Wiz trade 5th pick to Minnesota

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

We traded for 2 guards, but what I like most about the trade is what it means for our big men. McGee (and Blatche which I'm not as excited about) will now definitely see minutes, and it makes the outlook of resigning Haywood a little better.

In the big scheme of things I can't say I dislike the trade, and I don't think EG's done...

[slinky]

Wolves fan here, two quick things:

1) Foye gets a bad rap from the Minnesota fans/sportswriters because he is forever linked to Brandon Roy. For those who don't know, we drafted Roy and then traded for Foye, we all know how Roy turned out. So there are some sour grapes in general around Minnesota when it comes to Foye. While he is not Roy, he is still very good at what he does. He is not a PG, he is a scorer. He has struggled with injuries at times within his career. He also was very clutch his rookie year(when we had garnett) He took the big shots and made a surprising percentage of them. He's quick, he's built tough, and he showed some flashes of playing some solid man defense last year. In this draft, I think he easily gets picked in the top ten, maybe even top-6.

2) If Foye is the potential surprise, than Mike Miller is the prize. What he wont do is shut down anyone defensively, but he plays solid team defense, and with erasers like Blatche and Haywood, I think he will be just fine. What you will get is someone who plays hard regardless if he is scoring or not. One of the top rebounders at his position last year, he passes up shots, to get better looks for teammates. He struggled with his shot earlier in the year, as he was coming off of an ankle sprain, but by the end of the year he was getting his shot back. But fewer work harder than him in parctice and in games.

Also importantly, neither of these guys are a headcase. Both are usually smiling, and both are relatively humble(for an NBA player)

[ZonkertheBrainless]

Man, people on this board have been trying to get Mike Miller for years and now he falls into our lap for scraps and a crappy #5 pick. Awesome. And maybe Foye can play some defense on the perimeter. And we apparently save $3 million = $6 million in luxury tax savings?

Awesome trade EG! On paper it looks great.

[Rafael122]

So according to Aldridge, it was this deal or the Knicks deal. No mention of Amare. Interesting.

[fifthstop]

i love this deal ... i had a feeling we would make this move today


all we need to do now is convince FLips man Antonio McDyess to sign on for a Championship run

+1 Or something like it. That's how I see it playing out. Maybe even at the deadline. Add a veteran 8th man banger and you have a team that's impossible to scout/gameplan.

They'll need to work on the D but we knew that and there's certainly no one in the lottery that will come close to transforming this group into a respectable defensive squad with his sheer ability. It'll be about desire.

[Ruzious]

Interesting poll on the Pups board viewtopic.php?f=22&t=916816&start=0&view=viewpoll Most thought the trade was a win/win. I'm impressed with their posters - I didn't realize they had that big a following with lots of passionate fans.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

"I know he wants to win bad, the man was crying after some games" - regarding Foye in an appreciation thread on the Minny board.

that is refreshing to hear. ESPECIALLY after hearing the way our guys were handling all our losses last year. i'm not talking about Adam Morrison crying his eyes out on the court type emotion here, but that's a breath of fresh air. (buuuuuut hopefully there won't be much losing to deal with!)

[LyricalRico]

So according to Aldridge, it was this deal or the Knicks deal. No mention of Amare. Interesting.

Clearly the Wiz thought they needed to upgrade their backcourt. And if the choices indeed were take somebody they didn't think could help them for a while at 5, trade for Hughes, or trade for Miller/Foye - then it should be easy to see why the took what was behind Door # 3.

"I know he wants to win bad, the man was crying after some games" - regarding Foye in an appreciation thread on the Minny board.

that is refreshing to hear. ESPECIALLY after hearing the way our guys were handling all our losses last year. i'm not talking about Adam Morrison crying his eyes out on the court type emotion here, but that's a breath of fresh air. (buuuuuut hopefully there won't be much losing to deal with!)

That alone makes him better than Nick Young. Yeah Nick has superior physical talent but he's too busy goofing off. Getting a guy with some heart is going to help a lot.

[barelyawake]

Gil/Foye/Collison
Stevenson/Foye/Young
Miller/Dmac/AJ
Amare/AJ/vet min
Wood/Amare/Mcgee

OK, let's break that down. Gil doesn't play defense. Stevenson used to be decent at it, but lately has been awful. Miller is decent at team d and awful on man d. The main complaint of Suns' fans about Amare is his lack of d. Even a Suns team with great defenders around Amare and Nash didn't win a title. We replace the great defenders in Bell, Marion and Diaw with Miller, Foye and AJ. But, this time it'll work.

If we somehow get a big, vet defender and another perimeter defender, then yeah, we have shot. So, if this sets up another trade, that's great. Until then, all we did was ensure our defense will suck -- by not trading for or drafting GREAT defenders. I keep hearing people say we were the worst trey shooting team and that's why this is great. Well, Arenas is coming back to help on that end. But, no one is coming to fix the fact that we allow on the perimeter more shots and assists than any other team in the league. But, for some reason, many could care less about that (lately).

[Severn Hoos]

Interesting poll on the Pups board viewtopic.php?f=22&t=916816&start=0&view=viewpoll Most thought the trade was a win/win. I'm impressed with their posters - I didn't realize they had that big a following with lots of passionate fans.

It's funny - the passion, number, and knowledge of fans on RealGM seems to be in inverse proportion to the team's success. The Raptors may have the most fans. And, truth be told, we're not the most successful franchise around, even though we clearly have the best posters.

The Knicks are, naturally, the exception that proves the rule. The posters on their board are a perfect fit with the on-court product.

[Tyrone Messby]

A good trade that can be great if there is in fact another deal in place to acquire a 4. I love the fact that it should help us fight back the injury bug. Have we cleared house with the medical staff yet??? Miller and Foye give us a ton of versatility at the guard position. I like the fact that the lanes are opened up for McGee and Blatche to grow even quicker. Blatche, it's your time to shine buddy. If we could just somehow package Jamison + ? for a legit power forward who plays DEFENSE, I'd be ecstatic.

[Cramer]

I was unimpressed at first, not upset but not impressed, but this is growing on me, big time.

We got two proven solid, if not great players, for some crap and a pick. Time will tell about the pick but we're definitely a better team now and for the next couple of years. The starting 5 is going to be much better that it has been recently, even when healthy. Foye or Miller, whoever is starting, is a large upgrade over the 2's we've been running out there. What really excites me is the 2nd unit we'll be running out there, and those are undervalued and very important minutes, especially against the good teams. Some combo of Foye/Critt, Young, McGee, Dom, Blatch, McGee...maybe Miller....no matter who the starting 5 is, the 2nd unit is a group that can do some damage...positive damage in this case.

I don't think that there's any question that this is a stronger and deeper team.

[pancakes3]

Interesting poll on the Pups board viewtopic.php?f=22&t=916816&start=0&view=viewpoll Most thought the trade was a win/win. I'm impressed with their posters - I didn't realize they had that big a following with lots of passionate fans.

It's funny - the passion, number, and knowledge of fans on RealGM seems to be in inverse proportion to the team's success. The Raptors may have the most fans. And, truth be told, we're not the most successful franchise around, even though we clearly have the best posters.

The Knicks are, naturally, the exception that proves the rule. The posters on their board are a perfect fit with the on-court product.

it's got to be the water. fantastic for pizza dough and bagels but apparently it fries your brains.

[MJG]

On an utterly random note, assuming the Wolves keep and use both picks, I wonder what they'll do to determine who they draft first? Flip a coin? There's about a million dollars difference over the contracts between the 5th and 6th pick, which isn't what I'd call an insignificant amount to kids on rookie contracts. I'm sure whoever goes second won't exactly be complaining, but it's still interesting to think about.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

And Foye is a shrewd pick up, the kind of trade of a young, undervalued player that you'd like your GM to make. Minnesota is in flux, with a new GM, and Foye -- perhaps not quite appreciated, on the cusp of breaking out -- was ripe for the plucking. As a second option, he performed extremely well at times, but he's out of his element, at this point, in such a featured role. As a fourth option, he ought to shine.

In many ways, getting Foye is like getting a young Arenas or a young Butler -- an improving player who still flies under the radar of the average fan (his stats have gotten better every year -- he made the leap to becoming a very solid player in his third year, which is what you want to see.)

Comparisons to Nick Young are inevitable, perhaps, but Foye seems to work harder, and he's certainly a more rounded ball player. And Foye's game has shown growth.

This is where I am on this trade as well. Foye is the plum here. He probably has as much potential as anyone we were going to get with the 5th pick--with the possible exception of Evans who's going to Sac at 4. And take my word on this, he's a lot better, more well-rounded and tougher than Nick. I think we're going to see him start alongside GA.
Getting a vet like Miller as well to relieve Butler and AJ as a scorer and oncourt leader is a great plus as well.

I don't need to take your word DCZ because it's the truth. Among many other things, this trade is an indictment of Young. They brought in two guys who are going to take his minutes. Anyone who saw him as a starter or major contributor has to acknowledge that. And it's proof that at the end of the day, no matter how much talent you have, you need a mental game to play at the NBA level. Nick's struggles thinking the game are well-documented.

I agree that Foye has some bigtime potential. I posted earlier that his rookie season bore statistical similarity to the likes of Mayo, SPrewell and Hersey Hawkins. Flip clealry believs in the guy.

Right now this is an indictment of Ernie Grunfield.

Pay too much for mediocre talent and that predicates a cap dump trade of a draft pick.

Draft Pecherov and give him away.

Draft Young and end up trading for Foye. They might coexist, though.

This morning I see this as a first order of business trade, with another trade I surely hope follows. Ernie needs a small for big trade, and one that gives some defense and toughness to the frontcourt.

Then I'll give him benefit of a doubt--after the follow-on deal.

Right now I'll say it reminds me of getting Daniels and Songaila much more than than getting Arenas or Butler. Only this time if Miller and Foye play great the best the Wizards can do is sign them OR Brendan as it stands, or trade them.

[Severn Hoos]

On an utterly random note, assuming the Wolves keep and use both picks, I wonder what they'll do to determine who they draft first? Flip a coin? There's about a million dollars difference over the contracts between the 5th and 6th pick, which isn't what I'd call an insignificant amount to kids on rookie contracts. I'm sure whoever goes second won't exactly be complaining, but it's still interesting to think about.

When the Skins were picking #2 and #3, there was some question whether LaVar Arrington or Chris Samuels would be the higher pick. As I recall, LaVar and his agent whined enough and threatened a holdout, ensuring that he was indeed the higher p(r)ick.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I was unimpressed at first, not upset but not impressed, but this is growing on me, big time.

We got two proven solid, if not great players, for some crap and a pick. Time will tell about the pick but we're definitely a better team now and for the next couple of years. The starting 5 is going to be much better that it has been recently, even when healthy. Foye or Miller, whoever is starting, is a large upgrade over the 2's we've been running out there. What really excites me is the 2nd unit we'll be running out there, and those are undervalued and very important minutes, especially against the good teams. Some combo of Foye/Critt, Young, McGee, Dom, Blatch, McGee...maybe Miller....no matter who the starting 5 is, the 2nd unit is a group that can do some damage...positive damage in this case.

I don't think that there's any question that this is a stronger and deeper team.

I feel the same way. We got rid of two bad contracts in Etan and Darius. Plus we picked up Miller and Foye. If they don't work out we just don't have to resign them. Miller's shooting could put us over the top if we can make a move for a big man.

Time to package up Jamison and Nick Young for Amare or Brand

[Soup's Uncle]

Man, the tone on this board has changed. Last night it was doom and gloom. I'm excited to see some people dig the move (like me). I think this made our team a lot better than last year. A lot.

Songaila was the only value we gave up and let's face it, he wasn't all that. Yeah, he could hit an open shot, but I didn't think he was great. I would rather have Blatche get those minutes.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

So according to Aldridge, it was this deal or the Knicks deal. No mention of Amare. Interesting.

I'd have taken Hughes' expiring deal and the #8 for James, Thomas, and the #5. Larry has looked like crap but he did have a PER of 21 playing alongside Gilbert. He's as good defensively as Miller or Foye (damning with faint praise the defense of all three)

I would have drafted Blair, Terrance Williams, or Lawson at 8. Blair will be a beast and the other two can definitely play at the next level.

I would have traded Pecherov for a future draft pick or a couple second round picks. Minnesota's #28 would have been sweet for OPEC.

I'd probably be packaging Young and Butler for Stoudemire,too. I would trust McGuire and Jamison at SF if I had Amare. One year rentals of Foye and Miller for less or spin the dice on a one year rental of Amare? I take Amare, if Butler was the sticking point.

My idea would be to give the team easy shots in the paint and much better defense.

I'm thinking in the long run that wins over offense at the expense of defense.

[Soup's Uncle]

^ I forgot to mention the 5th pick...that def has some value. But I think we already have some young talent (Critt, Young, Dom, Blatche, McGee) that need to blossom.

Adding another young guy isn't ideal IMO. Especially if it was going to Etan Thomas Jr (Jordan Hill). Curry would have been OK, but the dude is tiny. Harden has big bust potential IMO.

I dig it. Almost no negatives in my opinion.