General (Non-Wiz) Draft Discussion

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Nick Calathes interview at DX.

Link.

No earthshattering revelations. He's working with/against Jrue Holliday, Earl Clark, DJ Blair. Pretty good group to train with, nice mix of strengths and styles to tune up your game for the workout tour.

My top choices of two players who I'd like the Wizards to draft are 1) Griffin and Jack Mclinton 2) Curry and Blair (through a trade with trade down for pick) and 3) Blair and Calathes

I honestly want Calathes more than Rubio (which probably shows my ignorance of how much better Rubio supposedly is/will be than Calathes).

To hear Calathes and Blair are working out together (at IMG is for whatever reason not surprising to me. I expect both players to FAR EXCEED current expectations.

[jgozalb]

Rubio back in business, 16pys, 7rbs, 6assist, 4steals.

http://acbtv.acb.com/video/1843

[closg00]

Nick Calathes interview at DX.

Link.

No earthshattering revelations. He's working with/against Jrue Holliday, Earl Clark, DJ Blair. Pretty good group to train with, nice mix of strengths and styles to tune up your game for the workout tour.

My top choices of two players who I'd like the Wizards to draft are 1) Griffin and Jack Mclinton 2) Curry and Blair (through a trade with trade down for pick) and 3) Blair and Calathes

I honestly want Calathes more than Rubio (which probably shows my ignorance of how much better Rubio supposedly is/will be than Calathes).

To hear Calathes and Blair are working out together (at IMG is for whatever reason not surprising to me. I expect both players to FAR EXCEED current expectations.

+1 I would be thrilled to have Blair and Calathes, I think I want that more than just getting Griffin out of the draft.

[Ruzious]

Nick Calathes interview at DX.

Link.

No earthshattering revelations. He's working with/against Jrue Holliday, Earl Clark, DJ Blair. Pretty good group to train with, nice mix of strengths and styles to tune up your game for the workout tour.

My top choices of two players who I'd like the Wizards to draft are 1) Griffin and Jack Mclinton 2) Curry and Blair (through a trade with trade down for pick) and 3) Blair and Calathes

I honestly want Calathes more than Rubio (which probably shows my ignorance of how much better Rubio supposedly is/will be than Calathes).

To hear Calathes and Blair are working out together (at IMG is for whatever reason not surprising to me. I expect both players to FAR EXCEED current expectations.

If Calathes was just a step and a half quicker and faster - he'd be special in the NBA. But that step makes all the difference. He kind of reminds me of Jeff Hornacek - the guard who used to play with Stockton at Utah. Horny was also a very good college PG who was regarded as too slow to play in the NBA. But he learned to play the 2 and had a nice career. But the NBA was a lot less reliant on athleticism back then. I don't know if the Horny from back then could play in today's NBA.

[Ji]

John Wall picks Kentucky..not the NBA.

[nate33]

Nick Calathes interview at DX.

Link.

No earthshattering revelations. He's working with/against Jrue Holliday, Earl Clark, DJ Blair. Pretty good group to train with, nice mix of strengths and styles to tune up your game for the workout tour.

My top choices of two players who I'd like the Wizards to draft are 1) Griffin and Jack Mclinton 2) Curry and Blair (through a trade with trade down for pick) and 3) Blair and Calathes

I honestly want Calathes more than Rubio (which probably shows my ignorance of how much better Rubio supposedly is/will be than Calathes).

To hear Calathes and Blair are working out together (at IMG is for whatever reason not surprising to me. I expect both players to FAR EXCEED current expectations.

If Calathes was just a step and a half quicker and faster - he'd be special in the NBA. But that step makes all the difference. He kind of reminds me of Jeff Hornacek - the guard who used to play with Stockton at Utah. Horny was also a very good college PG who was regarded as too slow to play in the NBA. But he learned to play the 2 and had a nice career. But the NBA was a lot less reliant on athleticism back then. I don't know if the Horny from back then could play in today's NBA.

Sounds like a Jon Barry to me.

[Soup's Uncle]

I'm really starting to warm up to the idea of getting Rubio.

[Ji]

Washington Times says that EG thinks there are 5 players in the draft that could make an impact on the Wizards and he would consider the 3rd pick to draft Curry,Jennings, or Hill. If they land 4th or 5th, he would look to trade the pick if possible

[Pitbull]

I'd be happy with Griffin or Rubio (as I think most of the board). After that, I'm going to try my best to look at the bright side.

[closg00]

Nick Calathes interview at DX.

Link.

No earthshattering revelations. He's working with/against Jrue Holliday, Earl Clark, DJ Blair. Pretty good group to train with, nice mix of strengths and styles to tune up your game for the workout tour.

My top choices of two players who I'd like the Wizards to draft are 1) Griffin and Jack Mclinton 2) Curry and Blair (through a trade with trade down for pick) and 3) Blair and Calathes

I honestly want Calathes more than Rubio (which probably shows my ignorance of how much better Rubio supposedly is/will be than Calathes).

To hear Calathes and Blair are working out together (at IMG is for whatever reason not surprising to me. I expect both players to FAR EXCEED current expectations.

If Calathes was just a step and a half quicker and faster - he'd be special in the NBA. But that step makes all the difference. He kind of reminds me of Jeff Hornacek - the guard who used to play with Stockton at Utah. Horny was also a very good college PG who was regarded as too slow to play in the NBA. But he learned to play the 2 and had a nice career. But the NBA was a lot less reliant on athleticism back then. I don't know if the Horny from back then could play in today's NBA.

Point taken, Houston pushed it to 7 games in large part because Brook's ability to penetrate. However, in Calathes you get a two-fer, a tall PG who is an excellent passer, has great court vision, and shoots a high% from 3. We could use that kind of versatility in a back-up PG.

[pancakes3]

Washington Times says that EG thinks there are 5 players in the draft that could make an impact on the Wizards and he would consider the 3rd pick to draft Curry,Jennings, or Hill. If they land 4th or 5th, he would look to trade the pick if possible

that's dumb. why couldn't we draft curry, jennings, or hill with the 4th/5th pick? we just feel like spending extra dollars on a higher pick for the same player? picks 3-5 will be traded. gua-ran-teed

ps, Nick Calathes is one of the best combo-guard prospects out there along with Maynor and Curry. The athleticism worries are a little overblown. The kid gets to the line 7 times a game which indicates some sort of athletic ability. I'm more worried about the 70% FT percentage and how that might indicate poor shooting mechanics.

I still say that we draft Jodie Meeks in the 2nd round. He's more talented than any of the guys we're working out, and standing at 6'4 208lbs, he's not significantly undersized. He shoots incredible percentages, and at a high volume. He might not be the most complete player but he's ben gordan lite - instant offense.

[Severn Hoos]

Washington Times says that EG thinks there are 5 players in the draft that could make an impact on the Wizards and he would consider the 3rd pick to draft Curry,Jennings, or Hill. If they land 4th or 5th, he would look to trade the pick if possible

Interesting - that quote from the article didn't make any sense to me at all. If they're picking 3rd, they would take Curry, Jennings, or Hill. But if they're picking 4th or 5th - where all three would still be available - they would trade out? So, draft a guy in the slot where you have to pay him more, or trade the pick that brings back lower value in return. Huh?

I'm glad to see the interest in Curry, thought I really hope it's in a trade-down scenario. Jennings worries me. Too many comparisons to Arenas (not even counting the U of A "connection"), but didn't exactly set Europe on fire. Too much of a project. And Hill might have a lot of potential - but again, too much of a project.

If it's 3-5, I definitely hope for a trade down. Get a guy who could be a solid contributor right away - Blair, Henderson, Curry. And/or go for a young post player on a team that might want to snag a Center (Thabeet). Any chance to deal for Horford or Love? Not likely, I realize, but they'd be great trade targets.

But what am I talking all this jibberish for? The Wiz will obviously get the #1 pick and ignore any and all trade requests to move Griffin. Any other outcome would be inconceivable.

[LyricalRico]

^ Here's the exact quote:

If the Wizards land the No. 1 pick, Griffin is a no-brainer. And Rubio appears to be a lock at No. 2. Washington has a 35.16 percent chance of landing one of the top two picks, so is it Griffin, Rubio or bust?

Not necessarily. According to a high-ranking league executive familiar with the Wizards' front office thinking, Washington could use the third pick to draft a player like Hill or possibly Jennings or Curry. But if they get the fourth or fifth pick, they're more likely to try to trade it as part of a package deal.

"That pick's an asset for them," the official said. "You have to understand, there are some teams that don't have a first-round pick at all and others that might be winning teams but feel like they need to get younger at a few positions and they'd be willing to offer something to get a high draft pick."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... ink-blake/

The way I read that, the Wiz could be looking at this as a 3 man draft (not the 2 man draft many think it is), and that third guy could be Hill, Curry, or Jennings. So evidently, the WIz would still use the third pick on whichever guy they have rated at #3.

But if they drop to 4th or 5th tonight, they would operate under the assumption that their 3rd option would in fact go at #3 and at that point they feel their best course of action is to put together a trade package pre-draft. Anybody else get that from the quote?

[Severn Hoos]

^ Here's the exact quote:

If the Wizards land the No. 1 pick, Griffin is a no-brainer. And Rubio appears to be a lock at No. 2. Washington has a 35.16 percent chance of landing one of the top two picks, so is it Griffin, Rubio or bust?

Not necessarily. According to a high-ranking league executive familiar with the Wizards' front office thinking, Washington could use the third pick to draft a player like Hill or possibly Jennings or Curry. But if they get the fourth or fifth pick, they're more likely to try to trade it as part of a package deal.

"That pick's an asset for them," the official said. "You have to understand, there are some teams that don't have a first-round pick at all and others that might be winning teams but feel like they need to get younger at a few positions and they'd be willing to offer something to get a high draft pick."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... ink-blake/

The way I read that, the Wiz could be looking at this as a 3 man draft (not the 2 man draft many think it is), and that third guy could be Hill, Curry, or Jennings. So evidently, the WIz would still use the third pick on whichever guy they have rated at #3.

But if they drop to 4th or 5th tonight, they would operate under the assumption that their 3rd option would in fact go at #3 and at that point they feel their best course of action is to put together a trade package pre-draft. Anybody else get that from the quote?

I suppose that makes sense - but as of now, does anyone project Curry, Jennings, or Hill to go #3? Maybe Hill - but that might be a stretch as well. So if you're sold on one (and only one) of those guys, why not wait and see if he falls to #4/5?

Of course, it's Ernie, so the guy he really thinks would be worth keeping the #3 pick is guaranteed not to be one of the ones that made it into the paper. I just hope it's not Thabeet...

[Ji]

quote makes no sense...Ernie said he sees 5 guys in the draft that will make an immediate impact and I think we know who they are now

Blake,Rubio,Hill,Jennings and Curry. I think be inclined to stay where he is and pick one of those 5 but i imagine there will be alot of talk from teams moving up to get Habeet.

After Blake/Rubio, i think Curry and Lawson and Harden could make the most immediate impact.

[doclinkin]

I thought this was the more interesting quote (same article):

Grunfeld said: "I see five players out there that could make an impact on this team. ... It's not as deep a draft, but there are still some talented players if you're picking in the top 10. You just might have to wait a little longer for some of those players [to develop]."

Parsing the words superfine: sure the Wiz pick top 5, but some of the players he likes best for team chemistry might still be available a few slots lower (top 10), cheaper, in a trade that brings you something you want plus a lower pick; immediate value while you wait on your pick to season.

Keeps alive trade-down scenariae.

[WizStorm]

quote makes no sense...Ernie said he sees 5 guys in the draft that will make an immediate impact and I think we know who they are now

Blake,Rubio,Hill,Jennings and Curry. I think be inclined to stay where he is and pick one of those 5 but i imagine there will be alot of talk from teams moving up to get Habeet.

After Blake/Rubio, i think Curry and Lawson and Harden could make the most immediate impact.

After Blake and Rubio, it's 100% pure conjecture on who EG is looking at as being possible impact players. My guess is that list may include Lawson and Curry and then maybe Thabeet (he would certainly fit the "maybe have a wait a little while" description from EG).

[Halcyon]

I think that anything EG says is a smokescreen. I wouldn't try to look too hard into what he's saying. All I know is that he's a smart guy, and probably wouldn't/doesn't tip his hand about anything.

[Ruzious]

Washington Times says that EG thinks there are 5 players in the draft that could make an impact on the Wizards and he would consider the 3rd pick to draft Curry,Jennings, or Hill. If they land 4th or 5th, he would look to trade the pick if possible

that's dumb. why couldn't we draft curry, jennings, or hill with the 4th/5th pick? we just feel like spending extra dollars on a higher pick for the same player? picks 3-5 will be traded. gua-ran-teed

Exactly. The paragraph made absolutely no sense and just served to confuse people. Besides, Thabeet is the most likely choice at 3. And implying there that Jennings could be our pick nearly induce vomitting. That'd be a sure way to piss off our veterans. But no vomitting is necessary, because we're going to win the lottery! Positive thoughts. Happy happy joy joy.

[dobrojim]

I like Doc's interpretation. You have to read btw the lines and also
remember what he did NOT say as much as what he did say.

but of course we're going to get Griffin so it'll all be much
simpler after tonight.



worst case - we trade down and get someone who'll fit
and maybe manage to unload someone who doesn't fit
anymore.

I'd be very happy with us landing Curry, Blair or Lawson.
I think any of those 3 could be solid bench contributors
almost right away.