2025 Draft Thread - Part 4

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ok…
I am going to admit that, beyond our first pick, I don’t understand how the rest of our picks help in a rebuild. I assume that Dawkins went for BPA with the last 2 picks as opposed to BPA at positions of need (correct me if this is wrong). Doesn’t this strategy slow down the rebuild process because we still have positions of need to fill, as we have to spend time to evaluate the play of a crowded position (wing guard)? Or is Dawkins signaling that we are fine with the C, PF, and SF positions because we have who we need (I don’t understand that)?
Can someone who has an understanding of the strategy being followed explain it to me?

An hour ago, I was pissed off at the idea of too many swing men and diminishing returns I expected to ensue from decreased minutes of playing opportunity.

Now I think the guys who do not win playing time battles still will have trade value from having notoriety. Trade some swings for some bigs, eventually. Trade for a big body Brunaon type, eventually.

Perhaps that is a strategy for after this LAST tank year.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Part of fandom is a bit of mourning when players you liked, and believed could have helped your team, go elsewhere, I had quite a few of those moments yesterday.

Read on Twitter

Well said.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If we'd gotten Raynaud at 43, this would have been a jaw-dropping draft, but he went at 42 -- too bad.

But it was still an outstanding draft!

Tre was a very high value pick, & so was Wil. For that matter, Jamir Watkins is no slouch either at 43.

In all, terrific!

With Reynaud, this terrific draft would have been ... terrific-er!

It would have easily been the terrificest Wizards draft ever.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm still happy with Johnson and Riley.

However, I think adding Jamir Watkins was like dumping the whole box of OLD BAY SEASONING into a pot of your favorite stew.

I believe there's a such thing as too much cowbell.

Will Dawkins has too many rookies, 1st, and 2nd years' experience swing men. Personalities will clash. Egos are going to stand out. Factional behavior is predictable.

It cannot be a meritocracy now.

Champagnie is the toughest dude and best rebounder among the young.

Smart and Middleton done been there and done that. Should they mentor?

WIIFM?

MOST OF ALL, WATKINS WILL BE THE TOUGHEST ROOKIE. Why, man? Why draft ... him?

It says screw you to both Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly.

The Wizards didn't get Raynaud. #So Wizards.

They should have drafted Eric Dixon or the Marco Polo guy.

On the flipside, it could be an iron sharpens iron kind of situation. If Watkins is so tough/good that it makes someone like Coulibaly or George expendable, so be it; now Washington has a valuable trade piece to go out and get a big man that fits nicely next to Sarr.

Proverbs 17:27!

I love that OTOH.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

On a different note, I hope they trade Kispert. I rather give his minutes to Bilal, Tre, Riley and George. Question is who could be interested? Orlando is gone as a potential candidate post Bane’s trade.

I hope they keep Corey and get another white guy. Half joking.

In last year's draft, i liked Dalton Knecht, Baylor Scheierman, and the PG from Marquette, who the Knicks drafted. (I feel too lazy to search).

Is Jay Huff a FA?

OKC had the law firm of Holmgren, Hartenstein, and Caruso reppin' them.

White folk (channeling my inner Petey Greene) can hoop!

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Sarah Ashley Barker, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeely, Danny Wolf, Kasparas Jakucionis, Egor Denim, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Maxine Raynaud, Joan Beringer(?), Vlad Goldin, Grant Peterson

If I were a GM, I would love to have a TJ McConnell on my team.

Seriously.

Last. I think Corey needs to go to the Celtics or the Lakers/Warriors/Trailblazer or the Magic.

He will up. THE KNICKS would be awesome for Kispert.

That brings up a good point (kind of). Who was the Wizards/Bullets best white American player? I'd have to go back to the Bullets with Jeff Ruland. Then either Googs or to the 70s with Grevey or Kupchak. Maybe Rex Chapman, who averaged 18 ppg in one season.

Scott Skiles had 30 assists in a game with Washington or Orlando.

Jeff Ruland was a bad dude. He has to be up there on the list.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond

Their partnership became a talking point for fans, media, and opposing teams. If you drove into the lane, you were going to feel their presence. If you tried to post them up, you were going to take some bumps and bruises. If you thought about getting in a scuffle, you were going to have to go through both of them. Ruland even recalls one time he got a mid-game souvenir from Sixers guard Lionel Hollins courtesy of Mahorn -- one that Hollins didn't intentionally gift.

"We're at the Spectrum. It's cold as hell in there. They got the ice working overtime -- you can't even get a sweat going. It's a free throw. The ball goes up... Rick rebounds it, throws an elbow, and then I caught three of Lionel Hollins' teeth in my hands," said Ruland. "That always resonates with me."

Mahorn remembers it, too, saying, "Every time I see [Hollins], he thanks me for the new veneers he's got in his mouth."

Because of their physical, never-back-down style of play, most people didn't try any funny business with Ruland and Mahorn. "I don't remember us ever being trash-talked by anybody," said Ruland. "No one ever opened their pie-hole."

Individually, Ruland was known as "McFilthy" and Mahorn was known as “McNasty." Together, they were dubbed “The Beef Brothers.”

[tontoz]

Did Utah get (I will check) Walter Clayton Jr. AND Jeremiah Fields?

Well, that sucks.

.

Who is Jeremiah Fields?

Fears went to the hornets at 7.

[80sballboy]

That brings up a good point (kind of). Who was the Wizards/Bullets best white American player? I'd have to go back to the Bullets with Jeff Ruland. Then either Googs or to the 70s with Grevey or Kupchak. Maybe Rex Chapman, who averaged 18 ppg in one season.

Scott Skiles had 30 assists in a game with Washington or Orlando.

Jeff Ruland was a bad dude. He has to be up there on the list.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond

Their partnership became a talking point for fans, media, and opposing teams. If you drove into the lane, you were going to feel their presence. If you tried to post them up, you were going to take some bumps and bruises. If you thought about getting in a scuffle, you were going to have to go through both of them. Ruland even recalls one time he got a mid-game souvenir from Sixers guard Lionel Hollins courtesy of Mahorn -- one that Hollins didn't intentionally gift.

"We're at the Spectrum. It's cold as hell in there. They got the ice working overtime -- you can't even get a sweat going. It's a free throw. The ball goes up... Rick rebounds it, throws an elbow, and then I caught three of Lionel Hollins' teeth in my hands," said Ruland. "That always resonates with me."

Mahorn remembers it, too, saying, "Every time I see [Hollins], he thanks me for the new veneers he's got in his mouth."

Because of their physical, never-back-down style of play, most people didn't try any funny business with Ruland and Mahorn. "I don't remember us ever being trash-talked by anybody," said Ruland. "No one ever opened their pie-hole."

Individually, Ruland was known as "McFilthy" and Mahorn was known as “McNasty." Together, they were dubbed “The Beef Brothers.”

[/quote]

Ruland would have been a 5-time All-Star and borderline HOFer had he stayed healthy. I think Skiles set that assist record at Denver. I remember him more at Michigan State as the cocky but slow Pistol Pete-wannabe but he could play (crushed GTown). Decent NBA player and coach. He and Bias were my favorite college players from 1984-86 and both had similar issues with coke.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

GEORGE and COULIBALY are gonna get squeezed for PT by McCollum, Middleton, Marcus Smart, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Justin Champagnie, Corey Kispert, Jaylin Martin, and Jamir Watkins.

If Watkins is better from day one, how would handle rosters, egos, team chemistry etc.

McCollum, Smart and Johnson are guards so they won’t be taking minutes from Keyshawn or Bilal. Middleton may play some 3. Martin probably won’t be on the roster. Riley and Watkins will be back-and-forth between the G League and the Zards.

That leaves Keyshawn, Bilal, Champaigne and Kispert as the primary 3/4s.

And dealing with egos comes with the territory for coaches and GMs.

I saw a game (or, I think i did) where Kyshawn and Bilal ran the PG and SG spots. The Wizards ran and got transit points off defense. I thought, would it be possible if George has guard handles to ... give him minutes at guard?

You're seeing this clearly. We will see how the minutes shake out.

I go by intuition, gut feel, and first impression a good bit of the time.

However, I'm flexible and malleable to reason.

[machu46]

On a different note, I hope they trade Kispert. I rather give his minutes to Bilal, Tre, Riley and George. Question is who could be interested? Orlando is gone as a potential candidate post Bane’s trade.

I definitely do not speak for all Bucks fans but if it costs little more than matching salaries I would gladly take him in Milwaukee. I'm pretty curious to see what sort of value he actually has on the market with everyone seemingly trying to cut costs. He's relatively cheap but it's also a long-term contract which will probably cross him off the list for a lot of teams.

You mean that after dealing with the Wizards got you Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee would trade again in good faith with Washington?

No, you "definitely do not speak for all Bucks fans."

Lol, yeah...I don't think many Bucks fans are rushing to deal with yall again. I think Kuzma will be better next season, but that's almost by default. He's never been particularly good but this past season was so abysmal.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Did Utah get (I will check) Walter Clayton Jr. AND Jeremiah Fields?

Well, that sucks.

.

Who is Jeremiah Fields?

Fears went to the hornets at 7.

Jeremiah Fields could pick 800 pounds of cotton a day.

He looked ... and sounded like John Coffey.

Only Jeremiah FIELDS never did say, "I's tired, Boss."

When he wasn't chopping cotton, big Jeremiah Fields looked for railroad work.

https://youtu.be/1Fd8gd81VG4?si=f9z81JE5vGvI_Faw

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

.

Oops

[Gig18]

That brings up a good point (kind of). Who was the Wizards/Bullets best white American player? I'd have to go back to the Bullets with Jeff Ruland. Then either Googs or to the 70s with Grevey or Kupchak. Maybe Rex Chapman, who averaged 18 ppg in one season.

Scott Skiles had 30 assists in a game with Washington or Orlando.

Jeff Ruland was a bad dude. He has to be up there on the list.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond

Their partnership became a talking point for fans, media, and opposing teams. If you drove into the lane, you were going to feel their presence. If you tried to post them up, you were going to take some bumps and bruises. If you thought about getting in a scuffle, you were going to have to go through both of them. Ruland even recalls one time he got a mid-game souvenir from Sixers guard Lionel Hollins courtesy of Mahorn -- one that Hollins didn't intentionally gift.

"We're at the Spectrum. It's cold as hell in there. They got the ice working overtime -- you can't even get a sweat going. It's a free throw. The ball goes up... Rick rebounds it, throws an elbow, and then I caught three of Lionel Hollins' teeth in my hands," said Ruland. "That always resonates with me."

Mahorn remembers it, too, saying, "Every time I see [Hollins], he thanks me for the new veneers he's got in his mouth."

Because of their physical, never-back-down style of play, most people didn't try any funny business with Ruland and Mahorn. "I don't remember us ever being trash-talked by anybody," said Ruland. "No one ever opened their pie-hole."

Individually, Ruland was known as "McFilthy" and Mahorn was known as “McNasty." Together, they were dubbed “The Beef Brothers.”

Ruland would have been a 5-time All-Star and borderline HOFer had he stayed healthy. I think Skiles set that assist record at Denver. I remember him more at Michigan State as the cocky but slow Pistol Pete-wannabe but he could play (crushed GTown). Decent NBA player and coach. He and Bias were my favorite college players from 1984-86 and both had similar issues with coke.

Even Mayor Barry had cocaine issues.[/quote]

Actually, if I remember the stories about Lenny correctly, he had never had a drug issue. I remember reading it was like literally the first time he had done coke and it killed him...

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Double post

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

triple post

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Quad tear post

I am as confused as Caitlin Clark on defense ATM

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Gig18,

I heard through back channels that Lenny had previously used cocaine. Seemed credible. A very professional person with a medical background.

However, that was circa 2021, 35 years after Lenny died.

[AFM]

Gig18,

I heard through back channels that Lenny had previously used cocaine. Seemed credible. A very professional person with a medical background.

However, that was circa 2021, 35 years after Lenny died.

If you keep posting about drug usage, PIF is gonna break into this thread like the Koolaid man and tell us, ohhh back in 1975 I did heroin with Spiro Agnew, none of you have done nearly as many drugs as me!!!

[closg00]

If we'd gotten Raynaud at 43, this would have been a jaw-dropping draft, but he went at 42 -- too bad.

But it was still an outstanding draft!

Tre was a very high value pick, & so was Wil. For that matter, Jamir Watkins is no slouch either at 43.

In all, terrific!

With Reynaud, this terrific draft would have been ... terrific-er!

It would have easily been the terrificest Wizards draft ever.

True, I would have been very pleased, can’t wait to checkout what we do have in Summer League.

[Gig18]

Scott Skiles had 30 assists in a game with Washington or Orlando.

Jeff Ruland was a bad dude. He has to be up there on the list.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond

Ruland would have been a 5-time All-Star and borderline HOFer had he stayed healthy. I think Skiles set that assist record at Denver. I remember him more at Michigan State as the cocky but slow Pistol Pete-wannabe but he could play (crushed GTown). Decent NBA player and coach. He and Bias were my favorite college players from 1984-86 and both had similar issues with coke.

Even Mayor Barry had cocaine issues.

Actually, if I remember the stories about Lenny correctly, he had never had a drug issue. I remember reading it was like literally the first time he had done coke and it killed him...[/quote]

so I just looked it up. The Medical Examiners in Bias' case originally said it was the first time Bias ever used coke. But I guess they changed that to the opinion that he had used it before.
Just remember the shock...

[80sballboy]

Scott Skiles had 30 assists in a game with Washington or Orlando.

Jeff Ruland was a bad dude. He has to be up there on the list.

https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/beef-brothers-the-story-behind-jeff-ruland-and-rick-mahorns-unbreakable-bond

Ruland would have been a 5-time All-Star and borderline HOFer had he stayed healthy. I think Skiles set that assist record at Denver. I remember him more at Michigan State as the cocky but slow Pistol Pete-wannabe but he could play (crushed GTown). Decent NBA player and coach. He and Bias were my favorite college players from 1984-86 and both had similar issues with coke.

Even Mayor Barry had cocaine issues.

Actually, if I remember the stories about Lenny correctly, he had never had a drug issue. I remember reading it was like literally the first time he had done coke and it killed him...

Ugh, I doubt it was his first time. That was the story after his death. He was friends with Brian Tribble. He had a pristine reputation off the court before his death. Of course, that's way before social media and the internet. In PG County, we all looked up to him. Probably the last athlete I ever admired that much.