09-10 WizFans Official Draft Thread II

[Ruzious]

so if there is all this talk from the wizards (leonsis) about acquiring another draft/lottery pick, how come they don't seem to be working out any of the players projected in the mid-late-lottery-n-teens?

I was wondering the same thing, I figured they saw what they wanted at the combines. That or Ernie......oh never mind.

Yeah, if they haven't seen enough of the major prospects already, there's something wrong their scouting methods. I think the team workouts are mainly useful for players from smaller schools or for players from bigger schools who were overshadowed or under-utilized.

[w dumseld]

Is Ted really reading these e-mails or does he have some flunky responding to these. Did others get similar replies?


Your wish is our command.Ted

Subject: How to fix the Wiz
In a message dated 6/12/2010 8:25:15 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time writes:
1. Get a competent medical staff. Most urgent task
2. BOYD - Get another good 1st round pick
3. Draft Wall and then go after SF and C talent
4. Reach out to Gil and pray his knees are right. Having his knee
surgeries at Sibley was unforgivable. Should have found the doctor who
does the Redskins knees. Must be rehabed to get some explosiveness back.
5. Replace Grunfeld after the draft. Seems he forgot to read
Moneyball. Get a modern GM. Mediocrity no longer acceptable.
6. Try and re-sign Livingston. Great if possible but probably difficult.
7. Get Flip to understand the goal is to develop the young talent, not
bench them when making mistakes and giving their PT to veterans that
listen better to the coach but aren't the future of the franchise.
8. Get some red back in the uni's.
9. Team building exercises or retreats. They must buy into the team
concept.
10. Preach defense and get a good defense coach.
11. Get lucky. Luck is the residue of design.

I can't express how happy I am you now own this team.

Best of luck!

[Kanyewest]

How many burly, post-up shooting guards are still in the league? Joe Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Roy and Brandon Rush are the only ones that come to mind. There are a few other tall SG's, but they're mostly finesse players who stay out on the wings. I don't think size differential will be a factor when Arenas tries to guard guys like Rudy Fernandez, Kevin Martin, Ray Allen and Manu Ginobili. Arenas also won't have trouble with the defensive specialist SG's like Thabo, Parker, Afflalo and Courtney Lee. That just leaves the short SG's who are roughly Arenas' size: J.Terry, Ben Gordon, Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick, etc.

So really, I guess my biggest concern with Arenas defending SG's is my same concern with Arenas defending PG's. Arenas hasn't shown that he is capable of being a consistently good defender at any position.

1) Dwayne Wade is pretty big and strong although most guards aren't quick enough to keep up with him either.
2) For every old guy that appears to be on their way out, rookies like Evan Turner enter the league who could be a bigger shooting guard
3) Caron Butler is one of the bigger shooting guards although it would be laughable to see him try to guard Arenas or John Wall
4) What about simply taller shooting guards like Kevin Martin or Richard Hamilton that can constantly shoot over Arenas with their height advantage? Those players also worry me because they are catch and shoot players.
5) Stephen Jackson, although he's naturally a small forward, plays shooting guard since they already have Gerald Wallace.


But yeah, Arenas will have problems defending some SGs not because he's defficient in height but because he's a ball watcher and gives up open shots, but also doesn't do a good job in general slowing down penetration against quicker guards.

[AceDegenerate]

Arenas defending SGs will overall hurt the Wizards less than Arenas defending PGs.

The Wizards were still a pretty good team with Arenas guarding PGs every night.

Opposing SGs now have to guard him too, while he's in attack mode and not trying to imitate Chris Paul.

[closg00]

ESPN's 10 Most-likely draft busts via draft.net
http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/10-most-l ... raft-busts

[nate33]

I was surprised he had Paul George on the list, but I couldn't really disagree with the rest of his choices.

[dobrojim]

I will be very curious to see if/how well we end up doing with a BOYD
type deal. It seems clear from what Ted and others have said that this
is something they are interested. I just wonder how desperate some
of these teams may be to unload a bad contract. If we could even get
another top 15 pick, I would be VERY pleased.

[no D in Hibachi]

Atlanta Hawks: Don’t Expect Immediate Help From Draft

Here is a Q & A with the Hawks assistant GM concerning the 24th pick. He seems very disappointed with the crop of players slated in the late first round. Obviously the Hawks and Wiz are in two totally different situations. They need a win now type player, while the Wiz can go for the project range big. It makes me think that he's setting the fan base up to feel all doom and gloom about the pick so when they trade it with Mo Evens for cap space no one gets their panties in a twist. This might be good for the Wiz.

[LyricalRico]

Atlanta Hawks: Don’t Expect Immediate Help From Draft

Here is a Q & A with the Hawks assistant GM concerning the 24th pick. He seems very disappointed with the crop of players slated in the late first round. Obviously the Hawks and Wiz are in two totally different situations. They need a win now type player, while the Wiz can go for the project range big. It makes me think that he's setting the fan base up to feel all doom and gloom about the pick so when they trade it with Mo Evens for cap space no one gets their panties in a twist. This might be good for the Wiz.

[dobrojim]

The 24th might be decent (or not) but to get me really excited, I think we
have to (and I'm sure they are trying) get something a bit higher than that.

some of these guys in the 15-20 range sound intriguing.

[no D in Hibachi]

I think it starts with the 24th then the 18th from Miami. At that point the Wiz have the ammo and cap space to really jump up.

[Hoopalotta]

I think it starts with the 24th then the 18th from Miami. At that point the Wiz have the ammo and cap space to really jump up.

Exactly, it's a means to an end.

Some teams in the late lottery sound like they might trade down, but I don't know if anyone is willing to just up and trade out all together for the sake of 100% pure cap space.

That Atlanta article definitely looks very promising; In skimming it, I can just about hear the team statement about "financial flexibility going forward" after the sale.

[pcbothwel]

I know it has been brought up here before, but I still think the fact that IND needs a Pg(none besides Wall worthy of lottery pick) and NOH need cap space could work. Something along the lines of:

Was Out: Q. Ross, TPE
Was In: P. Stojakovic, #11

IND Out: #10, S. Jones
IND IN: Collison

NOH Out: #11 P. Stojakovic, Collison
NOH In: #10 Q. Ross, S. Jones, TPE

I think the 3 teams match up well and each team is in a different position.

[no D in Hibachi]

To think of it, If I'm Indiana I'd rather keep the pick and just sign Livingston. Livingston could be had for a 3/9m type deal. Collison is better but Livingston and Babbitt is better than Collison.

[Hoopalotta]

The trouble for Indiana is that they're over the tax and will be hard pressed to spend the MLE on a guard who is pointy.

I think the rumors of them trading down and clearing at least $3 million make a lot of sense, but if they clear more than that, I could see them going after Livingston, yeah.

[closg00]

Posted this in the Other Moves thread, but it's worth posting here.

The Raptors appear to be closing in on a trade for an additional first-round pick. Colangelo has called every team with multiple picks looking for something in the 20s, according to sources. He’s offering cash (the team can pay up to $3 million for a pick) to any team that doesn’t want to make a three-year commitment to a late first rounder. A few teams, including the Thunder and Nets, have said no. But teams with multiple first-round picks (like the Grizzlies) or teams trying to save cash or a luxury tax hit (see the Orlando Magic) are in Colangelo’s sights.

[Rafael122]

I've read that Memphis is a team that would package their picks and move up though. Let the rumors begin I guess.

[pancakes3]

the heat have 2 guys under contract next season, 2 guys with team options (James Jones for 5 mil?) and ambitions to take on 2 max contracts. i'm sure our 30th and 35th would be intriguing for their 18th overall.

[mtrean2]

Hey fellas,

Long time reader here, finally starting to post. I was thinking about something that may be a nice discussion while we wait for the draft next week.

My ideal draft would consist of Wall at #1 and hopefully another late lottery pick via BOYD. Anyways, I was thinking about my favorite choices if we were to acquire a late lotto pick.

I think my top 2 would be Henry or Aldrich and here's why. (not Kansas fan, they just happen to fit what I think the zards need)

I think Henry would be the perfect fit with Wall for the next decade. He's young, athletic, can shoot, plays D, and is (at least while at Kansas) ok with being a role player. Out of all of the wings in this draft Henry's my favorite and very underrated in my opinion. The wiz have the stars/scorers in Wall/Arenas/Blatche. What we need our defensive role players that can shoot, and I think Henry fits the bill. I think the other wings expected to go late lotto (George & Babbitt) both have question marks for playing D, and therefore, aren't what we need.

If not Henry, then I'd love Aldrich. I agree with everyone who says he won't be a star but will be a solid C. Well that's not easy to find. When watching the finals, you can see how important interior D and rebounding are. Bynam and Perkins aren't blowing up, but they are extremely important in protecting the paint and getting boards. I think Aldrich will do a good job at clogging the middle and getting boards. I also think Aldrich is the perfect complement to JM at C and would be a nice fit next to Blatche.

Anyways, those would be my two picks. I'd love to get both, but I know that's not happening. What do you guys think about my picks and who would you take?

[LyricalRico]

Long time reader here, finally starting to post. I was thinking about something that may be a nice discussion while we wait for the draft next week.

My ideal draft would consist of Wall at #1 and hopefully another late lottery pick via BOYD. Anyways, I was thinking about my favorite choices if we were to acquire a late lotto pick.

I think my top 2 would be Henry or Aldrich and here's why. (not Kansas fan, they just happen to fit what I think the zards need)

<snip>

Anyways, those would be my two picks. I'd love to get both, but I know that's not happening. What do you guys think about my picks and who would you take?

Welcome! I've also been an Aldrich supporter. If the Wiz had gotten screwed in the lottery again and ended up in the 6-8 range, he might have even been my pick. I know he doesn't have gaudy stats, but we know he can defend and has the size to play in the NBA (I think him measuring small at the Chicago pre-draft camp was a mistake).

I'm not as high on Henry as a potential Wiz pick because all signals indicate that Gil really is coming back to the team to play SG. I don't doubt Henry's talent and he could probably play some SF, but I'd rather get a guy who has legit NBA SF size. Of course, you could always make the argument that Henry could still get 30mpg if we used Gil at PG some and that once it's time to sign Henry to a new contract, Gil's will be expiring. I can't really argue with that. Then there's the "Melo in 2011" plan that would also make drafting a SF redundant.

I guess my point is that if we can get back into the late lottery, Aldrich would probably be the guy I'd go for strictly out of need. Sometimes drafting for need gets teams in trouble but I think he'll be a solid enough pro to at least justify the reach.