RealGM

Which players do want to get rid of because of the luxury tax? And is the 5th pick for sale? A player with multiple years left on their contract combine with the 5th pick, is that what is being auction off?

Players we'd get rid of just to dump salary: Stevenson, Etan, James, Pecherov, Songaila. In my opinion, that's the general order we'd prefer to dump them. Nobody else is likely available in a pure salary dump.

The fifth pick is not for sale; we aren't going to use it purely to facilitate the shedding of salary. We are more than open to dealing the pick, but the purpose of that would be to improve the team. I'm sure we'd love to be able to do both in the same deal, but I'd expect that we keep the pick before we use it just to send out some of the above players.

In short, we believe the team's primary goal is to get better, not to get below the tax. This is almost definitely true for next season, and there's a decent chance it'll be true for the season after that as well.

Wow, another person who thinks the Wizards only want to use the 5th pick to shed salary. What a shock.

MJG wrote:Players we'd get rid of just to dump salary: Stevenson, Etan, James, Pecherov, Songaila. In my opinion, that's the general order we'd prefer to dump them. Nobody else is likely available in a pure salary dump.

The fifth pick is not for sale; we aren't going to use it purely to facilitate the shedding of salary. We are more than open to dealing the pick, but the purpose of that would be to improve the team. I'm sure we'd love to be able to do both in the same deal, but I'd expect that we keep the pick before we use it just to send out some of the above players.

In short, we believe the team's primary goal is to get better, not to get below the tax. This is almost definitely true for next season, and there's a decent chance it'll be true for the season after that as well.

Wow, that is a poll that is waiting to happen. The order of the players we should dump.
James, DS, Etan, OP

OP is the hard one to figure out. Depending on what OP shows this summer and if he plays any this year would maybe change my mind. I know we need a power back up center this year so for now I put Etan over OP. But even if OP can ball some, he is only a back up 3 pt shooting PF, C who could become a better rebounding and blocker. That is a player we need if we can get the rest figured out. If he was only a little wider in the shoulders he would be more interesting. So for me OP is either the 2nd player you want to bump or the 4th if that makes any sense.

Etan is clearly the guy management would like to dump the most. Ivan Carter and Mike Lee have made numerous references to trades that fell through because the other team wouldn't take Etan. After Etan, I'd say it's pretty debatable whom management would prefer to dump between Stevenson, James and Songaila.

Stevenson's value depends on his health. Last year, Stevenson was awful - by awful, I mean literally one of the worst shooting guards in NBA history. If that's the guy we get back this year, then he absolutely should be dumped. In fact, he should be the first guy we dump, even ahead of Etan, because he has two years left on his contract. If Stevenson's back has fully recovered, then he's a serviceable starting SG or a pretty good backup. There would be no overwhelming need to sacrifice assets to dump him.

James has the shortest contract and has no trade kicker, so he's the best trading chip. He's also the only experienced PG besides Arenas, so I can see some logic in keeping him.

Songaila is a good player. He's also the most expensive among the 4 dump candidates. I don't think they're looking to dump him at all. I think they'd rather trade Blatche for something of real value, and then utilize Songaila as the primary backup PF. The only way I see the Wizards actively looking to dump Songaila is if Blatche made a leap in the offseason and has proven that he will be a consistent contributor every night.

I'd rank the dump candidates in the following order:
1. Etan
2. Stevenson
3. James
4. Songaila

LyricalRico wrote:Wow, another person who thinks the Wizards only want to use the 5th pick to shed salary. What a shock.

Annoying....isn't it?

nate33 wrote:Songaila is a good player. He's also the most expensive among the 4 dump candidates. I don't think they're looking to dump him at all. I think they'd rather trade Blatche for something of real value, and then utilize Songaila as the primary backup PF.

I hope you're right about that, nate.

I think the problem with Songalia is trying to play him at center. As a backup PF he is adequate.

My order of preference for players we should dump.

1. SG DeShawn Stevenson ...even before last yr he was nothing better than a replacement level SG at best.
2. PF Darius Songaila ...solid citizen & veteran but miscast as a C and can't rebound worth a damn.
3. PG Mike James ...I want him off the roster, even if we just cut him. I never want to see him play again!
4. C Etan Thomas ...I don't view him as a bad contract anymore. He just sucks, cut him or let his deal expire.
5. PG Javaris Crittenton ...I wish we kept Memphis' 1st rd pick. Critt was pure crap this past season.
6. PF Oleksiy Pecherov ...Couldn't care less about him. Whatever the case he'll be playing overseas when his contract is up.

My guess for the Wizards preference.

1. C Etan Thomas ...he'll be gone before the trade deadline, more likely this is his last two weeks in DC.
2. PG Mike James ...see above, but if he's still here, he might be Gil's backup. Yikes!
3. PF Oleksiy Pecherov ...Probably will be contract filler in a deal at some point.
4. SG DeShawn Stevenson ...they probably have hope for him to come back healthy and contribute either as a starter or key reserve.
5. PF Darius Songaila ...don't think there looking to move him. They like what he brings.