Wizards - A good or bad Free Agent Destination?

[mohammed10]

Saw something similar on the trade board and found it to be thought-provoking...

Do you consider Washington to be a good or bad FA destination? I have been a Wizards/Bullets fan for decades. I've long since realized that Washington is not an ideal FA destination. Our home-grown talent from local schools like Georgetown and Maryland don't yearn to return. 'Local' legends like Durant (even though he has mentioned the remote possibility of returning home, has never been open about one day donning a Wizards uni) or Melo (when he was a on the market or as a FA, didn't include Washington in his list of potential destinations the first time around or now). Players like Gay (I know, we don't want him) and G Monroe are not clamoring to come. Basically, top-flight FA's are not attracted to playing in the DMV.

Everything I have read mentions that it is a 'losing culture', poor front office, below average facilities, medical team is poor, DC is a football town, media is tough to deal with, etc.

So, what do you think about our favorite team? Please try to as objective as you can be.

[jeffsays]

I had to vote no. I think DC is a great city, but unfortunately the Wizards haven't had enough consistent success to attract top players. I think that if the Wizards can make it the playoffs repeatedly, then free agents would recognize that we are only a few pieces away from being contenders.

As far as homegrown talent not coming back, 1) Most of the time they will take whoever pays them the most. 2) some players feel more pressure when playing in front of friends and family, not to mention all the people asking for tickets. Plus, Greg Monroe and Melo don't have destination lists yet. We should wait until free agency starts before we declare DC a no FA zone.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

The name Wizards sucks.

[gambitx777]

I would not say no, but it's not a yes either. It's a big market city, the team is willing to spend, and its the nations capital. The problem is that EG can be stupid and young players get miss handled a lot. So I think it depends. stars and vets will probably have DC on there list because they know they will be treated better than younger guys and they will probably be over paid. But younger guys and young role players will probably go else where.

[Ruzious]

It's a great destination IF their management has a good reputation. Unfortunately, that IF continues to be elusive.

[mohammed10]

It's a great destination IF their management has a good reputation. Unfortunately, that IF continues to be elusive.

Since I posed the question, I will attempt to answer as well:

Every NBA city has attractive features. Even the cities where you hear horror stories (Cleveland, Detroit, Oakland, Salt Lake City), there are still great places in those cities as well, so my comment will be (mostly) basketball related. As of today, Washington is definitely NOT a good FA destination. Why?

- The organization is lackluster since late 70s/early 80s (only two seasons with 44+ wins since 1979(!) and only 9 seasons of .500 or better during the same time period. Let that sink in for a minute....9 winning seasons in 35. Let's face it, no one will equate this franchise with winning.
- Washington has generally transplanted fans from around the country and world. No real rabid Wizards/Bullets fans (other than the ones on this board) and there are often games where the opposition has more fans in the Phone Booth than the home team (i.e. - Miami, Lakers, Celtics, etc.). Thus, Ted has no motivation to move this franchise into being competitive year in, year out.
- Players who end up here often speak well of the experience (some even stay!), but it's not a place for young millionaires who care about their 'brand'. Despite being the nation's capital, the DMV is not a media market. Thus, revenue streams are not like can be had in NY or LA. Instead, we are an NBA mid-market team (at best). Heck, we can't even get ONE national coverage game!

...and I didn't even comment on the current leadership of the franchise (i.e. - Ted, Ernie and Whitman)

[fishercob]

I disagree with the premise. Money talks. Players sign where they can get the most money. When money is equal, they sign where they have a better chance to win.

You think OJ Mayo went into free agency last summer hoping to end up in Milwaukee? He got 24,000,000 reasons to sign there.

[Ruzious]

I disagree with the premise. Money talks. Players sign where they can get the most money. When money is equal, they sign where they have a better chance to win.

You think OJ Mayo went into free agency last summer hoping to end up in Milwaukee? He got 24,000,000 reasons to sign there.

Wait what? But... Oh, I'll just let Weezer say it... awesomely

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98pDUYb6CQI[/youtube]

[mohammed10]

I disagree with the premise. Money talks. Players sign where they can get the most money. When money is equal, they sign where they have a better chance to win.

You think OJ Mayo went into free agency last summer hoping to end up in Milwaukee? He got 24,000,000 reasons to sign there.

Fish-

So we can add you to the bad destination vote? Because, by your own definition, Ernie keeps us near the cap with his Okariza-esque trades.

Being constantly Grunfelded makes us a bad FA spot.

[fishercob]

You don't need a science fair project to prove that Ernie is a bad GM. But that is beside the point.

This franchise was poorly run last year and Martell chose to sign here as a UFA, so did Maynor. So did Harrington, who may have had other options given the fact that he signed for the minimum.

[Hypnotizer]

2nd round (or higher) of the playoffs - good destination;
1st r - mediocre dest.;
no playoffs? - run away.

[WallToWall]

I would say no. We had the chance to make a change when the Ted came into the picture. A change on the top can effect a culture change. Unfortunately this didnt happen. Now, when EG's contract is over with, we will have a chance to make a splash if we hire the right kind of GM. Someone who is viewed as a winner, and can effect the change needed. Someone with the clout of Reiley, Pops, etc. You get someone like that and FA's know that there will be a commitment to winning. A similar mark can be made with the coach. Upgrading the rest of the team facilities? No comment on that...I dont know how that compares to other teams (I've never seen their workout rooms, etc). But, if players say it is subpar, then a chance is needed. Next, our FO needs to find ways to entice players here that is within the bounds of what can be done in the NBA. If we want to project a family atmosphere, then extend it to the players too. Free tickets for their family to baseball games, Smithsonian, free nanny service...you know, those little things. Do something that stands out.

[barelyawake]

You cannot equate the 1970s DC to 2014 DC as a free agent destination. And you cannot compare the Ted run Wizards to the Pollin run Wizards. The fact is we don't have enough time to see whether a Ted run Wizards will or won't "go for it" and make bold moves to build a championship team. We will know in the next coming three years.

In terms of DC being a destination town, it is a destination town for other millionaires and billionaires of every other profession, why would it not be for basketball? Were I to move, and having extensively, exhaustively, travelled the US, there are maybe a handful of other places I would live besides DC (in America). Comparing DC to Cleveland and Detriot by saying "every city has its good side" is laughable. DC has so much more than most cities in terms of clubs, restaurants, entertainment, culture, schools, etc it's ridiculous to compare them.

PS DC is a football town because the basketball team under Pollin sucked. It certainly has been a basketball town outside of the NBA. We produce great basketball players on our local, high school and collegic courts. And Ted has the opportunity to exploit that market if/when he makes the moves to shoot for a ring.

[hands11]

If I was a player, I think there are other places I would rather live then here.

Miami
Orlando
LA have two teams
NY if that's your thing. Brk if you want access to NY.

That's if you like big cities or warm weather and babes.

Boston is a cool place. Interesting people that like to style and have a good time.

Then if you like a little slower pace and country folk you have all kinds of places. 3 places in TX. Houston, SA, and Dallas. I think this can be more conductive to a strong fan base of real fans.

There are just better places to be then DC. If your going to land in DC, you may as well land in Chicago. DC being such a politics place I think kind of ruins the flavor.

If you want a big city things, there are better places. If you want small town hardcore fans, DC isn't that either.

As for just the team. Yes, it would be a good place now. They have a nice core of vets that other players can plug into. A Miller, TA, Webby, Nene, Gortat and plus you have Wall. If I was a looking to get on a playoff team and contribute, I would feel comfortable with that. I would think a SG looking to land someplace as an off the bench contributor might be looking here.

[pancakes3]

Gotta agree with Fish on this one. The city's location is fairly low on the hierarchy of what players look for as a free agent. Me personally, I would consider:
Money
Money
Money
Money
Money
Championship potential
Roster/Coaching
GM/Ownership/Facilities
Location.

Athletes know that they have a limited window to make money and the fact that the money is guaranteed makes the destination largely irrelevant. I can see how in the NFL where the money isn't guaranteed, you'd want to consider schemes and fit but not the NBA.

[barelyawake]

Hands, let's take basketball out of this, why is a young millionaire going to Orlando or Houston over DC? Have you been to those towns? If you say weather, fine. Besides weather, those cities have absolutely nothing that isn't far surpassed by the DMV. Houston is an awful city. I would never even think of living there.

And why would you rank Boston over DC? DC has better weather and much better restaurants, clubs, entertainment, etc. The strip clubs alone in Boston are so bad that everyone in the city travels an hour away to Providence for them.

There is a reason why DC has seven of the top ten wealthiest suburbs in America (when those millionaires could opt to live anywhere in the US). It's because we have more exclusive clubs, spas, suites, chefs tables, schools, VIP rooms, investment opportunities, etc etc than any other city not called LA, Vegas, Chicago or New York. And in five years, the National Harbor is going to be another Atlantic City (but for the wealthy set) as well as the rest of the area continuing to bloom at exponential rates.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Hands, let's take basketball out of this, why is a young millionaire going to Orlando or Houston over DC? Have you been to those towns? If you say weather, fine. Besides weather, those cities have absolutely nothing that isn't far surpassed by the DMV. Houston is an awful city. I would never even think of living there.

And why would you rank Boston over DC? DC has better weather and much better restaurants, clubs, entertainment, etc. The strip clubs alone in Boston are so bad that everyone in the city travels an hour away to Providence for them.

There is a reason why DC has seven of the top ten wealthiest suburbs in America (when those millionaires could opt to live anywhere in the US). It's because we have more exclusive clubs, spas, suites, chefs tables, schools, VIP rooms, investment opportunities, etc etc than any other city not called LA, Vegas, Chicago or New York. And in five years, the National Harbor is going to be another Atlantic City (but for the wealthy set) as well as the rest of the area continuing to bloom at exponential rates.

What exactly are you smoking this morning?

[barelyawake]

Lol old man needs to get out more and stop wishing for the old days.

Please tell me what I said that was in error.

PS I work for an art auction house selling art to rich folk. Almost every weekend I'm in a new city. I've been to Houston (for instance) twice this year alone. Boston once. Vegas three times. New York once. Denver once. Miami once. Chicago once. And it is not even March. Last year I went to Vegas ten times. Chicago a dozen. Boston half a dozen. Etc. And the year before. And the year before. I know of which I speak on this topic.

[pancakes3]

BA, I don't think the difference in the cities are as pronounced as you think. LIke Dat's draft tiers, I think many cities are more or less interchangeable, and can be divided into ranks of "desirability". I personally don't really see much difference outside of personal preference for a city like Boston or DC (metro area, not city proper).

LA, Chicago, NY, Miami are in a league of their own.

New Orleans, Memphis, Boston, DC, Atlanta, and SF (GSW) would be a step below and I think you'd be hard pressed to make a convincing case that any one of those cities is definitively better.

*Toronto, Portland, Denver and formerly Seattle are somewhere here. Not quite as comprehensively nice as the aforementioned yet decidedly better than the cities that follow it.

San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, OKC, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis are nondescript urban areas that I'm sure have some redeeming features but are also burdened with all the suckiness of being in a flyover state. This might be (East) Coast Bias talking.

*Philly is somewhere here, but only just so.

Charlotte, Sacramento, Orlando, Phoenix, Detroit, and Cleveland are just pits.

Salt Lake City. SLC is lucky to be NBA affiliated because if given the chance at a 10-day in SLC and being a d-league all-star for the Austin Toros? I'd strongly consider sticking around in Austin.

[Illmatic21]

Pro athletes love Chocolate City.. Jalen Rose talks about it all the time.

DC is one of the hottest cities for nightlife and extracurricular entertainment. If the Wizards were a better managed franchise you'd see a lot of players wanting to come here. Obviously they're far from being "well managed" right now.