Free Agency Thread

[pineappleheadindc]

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We're entering the free agency period. Consolidate your thoughts, opinions, convos and such here. We're not just talking NBA player free agents, but also undrafted players who we want to sign to a summer league or training camp contract type of FAs.

EG has stated publicly that the Wizards first priority is to re-sign our UFA - Gil and AJ. And then? RMJr? Anyone you want to throw the MLE at? (Hey Nate, do we have the LLE this year? I always lose track).

Discuss.

[nate33]

We have two needs right now:

A third string PG: preferably one who is young enough to take over for AD as he ages, and who is quick enough to stay in front of ultraquick penetrators like T.J. Ford and Allen Iverson.

A second string veteran defensive SF: somebody with good size and length to bother Lebron and Melo.

We'll probably have little more than the veteran minimum available to go after these guys. At best EG can negotiate Arenas and Jamison down enough to give us about $3-4M in total cash available.

At PG, I like:
Kevin Ollie (+10.6 on/off differential for Philly in limited minutes)
Chris Duhon (always a tough defender)
Jason Hart (capable backup)

At SF, I like:
Trevor Ariza (player option on $3.1M from LA. Doubt he'd leave that to play here)
Mickael Pietrus (probably too expensive)
Matt Barnes (probably too expensive)

I think it's possible to pick up one of those PG's on the cheap. The SF's will probably be too expensive. EG might have to go back to the well one more time with Mike Hall or take a look around the D League and Euro leagues. I have no faith in any walk-on rookie out of college making a defensive impact in his first season. Defense takes experience.

[nate33]

(Hey Nate, do we have the LLE this year? I always lose track).

Yes. We have the LLE, and the MLE, of course.

The issue, as usual, is the luxury tax. We have $28.1M in luxtax space excluding Arenas and Jamison. We have about $25.6M in luxtax space next year. If you can guess how much Arenas+Jamison will cost in their first two contractual years, you will know how much we have available for free agents.

[Dat2U]

What's the necessity in signing a FA? We aren't going to sign anyone. We just (yawn) need our team to stay healthy and see what they can do for an entire season. Continuity is important to a team's success. I'm not sure we'd want to risk that continuity by messing with our current rotation.

(sigh)

Plus were expecting internal development from our young guys. We expect continued improvement from Blatche & Young and they'll be key pieces in a 9-10 man rotation. Also Pech & McGuire will be working on their games and will have the opportunity to challenge for playing time. (scratches balls).

Finally, I think there's real reason to be optimisitc. We've got a solid coaching staff who's working vigourously on improving defense as seen in the strides we made last season. When taking account all the injuries (rolls eyes), making the playoffs last year and pushing the Cavs in the 1st round was a real accomplishment.

[Ruzious]

Dat, I sense just a touch of sarcasm in your posts.

Russell Robinson would be a nearly ideal 3rd PG to pick up on the cheap for the Wiz. Outstanding on ball defender, built like a running back, knows his role and does it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/pr ... erId=22176

[tkunit]

Trade Etan, it will never happen but we can hope.

[newslowsad]

Ivan redeems himself:

Folks I spoke to say that the 14th and or 15th spot will likely go to veteran or at least an experienced player (or two if they keep 15). Also, the Wiz haven't given up on the idea of retaining Roger Mason Jr.

Of course, what happens at the back end of the roster will depend on how much it will cost to keep Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison and where the salary cap numbers come in. Typically, the cap rises about $2 or $3 million each year and the luxiury tax threshold rises at a similar rate. The Wiz will have the mid-level but whether they are able to use the entire thing will depend on where Gilbert and Antawn's numbers come in at.

Ernie said he'd like to add more a veteran type PG for the SL squad but added that it can be difficult to do that because vets don't like playing in SL. Last year's PG, Aaron Miles is a possibility. Remember, Miles signed overseas last summer for good money when he realized that the Wiz probably weren't going to keep more than 13.

[TheKingOfVa360]

What's the necessity in signing a FA? We aren't going to sign anyone. We just (yawn) need our team to stay healthy and see what they can do for an entire season. Continuity is important to a team's success. I'm not sure we'd want to risk that continuity by messing with our current rotation.

(sigh)

Plus were expecting internal development from our young guys. We expect continued improvement from Blatche & Young and they'll be key pieces in a 9-10 man rotation. Also Pech & McGuire will be working on their games and will have the opportunity to challenge for playing time. (scratches balls).

Finally, I think there's real reason to be optimisitc. We've got a solid coaching staff who's working vigourously on improving defense as seen in the strides we made last season. When taking account all the injuries (rolls eyes), making the playoffs last year and pushing the Cavs in the 1st round was a real accomplishment.

Good point no way Abe Pollin goes over the luxury tax to add good players to the team. After we sign our draft picks, Arenas, and Jamison (hopefully not) we won't have much wiggle room

[AAEXPRESS]

I would like to see us make a serious effort to improve our rebounding and defensive deficiencies. Unless those issues get addressed in the offseason it will be business as usual. We all know defense wins championships, and until the Wiz address those issues we will be at best a middle of the pack team, which will not be built to win a championship.

One person that intrigues me is Kelenna Azubuike, though I see he is a shooting guard, I would be in love with him if he was a SF. I also like James Posey though I am sure we cannot afford him. For EJ's sake we need to have 2 good defensive minded people that will allow him to keep AJ and Gil on the bench when we need a stop down the stretch.

The Wiz have enough people that can put the ball in the bucket so defense and rebounding is the name of the game.

[johnbragg]

A guy who I'm always in favor of getting for cheap: Devean George. Pretty good defender, passer, not a self-check on offense, a pro who's been on winning teams. If Dallas kicks him to the curb, DC is as good a spot as any to pick up veteran minimum money. A guy who could give you 10-14 quality minutes backing up Caron, or 24-28 if Caron is out.

[MF23]

The Wizards need rebounding and defense. They really need to improve in defensive rebounding. Resigning everyone is good but Roger Mason's #'s are going to go down with a healthy Gil. There is no point in overpaying for a 5th guard. That's why the Head trade seemed good to me. His salary matched up to what the Wizards would require out of him.

[AlohaWiz]

Maybe this has been brought up before, but to address the third PG situation the Wizards could do a trade with Memphis:

Wizards send Pecherov + the lottery protected draft pick acquired from Memphis and receive Kyle Lowry.

The deal gives Memphis back what will likely be a lottery pick for them (and most likely won't have much value to the Wizards) and a 7 foot prospect.

The Wizards get a quick, strong defensive minded PG that can either play back-up in case of injury to Arenas or Daniels, or come in at appropriate times for defensive purposes. Lowry is only 6 foot and 175 pounds and lacks a great offensive game, but he wouldn't need to put up points on this team.

Rather than trying to re-sign Mason, use the money to look for a free agent small forward to back up Caron (unless DMac has made huge strides from last year). James Posey would be great if he's available and the Wizards have cap space to sign him.

[jivelikenice]

Hopefully with the additional cash Abe will step up and use the MLE this year. Inexcusable if he doesn't considering he just sold a pick for cash.

I like Duhon as a backup pg and Barnes as a backup SF. I don't think Pietrus would come here if he weren't starting. We maye be able to split the MLE and sign both; otherwise I would consider offering the Grizz their pick back and maybe the cash they got from the Celts for Lowry or Crittendon.....

[LyricalRico]

I really don't see this team doing much in free agency because of the luxury tax. I think they'll use the surplus of bigs to pickup help at SF and PG, preferrably Etan and Pecherov. After that I could see them picking up a minimum salary big but that's it.

[m23uza1hem36]

I think Ariza would have been a perfect fit for you guys, to bad he opted to stay with the Lakers and not test FA.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'd definately do a Pecherov + Mem pick to Memphis for Kyle Lowry.


Matt Barnes is a guy I'd be interested in signing as a FA.

If we don't trade for Lowry, I'd like to go after Duhon or Arroyo.

I think the best scenario given our limited budget would be the Lowry trade, then use what we can of the MLE to sign Barnes as a FA.

[fishercob]

Duhon's not coming here to be a third string PG. It's going to have to be a young guy fighting for an NBA roster spot. I'd be fine with Mike Wilks, Aaron Miles, Russell Robinson, etc.

[pineappleheadindc]

Actually, I'd like a vet to be the emergency PG. Denver is gonna get themselves somebody good to start in place of Anthony Carter. He's a UFA. I'd offer him the vet minimum.

[rook6980]

The Wiz should bring in Aaron Miles for the Summer League team again. He's a 6'1" 175 lbs
Point Guard.

After playing with the Wizards in the Summer League, Aaron Miles was not offered a contract. He signed a one-year deal with Cajasol Sevilla in Spain’s top professional league last year.

Miles has great ball handling skills. Excellent court vision and passing ability. Pass first point guard that truly understands his role as a ball distributor. Good leadership skills, knows how to run a team. Tremendous defensive player who can shut his man down. Very fundamentally sound, with a nice 2.5 to 1 Assist to TO ratio.

The big weakness in his game was that his Outside jumper - it was simply horrific. Shot a pathetic 24% from the college 3 despite almost always being left open; although he did show some improvement in the Summer League last year, shooting 56% .... but it was a small sampling (only 5 games) and he didn't shoot any 3-point shots.

He has worked on his shooting overseas, shooting an impressive 51% on 2-point shots, and an improved 33% on 3-point shots.

He would be an extremely cheap ($450K or so) 3rd Point Guard.. Insurance against injury to either Arenas or Daniels.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Miles or Mike Wilks would be nice camp invitees. Either can fill a roll if needed.