The RealGM Wizards Board Draft Thread 2008/2009

[mhd]

If we were trading the pick, it would be for a Kevin Martin type player. Not a simple dump.

The most palatable trade scenerio is Blatche+Songaila+Stevenson for Cardinal and a 1st rounder (Minny had 4).

[AgentOvechkin08]

If we are trading a top 5 pick, it better not be just to dump bad salary.

Boston got Ray Allen with the 5th pick, odds are we are going to pick a little higher.


I am just hoping we get the 1st pick and get Blake Griffin and not worry about it

[doclinkin]

Truth is though even with the 2nd worst record in the league, 44% of the time we're still picking 4th or 5th.

With the 3rd worst record we pick below the 3rd pick more than 50% of the time.

The 4th worst record means more than 60% of the time we'd pick outside the top 3. And after that, if we don't win a top 3 pick, we can pick no better than 5th.

There's a cluster of teams within one or two losses, the team is between a rock and a hard place. We want to sell tickets for next year, would like to trot Gil out there to showcase what we've all been waiting for. But the risks are pretty stark and steep and there's little room for error.

This draft has at most 3 assets people might battle for:
--Blake, the best player in the draft.
--Little Ricky, a possible franchise PG who will sell tickets, even to families with girls.
--Thabeet: an athletic defensive 7 footer in the middle.

Beyond that there's simply a mishmash of players of various aptitude and eptitude. Of the three, we'd keep Blake and auction the rest. But after that I don't see anyone that teams will try to overpay to get.

So in effect the realistic thing is to look at what players are interesting at the 4th pick-- Best Talent available, or if talent is reasonably equivalent, best talent at need position. And meanwhile, we'll probably continue to massage a few losses out of this roster. Not that it needs a ton of massage, but guys like Caron seem to get it, playing halfassed, waiting for inspiration to play up to Obama-level excitement.

[Ruzious]

If we were trading the pick, it would be for a Kevin Martin type player. Not a simple dump.

The most palatable trade scenerio is Blatche+Songaila+Stevenson for Cardinal and a 1st rounder (Minny had 4).

Yeah, if we get Griffin or Hill, it probably makes sense to do a trade where we give up Blatche to dump a salary and get a pick. And Minny is a good team to trade with.

Like Doc was saying, picking 4th or 5th is a good posibility, but Hill could still drop as low as 5. Griffin is a lock at 1. And if Rubio comes out; Rubio, Harden, and Thabeet could all go before Hill. Then, the Wiz could make a Blatche trade.

[Ruzious]

For the Thabeet haters, he's getting his re-match vs. Blair. Even though Pitt is up 38-28 at half, Thabby is getting a bit of vengeance. he's got 14 and 5, while Blair has 4 and 4. It's Sam Young's 16 and 5 that's leading Pitt.

[pancakes3]

Uconn-Pitt game ended with Thabeet with 14/13, and Blair with 8/8. Both player struggled but notably Thabeet missed all of his 2nd half shots including 2 shots late and then turned it over for a layup. Obviously Young was the player of the game and really shone offensively. This kid is a carbon copy of caron butler. Same size, same school, same game. Butler went in the late lottery, and this kid is projected to be in late 1st/early 2nd round?


lotto pick - 3 million. James - 6 mil. Etan - 6.5 mil. total: 15.5 mil.
Q - 9 mil. JJ - 6 mil. total: 15 mil.
James and Etan are corpses to me. They're wastes of space. At least Q and JJ are able to contribute albeit overpriced. I feel that the lotto pick outside of Griffin would not be as productive as Q + JJ for our team. This move shifts around the salaries and marginal talents to make it friendlier for both teams. Plus i'd sleep better at night knowing that we're not paying Etan 6.5 mllion to sit at home and write crappy beatnik poetry.

[dobrojim]

I'd be thrilled with either Griffin or Jordan Hill. If we can't get either of them I'd look to deal the pick in a move for either Okafor or David Lee. Maybe deal Caron with the pick for either of those guys.

Then deal for a SG ... Jamal Crawford, Larry Hughes, Michael Redd, Rip Hamilton, Jason Richardson, Joe Johnson are players I'd be looking at for an assortment of Etan, Songaila, Stevenson, James, Pecherov, Veremeenko, and our 2nd round pick. Maybe include Nick Young.

I like the plan but I can't see us getting anyone all that good for the garbage you
suggested. A team would have to be really desperate to give us any of the mostly
quite servicable or better SGs listed for one half decent role player (Songaila)
and a lot of bad contracts. And one big maybe potentially decent player (New York).

[Ruzious]

Uconn-Pitt game ended with Thabeet with 14/13, and Blair with 8/8. Both player struggled but notably Thabeet missed all of his 2nd half shots including 2 shots late and then turned it over for a layup. Obviously Young was the player of the game and really shone offensively. This kid is a carbon copy of caron butler. Same size, same school, same game. Butler went in the late lottery, and this kid is projected to be in late 1st/early 2nd round?


lotto pick - 3 million. James - 6 mil. Etan - 6.5 mil. total: 15.5 mil.
Q - 9 mil. JJ - 6 mil. total: 15 mil.
James and Etan are corpses to me. They're wastes of space. At least Q and JJ are able to contribute albeit overpriced. I feel that the lotto pick outside of Griffin would not be as productive as Q + JJ for our team. This move shifts around the salaries and marginal talents to make it friendlier for both teams. Plus i'd sleep better at night knowing that we're not paying Etan 6.5 mllion to sit at home and write crappy beatnik poetry.

Maybe a poor-man's Caron, but not the same school.

Wow, that's a really bad trade. At least add a 1st round pick going to the Wiz.

[nate33]

Uconn-Pitt game ended with Thabeet with 14/13, and Blair with 8/8. Both player struggled but notably Thabeet missed all of his 2nd half shots including 2 shots late and then turned it over for a layup. Obviously Young was the player of the game and really shone offensively. This kid is a carbon copy of caron butler. Same size, same school, same game. Butler went in the late lottery, and this kid is projected to be in late 1st/early 2nd round?


lotto pick - 3 million. James - 6 mil. Etan - 6.5 mil. total: 15.5 mil.
Q - 9 mil. JJ - 6 mil. total: 15 mil.

Yes, but the following year, Jeffries makes $6.5M which puts us over the luxury tax. Do you want to pay $13M for Jared freaking Jeffries? It's either that or say bye bye to both Haywood and McGuire.

It's an unbelievably bad trade. Like I said earlier, it's a terrible trade without even including the 1st rounder. I guarantee that if you offered Etan + James for Jeffries + QRich, every New York fan would agree to it without hesitation just to dump Jeffries' salary. To throw in the pick is just insanity.

[doclinkin]

Yes, but the following year, Jeffries makes $6.5M which puts us over the luxury tax. Do you want to pay $13M for Jared freaking Jeffries? It's either that or say bye bye to both Haywood and McGuire.

It's an unbelievably bad trade. Like I said earlier, it's a terrible trade without even including the 1st rounder. I guarantee that if you offered Etan + James for Jeffries + QRich, every New York fan would agree to it without hesitation just to dump Jeffries' salary. To throw in the pick is just insanity.

Additionally next year Etan and James become real commodities as expiring contracts. I'm pretty sure Etan's trade kicker even makes him worth a million bones extra in cap-wipe benefit. I'm confident we can parlay that alone into something worth more to this team than O-face and Q.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Just watching the highlight of Blake Griffin stealing a basketball, dribbling three-quarters of the court, and throwing down an absolutely SICK dunk; all I can say is I really, really, really hope the Wizards can get that top pick.

[closg00]

Yahoo's mock

2. Washington. Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut. He did struggle in Connecticut’s two losses, but overall, Thabeet has put to rest the criticism that he disappears in big games. The Wizards would love to add a guy of his size and shot-blocking ability, but it’s likely that the Wizards, conscious of the luxury tax, trade this pick.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[doclinkin]

Just watching the highlight of Blake Griffin stealing a basketball, dribbling three-quarters of the court, and throwing down an absolutely SICK dunk; all I can say is I really, really, really hope the Wizards can get that top pick.

Yes. Yes that's very true... Karma's got to count for something. Abe's a nice old man, let him retire happy.

[Rafael122]

How about Sam Young? 31 points and 10 boards against the top team in the country.

Regarding Terrence Williams, he reminds me of a less athletic Dwayne Wade. Same height almost, same style of game, but Williams is probably a worse shooter than Wade is. Or maybe a younger version of Antonio Daniels? A Rajon Rondo type, who can stuff the stat sheet?

Jerel McNeal had 25 pts today against Syracuse. Another guy to keep your eye on.

[mhd]

If we don't land either Griffin or Hill, I want to trade the pick (trade down scenerio). I just love Jordan Hill as a prospect. He's everything I look for in a big man.

[AgentOvechkin08]

How about Sam Young? 31 points and 10 boards against the top team in the country.

Regarding Terrence Williams, he reminds me of a less athletic Dwayne Wade. Same height almost, same style of game, but Williams is probably a worse shooter than Wade is. Or maybe a younger version of Antonio Daniels? A Rajon Rondo type, who can stuff the stat sheet?

Jerel McNeal had 25 pts today against Syracuse. Another guy to keep your eye on.

Raef, T will is one of the most explosive players/athletes in the country. I have seen him blow by his man, finish with authority, but is a streaky shooter.

What I am saying is, he isnt a less athletic D. Wade, because he is just as or even more athletic than D. Wade. Also T will is about 6'6 and he at one point was 5 for 5 from three against WVU tonight.

If he was to fall to our pick in the 2nd round, which is unlikely, i would take him in a heartbeat.

oh BTW, wathing Blake Griffin highlights against OK state was awesome, i am really prayin we get the top pick

[doclinkin]

There are a ton of shorter players I like this year. I forget who mentioned earlier but Eric Maynor is just fun to watch. He's another guy who will look loads better when he has finishers next to him. I look for big things from him if VCU can battle into the tourney. Cocksure, scrappy, loves the pressure. (Even the metaphysics confirm the opinion, love him as a cool competitor and teamleader too).

I want someone with a will to win and solid ball IQ who can make our Bigs look good.

Outside shot specialist, our own personal Boobie Gibson type: Jack McClinton is evil from deep. Scouting report suggest he does little else, but when I've see him he's always better than advertised. Nice quick hops lateral and backwards, unmatched quick release, good movement off the ball, good shimmy and drive. He looks short (no neck) but will measure out with a respectable armspan for his height; good strength, smart no-nonsense D, runs hard in both directions always. I suspect he'll look good at Portsmouth. And whoo he's an avalanche of threes, with Gilbertesque range. Any shot he puts up looks like God intended it to go in, no doubts or questions. I love a guy who can hit the breakaway pull up three to demoralize the opponent. And his handle is well-qualified at the next level. Don't care what anyone thinks, that's an NBA player right there. A Roger Mason replacement at the least. That's my 2nd round sleeper if he can last that long. This kid would be a nice fit. And he's a B'more product so you know he's tough, you know he can ball.

I'm coveting... I don't know why nobody has talked about this kid. Let's conspire to keep him on the hush hush.

[closg00]

Anyone see the Thabeet vs Blair rematch yesterday? I didn't see it, but from the write-ups Thabeet had the better stat-line in a losing effort.

[Ruzious]

Yes, but the following year, Jeffries makes $6.5M which puts us over the luxury tax. Do you want to pay $13M for Jared freaking Jeffries? It's either that or say bye bye to both Haywood and McGuire.

It's an unbelievably bad trade. Like I said earlier, it's a terrible trade without even including the 1st rounder. I guarantee that if you offered Etan + James for Jeffries + QRich, every New York fan would agree to it without hesitation just to dump Jeffries' salary. To throw in the pick is just insanity.

Additionally next year Etan and James become real commodities as expiring contracts. I'm pretty sure Etan's trade kicker even makes him worth a million bones extra in cap-wipe benefit. I'm confident we can parlay that alone into something worth more to this team than O-face and Q.

We could, but we won't because a trade like that - where we take on a player with a longer contract - would put us in lux tax danger for the next year and perhaps the year after that. Again - it's the Jamison contract that prevents us from taking advantage of what otherwise would have been assets.

[Rafael122]

Well, define longer? I'd happily trade James or Etan for a guy who has 1 more year on his contract. Then the next year, we'd have Songaila, Stevenson, and that player we get back in a trade all expiring. Try and repeat the process.

Look at the AI for Billups trade. AI is an expiring, but Billups' contract doesn't expire until 3 more years.