Abe needs to sell the team

[m23uza1hem36]

to the one who said hes going to sell the team to Boston for cash.

[fishercob]

I think the people who think that Leonsis is going to be some sort of savior for this franchise are in for a rude awakening. Do you know AOL's stock price is worth these days? I doubt that Leonsis has the resources to own both the Wiz and the Caps and spend any more on the Wiz than Abe does.

[The Consiglieri]

I don't think he's a cure-all, I just think he's a competant owner. W/the Caps he tried the big money approach, it failed, so he committed to rebuilding and he did just that, saving money, and keeping costs down so that when Jagr got off the books and the team was ready to compete (essentially '07-'08) he would be in position to spend and he did just that. He's shown flexibility, he's interacted w/fans, he's shown patience, he's shown a willingness to pay top dollar when needed and some foresight. I've never seen Abe do any of that since I started watching in '86. I've heard he's a great guy, and that's nice, and a philantrhopist, and that's also nice, but I've never seen any evidence that he has vision, that his first objective is to build a winner, that he's really much interested in anything other than #1 taking care of his friends, #2 taking care of his wallet and #3 worrying about winning if and only if #1 and #2 are taken care of.

AOL definitely is an issue. I don't pay attention to stock price, but as a teacher I do notice what kids do, and I don't see any kinds using aol period. It's a dying brand, wi-fi seems to be where its at now and unless aol gets its act in gear its gonna die like all those old web browsers I used to use when I was finishing up college 10+ years ago (excite, infoseek etc).

[80sballboy]

He should have sold the team a long time ago. I know he loves the team and maybe that's what's kept him alive in the last few years as his health has deteriorated.

Not saying Ted is going to be a great owner. He's had his ups-and-downs with the Caps. Just time for a change. The grass is always greener as we in Baltimore know, that when a cheapskate named Eli Jacobs was ready to sell the Orioles he found another billionaire Greek guy in Baltimore who came to the rescue of the city and was beloved at the time-Peter G. Angelos.

[nate33]

The fact that the Wizards sold the pick is demoralizing. I understand the notion that they didn't see anybody on the board worth drafting. But as sfam pointed out in another thread, the correct thing to do in that scenario is to trade the 2nd round pick for a future 2nd rounder, or at least draft a Euro and stash him overseas. The fact that we traded the pick for cash is pretty hard to defend. An owner who is 100% committed to winning doesn't throw away an opportunity to get talent just to save a few bucks.

I'm not apoplectic about this or anything. In the final analysis, we are only talking about a mid-second-round pick, and those rarely amount to anything. It's the principle of the thing that bothers me. There's no other way to say it. Abe was being cheap - cheaper than most other NBA owners. It's one thing to make a move like this to avoid the luxury tax because the dollar losses are doubled or even tripled. But in this case, there were no luxtax ramifications.

[doclinkin]

The fact that the Wizards sold the pick is demoralizing. I understand the notion that they didn't see anybody on the board worth drafting. But as sfam pointed out in another thread, the correct thing to do in that scenario is to trade the 2nd round pick for a future 2nd rounder, or at least draft a Euro and stash him overseas. The fact that we traded the pick for cash is pretty hard to defend. An owner who is 100% committed to winning doesn't throw away an opportunity to get talent just to save a few bucks.

I'm not apoplectic about this or anything. In the final analysis, we are only talking about a mid-second-round pick, and those rarely amount to anything. It's the principle of the thing that bothers me. There's no other way to say it. Abe was being cheap - cheaper than most other NBA owners. It's one thing to make a move like this to avoid the luxury tax because the dollar losses are doubled or even tripled. But in this case, there were no luxtax ramifications.

Eh, I dunno. Didn't 4 other teams sell their picks this year?

I was berserk at the time because I liked Bill Walker or Richard Hendrix, but in advance of re-signing Gil and Jamison (with PHIlly potentially looming as competition there) and with the desire to re-up Mason I can see the team not wanting to use the pick. Not to mention the idea of preserving a roster spot for say next year's first rounder. We have or will have a ton of guys locked up long term on this team. Uless we drop a player in a two for one upgrade.

As for a draft and stash, sure, who? Ernie extensively scouts Europe, it doesn't hurt to have a player's rights, but if you won't need him ever it gives you nothing, whereas getting cash back can give you some financial flexibility in the freeagent sweepstakes, suddenly the Free agent costs essentially a half mill less to sign, equivalent, luxtax regardless.

And in trading the pick: to whom? Where's our leverage? Players behind us in the draft know we don't want the guy. Players ahead of us already picked, if they liked the guy so much why didn't they take him then? Clearly they could live without him. And it's a late round 2 pick, not a ton of value most drafts, where a future draft would likely give a higher pick in rd 2. If we get an offer for cash and that's it, fine, it's a business, profit whichever way you can, down the line it doesn't sting.

I'm over my apoplexy on this pick. Until Walker or Hendrix kick our ass down the line.

[80sballboy]

The fact that the Wizards sold the pick is demoralizing. I understand the notion that they didn't see anybody on the board worth drafting. But as sfam pointed out in another thread, the correct thing to do in that scenario is to trade the 2nd round pick for a future 2nd rounder, or at least draft a Euro and stash him overseas. The fact that we traded the pick for cash is pretty hard to defend. An owner who is 100% committed to winning doesn't throw away an opportunity to get talent just to save a few bucks.

I hated trading the pick for cash. You can say, well we don't have enough room on the roster. Then why not draft a Euro or overseas player and stash them for a couple of years. Sasha Kaun was a available and everybody knows he's going to play for Russia for millions of dollars. In a few years if he he does well and is hungry for the NBA, he could come over here. Not saying he's going to be great, but could develop into a solid backup. If Haywood and Thomas are gone in a few years then he could be a possible backup or you can trade his rights.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Second round picks are generally a waste of time and money. For every Redd, Arenas or Boozer, we could list dozens of guys who amounted to absolutely nothing. EG probably could have gotten a future 2nd round pick for this one, but big deal. He got cash, and cash is useful.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Second round picks are generally a waste of time and money. For every Redd, Arenas or Boozer, we could list dozens of guys who amounted to absolutely nothing. EG probably could have gotten a future 2nd round pick for this one, but big deal. He got cash, and cash is useful.

That being the case the Wizards should just draft in the first round and take the cash in the second from now on.... (But I strongly disagree. Just because few second rounders can break through the guaranteed contracts to ever contribute, doesn't mean they're a waste of time OR money IMO).

This year's second rounders are arguably BETTER than the freshman and project-laden first rounders.

Kev, according to your logic I guess guys like Chalmers, Dorsey, Chris Douglas Roberts and Richard Hendrix, all second rounders, are surely just wastes of time and money. No way I want bums like them when Abe can just save his money, Kev.

If the guy wants to save money, the thing to do would have been to trade away the guaranteed contract at #18 for money and to try to move up in the second round to grab a sure contributor who he could have signed for PEANUTS in the short run. Abe could have sold the first rounder and in the second round drafted somebody like DeAndre Jordan or some tall international player and just waited on them for years.

The waste of money will be the waiting on McGee, the project.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Might need to correct myself from above--I think Dorsey went in the first round.

Still, my point is I strongly believe because contracts are guaranteed to first rounders, and because teams start the season off with many guaranteed players; that's why few second rounders make it. I don't think they're wastes of money, relative to bums living on guaranteed contracts.

I don't think they're wastes of time.

I think the NBA is actually getting more and more contribution from undrafted and second rounders who don't initially stick, but who wind up in D-League. Last year, Ramon Sessions, Nick Fazekas, Stephane Lasme among others each showed better play than the average 1st round pick from last season's draft.

Kevin, I couldn't disagree with you more on second rounders (and undrafted).

If anything, I think the first round, even the lottery, are overblown and they make the game weaker giving guarantees to guys who generaly underperform relative to what they're paid.

[sfam]

Selling the 2nd round pick wasn't about being cheap, it was about there not being anyone on the board that the team wanted to have on the roster next season.

Tell me why asking for cash is better than taking a flyer on a Euro and having them sit and develop there for 2-3 years. San Antonio seems to have used this strategy fairly well I think. Why is getting cash better for the franchise than swapping this year's second for a future second? I get that they didn't want another kid. But there were other options.

EDIT: Just saw nate33's follow-up where he already made this point. This is what I get for responding while catching up...

[sfam]

As for a draft and stash, sure, who? Ernie extensively scouts Europe, it doesn't hurt to have a player's rights, but if you won't need him ever it gives you nothing, whereas getting cash back can give you some financial flexibility in the freeagent sweepstakes, suddenly the Free agent costs essentially a half mill less to sign, equivalent, luxtax regardless.

And in trading the pick: to whom? Where's our leverage? Players behind us in the draft know we don't want the guy. Players ahead of us already picked, if they liked the guy so much why didn't they take him then? Clearly they could live without him. And it's a late round 2 pick, not a ton of value most drafts, where a future draft would likely give a higher pick in rd 2. If we get an offer for cash and that's it, fine, it's a business, profit whichever way you can, down the line it doesn't sting.

This line of thought is based on the assumption that this was EG's decision in absence of Pollin's monetary constraints. I'd be willing to bet my paycheck EG could have come up with a potential Euro guard at that spot. I wouldn't be too surprised if he fielded a call or two on trading the pick. The question though is whether he had a real choice in the matter. If Pollin said something to the effect of, "Sure, we can sign Gil...just find me a way to come up with another 10 mil", EG really wouldn't have had a choice.

Point is we're stuck with an owner, a wonderfully nice owner, who's somewhat short on cash. That is demoralizing, but such is life.

[doclinkin]

This line of thought is based on the assumption that this was EG's decision in absence of Pollin's monetary constraints. I'd be willing to bet my paycheck EG could have come up with a potential Euro guard at that spot. I wouldn't be too surprised if he fielded a call or two on trading the pick.

Hmmn, maybe, but nobody else bothered to draft that mythical Euro guard either. So if Ernie wants him he'll just have to come up with the money for him in free agency. Where's he's gonna raise that money I sure don't know considering how poor the owner is-- maybe he'll have to, I dunno, sell a draft pick or something.

The question of relative value is: how much do you think it's worth to put your marker on: a foreign guy named 'Tadija' (I swear I went to school with her), Chaka Khan from Kansas and his megabucks contract from CSKA Moscow, or a Turkish lunk who is a lazy and low-IQ seven footer. Those are the only Euros selected after our pick. How much do you think they're worth?

Seems to me you'd do better finding a Euro not in the draft, the old fashioned way, with cash dollars. If a Euro is what you think you need.

And that's what I came to figure out after throwing a good old temper tantrum in the evaluation thread. Leaving open a couple roster spots may have a ton more value than holding onto a wounded back-up rookie SF with a history of knee problems, or even selecting a back-up banger who doesn't fit the scheme.

Having two open roster spots means we can invite prospects to try out for the team who might be better than this year's lotto picks #48-60. And instead of picking blind in the hopes that they fit, they can compete and audition for the job. I got excited when Dat thought we we'd landed Pat Calathes for the SL team; then equally excited that Gary Forbes apparently committed. Plus that back-up PG slot is still open, and we've got a HUGE team for the SL that can make any Point worth his jockstrap look damn good if he knows how to pitch an alley oop. At least against Summerleague defenses.

There are a ton of interesting prospects in the D-League, in Europe, etc. likely better than this year's limited prospects in the late 2nd round. I'd bet on Ernie's ability to find a guy from that far larger pool before I'd cry about a lost draft pick. Okay well no, after I'd cry about the pick, but upon reasoned reflection later when I again realized yeah Ernie's a little better at his job than I am.