Wiz trade 5th pick to Minnesota

[MJG]

ESPN said the deal could expand to include a 3rd team.

This caught my eye too. We're definitely working on dealing some of our backcourt glut, one way or another.

[mohammed10]

I go out to the movies for a couple of hours and I come back to THIS?



Seems like most of my fellow die-hard Wizheads like the deal. Me? I'm with Ji et al...not feeling this one AT ALL.

As many have stated, we are now so guard heavy, it is ridiculous

Better hope EFG has another move up his sleeve. Otherwise, hello 30 win season!

[mhd]

I'd trade Butler+McGee+James for Amare right now and make Jamison a super sub.

[Optms]

Honestly fellas, did you expect the #5 pick to magically a) give the Wizards a shutdown defensive guard b) a super-strong tough big man and c) get rid of salary?

The amount of whining is ridiculous. There was only so much the guy could do with a #5 pick in a weak draft combined with a bunch of unwanted junk.

Exactly.

Ernie wasn't going to solve all of Washington's problems with just one deal alone. With that said, I think he actually just gave a ton of more options for the team. Washington like I've said, can feel comfortable about giving up Butler and others in a deal for a guy like Amare Stoudemire if they decide to go that route and Phoenix listens. The amount of ways the team can now go from here are pretty good. I think what most of you here are forgetting is that he just evaporated 3 bad contracts out of Washington's hands. Whether Washington will keep Miller or Foye after next season is a much better problem to have then the one we had before. That in itself is positive. Add to it that I really believe Washington is in a great position to potentially make another major deal. Preferably to help the back court which now is pretty thin. I rate the deal as an A-

Pretty great if you ask me.

[Ji]

i dont get why Minnesota couldnt throw in #18

[LyricalRico]

ESPN said the deal could expand to include a 3rd team.

This caught my eye too. We're definitely working on dealing some of our backcourt glut, one way or another.

Ah, now we're talking!

[Wiz99]

Bitch, whine, sob.... jeez, guys.

This deal costs us nothing extra in money and solves one of our needs -- the Wizards were bottom 5 in the NBA in 3 pt shooting last year which is such a HUGE part of the NBA game in this era. Our slashers -- Gil, Jamison -- need a guy to drive and kick to.

What did you fellas expect? That we'd land that available guy with the reasonable contract who can defend the 2, score at the 4, when he's not floating out to the arc to knock down 3s at a high degree of accuracy?

This is a good trade considering we gave up trash and a mid-lotto pick in an historically weak draft.

[mohammed10]

i dont get why Minnesota couldnt throw in #18

+1

[KevinFCheng]

Lineup as of right now assuming Foye starts:
PG) Arenas - James - Critt
SG) Foye - Young - DMac
SF) Butler - Miller - DMac
PF) Jamison - Blatche
C) Haywood - McGee

Why would Foye start? Miller is the perfect "glue" guy on offense. He rebounds, distributes, and can make the open shot. He's exactly what this team needs alongside the Big Three on offense. I'm guessing Foye backs up Arenas and Stevenson is used because of his defense and chemistry with the existing roster. I actually think Young will be the odd man out.

Haywood/McGee
Jamison/Blatche
Butler/McGuire
Miller/Stevenson
Arenas/Foye

That's what I see the rotation as. Great size almost everywhere and Flip should be able to use that length defensively with his zone schemes.

I think Foye starts because Miller would be more effective off the bench, IMO. Miller's selfless and stabilizes the bench with his playmaking and rebounding from the wing position. If Foye were to be the 6th man, he would not provide much other than 3 pt shooting. And also, as small as Foye is, Miller is a worse defender at the 2 position. There is no way Miller can keep up with 2 guards. A Miller-Butler-Jamison 3-some is absolutely disastrous on defense, not including Arenas.

[Wizards2Lottery]

NOOB question, but how does this affect our 2010 cap? Can we sign a big FA?

[LyricalRico]

^ And Foye would be more than a 3pt shooter playing with the Big Three?

[BanndNDC]

I think the deal is solid. Miller fills a big need and is a good player who should fit in well. quite pleased with his acquisition. Foye could be good, is an improvement over what we have now and makes me feel a lot better about the backcourt. from where i see it, foye is equal to harden or curry and miller is better then songaila.

Would love the deal if we got Minnesota's pick as well and think we should have gotten it included (based on the market rate at this time).

hope there's another small trade with our excess pieces to get the banger we need. if that happens we're solid top to bottom and only missing a pure passing point.

[mhd]

NOOB question, but how does this affect our 2010 cap? Can we sign a big FA?

We won't sign anyone in 2010 if we want Haywood back, simple as that. What it does do is clear out Songaila's 2010 contract to save some space. Another hidden benefit is the salary that the 5th pick would have gotten is not on our books either.

[fishercob]

Another point. The Deshawn hate is overboard. I mean, I get that his antics are embarrassing, but his year last year needs to be completely written off given the injury he played with. He can help this team plenty in his proper role as a 15-20 MPG defender (even if he's starting to set a tone).

He's a totally decent 8th or 9th man.

[verbal8]

ESPN said the deal could expand to include a 3rd team.

This caught my eye too. We're definitely working on dealing some of our backcourt glut, one way or another.

Could the third team be Memphis? There has been speculation the Wolves are trying to get Rubio and the 5th and 6th pick should be enough to get that done.

[Bickerstaff]

You also have to consider the financial ramifications of this trade. EG was up against the tax and had to do something to alleviate that burden (although I do think it's his fault the team is in bad shape cap-wise).

Salaries for next year:

Miller - $9.8
Foye - $3.6

Etan - $7.4
Songaila - $4.5
OPec - $1.4

It's almost exactly salary neutral. We do save the $2.7~ million (x2 because of the luxury tax) of the fifth pick, but that's it. So not a lot of help there.

And everyone in the deal expires after this year except Songaila, who will make about $4.8 million the next season. I suppose we did shave that off, along with the $3 million we'd be paying for our pick, for about $7.8 million total. The thing is though, unless we intend on letting Foye and Miller walk, that money is likely going to be sucked up by resigning them.

All in all, there's really not much financial gain out of this deal at all that I can see.

No, but there's flexibility, and if Foye and Miller get nice extensions, it will probably be because they earned it. And at least both of these guys will play. Etan reads to school children
for a living at this point. It's a huge waste of money.

To me, this seems like a very smart trade. Yes, it would be great if it were Stevenson instead of Songaila and if Minnesota threw in the 18th pick, but this is a very fair trade. Either of those guys are better than any other guards after Arenas, and Miller I would think automatically becomes number 2 of the SF depth chart, but they're not so good or high paid that Nick won't have a chance to be a starter. Ideally, the team, as currently constructed, will start

Haywood
Jamison
Butler
Young
Arenas

with Miller backing up 2/3
Foye 1/2
Blatche 4/5
Dmac 3
McGee 5
Critt 1

I would say DMac is hurt the most by this trade since he was basically the only backup 3 on the team. I think Blatche is helped the most because this forces him to be reliable. When he started, he seemed to be pretty consistent. I think knowing he'll be the first big man off the bench most games could be good for him.

I don't know, guys. I'm pretty pleased with this. Phoenix wasn't going to give away Amare for a package like this, and even if they did, what would adding another huge contract do to this team's longterm flexibility, especially considering the two highest paid players would have significant injury histories?

All that's left is to somehow turn James and Stevenson into a good Songaila replacement...

[Bickerstaff]

Another point. The Deshawn hate is overboard. I mean, I get that his antics are embarrassing, but his year last year needs to be completely written off given the injury he played with. He can help this team plenty in his proper role as a 15-20 MPG defender (even if he's starting to set a tone).

He's a totally decent 8th or 9th man.

I agree, and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him stay and Nick traded since Deshawn's trade value is nil at this point.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Nick Young with solid coaching will be a lot better than DeShawn Stevenson. The guy simply makes too much money for someone who's easily replaceable and below average at almost everything.

[RickRoll_inDC]

I personally love this trade. I really think that Foye is the perfect compliment to Arenas. I really liked Foye back at Villanova. It seems that every single combo guard in this draft is trying to be converted to a PG and PG only. Actually, I see a lot of a young Antonio Daniels in him. A young Antonio Daniels in his prime would be fantastic. The old Antonio Daniels we had before was good enough, and now with Foye in that backcourt, this could be really good.

Not to mention, we have that X-Factor that I mentioned a few days ago in Miller. We now have that 3point specialist off the bench. I like it a lot.

It also kinda helps that Thomas and Songaila are gone so that Blatche and McGee can get some guaranteed PT.

[Ruzious]

Another point. The Deshawn hate is overboard. I mean, I get that his antics are embarrassing, but his year last year needs to be completely written off given the injury he played with. He can help this team plenty in his proper role as a 15-20 MPG defender (even if he's starting to set a tone).

He's a totally decent 8th or 9th man.

Agreed... if his knees aren't shot. I read a blurb somewhere that he still has not been cleared to run. 2 seasons ago - when we played with a depleted roster and no depth - he was forced to play heavy minuted while his knees were swollen - and I think that's a factor in his problems now.