Wiz trade 5th pick to Minnesota

[Benjammin]

A little OT but if anyone is interested in chatting during the draft I'll try to be here:
http://www.chatmaker.net/chatap/rooms/RealGMWizards/

Posting during the draft is good too, but there's nothing like the immediacy of the comments during chat. It rarely disappoints.

[LyricalRico]

Plus, if you look at each player's splits, it seems Foye is better at playing off the ball:

Per 48 Minutes

06-07
As PG - 48.4 eFG%, 5.3 Reb, 5.8 Ast, 4.2 TO, 20.1 Pts, 13.5 PER
As SG - 48.5 eFG%, 6 Reb, 6.3 Ast, 3.5 TO, 22.8 Pts, 16.9 PER

08-09
As PG - 43 eFG%, 4.4 Reb, 7.4 Ast, 3.9 TO, 19.6 Pts, 12.3 PER
As SG - 48.5 eFG%, 3.8 Reb, 4.8 Ast, 2.2 TO, 23.2 Pts, 17 PER

Wow! Nice work, NoVaO. Those are some eye-opening stats. I had no idea Foye was THAT much better at SG. If Foye can post a PER in the 17 range while playing at least average defense, then maybe I'll have to reconsider my take on this deal.

And if Foye is better at SG, with Miller as a 6th man playing 2/3, then my initial reaction that this deal means they are done with Nick Young could be accurate. I'd be all for moving him sometime tonight for a mid-first where we take a PG.

[Kanyewest]

I'm with nate, Stevenson probably shouldn't even be in the rotation. let alone starting. And that's talking about Stevenson at his prime, never mind the broken shell he was last year. The only backcourt player who I'd label him as clearly better than (again, assuming he's recovered) is James. Maybe Crittenton, though I wouldn't call that a sure thing.

My personal SG choice is Miller. He's better than Foye, Young, McGuire, and Stevenson, and his SF minutes will be limited behind Caron, so the only way to play him more is at SG.

I wouldn't say Stevenson becoming a bench warmer is certain... yet. Nick Young could easily get yanked for not knowing the plays or defensive rotations. Dominic McGuire may not develop that jumper of his; and if the roster stays as is, it's likely that McGuire will see his minutes at power forward. Foye and Miller can play alternate positions at times (Foye at the point and Miller at the 3).

If Stevenson plays like he did in 08-09, then there's no reason to play him. But if Stevenson plays like he did in 06-07 with a healthy Gilbert, he has a chance to crack the rotation. He certainly has his work cut out for him.

[yungal07]

We might be better off trading Haywood now instead of having to extend him.

Haywood and Stevenson for Tyson Chandler might have to be an option.

[miller31time]

There is no chance that Haywood extends early - not when he's the best center on the market not named Yao Ming. If he gets 32 minutes a game and posts a PER in the 17-19 range like last season, I think it's very possible that he gets an offer in the $10M range. I'm hoping for something in the $8M range, but I'm not optimistic.

But do NBA GMs feel the same way? We know Haywood's true value but the public flat-out disrespects him.

Are we to believe that NBA GMs are that much smarter than your informed NBA fan?

[Kanyewest]

From Lee's latest Insider:

Saunders was excited about added[sic] Miller, who gives him several options on the floor. Saunders said he could play Miller anywhere from power forward to shooting guard, adding that Miller has some playmaking ability and can bring the ball up the floor from time to time.

Will the Wizards ever move away from small ball?

This isn't anything new with Flip Saunders who often went to small ball lineups. With Detroit he often featured a lineup of Billups, Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, and Wallace. Small ball can work with the right personnel (see the Boston Celtics with House, Allen, Pierce, Posey, and KG).

[mhd]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

[LyricalRico]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

Exactly.

[Kanyewest]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

We'll see. This is the same guy who benched Ben Wallace (when he was good) in crunch time situations.

[LyricalRico]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

We'll see. This is the same guy who benched Ben Wallace (when he was good) in crunch time situations.

Yeah but for who? Putting a guy who's a complete self-check on the bench in favor of guys like Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess (or even Tayshaun Prince) is COMPLETELY different from benching your only 7-footer and best defender to play a guy like Ruffin who spent his entire career with one foot out of the league. Totally different situations.

[Rafael122]

FWIW, Saunders talked to Dave Johnson on Comcast and said Miller could play the 4 if they want to go big. Similar to what Orlando did with Lewis.

[Joe_Wiz]

Belatedly opining on the deal:

I'm not blown away, but I like it. I can easily believe it was the best option available. Miller is a hell of a shooter. I don't know much about Foye, but from what I've read and heard, he will be a solid addition. If he's even a modest upgrade over Crit (whom I like, but am realitic about) then he will be a useful addition -- it seems like a good chance he can be more than that.

Etan is done. Pesh doesn't look like he's gonna make it in this league. I like Songaila, but he was entirely expendable. As for the #5, well there's probably some player that will be picked in the #5 to #10 range who will look really good in two or three years, but I don't think anybody really knows who that is now. I think adding a couple of young veterans was a better option for the club at this point in time.

[verbal8]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

We'll see. This is the same guy who benched Ben Wallace (when he was good) in crunch time situations.

Wasn't he benched due to his poor free throw shooting?

[LyricalRico]

I don't see Flip sitting Brendan Haywood, so I'm not worried about smallball. EJ's fetish for Jamison and Ruffin at center is not going to be FLip.

We'll see. This is the same guy who benched Ben Wallace (when he was good) in crunch time situations.

Wasn't he benched due to his poor free throw shooting?

Great point. Totally different from EJ benching Haywood in favor of Ruffin.

[sashae]

Ugh we could have had Rubio.

[WAYSA]

Ugh we could have had Rubio.

Horrible trade.

[mohammed10]

So there we have it. Where is the 'Ernie must go thread'?

Looks like Minny's backcourt will be Curry and Rubio. Not a bad combo

[SlimD235]

Ugh we could have had Rubio.

Horrible trade.

Foye for Rubio. WOW

[miller31time]

I don't like Rubio on Washington's roster but having him as trade bait would have been muy perfecto.

Damn trade...

[McGeeNArenas]

WOW what a flop of a trade

EG pulled the trigger WAAAYYYY too early. Why couldn't he wait til draft night so see what he could do.

We could have had Rubio or traded it then.

I HATE this trade and I hate this team.