What Should the Wizards Should Do with the 5th Pick?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

And if the Wizards don't draft Blair or Curry, I say ....

F it! Draft Dave Neal.

[tsvqt]

would Rip even WANT to come back here? I mean, I guess it's not his decision to make but for some reason I think coming back here to finish his career would be so depressing for him.

I've typed up about 5 drafts when trying to post what I think we should do right now but man, this is just a huge punch to the gut. The road to an NBA Championship is so damn long and it feels like the construction crew just began work on paving another long stretch for us. Do we go after Bosh and get rid of Jamison? Do we try to snag a foagie like Vince Carter and hope that it works? Hell, do we keep the pick and hope we struck gold with some unexpected talent? I just don't know and for my money, I don't think Grunfeld does either. We have $111 million tied up into a guy who's knee could be jello for all we know. We have a bunch of erratic, inconsistent young guys who flail around like they just learned the game yesterday and then come back and score 30 the next night. We have a coach who sounds like he's a bigger pushover than Eric Cartman's mom....how are we expected to keep being fans and supporting a team like this? Get it done for Abe. The guy has given this city so much. It's time to give him something back before his time is up.

God forbid, but I think it'll actually take something like that for this franchise to wake the freak up!! Sad to say.......maybe old Abe will see the team make the Finals from his seat next to Red Aurbauch.

[P'Oed]

And if the Wizards don't draft Blair or Curry, I say ....

F it! Draft Dave Neal.

there we go. That's what I like to hear.


Dave Neal for President (or the #5 draft pick)

[nate33]

I'm thinking something like:

#5 + Mike James

for

#16 + John Salmons

Salmons isn't in Chicago's long term plans anyhow. They're going to have to let him walk in 2010 if they want to make a move in free agency.

Either that or maybe Toronto wants Harden bad enough that they'll absorb Stevenson's salary to move up to #5. At #9 we draft Blair, Lawson or Henderson.

[tsvqt]

I'm thinking something like:

[b]#5 + Mike James [/b]
for

#16 + John Salmons

Salmons isn't in Chicago's long term plans anyhow. They're going to have to let him walk in 2010 if they want to make a move in free agency.

Either that or maybe Toronto wants Harden bad enough that they'll absorb Stevenson's salary to move up to #5. At #9 we draft Blair, Lawson or Henderson.

We'd still need a secondary trade to rid oursleves of Stevenson. Now dig deep and come up with that one.....PLEASE!

[no D in Hibachi]

Any chance you guys would want to do a 5/Thomas/James for Redd?

Ha give away our future cap flexibility and the 5th for an over paid, no defense playing, injury waiting to happen? We've had a bad enough night, show some class.

[no D in Hibachi]

I think Detroit is our best trade partner. How would a #5, Jamison, Stevenson, and Blatche for Hamilton, Bynum, and Maxiel, and #15 work out?.......with #15, we select Blair.

Arenas, Crittenton, Bynum
Hamilton, Young
Butler, McGuire
Maxiel, Blair, (Songalia)
Haywood, Mcgee, Thomas
(Maxiel and Blair aren't big PF's, but they would be beast on the boards...and give you toughness)
Looking at it on paper though, there's no low post threats to throw the ball into and command double teams......never mind....we're still a team that would be hurting down low.
Carlos Boozer anyone???

OF COURSE MY FIRST CHOICE IS SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY...getting AMARE STOUDAMIRE!!!....now that we are NOT getting BLAKE GRIFFIN (tears are flowing).

I don't get it, the Pistons got swept out of the playoffs, didn't even look like they had a heart beat and you want to trade both our power forwards for their garbage and include the 5th pick. Hamiltons okay, but it's unlikely that he'd turn the Wiz into a top 5 team in the east. It's amazing the irrational thought people have when a travisty strikes.

[Dat2U]

What I think the Wizards will do:

Trade out of the draft completely. My best guess is that they want to win with the core they have now and avoid adding anymore young talent. Michael Redd, Rip Hamilton, Vince Carter are possible candidates. I'd hedge that the Wiz will look at Redd & VC very hard b/c of EG's connection to Redd (he drafted him years back) and VC's connection to Jamison & Haywood.

The Wizards will use Mike James & Etan Thomas as bait and cap filler in any deal. I don't see them trading Songaila or Stevenson unless it took one of them to get a deal done. Pecherov may also be used as filler to.

What I think the Wizards should do:

I personally don't think Redd, Carter or Hamilton puts us over the top. I also don't see a viable deal for Bosh, Amare, Kevin Martin or even the likes of Rudy Fernandez or Marresse Speights. Drafting 5th just kills much of the value to the point where the Wizards would have to settle for a collection of aging SGs with flaws (as mentioned above) or mediocre role players in the Hinrich or Mike Miller mold.

I also don't see trading down as a good option. There's not a big difference in talent b/w the 5th pick or the 9th or 12th pick. I don't think teams will be clamoring to trade up to get DeMar DeRozan or James Harden. Especially if we expect to dump a contract or two as the price to pay for moving up. And trading down too far may prevent us from getting anything of quality. Blair, Curry, Evans or Lawson may be available a few slots down but none will probably last past the lottery. For example, if the reports about Blair are true and he's more explosive & skilled than he showed in college, then he may very well slip into the top 10.

I'd personally lean towards Curry or Evans with the 5th pick. But I also wouldn't be upset with Blair or Lawson. I'd avoid Harden at all costs b/c he's got below average athleticism and he plays with basically one hand (he struggles to go right). I'd also avoid Jordan Hill b/c he's a low skilled and low IQ baller. Jennings did nothing overseas so I'm skeptical about him. DeRozan isn't a good fit b/c of his rawness and lack of skillset although he's a tremendous athlete.

So in order here's what I'd like to see us get for the #5 pick:

1. PG Stephen Curry
2. SG Tyreke Evans
3. PG Ty Lawson
4. PF DeJuan Blair

[P'Oed]

What about getting a guy like Felton and moving Gilbert to the 2? One of my major problems with this team is Gil being at the point. Yeah, we all loved how he played in the 2 friggin games he played this season but I don't think he's ever going to be Chris Paul no matter how much we want him to be. The Jamison playing no D issue is at the top of the list but I think taking the point responsibility off of Gil's shoulders would finally free him up to be a dominant scorer all season long. Felton is turning into a great pure PG and I think he'd really work on this team.

[tsvqt]

I think Detroit is our best trade partner. How would a #5, Jamison, Stevenson, and Blatche for Hamilton, Bynum, and Maxiel, and #15 work out?.......with #15, we select Blair.

Arenas, Crittenton, Bynum
Hamilton, Young
Butler, McGuire
Maxiel, Blair, (Songalia)
Haywood, Mcgee, Thomas
(Maxiel and Blair aren't big PF's, but they would be beast on the boards...and give you toughness)
Looking at it on paper though, there's no low post threats to throw the ball into and command double teams......never mind....we're still a team that would be hurting down low.
Carlos Boozer anyone???

OF COURSE MY FIRST CHOICE IS SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY...getting AMARE STOUDAMIRE!!!....now that we are NOT getting BLAKE GRIFFIN (tears are flowing).

I don't get it, the Pistons got swept out of the playoffs, didn't even look like they had a heart beat and you want to trade both our power forwards for their garbage and include the 5th pick. Hamiltons okay, but it's unlikely that he'd turn the Wiz into a top 5 team in the east. It's amazing the irrational thought people have when a travisty strikes.

Forgive me.....my thought pattern has been soooooooo focused on BLAKE GRIFFIN that anything else is un-civilized!!

[no D in Hibachi]

What about getting a guy like Felton and moving Gilbert to the 2? One of my major problems with this team is Gil being at the point. Yeah, we all loved how he played in the 2 friggin games he played this season but I don't think he's ever going to be Chris Paul no matter how much we want him to be. The Jamison playing no D issue is at the top of the list but I think taking the point responsibility off of Gil's shoulders would finally free him up to be a dominant scorer all season long. Felton is turning into a great pure PG and I think he'd really work on this team.

If this is one of your major problems with the team I doubt Felton will do anything to change your opinion. He is a poor mans Arenas, at best, and is expiring after next year. He's gonna wanna get his and isn't worth more than a couple mill a year. Wiz don't have the cap space to take on any more salary. Neither him nor Gil have adequately cover a 2-guard so they'd be miserable defensively together.

[Dat2U]

What about getting a guy like Felton and moving Gilbert to the 2? One of my major problems with this team is Gil being at the point. Yeah, we all loved how he played in the 2 friggin games he played this season but I don't think he's ever going to be Chris Paul no matter how much we want him to be. The Jamison playing no D issue is at the top of the list but I think taking the point responsibility off of Gil's shoulders would finally free him up to be a dominant scorer all season long. Felton is turning into a great pure PG and I think he'd really work on this team.

You have a problem with Arenas at the point but yet you want Ray Felton to take his role? Felton is a poor man's Arenas. I don't see him as a "great pure PG" in the least. He's an undersized chucker miscast as PG and one that's not terribly efficient. I'm not against moving Arenas to the SG position but I personally believe Arenas is a better floor general than Felton and has better court vision.

Heck, I'd much much rather have Ty Lawson than Felton. And isn't Felton a FA this offseason? I don't see the Wizards ponying up the cash to pay for him and I believe it would be mistake too.

[nate33]

Dat2U,

Time to change the signature.

[GopherIt!]

I started a mock draft on the draft board. Right now Oklahoma is on the clock. When it is the Wizards turn at pick five, I will need someone who follows Washington to make your teams pick.

Thanks for your participation,

-Gopher

[nate33]

I'm thinking something like:

#5 + Mike James
for

#16 + John Salmons

Salmons isn't in Chicago's long term plans anyhow. They're going to have to let him walk in 2010 if they want to make a move in free agency.

Either that or maybe Toronto wants Harden bad enough that they'll absorb Stevenson's salary to move up to #5. At #9 we draft Blair, Lawson or Henderson.

We'd still need a secondary trade to rid oursleves of Stevenson. Now dig deep and come up with that one.....PLEASE!

I don't see how we can simultaneously add talent and shave cap space with only the #5 pick as trade bait. It's gotta be one or the other. And I don't get the feeling that EG is looking to dump Songaila or Stevenson, at least I don't think he'll pay through the nose to make it happen.

I figure Salmons is the best fit among the attainable SG's. And his contract is more reasonable than Miller's or Hinrich's.

[P'Oed]

Felton was probably a bad example. I just remember seeing a couple of the triple-doubles he put up last year and thought he might develop into a great all-around PG. Obviously, I didn't know what I was talking about. Maybe, (gulp.....) Nash? Probably an even more terrible idea than Felton. I just think the the league is becoming so guard oriented right now and there are so many great distributors and guys who change the game in other ways than scoring. Playing next to one of those guys would do Gilbert a world of good.

[Dat2U]

Nate, now were trading a #5 pick for a 29 yr old one year wonder at shooting guard who's going to want a big pay day in 2010? Me don't likey. Also the 16th pick in this draft has no value to me whatsoever. It's like picking 26th in any other year.

For example of Salmons real value, look at what Chicago dealt to get Salmons. Andres Nocioni (mediocre player on a bad contract), Drew Gooden (who Sacramento released the same day), Michael Ruffin & Cedric Simmons ('nuff said). Chicago ALSO got Brad Miller in the deal.

We on the other hand want to beg Chicago to take our #5 pick and give us a crap pick instead.

It just doesn't make sense. Medicore, run-of-the-mill SGs should cost so much for us when other teams aren't paying the same price for them.

IMO Salmons can be had for something other than the 5th pick. Kirk Hinrich can be had for something less than the 5th pick. Mike Miller can definitely be had for something less than the 5th pick. Were just offering up too much and getting too little in return.

[tsvqt]

What about getting a guy like Felton and moving Gilbert to the 2? One of my major problems with this team is Gil being at the point. Yeah, we all loved how he played in the 2 friggin games he played this season but I don't think he's ever going to be Chris Paul no matter how much we want him to be. The Jamison playing no D issue is at the top of the list but I think taking the point responsibility off of Gil's shoulders would finally free him up to be a dominant scorer all season long. Felton is turning into a great pure PG and I think he'd really work on this team.

Maybe you have something there with Charlotte as a trade partner. Maybe Jamison, Stevenson, James, and #5 for Diaw, Bell, Felton, and #15.....with filler either way to make it equal. The Wizards would be better defensively, and Charlotte would be bringing Jamison home to fill seats, and also move up to select a player like Evans or Harden.

[WizarDynasty]

at least now we EG can grab a true small forward in the draft since no team is willing to trade us a defensive true small forward.

[dobrojim]

I like Dat's scenario

He and Nate were the only ones I remember reading that mentioned
another guy, besides Blair, who really dominated the NCAAs. Lawson.
When healthy, he dominated games routinely down the stretch of
this past season. He was unstoppable. Take Lawson off UNC
and I doubt they win the championship. Even though they
were still loaded. He was the straw that stirred the drink.

I would be satisfied with any of the 4 names Dat mentioned
in the event that we keep the pick, which I do feel is likely
(stated in the absence of real knowledge about what deals
actually are potentially available).

In no particular order, Curry, Evans, Lawson and Blair

I continue to think Blair has pro written all over him no
matter what the tape measure says. He will get position under
the basket. He will get offensive rebounds. He will set the most solid
picks imaginable. He will add toughness. When he fouls
you, you will know it. But fouls are likely to be his biggest
problem. I don't think there is any question about his
ability to rebound. The NBA has a lot more height but
lots of that height has no strength to go with it. A bunch
of bean poles. Blair will be a force against the beanpoles.
As long as he knows how to play without fouling too much.

Lawson could end up being VERY good. He's obviously quick
AND strong. His shooting was previously thought to be suspect
but looked awfully good by the end of the season. And it's a
guards league. He might even be able to defend against
penetration. He's a high hoops IQ winner.

Curry could be the 3 point shooter that DeShawn dreamed
of being. He'd be likely to get lots of open looks with the
'big 3' out there. Imagine a guy who shoots better when
he's in a slump than DeBrick does on an average night.

Evans - the next L-boogie; SG size with PG skills. His shot
is suspect but I like him penetrating and hitting open guys
like our fwds who can shoot. And/or being another player
to draw fouls, which used to be part of our formula for
success. The question is how long before he's really NBA
ready him being the least experienced of the above.