RealGM

Hey, I'm from the Sixers forum, and we're doing a mock draft. I have the Wizards, so I was looking into some insight as to what is this team's direction, cap space, and how their young players (McGee, Young, Blatche, Thornton) developed last season.

What I'm thinking is to see what offers I can get for the #1, keep Arenas, and trade away Josh Howard. That way, we'll have money to go after some big names this offseason, and we should have a good looking team from all the players and picks we can get for the #1.

On Arenas, I just think he's way more valuable to the Wizards than anyone else, and he's still a good player. He's a great shooter at the PG spot, something that is increasingly hard to find these days. He would fit well next to a high profile wing player that we can get this offseason.

I know Arenas is leaving the Wizards in real life, but I would hold on to him. The dude's a lil whacky, and he was lucky to JUST be suspended the rest of the year for having guns in the locker room. But I expect him to have learned his lesson, or at least be able to stay out of trouble and be effective.

Sandalf42 wrote:Hey, I'm from the Sixers forum, and we're doing a mock draft. I have the Wizards, so I was looking into some insight as to what is this team's direction, cap space, and how their young players (McGee, Young, Blatche, Thornton) developed last season.

What I'm thinking is to see what offers I can get for the #1, keep Arenas, and trade away Josh Howard. That way, we'll have money to go after some big names this offseason, and we should have a good looking team from all the players and picks we can get for the #1.

On Arenas, I just think he's way more valuable to the Wizards than anyone else, and he's still a good player. He's a great shooter at the PG spot, something that is increasingly hard to find these days. He would fit well next to a high profile wing player that we can get this offseason.

I know Arenas is leaving the Wizards in real life, but I would hold on to him. The dude's a lil whacky, and he was lucky to JUST be suspended the rest of the year for having guns in the locker room. But I expect him to have learned his lesson, or at least be able to stay out of trouble and be effective.

Who's your source...??

I don't see any offer you'll get that's better than a franchise PG in John Wall. The team already debuted a twin-guard attack at the end of the year, showcasing for free agent Shawn Livingston what it might look like running next to Gil, and Gilbert has had success in the past next to Larry Hughes in a similar role. Don't buy the bad press about Gilbert, there is still a majority of fans who stand behind him as our guy. He's got good credit among the ordinary local ball fans as an all around good guy. This is a forgiving city; we elected Marion Barry a few times.

I suspect the team would prefer to rehabilitate Gilbert's value then keep an ear open for interest, but they're well prepared to keep him. And there is absolutely no way they will trade John Wall. Flip Saunders has been gushing about him since well before the lotto, and now that he's shown himself to be a quality character guy, a student of the game, breaking down X's & O's etc, you got to know Saunders is slavering to mold him as a protege in the system that made Marbury Starbury and that rehabilitated Billups as a starting PG.

You can debate the merits of various top contenders one way or the other, and there are fair points to be raised, but they're all moot. The front office will not trade John Wall. New owner Teddy Leonsis has already name-checked the kid a few times. He's the incipient face of the franchise.

No. Where it gets interesting is later down (picks 30 & 35). This team has holes all over.

Starting Center is a need. McGee is a highlight reel standout, but unreliable in the non-flashy aspects of frontcourt work. We need a burly banger who has fundamental strengths. Rebounding, setting hard picks and pin-down screens. We need a reliable finisher down low.

We need perimeter defense for Flip's preferred zone. He likes a player who can guard positions 1-3 and still hit a jumper on the catch-and-shoot.

We need a two-way player to contest at 2-guard. We need a back-up skilled PF with a little range or midrange game to allow room for our perimeter slashers to attack the basket.

We need a three point threat. We need defense all over the court. We need veteran quality character, players with wining records or championship resumes as key players at the lower level. Winning attitude, willingness to be coached, fundamentally strong players with good motor. Fortunately there's a swarm of those sort of players in this draft.

Fans on this board would like to use our cap-space in trade to accept lousy (but expiring) contracts in exchange for extra picks. Doesn't work so well in a fantasy draft I know, but that's what we're looking at.

Sandalf42 wrote:Hey, I'm from the Sixers forum, and we're doing a mock draft. I have the Wizards, so I was looking into some insight as to what is this team's direction, cap space, and how their young players (McGee, Young, Blatche, Thornton) developed last season.

What I'm thinking is to see what offers I can get for the #1, keep Arenas, and trade away Josh Howard.

Howard has a team option that the Wizards will not excercise.

Sandalf42 wrote: That way, we'll have money to go after some big names this offseason, and we should have a good looking team from all the players and picks we can get for the #1.

The only possible real-life package I would see being accepted by the Wizards would be a Lopez and 3rd pick from the Nets. However I doubt the Nets offer that. Wall really projects quite a bit better than the rest of the draft, so it is hard to get value by trading out of the pick.
I had the Wizards in a GM-A-Team game. I got the 1st pick and traded it for Cousins and Darren Collison. However that was before Cousins disappointing combine.

Sandalf42 wrote:I know Arenas is leaving the Wizards in real life, but I would hold on to him. The dude's a lil whacky, and he was lucky to JUST be suspended the rest of the year for having guns in the locker room. But I expect him to have learned his lesson, or at least be able to stay out of trouble and be effective.

I think Arenas is with the Wizards at least until the trade deadline. Until Wall develops a consistent NBA 3 point shot, Arenas is not a bad guard to pair him with.