Why don't you guys look at AI?

[JHTruth]

Hometown team, would look great next to Gilbert? Am I forgetting someone?

[Kanyewest]

Randy Foye, Nick Young, Javarris Crittenton, DeShawn Stevenson, Mike Miller. The Wizards really don't have any space plus they are already over the luxury tax.

[montestewart]

You can't fool me. Iverson's hometown is Hampton, VA.

[FreeBalling]

A.I. is not a team player. It's all about A.I.

[barelyawake]

Trust me. You can't do the "what should have been" with this board. Everyone is so amped about the season, that they can't think straight. Of course, AI is as good as Foye (if not better). Or course, we could have signed several other guards (who play defense) and traded our draft pick for a 2010 pick. Of course, we could have added Nick Young in a Minnie trade and gotten a 2010 pick back (which could turn into a superstar).

Everyone on this board is locked into the idea that EG did the best thing he could possibly do, even though that's NEVER been the feeling on this board until this season. And even though that's the farthest from the truth than even before. And even though we have a historic draft coming up. And even though EG admits that he only makes phone calls when he KNOWS the other GM will accept (meaning he misses out on A TON of deals before they even start).

Don't try to reason with people on this board this year. Everyone is amped, and they'll forget the should have beens and could have beens once the playoffs end. Five years from now MAYBE we'll look back and see how dumb this off season has been. Just as we look back and realize how stupid it was not to trade Kwame early. But, at this point, I believe the people left as Wiz fans (after all these years) could care less about reality. They care about the hope, or they love stats, or some other disorder rather than anger over not winning a championship. Because if they were angry over that, they would have stopped being Wiz fans a decade ago.

And yes I went to happy hour, so I'm buzzed.

[DaRealHibachi]

And yes I went to happy hour, so I'm buzzed.

We forgive you...

Just say no to AI...

[closg00]

He's not The Answer, he's The Cancer

[nate33]

Seriously, I can't think of one team in this league who is less in need of Allen Iverson.

[hands11]

Now why didn't even one member of this board thing of that ?



Hmmm. Maybe this is a good chance to apply some simple logic.

[JWizmentality]

*Angelic background music*

Why didn't I see this before!

[kane2021]

Just say

[doclinkin]

Trust me. You can't do the "what should have been" with this board. Everyone is so amped about the season, that they can't think straight. Of course, AI is as good as Foye (if not better). Or course, we could have signed several other guards (who play defense) and traded our draft pick for a 2010 pick. Of course, we could have added Nick Young in a Minnie trade and gotten a 2010 pick back (which could turn into a superstar).

Everyone on this board is locked into the idea that EG did the best thing he could possibly do, even though that's NEVER been the feeling on this board until this season. And even though that's the farthest from the truth than even before. And even though we have a historic draft coming up. And even though EG admits that he only makes phone calls when he KNOWS the other GM will accept (meaning he misses out on A TON of deals before they even start).

Don't try to reason with people on this board this year. Everyone is amped, and they'll forget the should have beens and could have beens once the playoffs end. Five years from now MAYBE we'll look back and see how dumb this off season has been. Just as we look back and realize how stupid it was not to trade Kwame early. But, at this point, I believe the people left as Wiz fans (after all these years) could care less about reality. They care about the hope, or they love stats, or some other disorder rather than anger over not winning a championship. Because if they were angry over that, they would have stopped being Wiz fans a decade ago.

And yes I went to happy hour, so I'm buzzed.

Eh.

Dunno. Not sure I can get as torqued up and indignant, but I'm pretty sure that don't mean I qualify as benumbed either. Difference between A.I. and Foye on this squad is that Ivey still thinks he's The Answer and needs the ball in his hands to star, whereas Foye has stated he's willing to take a secondary role and even play set-up man for Gilbert, will do whatever it takes to help the team win.

As for Grunfeld. Traded Kwame early? For Brand on draft day okay I can see that, but that ain't Ernie and speculative fiction on that front is pointless anyway. Fact is we landed Caron for the KFB, no question in my mind we go the better end of that deal by far. I can't see a better player we 'could' have landed in any swap. Okay Pau Gasol, since the Lakers got away with murder on that one.

I'd be real interested to see the direct quote where GMEG says he doesn't call teams unless he's sure they take it. What he has said is that he tries to set up deals that are good for both parties. But understand this is Ernie saying that about himself, he's playing the PR chessgame, creating his own reputation: 'must be a good deal, Ernie Grunfeld is a stand-up guy, why he says so himself, must be a good deal for both of us, surely...'

Tactics. Recall Ernie never says a thing about his motivation or interests, never ever lets a detail slip, so if you're hearing his words on a topic you better expect he is carefully considering and calculating everybody who will hear it and read the words in print.

Is he: 'Best GM EVAR !!!' ? Nope. Solid. Pretty good. Has built the most talented roster we've had since his tenure began, assembled according to the desires of his current coach. That's his modus operandi: do the best you can to give your coach the talent he wants and role players he needs for the system he runs. Then give three years to gel and evaluate. Flip spent all year as a commenter on TWolves games, he knows Foye and Miller, knows they will fit exactly what he wants to do and give a jumpstart to the squad.

As for the offseason. Eh. Not best mega ever. Not 'woe is me' either. In a weak year it's tougher to trade as though from a position of strength. Saying that an unprotected first rounder was surely available doesn't make it so, no matter how angsty or 'angry' we get. Fact is, coming off a 19-win season all your players are undervalued. Thought being: If they were any damn good you wouldn't have lost all those games. No matter the extenuating circumstances. But if the team goes on a win streak with a new coach, and a player or two is out of the mix, you tend to get offers from people calling you, bidding for what you've got, bidding even against each other, trying to sweeten the pot.

Consider that Richard Jefferson was landed for expiring contracts alone. Then consider what you might do at the trade deadline with, say, Mike Miller's 9 million dollar expiring, in a package with youth. There are no KG's out there dangling, maybe. But I dunno, a rejuvenated Elton Brand? Not fitting the loosey goosey structure of the hybrid Princeton or chemistry issues with the Philly youngsters? And Philly in need of outside shooting, takes a Miller plus Jamison deal for Brand to re-unite the gentleman El Capitawn with his man EJ?

Just blueskying concepts here, but I'm saying: you trade from a position of strength, get the best deals when people actually want what you have. But nurturing a prolonged apoplectic tantrum at a missed opportunity that probably didn't exist, yeah okay, maybe 'm not angry enough. Just doesn't seem all that well grounded in 'reality'.

[doclinkin]

One small piece though why the general masses on the board may not be as loopy and properly infuriated. While you were in Dubai, this same squad with a healthy Haywood but minus an injured Gilbert played really solid ball, good defense at times, taking the season series from that year's world champ Celtics on the strength of 4th quarter defense mostly.

Personnel differences then v. now:
---------------------------------------------------
Mason, Pecherov, Antonio, eurochamp Darius -- out
Gilbert, Miller, Foye, gold-medal/NBAchamp Oberto-- in

--plus-- Bonus X-factor: a wildcard seven footer who has been name-checked by Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Shaquille, all saying he's the Real McGee. That he's going to be something special. Shaq in particular praising his heart when he came right back and attacked the Big Fella after getting bumped.

Then- Rookies Nick, Dom, and less experienced Blatche,
Now- have a tetch more seasoning.

Then: pretty good player motivator as a coach, on a team with fairly self-motivating players. Best as underdogs and giant killers, but slow with in-game adjustments. And some occasionally misguided defensive concepts. Bench assistants mediocre at best, except a shooting coach.

Now: similar player-friendly coach, but more detail oriented making solid real-time adjustments. Defensively, literally wrote the book on zone defenses, a scheme that has a solid chance to paper over our primary defensive liability. A guy who reminds us that he prefers to go Big whenever possible. A guy who mentored the kid KG. A guy who is good friends/college teammates with HOF forward KevMcHale, teaching pick and roll and tricks and tactics to a guy who idolizes KG (Dray Blatche) and the longest most coordinated super-big in the game. Both similarly gangly and raw and multi-talented as KG (if neither is quite driven like a man struggling to contain some diabolical force within'm). Oh and Angry Mole Rat Sam Cassell ready to teach his ninjitsu kata of dirty tricks to players like Gilbert, Tough Juice, etc.

Then, (most importantly):
Gilbert coming out of USABall camp collected praise and accolades for defense from Koach K. Then started the year with the Wiz as the best perimeter defender on the team, despite having to get his knee drained every few days.

Now:
Has watched for two years with the coaches, hearing in one ear how he'll never be a true point guard, and in the other ear how the team plays much better without him, he can't defend, etc etc. And has a $111 million dollar contract people have said he'll never be able to justify. Never. And his own father compares him to DWade and Chris Paul, saying he ain't as good.

All this to the supertalented overacheiver with the Zero on his jersey, who looks for the smallest motivation to piss off and shock the world. The guy who plays best as an underdog, doubted and disrespected. The guy who prolonged his injury by working too hard to come back. And reports suggest that after working with MJ's personal trainer, the guy who brought DWade all the way back, that Gilbert is himself all the way back. To the extent that eyewitness reports suggest he's been dominating 8-0 in runs against a team that was headed by gold medal champs LeBronx and the aforementioned Dwyane. Grudging head nods given by his frenemies.

But right, feel free to stick with the theory that he's the worst defender and will never never never. By all means, give the cat the motivation. I'm just saying I think you're missing a couple details here.

Gilbert has always said he could play better defense, and showed it in flashes, but that the team needed his points, needed his energy on offense. Now there's offense at every spot, drive and kick options where ever he needs it. Etc.

Just saying, 'hope' ain't an epithet. We've got a future no matter what. Even if we don't collect a toenail slice chance for a franchise wonka ticket, and rely somehow on this 'luck' thing we hear so much about from other teams.

One on the 'hope' angle caveat being:
if we're too good, we've got players in contract years who may be playing their hearts out (Good) to audition for other teams (Bad) in a year when a few squads have stockpiled warchests for next season. May price themselves off the squad.

And then of course surely we're screwed, but hell we're durable, vulcanized and kevlar laced, we're motherfxckin Bullets fans. YOu da man you da man.

[doclinkin]

Or is this not the homer/optimism thread...

[Kanyewest]

I think Rick Kamla summarizes the AI fallout pretty well (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obcKq0p8Y9w). It wasn't just that AI was coming off the bench but that he was receiving less than 20 minutes per game in his last 3 games; Will Bynum was getting the minutes at the backup point guard, not AI. Iverson averaged over 40 mpg for most of his career so getting in the neighborhood of half of his minutes is pretty drastics.

BTW, Allen Iverson would generate a lot of revenue for this franchise if he were to get significant playing time. Local Georgetown alumni would probably show up to see games and buy his Wizards jersey. Interesting to note that Randy Foye will probably quell all talks of Allen Iverson joining the Wizards since he's alumni of rival Villanova.

[Paydro70]

Seriously, I can't think of one team in this league who is less in need of Allen Iverson.

This, pretty much. I am a fan of Iverson and I think he can definitely help a team (the Bobcats in particular) but the Wizards are darn near the least logical choice for him. Arenas and Foye are way too similar, I don't know what Iverson would really bring to the table, and he'd be battling for minutes.

[barelyawake]

And then of course surely we're screwed, but hell we're durable, vulcanized and kevlar laced, we're motherfxckin Bullets fans. YOu da man you da man.

I'm here ain't I? Still crazy after all these years. Everyone gets to have their year of griping. Mine has arrived. Not even a year's-worth. Really just an offseason's-worth. Show me a way to a championship, and I'll be happy again. Until then, I'll be content with wins. Content, but not happy.

I get being happy that we are going to have a good year. We will. And I get the bit about how you think we'll fair well. Will we win a championship? Of course not. Rather than a "good year" I'd rather be positioning ourselves for a great year (either this year or down the road). We had that chance. We blew that chance. And I don't buy into this general concept around that obviously if EG didn't do x, then x couldn't have been done. There is ample evidence to the contrary (for instance, logic).

Anyway, I said I would stop complaining and shouldn't have started again. The buzz loosened lips. To be honest, I'm a rather happy guy lately. Just not about the Wiz. Moving on...

[montestewart]

Or is this not the homer/optimism thread...

No; that's the reason you're a Bullets fan.

BTW, Allen Iverson would generate a lot of revenue for this franchise if he were to get significant playing time.

I'd much rather see the Wizards generate revenue by winning a lot. Maybe AI can become a coach.