GT #62: WIZ @RAPTORS 7:30 pm 3/8/2025

[closg00]

Painful win

We just need to be in the bottom 3, we're still there.

[9 and 20]

Was rooting the Raptors but them coming away with the loss after all that celebrating was kind of funny.

Keefe needs to get back with the program and start losing these games. Bring back Johnny Davis on a 10 day.

[tontoz]

Painful win

We just need to be in the bottom 3, we're still there.

We need to finish last that way we can't pick any lower than 5th.

[nate33]

Painful win

We just need to be in the bottom 3, we're still there.

We need to finish last that way we can't pick any lower than 5th.

I agree with closg00. The odds difference between the worst, second-worst and third-worst isn't that big of a deal. All 3 have the exact same odds of landing a top 4 pick. The only scenario where falling to second-worst matters is if both us AND the worst team fail to land a top 4 pick in the lottery. The odds of that happening are only 20%. And even in that scenario, it only means we fall from 5th to 6th.

I don't think there is much clear distinction in this draft once you fall out of the top 4. Does anyone really have a strong opinion how to rank Tre Johnson, Maluach and Jakucionis?

[tontoz]

We just need to be in the bottom 3, we're still there.

We need to finish last that way we can't pick any lower than 5th.

I agree with closg00. The odds difference between the worst, second-worst and third-worst isn't that big of a deal. All 3 have the exact same odds of landing a top 4 pick. The only scenario where falling to second-worst matters is if both us AND the worst team fail to land a top 4 pick in the lottery. The odds of that happening are only 20%. And even in that scenario, it only means we fall from 5th to 6th.

I don't think there is much clear distinction in this draft once you fall out of the top 4. Does anyone really have a strong opinion how to rank Tre Johnson, Maluach and Jakucionis?

Yes, I have Tre well ahead of both. Kasparas has been pretty bad over the second half of the season and is very turnover prone. Not much variety in his offense, step back 3 and drives all the way to the rim, many times just trying to get a whistle.

I don't see anything from Maluach that makes me think he is much better than centers that are routinely available outside the top 10 or in free agency.

[doclinkin]

We just need to be in the bottom 3, we're still there.

We need to finish last that way we can't pick any lower than 5th.

I agree with closg00. The odds difference between the worst, second-worst and third-worst isn't that big of a deal. All 3 have the exact same odds of landing a top 4 pick. The only scenario where falling to second-worst matters is if both us AND the worst team fail to land a top 4 pick in the lottery. The odds of that happening are only 20%. And even in that scenario, it only means we fall from 5th to 6th.

I don't think there is much clear distinction in this draft once you fall out of the top 4. Does anyone really have a strong opinion how to rank Tre Johnson, Maluach and Jakucionis?

20% is higher than our chance to win #1. Also, how long have you been a wizards fan. You know with 100% certainty that if we end up falling to #6, the player picked at #5 will turn out to be exactly the player we needed. I personally want to reduce the number of chances to regret.

I am less interested in Jakucionis than earlier in the year. His shooting %'s have cratered as the schedule toughened up.

I'm willing to be convinced on Tre Johnson. His numbers show he actually raises his game against tougher competition. I wouldn't cry if we took him. Figure he can add defense as needed. We do need a me-first scorer to understudy for Jordan Poole

I've made my case for Maluach in the draft thread, though I know adding him preserves our tank for another year while he continues to learn how to actually play the game. Long term though I can see him being a monster for our defense, and he gives us that high percentage low-post option I've been wanting. On offense I can see us running a jumbo version of the Cavs sets, where the dunker is actually posted in the corner and crashes on every shot for the putbacks. I want a lob target for Sarr to dump to on the short roll. Khaman has huge hands and catches well on the move. So, okay, if we fall, we fall, but still. It's rare that this team has intentionally tanked. You want to see it done right. Like the Spurs do.

[trast66]

Not getting a top 3 pick would be disastrous.