How do you fix this team?

[dobrojim]

There weren't any stars to pick from in this draft. And FA is not
the plan that we have committed to. This will probably take time
but I think it is a smart approach. Now you have to be lucky
and maybe someone blows up and becomes the star that no one
in or outside the org thought they had any chance of becoming.

Since Ted's talked several times about how the Wiz are in a great cap situation, I think FA is definitely part of the plan - probably not this offseason but definitely by next season.

Yup. When it makes sense, then I'd expect them to explore
FA. We can all hope for Dwight to look at us and think maybe
he takes us closer to where he wants to go than some of the
other alternatives he has.

[Hoopalotta]

i really don't think any of our forward prospects will even get a chance to blow up as long as we have shard (and to an extent blatche) on the roster. we saw flashes of booker last season, and jan/singleton have to gel as a forward combo along with wall for us to see if they're viable options. if that's what EG thinks the frontcourt of the future looks like, we HAVE to look to trade shard for an overpriced guard like redd. heck, i'd rather have arenas back.

Amnesty Ray-Gun ------> Rashard Lewis

Rashard Lewis =


Cap Space =


Wizards fans =

[JonathanJoseph]

the question and thread title - how do you fix this team

mgmt's answer is to go out and get highly motivated players
who will play hard and hopefully smart as well.

I think the addition of guys like Singleton and Vesely and Mack
will help bring about a change in culture. That's how you 'fix'
this team.

When AB has to bust his arse every day because if he doesn't,
he's going to either be embarrassed or sitting during games.

This is a really, really underrated aspect to the Vesley pick.

Vesley clearly goes hard and strong and likes to dunk on people. Even if he doesn't become a great basketball player, he'll be going hard and strong and trying to dunk on Andray Blatche every day in practice.

If Andray Blatche ever goes hard and strong and tries to dunk on people he WILL be an all-star, in which case Vesley could be a tremendous investment even if he just rubs off on Blatche. Grunfeld KNOWS Blatche and McGee are mentally soft and is purposely surrounding them with tough, hard-working players.

[leswizards]

I don't get why you are frustrated.

Years of being a Wizards' fan will do that to you.

Part of my frustration stems from I don't like what I believe are the answers to the following questions:

1) How many minutes are available to Singleton? If Vesely is worth the sixth pick, not many, because most of the SF minutes will go to Vesely and Lewis.

2) How many minutes are available to Booker? Depends upon how well Blatche does. If Blatche plays well, again not many because most of the PF minutes will go to Blatche and some will go to Lewis.

3) How many minutes are available to Seraphin? Not many because McGee and Blatche will take most of the Center minutes, and Seraphin has yet to show he deserves the minutes regardless.

Consequently, the Wizards have 3 players (ie Booker, Seraphin and Singleton) who were decent investments (ie mid first round picks), who have their paths to quality minutes blocked by one player (ie McGee) who while being at worst an average Center is a knuckle head and has yet to put all his tools together, by another player (ie Rashard) who while being a decent vet is one of the most overpaid players in the game and is unmoveable because of his contract, by another player (ie blatche) who while showing flashes of brilliance has yet to prove he is anything more than a quality back PF/C, and by another player (ie Vesely) who has yet to prove anything but is likely to get major minutes simply for the fact he was a high draft pick.

I look at that, and I say to myself, well McGee is the best of the bunch, keep him and let him start at C playing 36 mpg. Well Rashard is unmoveable, so keep him and let him be the back up SF/PF playing 24 mpg (for the record, while being vastly overpaid, Rashard would be a quality back SF/PF). All the rest should just be consolidated into a trade that should bring back a better starting PF and a better starting SF. Such a consolidation trade would have been much easier pre draft when teams could have used the picks to take whomever they wanted. Now, the Wizards have to find some way to get back a starting SF, and a starting PF while giving up nothing but SF, PF, and one C. Consequently, the Wizards hurt their trade prospects by postponing the inevitable.

[dangermouse]

the question and thread title - how do you fix this team

mgmt's answer is to go out and get highly motivated players
who will play hard and hopefully smart as well.

I think the addition of guys like Singleton and Vesely and Mack
will help bring about a change in culture. That's how you 'fix'
this team.

When AB has to bust his arse every day because if he doesn't,
he's going to either be embarrassed or sitting during games.

This is a really, really underrated aspect to the Vesley pick.

Vesley clearly goes hard and strong and likes to dunk on people. Even if he doesn't become a great basketball player, he'll be going hard and strong and trying to dunk on Andray Blatche every day in practice.

If Andray Blatche ever goes hard and strong and tries to dunk on people he WILL be an all-star, in which case Vesley could be a tremendous investment even if he just rubs off on Blatche. Grunfeld KNOWS Blatche and McGee are mentally soft and is purposely surrounding them with tough, hard-working players.

This is a good point... Getting slammed on in practise every day by a rail thin white guy with a smoking hot girlfriend who goes hard and plays D has surely got to stir something inside of Blatche. If that doesnt do it nothing will.

Edit: That's Vesely going hard, not his Mrs., but you never know.

[dobrojim]

To LesWiz

I think you are worrying about a problem that really isn't a problem.
When Book, Singleton and KS are ready for bigger minutes, it will
be because they either earned them the old fashion way or because
injuries created the opportunity. I don't know if it will happen as
soon as this year (or maybe even ever) but ask yourself what it
might be like to go against that frontline in 2-3 years. They all
have to develop better offense, no question about it. But once
they get a little more respect from the stripes, they'll be guys
who opp just won't look forward to playing against. It was ridiculous
how easily Seraphin got called for illegal picks that I thought
looked pretty good but due to his physicality, ended up getting
him a whistle. Once the refs study tapes and just become
more accustomed to him, there should be less of that. That's
a beastly physical frontline.

edit to add - depending on what's up with McGee/AB/Vesely, that would
be our tall lineup and Book/Sing/Seraphin would be our physical frontline.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

the question and thread title - how do you fix this team

mgmt's answer is to go out and get highly motivated players
who will play hard and hopefully smart as well.

I think the addition of guys like Singleton and Vesely and Mack
will help bring about a change in culture. That's how you 'fix'
this team.

When AB has to bust his arse every day because if he doesn't,
he's going to either be embarrassed or sitting during games.

This is a really, really underrated aspect to the Vesley pick.

Vesley clearly goes hard and strong and likes to dunk on people. Even if he doesn't become a great basketball player, he'll be going hard and strong and trying to dunk on Andray Blatche every day in practice.

If Andray Blatche ever goes hard and strong and tries to dunk on people he WILL be an all-star, in which case Vesley could be a tremendous investment even if he just rubs off on Blatche. Grunfeld KNOWS Blatche and McGee are mentally soft and is purposely surrounding them with tough, hard-working players.

This is a good point... Getting slammed on in practise every day by a rail thin white guy with a smoking hot girlfriend who goes hard and plays D has surely got to stir something inside of Blatche. If that doesnt do it nothing will.

Edit: That's Vesely going hard, not his Mrs., but you never know.

And I thought you were trying to say "He goes hard and she comes hard." but that's way too nasty for me to say and have my signature what it is.

[verbal8]

It looks like the Wizards are going more the Bulls route(role players around an elite PG) than the OKC route(building around 2 stars).

Chicago has the clear edge in talent, but with some luck it could be close in a couple years.

Wall -> Rose
Vesely(or Singelton) -> Deng
??? -> Noah(this is the big hole in the Wizards roster) it could be Seraphin or maybe better team defense compensates
McGee -> Boozer(McGee better defense, Boozer better rebounding)
Nick Young -> Ronnie Brewer(different games, but similar talent levels)
Jordan Crawford -> Kyle Korver(Korver better shooter, Crawford better scorer)
Booker -> Gibson(not a huge difference in their rookie stats)
??? -> Bogans(probably addressed in a year or 2 via free agency)
Mack -> CJ Watson
??? -> Kurt Thomas(future FA piece)/Asik

I know a lot of teams can say, well if we just add a Noah level player we can be a contender. While it is a stretch, I think it is a lot closer than needing to add a Westbrook level player and increase the talent level across the board.

[nate33]

I'm sure the goal is for McGee to be a Noah like player. Physically, there's nothing standing in his way (well, except that Noah has better feet that help him defend the pick and roll better). Most of the difference is mental. McGee needs to take the same pride in defense and rebounding as he does in getting dunks on the fast break.

[pancakes3]

To LesWiz

I think you are worrying about a problem that really isn't a problem.
When Book, Singleton and KS are ready for bigger minutes, it will
be because they either earned them the old fashion way or because
injuries created the opportunity. I don't know if it will happen as
soon as this year (or maybe even ever) but ask yourself what it
might be like to go against that frontline in 2-3 years. They all
have to develop better offense, no question about it. But once
they get a little more respect from the stripes, they'll be guys
who opp just won't look forward to playing against. It was ridiculous
how easily Seraphin got called for illegal picks that I thought
looked pretty good but due to his physicality, ended up getting
him a whistle. Once the refs study tapes and just become
more accustomed to him, there should be less of that. That's
a beastly physical frontline.

edit to add - depending on what's up with McGee/AB/Vesely, that would
be our tall lineup and Book/Sing/Seraphin would be our physical frontline.

i share lezwiz's concerns and normally i would agree that yeah, these kiddies have to earn their minutes. however, there's a difference between glen davis earning his backup minutes for KG (with injuries, baby developing a jumper, lack of depth, etc helping) and us having just too many PF/C's.

[chpmntsptx]

This is what I see as each player's biggest needs:

Wall (passing, jump shot, defense)
McGee (maturity, offensive game, strength and positioning on D)
Blatche (fewer doritos, the meaning of offensive flow)
Young (how to pass, esp out of pick and roll)
Seraphin (more reps, mid-range, keep improving hook)
Lewis (get form back)
Booker (reps, mid-range)
Crawford (distribution, defense)
Singleton (any type of offense)
Vesely (possession - read that he turns it over like 20-25% from the post, free throw, mid-range)
Mack (catch and shoot, reps)
N'diaye (strength, offense, reps)

Now to lineups. The preferred lineups are based on how I think the 5 will work together, not just on any one player's highlights or stats. Obviously, this team lacks interior size and vet leadership, and I'm only dealing with the team as-is. Right now, in terms of team play and cohesion, Blatche, McGee, Crawford, and Young are the biggest concerns. So, I'd minimize shared floor time. [Honestly, Blatche is a poison imo and I'd just move him as soon as possible. McGee is just immature and weak.] Moreover, I hate McGee and Blatche together at any time and try to minimize this.

Further, I'm big on youthful exuberance and raw energy, and I think this is undervalued. As a development project, this next season should feature lots of youth-heavy lineups, but I'm skeptical it happens as much as it should. I think the starting unit should be more youthful, and I see potential for a backup unit that is really young and nasty on D... may not pad leads but will serve as a stopper and will run and frustrate. Given all of that, I think all of the new picks and Booker, Seraphin, and Crawford need lots of time (well, maybe not as much for Crawford). The young guys were neglected last season, imo, so I definitely mean A LOT more time relative to that horror show. Also, I'm really high on Seraphin and I'd roll with him a ton more than he played last year. His developing offensive game and toughness put him ahead of McGee for me.

Probable initial lineup and terrible idea:

Wall/Young/Lewis/Blatche/McGee -- Yuck. Just repeating last year. A giant baby, a lazy and selfish forward, and a guard that can't pass. Terrible rebounding. No flow. If this is the starting lineup, just pray it doesn't last.

Preferred:

Initial Unit: Wall, Young, Lewis, Blatche, Seraphin. Lewis/Young to stretch. Blatche for mid-range, occasional go-to. Seraphin for toughness, will contribute offensively; though I have him starting, he won't go for an extended period. Needs rebounding contribution from Lewis and Blatche. [Edit: to clarify, this is preferred over the probable starting unit, but it certainly is not preferred for the long term. Ball movement may still be lacking and it will be more 1 on 1 and drive and kick.]

Rotation Options:

Rot A: Wall, Young, Vesely/Singleton, Booker, Blatche. Will rely on Wall driving, and Young and Blatche as go-to, with Vesely and Booker cleaning up and adding energy and D near end of 1st quarter. Seraphin may come out mid-1st btw. Dependent on Booker having a better jumper.

Rot B: Wall, Crawford, Vesely/Singleton, Booker, McGee. Short spurt. Weak offensively. High energy, running lineup.

Rot C: Crawford, Young, Lewis (4), Booker (3), McGee. Young/Lewis stretch, Crawford penetrate. Allow Booker to post up his 3. Booker/McGee for rebounding, with Lewis' size helping out.

Youth movement A: Wall, Mack, Young, Booker, Seraphin. Tiny lineup.
Youth movement B: Wall, Young, Booker/Singleton/Vesely, Seraphin/Vesely, McGee. Prefer not to have McGee and Vesely together, turn over city.
Young, D, running: Wall, Young, Singleton/Vesely, Booker, Seraphin/McGee. Smallish but banking on team/effort rebounding.

I'm sure there's lots of holes in this. Be gentle.

[pancakes3]

i'll say again that i have a real hard time believing that the 22-million dollar man (or the 29 million dollar men) is/are going to play all of 8 mpg. wall is in and young are being penciled in for 40 mpg but lewis and blatche are rotational players, splitting spot minutes with 5 other players?

[Illuminaire]

Organizationally, we have no reason to invest in Lewis at all. His contract is a non-thing.

If he outplays the young guys, Flip will give him more minutes. If the young guys keep making the same mistakes, Flip will give him more minutes. The dollar signs won't matter - everyone knows he's an over-priced rental, Lewis included.

[nate33]

Organizationally, we have no reason to invest in Lewis at all. His contract is a non-thing.

If he outplays the young guys, Flip will give him more minutes. If the young guys keep making the same mistakes, Flip will give him more minutes. The dollar signs won't matter - everyone knows he's an over-priced rental, Lewis included.

+1

[The Consiglieri]

I have made this point before, but after last night's draft, and out of continued frustration at the lack of strategic foresight, I will make it again. At some point, the Wizards are going to have to start consolidating talent.

I don't get why you are frustrated. Sure, a consolidation trade in the not-too-distant future makes sense, but until now we haven't had enough marketable assets to make such a trade. This team has one star and perhaps two legit starters right now (Young and McGee). Rashard has no trade value because of his contract. Blatche has no trade value because of his attitude and contract.

Booker, Seraphin and Crawford have to prove something before their trade value becomes significant. We "bought low" on them, we now have to develop them before "selling high". Same with Vesely, Mack and Singleton.

Be patient. If this team goes out and wins 35-40 games, people will take notice. Then we can consider consolidation.

Good points, I do not understand the frustration either.

This team is awful, it's it just started year two of a total complete rebuild. It's where Cleveland is in June '12. What does on expect? What this team needs, is to grow quietly together, stink for another year, and have clarity on who sticks and who goes by February to May of '12 among McGee, and Blatche, and to have anoter quality pick for what should be an outstanding draft in '12. The worst thing that could happen would be to get too good too fast, it also strikes me as highly unlikely. This next year is for figuring out what McGee is, and playing up Blatche's value so he can be traded, and further integratin and growing the pieces around wall and eval'ing them like Seraphin so we know what to do with our 1st rounder next June, and what to sell at the '13 deadline, and what to pursue in probably the '12 or '13 FA class.

This is going to take time. It should have started in the summer of '09 two years ago, but it didnt, it started last year, it feels like three years into the rebuildbut it isn't, its just the start of year two, we need to face that and accept it. Shotcuts get you Redskins '93-Present. Do we want that?

[closg00]

Our imbalance of poor-shooting guys on the roster, more than justifies bringing-back Dave Hopala. Come-on Ted
http://www.davehopla.com/

[hands11]

So the draft is behind us and we didnt move any of our players as I expected.

We are sitting pretty if the owner win the lock out battle.

A shortened or no season likely helps us in next years draft and then we hit pay day as the high cap team like Dallas, LA, Orlando, Miami have to scale down and all the FAs hit the streets at the same time with fewer buyers. Not only will there be more players available, but those tops team wont be as good and the FAs should be cheaper.

And time ticks away on R Lewis's contract.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... n-5-110630

That is when we are sitting in the drivers set.

We are 25th of 30 teams in salary right now with only Nick to resign and these new conditions are going to make singing him for less more easy.

Ted and EG have us sitting pretty.

[hands11]

I have made this point before, but after last night's draft, and out of continued frustration at the lack of strategic foresight, I will make it again. At some point, the Wizards are going to have to start consolidating talent.

I don't get why you are frustrated. Sure, a consolidation trade in the not-too-distant future makes sense, but until now we haven't had enough marketable assets to make such a trade. This team has one star and perhaps two legit starters right now (Young and McGee). Rashard has no trade value because of his contract. Blatche has no trade value because of his attitude and contract.

Booker, Seraphin and Crawford have to prove something before their trade value becomes significant. We "bought low" on them, we now have to develop them before "selling high". Same with Vesely, Mack and Singleton.

Be patient. If this team goes out and wins 35-40 games, people will take notice. Then we can consider consolidation.

Good points, I do not understand the frustration either.

This team is awful, it's it just started year two of a total complete rebuild. It's where Cleveland is in June '12. What does on expect? What this team needs, is to grow quietly together, stink for another year, and have clarity on who sticks and who goes by February to May of '12 among McGee, and Blatche, and to have anoter quality pick for what should be an outstanding draft in '12. The worst thing that could happen would be to get too good too fast, it also strikes me as highly unlikely. This next year is for figuring out what McGee is, and playing up Blatche's value so he can be traded, and further integratin and growing the pieces around wall and eval'ing them like Seraphin so we know what to do with our 1st rounder next June, and what to sell at the '13 deadline, and what to pursue in probably the '12 or '13 FA class.

This is going to take time. It should have started in the summer of '09 two years ago, but it didnt, it started last year, it feels like three years into the rebuildbut it isn't, its just the start of year two, we need to face that and accept it. Shotcuts get you Redskins '93-Present. Do we want that?

Exactly. This is year two and the plan is going to take 3-5 years. The sad thing is we wasted so many years under EFJ and Abe.

2-3 years of EFJ would have been enough. Then they needed to transition. This would have been a straighter line instead of a failed rebuild. They could have traded Gil and AJ in their final years before resigning both for to much.

[Kanyewest]

Presumably we're committed to (stuck with?) re-signing Young this summer - or whenever the league reopens its doors for business. We have absolutely no one other than Crawford who can even conceivably play SG. I really hope this doesn't affect the Young situation, either by his agent holding out for more b/c he knows the Wiz have to sign him, or from other teams trying to take advantage of the situation (all dependent on the new CBA, of course).

While I want to bring back Young at an affordable price, I think the Wizards will have no qualms letting him go if he's overpaid. Crawford can be used as a stopgap; he did play 33 minutes per game in Washington. The Wizards could also get a 1 year rental in someone like Mo Evans or use a trade to take on expiring contract.

Of course, I think management values Young more than some people on this board. It wouldn't surprise me if he got $6 million a year under a pre-lockout collective bargaining agreement.

[Kanyewest]

I'm sure the goal is for McGee to be a Noah like player. Physically, there's nothing standing in his way (well, except that Noah has better feet that help him defend the pick and roll better). Most of the difference is mental. McGee needs to take the same pride in defense and rebounding as he does in getting dunks on the fast break.

I don't think McGee has the same skill of rebounding that is necessarily obtainable for him. While McGee is much more athletic, Noah is probably even smarter than the difference athletically. Noah seems to have sonar by the loose balls, not to mention that his defensive rotations are great. Of course, Noah is pretty bad offensively- his hands were terrible although hopefully it was just the result of a thumb injury against Miami that caused him to struggle so much (I say hopefully because I hope Chicago beat Miami next postseason!)