beal?

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I remember advocating for a Dunn signing after the 2019-2020 season. He averaged 10.6 points 5.3 rebounds 4.9 assists 2.9 steals with only 1.9 turnovers on 51% TS. That was while playing about 25 minutes a game and over 1200 minutes on the year. Raptor had him at a +2.5, good for the 18th ranked player in the East. I peaked at the on/off numbers for the Bulls that year and it looks like he actually ranked 1st overall on the team for guys that played atleast 1000 minutes. Everyone knows he atleast brings elite defense. Seems like the shooting eventually comes around with those guys later in their careers, and they become actual two way players. Still just turned 28.

Again, no idea what has happened in the last couple of years, haven’t followed, but before that, he was seemingly becoming a really good player. You could do a lot worse for a vet min 3rd string guard.

Kris Dunn

Doclinkin liked him first IIRC. Dunn put up crazy steals and played tenacious defense coming out at Providence. I thought KD (not THE guy kd) would be a solid pro starter at PG. I'm surprised at his lack of success.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dunnkr01.html

On closer examination I think his Play-by-Play On Off numbers with Chicago were actually decent.

NatP4, I agree with you.

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jalen Smith looks like an absolute steal. Wonder if he would have interest in coming back to his hometown area. One peak at the on/off numbers shows that he was ranked 2nd on the pacers. Specifically had a huge impact defensively.

I would probably throw 6 million per at him. Becoming a total stud and would be a great fit at the 4 for us. Shot the lights out from 3pt range in Indy. 37% on 5.5 attempts per36.

I’m not sure how S&Ts work, but could we offer Rui to Indy in exchange for signing Smith to a multi year deal? Or just figure out a way to sign him outright without giving up Rui

Sign Jalen Smith somehow
Sign Tyus Jones with the full MLE
Sign Dunn to a minimum contract.
Figure out how to send Kuzma and/or Pope elsewhere in exchange for dead cap+2023 1st round pick. Maybe Portland for Bledsoe?

I told everybody this on draft night.

*Warning: Typos to follow...voice translation will edit later. Strong emotions...lit

Quote:

I practically shouted this from the freaking rooftops that he was the pick the wizard should have made and then I heard a lot of you guys say that he was not going to make it at the center and he couldn't play power forward.

If I were the Wizards GM I would let Bradley Bill walk for absolutely nothing and I would make Jalen Brunson and Jalen Smith my priorities



Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jalen Smith is an UFA w/out bird rights I believe. PHX declined to pick it up before trading him to Indy. Indy also doesn’t have the cap space to resign him outright before ~$5M or something.

I'm gonna Pat myself on the back about Jalen Smith

Dat2U... he's usually right but sometimes I know more

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Right, so maybe we look at him as a MLE/partial MLE candidate+the appeal of bringing him back to the DC area.

Look to move Kuzma in a deal for a guard instead of signing Tyus Jones to the MLE, but I love Jones. Maybe Memphis would do a S&T for Jones?

Home run scenario is somehow getting both Tyus+Jalen Smith and moving Kuzma.

Keep Kyle Kuzma

KKK

Unless He wants out until...

Get Jalen Smith with Rui, Gafford, Deni AND LET THEM COMPETE.

Kristaps is marginally better...

Kyle kuzma is an intelligent kid who has a championship and he has a breadth of experience that this particular team could use.

Since we're going to be kind of soft and kind of mediocre I think Jalen Smith can add rebounds and shot-blocking and he's going to prove to be a much better player than people give him credit

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wizards talk here starts at 35 minutes or so

Read on Twitter

Main points according to Jake

- Beal is going to get paid. Him declining his option tells you that's happening. If he wants to request a trade, he can later. But all signs point to him returning. If he really wants to leave to a contending situation, he'd opt in and get a trade. Jake is going to make more calls on it this coming week.

- The veteran PG: They like Johnny Davis but he will not be playing PG and Brad isn't going to be starting PG. Tyus Jones buzz is real. Malcom Brogdon talk is a possibility and that the Wizards were never going to use their lotto pick to get him. They were never going to pay a lot to get him. Kuzma and KCP coming up in different talks. Kuzma was used to dangle to trade up to #4 with Sacramento.

Good stuff!

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Thanks for the rundown. Wiz really need to trade both Kuz and KCP. All their young guys play the same positions as these 2, and on top of that, both Kuz and KCP will be hunting for new contracts next year. Montrezl was in that position last year and Wes couldn't manage it - what happens when we have two vets trying to get paid.

Between Beal, Davis, Kispert, Rui, and Deni, there aren't going to be a lot of minutes left for Kuz and KCP. If you can combine those two and get a real upgrade at point guard (maybe Brogdon, and Indy reroutes Kuz and KCP for picks?) and then spend the MLE on another Kuz or KCP-level player, then you might have something. That something still won't be in the top half of east, but at least we'd be better than a borderline play-in team.

Also leaves open the option of trading everyone at midseason if all of the above is wrong and they're garbage again (Beal plays even worse, Zingus gets hurt, young guys don't take a step forward, etc. - probably the more likely outcome, tbh).

Montrezl provided some pop in the lineup early on. He had some real crowd pleasing moments prior to the team meltdown. Now, weed man faces felony charges but I'm calling Kentucky Leo's bull for busting him. Yeah, dummies get busted making dumb mistakes...

One idea I gathered from Harrell having a modicum of success is How About Boogie Cousins?

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CfQHxkrgn_a/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Sent from my SM-A536U using RealGM mobile app

[80sballboy]

Josh Robbins' FA Preview from The Athletic
https://theathletic.com/3384765/2022/06/27/washington-wizards-free-agency-preview/

The Wizards are likely to enter free agency over the projected $122 million salary cap, leaving them with the projected non-taxpayer midlevel exception of approximately $10.3 million, the projected biannual exception of $4.0 million and the minimum salary exception as their primary means of signing new players.

Washington also possesses a $5.2 million trade exception (from the Montrezl Harrell trade to Charlotte) and a $3.9 million trade exception (from the Aaron Holiday trade to Phoenix).

There are steps the Wizards could take to reduce the amount of guaranteed money they owe, such as waiving the two players on their roster with nonguaranteed salaries, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, before their salaries guarantee. But even those moves would not create a significant amount of cap space because the team still would have to account for other players’ guaranteed salaries and Beal’s $40.5 cap hold if he declines his player option.

So barring a sign-and-trade, it’s difficult to envision Washington having the cap flexibility to sign any new player who’ll earn more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

Adding a point guard
Smith is the only point guard on Washington’s roster, and even if the Wizards don’t waive him before his $4.7 million salary becomes guaranteed, team officials would strongly prefer an upgrade at the starting role.

Unrestricted free agent Tyus Jones, who played ably for Memphis when Ja Morant missed time due to injury and as Morant’s backup, would make sense for Washington. There’s just one problem, and it’s a major problem: Jones is likely to command more money on the open market or by re-signing with the Grizzlies than the Wizards could pay him via the full midlevel exception.

So the Wizards’ most likely avenue for acquiring him would be through a sign-and-trade — if the Grizzlies would be willing to do so.

Indeed, it seems the Wizards’ most likely route to upgrade at point guard is through a trade. The list of quality veteran point guards available in trade talks is short and is thought to include Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon, New Orleans’ Devonte’ Graham, Denver’s Monte Morris and Utah’s Mike Conley.

David Aldridge and I recently reported that Morris is one of the point guards on Washington’s radar. He would make a lot of sense. He is a capable defender, and both Sheppard and coach Wes Unseld Jr. have said the Wizards need to improve their one-on-one defense at the point of attack. Morris, who turns 27 today, also is more of a traditional point guard — an approach Unseld has said he favors — but he is a career 39.4 percent shooter from 3-point range.

Morris started 74 regular-season games in 2021-22 while Jamal Murray recovered from reconstructive knee surgery. But Murray is on track to return next season, and Denver also has second-year point combo guard Bones Hyland on the roster.

Morris is due to earn team-friendly salaries of $9.1 million this season and $9.8 million in 2023-24, but the Nuggets are in danger of veering into luxury-tax territory. So though Denver officials like Morris, finding a way to move him off their books could help their tax situation.

The Wizards have other options, too. They could call the Orlando Magic to check on the availabilities of Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony. Fultz is a natural floor general, with an outstanding feel for the game, but he struggles with his long-range shooting and at times is a disinterested defender. Suggs, last year’s fifth pick, is a relentless defender who needs to improve overall skill level and his long-range shooting. Anthony is an able scorer who loves to take clutch shots, but he typically struggles on the defensive end.

A free-agent possibility is 30-year-old Delon Wright, who averaged nearly 19 minutes a game last year for Atlanta. At 6-foot-5, Wright would give Washington a defensive boost. He also shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range. “On a one- or two-year deal at the midlevel exception,” John Hollinger writes, “he looks like a solid Plan B for teams that whiff on the top-tier guards, with his ability to moonlight as a shooting guard at 6-foot-5 adding to his value.”

Another possibility would be Eric Bledsoe. Only $3.9 million of his 2022-23 salary of $19.4 million is guaranteed, and he would be a decent fallback option for the Wizards if the Blazers waive him.

[NatP4]

Jones with the MLE/S&T.

Jalen Smith with the room exception.

Renounce Ish, obviously.

Send Kuzma somewhere.

Jones Davis Dunn
Beal Kispert
KCP Avdija
Smith Rui Gill
Porzingis Gafford Carey

Bring back Gill for depth. Give Dunn a minimum contract as a 3rd PG/depth. Give Carey a shot as the 3rd C

[Rafael122]

I could be missing something about Jones, but I wrote about the teams with actual cap space and none of them need a point guard, and are not going to pay a backup point guard the MLE. That doesn't make a ton of sense from a financial aspect.

The sign and trade is an option that I didn't think about but we're matching salaries right? So 1 of Kuzma/KCP is going the other way...not sure I would do that. Then again, one of them would go to Indiana in a hypothetical trade for Brogdon so pick, Jones or Brogdon? I don't think the market is as robust as they're making it out to be. You factor in John Wall's pending buyout, Kyrie, Murray might be on the move...just feels like you're waiting for all of these dominoes to fall before you even get to Jones.