Who Will Be Gone?

[payitforward]

I imagine that we're going to see a trade soon to bring some "veteran stability" to the team. This will, I fear, mean the departure of two of our young, developing players.

Who do you think will go?

Well, it won't be Deni, obviously, & for the same obvious reasons it won't be Rui either. Neither Wagner nor Robinson have any particular value.

That leaves Bryant, Brown & Bonga as the most likely to depart. It might even be all 3 of them -- if the right washed-up veteran is available, that is.

But, actually Bryant seems the least likely to me for myriad reasons. So, if I had to guess, I'd say that Troy Brown Jr. & Isaac Bonga will soon be ex-Wizards.

My expectation is that this will signal the beginning of a complete collapse of the team.

I just thank God we didn't recognize that we needed to do a true rebuild. What a disaster that would be!

[NatP4]

Brooks

[Doug_Blew]

Of those 3, i'd prefer to keep Bonga. I'm not as high on Troy Brown or Bryant as most are on this board. I would like to get a rebounding / Defensive Big in their place. Miles Turner would be great.

[FAH1223]

Brooks

That's all that matters right now

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[NatP4]

Dear god, later in that same thread he was asked “did you learn anything from Brooks?” To which he replied “Yea, what not to do”

[TGW]

Brooks won't be going anywhere IMO, unless the team fails spectacularly in their first 20 games. There's no one trustworthy behind him to take over coaching duties. Just a bunch of guys who've been assistants their entire careers. I think Brown was the interim head coach with Brooklyn when they were tanking, so I don't consider that as much of a resume builder.

Right now, Brooks is the devil they know. He's also getting paid like he's Pop, and I don't see Leonsis paying a guy to leave.

My guess is a trade for a PJ Tucker type. Someone who's an old vet that the coaching staff and front office will "respect" and "teach the young guys how to win." Guys who can't play at a high level anymore.

Other players they might consider trading for include Bazemore, Deandre Jordan, Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, etc.

[nate33]

I don't think Sheppard will trade a young player for a veteran band-aid.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wagner and Robinson will be gone. Ish Smith might and the most logical choice is Troy Brown Jr.

The past performance of Wizards management is the best predictor. Oubre, Porter, Satoransky, and before them Seraphin. Vesely, Pecherov, — Geez, Javale, Nick Young were all jettisoned by age 25-26 IIRC.

Troy might go the way of Dom McGuire and Chris Singleton. I cannot see him successful at this point . Wizards draft and eat their young.

[Jimmy Recard]

Wagner and Robinson will be gone. Ish Smith might and the most logical choice is Troy Brown Jr.

The past performance of Wizards management is the best predictor. Oubre, Porter, Satoransky, and before them Seraphin. Vesely, Pecherov, — Geez, Javale, Nick Young were all jettisoned by age 25-26 IIRC.

Troy might go the way of Dom McGuire and Chris Singleton. I cannot see him successful at this point . Wizards draft and eat their young.

Troy will have a long and successful career. Just not here unfortunately.

[Meliorus]

Bonga and Troy. It's clear with the lack of minutes that the team doesn't really value them, and why should they, as they don't put up nice box score stats. I believe the Wizards organization views Deni, Rui, and Bryant as untouchables right now. The opinion on Bryant may be shifting a little though as the team realizes your center can't have stone feet on defense.

[nate33]

Wagner and Robinson will be gone. Ish Smith might and the most logical choice is Troy Brown Jr.

The past performance of Wizards management is the best predictor. Oubre, Porter, Satoransky, and before them Seraphin. Vesely, Pecherov, — Geez, Javale, Nick Young were all jettisoned by age 25-26 IIRC.

Troy might go the way of Dom McGuire and Chris Singleton. I cannot see him successful at this point . Wizards draft and eat their young.

Well, Pecherov, Vesely and Seraphin were out of the league after their stints here because they weren't any good. Satoransky was traded for younger assets (two high 2nd round picks).

Porter was let go once it was determined that the Wall/Beal/Porter/Morris/Gortat team had gone as far as it could go and it wasn't worth paying the luxtax to retain. That turned out to be a good move too given Porter's injury history and contract.

The only deal that was questionable was the Oubre dump. But even that one wasn't so bad given the cost/value of Oubre on his next contract. You could just as easily argue that each decision was wise and it's better to not throw good money after bad.

I don't think this history is an indictment of the team for not being loyal to players. It's an indictment of their poor drafting and/or poor player development.

[nate33]

I think Brooks will be fired before any of our rookie contract guys get traded for veterans.

It's also possible that one of our rookie contract guys gets traded for another rookie contract player. But I don't think we will trade young for old.

In a way, going 0-4 is better than going 3-1. If we kept winning, the team might be deluded enough into thinking that all we need is a "final piece" where we end up trading Brown for PJ Tucker. But by losing, it's starting to become evident that this team is a long way away and it may be time to shift from a "muddle through" strategy to a full on rebuild. If this continues, Beal will probably be the guy that is gone.

[nate33]

Brooks

That's all that matters right now

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Ouch!

[NatP4]

I think Brooks will be fired before any of our rookie contract guys get traded for veterans.

It's also possible that one of our rookie contract guys gets traded for another rookie contract player. But I don't think we will trade young for old.

In a way, going 0-4 is better than going 3-1. If we kept winning, the team might be deluded enough into thinking that all we need is a "final piece" where we end up trading Brown for PJ Tucker. But by losing, it's starting to become evident that this team is a long way away and it may be time to shift from a "muddle through" strategy to a full on rebuild. If this continues, Beal will probably be the guy that is gone.

Agreed. This is the best case scenario start to the season if Brooks gets fired.

I expect a coaching change, then a 15-20 game period to figure it out, if that doesn’t happen, Beal and Westbrook are moved, if it does happen, maybe a small trade at the deadline of Wagner or Ish to bring back a veteran piece to give a small boost.

[nate33]

I think Brooks will get at least 6 more games before he is fired. I'm sure right now he is saying that we are shorthanded because of the absence of Hachimura. As if no other team has to routinely deal with the 5th best player being out from time to time.

[payitforward]

I don't think Sheppard will trade a young player for a veteran band-aid.

He has said that he would not make a move that sacrificed the future for a few more wins now. That was great to hear.

But, Tommy is not Ted.

Overall, it's Leonsis rather than Sheppard who makes me worry.

I notice that people here jumped right in to suggest who should go.... To me, that says something about the "temperature" of Wizards fans right now -- something Leonsis attends to.

They might throw Brooks to the lions instead. But, again, that'd have to be decided by Leonsis.

Every problem the Wizards have can be traced back to Ted Leonsis.

[payitforward]

Wagner and Robinson will be gone. Ish Smith might and the most logical choice is Troy Brown Jr.

The past performance of Wizards management is the best predictor. Oubre, Porter, Satoransky, and before them Seraphin. Vesely, Pecherov, — Geez, Javale, Nick Young were all jettisoned by age 25-26 IIRC.

Troy might go the way of Dom McGuire and Chris Singleton. I cannot see him successful at this point . Wizards draft and eat their young.

Troy will have a long and successful career. Just not here unfortunately.

Agree 100% with the first half of that -- & fear the 2d half will also be true.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Every problem the Wizards have can be traced back to Ted Leonsis.

The thing is that Leonsis kept Grunfeld for 7 years after he should have been fired for having one of the worst organizations in sports, then hired Grunfeld's second in command. Even if we grant that Sheppard has a better strategy, we have to take execution into account.

[payitforward]

Bonga and Troy. It's clear with the lack of minutes that the team doesn't really value them, and why should they, as they don't put up nice box score stats. I believe the Wizards organization views Deni, Rui, and Bryant as untouchables right now. The opinion on Bryant may be shifting a little though as the team realizes your center can't have stone feet on defense.

??
Bonga & Troy both put up "nice box score stats" last season. Bryant doesn't "have stone feet on defense." & none of our losses can be pinned on any of those 3 guys....

All the same, you are probably right!

They certainly won't trade Deni, & I agree that they are "all in" on Rui (for better or worse).

[payitforward]

I think Brooks will be fired before any of our rookie contract guys get traded for veterans.

It's also possible that one of our rookie contract guys gets traded for another rookie contract player. But I don't think we will trade young for old.

In a way, going 0-4 is better than going 3-1. If we kept winning, the team might be deluded enough into thinking that all we need is a "final piece" where we end up trading Brown for PJ Tucker. But by losing, it's starting to become evident that this team is a long way away and it may be time to shift from a "muddle through" strategy to a full on rebuild.

If so, then maybe the losing will be worth it....

..If this continues, Beal will probably be the guy that is gone.

I.e. traded before he simply opts out? I can imagine that, yes.