NBA Draft Thread-Rubio Falls to the Wizards:(

[fugop]

I think the top ten of the 2nd round will produce more starters than the top ten of the first round. Cunningham, Blair, Young, Summers, Brockman and Pendergraph all stand as much a chance as panning out as any of the guys in other than Griffin.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I hope Ernie walks out with Ashton Kutcher tomorrow and announces we've all been punked; the Wizards actually traded for Chris Bosh weeks ago.

I wish, it's time for new ownership.

How did they pass on Blair!?!!?!?!

This team is a joke. We could of had Rubio and Blair and used them at trade bait.

Don't you think a package of Rubio and Jamison would bring Chris Bosh or Amare to DC?

The Raptors would of loved to rebuild around Rubio. Same for the Suns.


Washington will always be a mediocre team with this type of philosophy. After the moves made in the East we have no shot to go past the second round unless we pull off another trade.

[Dat2U]

If I was EG on draft night here's what I would have done.

#5: Drafted PG Ricky Rubio.

I'd try to work out a deal with Minny for them to secure Rubio's draft rights and swap picks. If Minny agreed to a Mike Miller for Etan Thomas / Oleksiy Pecherov swap then I would have drafted G Stephen Curry at #6.

If Minny balked at trading Miller I may have settled for the 18th pick. I honestly think Minny would have given up the pick instead of Miller to secure Rubio.

With the 18th pick I would have drafted PG Ty Lawson.

#32: Drafted PF DeJuan Blair

This would have been a no brainer for me. I'd have given him a 3 yr deal.

I would have tried to acquire Vince Carter since he was available so cheaply. Mainly using Nick Young as bait. Nick Young, Javaris Crittenton, Mike James and likely Etan Thomas would have been the offer. I wouldn't have asked for Ryan Anderson in return, maybe Sean Williams instead. I think that's a better deal than they got from Orlando.

New lineup:

PF Antawn Jamison > Andray Blatche > Darius Songaila / DeJuan Blair (R)
SF Caron Butler > Dominic McGuire
C Brendan Haywood > Javale McGee > Sean Williams
SG Vince Carter > Stephen Curry (R) > DeShawn Stevenson
PG Gilbert Arenas > Ty Lawson (R)

[LyricalRico]

Don't you think a package of Rubio and Jamison would bring Chris Bosh or Amare to DC?

The Raptors would of loved to rebuild around Rubio. Same for the Suns.

Umm...apparently not because the Suns rejected that offer and asked for Caron Butler. Neither have Phoenix or Toronto been reported to have called Minnesota offering their best player for Rubio, which they obviously would be doing if they would "love" to build around him, right?

Making up imaginary trades on message boards and then criticizing Ernie for not making said pretend trades doesn't really count as analysis, folks.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

Making up imaginary trades on message boards and then criticizing Ernie for not making said pretend trades doesn't really count as analysis, folks.

couldn't have said it better myself

[Ruzious]

If I was EG on draft night here's what I would have done.

#5: Drafted PG Ricky Rubio.

I'd try to work out a deal with Minny for them to secure Rubio's draft rights and swap picks. If Minny agreed to a Mike Miller for Etan Thomas / Oleksiy Pecherov swap then I would have drafted G Stephen Curry at #6.

If Minny balked at trading Miller I may have settled for the 18th pick. I honestly think Minny would have given up the pick instead of Miller to secure Rubio.

With the 18th pick I would have drafted PG Ty Lawson.

#32: Drafted PF DeJuan Blair

This would have been a no brainer for me. I'd have given him a 3 yr deal.

I would have tried to acquire Vince Carter since he was available so cheaply. Mainly using Nick Young as bait. Nick Young, Javaris Crittenton, Mike James and likely Etan Thomas would have been the offer. I wouldn't have asked for Ryan Anderson in return, maybe Sean Williams instead. I think that's a better deal than they got from Orlando.

New lineup:

PF Antawn Jamison > Andray Blatche > Darius Songaila / DeJuan Blair (R)
SF Caron Butler > Dominic McGuire
C Brendan Haywood > Javale McGee > Sean Williams
SG Vince Carter > Stephen Curry (R) > DeShawn Stevenson
PG Gilbert Arenas > Ty Lawson (R)

Except for the VC paragraph, it's well done. I might not have stayed with Curry, but it'd have been fun to watch Lawson and Curry flying around off the bench.

You remember my plan - to trade the pick and capcrap for Miller and 18 - expecting that either Jrue or Lawson would slip there.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

So is a .493 efg% any good?

[bgroban]

Didn't Ernie say last night that he was going to have an announcement this morning??

::looks @ watch::

It's 1:39pm EST

[clubbing_caveman]

Although I knew we werent going to keep that #5 pick, when I saw Rubio drop to #5, I began to question why we traded the pick. Now that I am reading reports that Rubio will stay in europe, I think we made the right move. You dont spend a #5 on someone who will stay in europe for 5 years (thats a guess, I dont know how long he stays in europe). Its too high a price to pay. Imagine what we would be talking about if Rubio didnt pan out, or live up to his hype in europe...we would probably be discussing how EG wasted a #5 pick on some dude who will never play for us, and is now worth no more than a 2nd rnd pick. On the other hand, if he blew up playing in europe, we would be taking about bringing him here, and wondering why he wouldnt want to play for the Wiz. I think EG did the right thing in dealing that #5 pick and making that someone else problem. I keep thinking about "the escort"...EG got value back for him...he turned a lower pick into something. It would be hard to turn #5 into something, if Rubio doesnt blow up in europe. Time will tell if (Rubio + Pech + Song + ET) > (Foye + Miller). My guess is that we got the better end of the deal. ET will be out of the league soon. Song has seen his best days. Pech sat on our bench, and will probably sit on the bench in Min. Rubio is staying in europe. So, effectively for the next 5 years, all these players we traded will not see much if any time on the court if they stayed with the Wiz. Foye already is a good backup combo guard who isnt afraid to take the tough shot. He will see some time on the court. Yes, Foye will be a restricted FA next year. If he doesnt resign with us, we could get something for him, because he's a restricted FA. Miller can put points on the board and shoot some 3's. He will challenge for the starting position for SG, and at worst is a good backup. He too will see some time on the court. Both players will be around in the league for a few more years.

[DCZards]

^^^ Wow! A sensible post based in reality rather than on emotion.

[Dat2U]

Why is Rubio the only standard that we can compare the trade to? How bout waiting till draft night and then seeing what Minnesota (or any other team for that matter) would be willing to give up for Rubio?

How bout Miller & Curry? Or Miller & Flynn? Or Curry & the 18th pick? Those are possible options we gave up by making a deal early.

And no one solidly backing this trade wants to address the real issue. How do we pay for Mike Miller & Randy Foye come next offseason? And why are we penny pinching now if we just threw away the option of selecting guys on rookie deals to potentially pay big bucks to two free agents next season.

To me, the impending free agency next offseason of Miller & Foye is like the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.

[mhd]

Why is Rubio the only standard that we can compare the trade to? How bout waiting till draft night and then seeing what Minnesota (or any other team for that matter) would be willing to give up for Rubio?

How bout Miller & Curry? Or Miller & Flynn? Or Curry & the 18th pick? Those are possible options we gave up by making a deal early.

And no one solidly backing this trade wants to address the real issue. How do we pay for Mike Miller & Randy Foye come next offseason? And why are we penny pinching now if we just threw away the option of selecting guys on rookie deals to potentially pay big bucks to two free agents next season.

To me, the impending free agency next offseason of Miller & Foye is like the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.

Well, I think its likely Foye could extend for a reasonable amount. Moreover, Foye isn't a true FA as its likely he'll get the QO.


Regarding Miller, no team (especially in this economic climate) is going to give him more than a bit above the MLE if that. When talk about Hedo is centering around 10 million, then Miller
s value is around 6-7 million per year. Considering the huge number of FAs available for 2010, then Miller could extend as well for a reasonable price.

[verbal8]

If production is as expected next year, I think Miller and Haywood basically switch salaries.

I think Foye and Nick Young are basically competing for a spot. If Foye blows up, I think we trade Young to free up cash to resign Foye. If Young blows up, then we let Foye go.

[DCZards]

When talk about Hedo is centering around 10 million, then Miller
s value is around 6-7 million per year. Considering the huge number of FAs available for 2010, then Miller could extend as well for a reasonable price.

The only person talking about Hedo getting $10 mil is his agent. I think he ends up in the $6-$8 mil range.

As for Foye and Miller, Randy would probably be the priority and he's a restricted free agent and I wouldn't expect Miller to get more than $5-$6 mil. If he demands more, you let him walk.

[Wiz99]

I haven't seen many posts grading other teams' draft.

Instead, I'm giving out grades based on decisions that resulted in surprisingly good, or bad, drafts. In other words, I'm not bothering with teams like the Clips who did exactly what was expected of them.

The great

Rockets: A Given that they started the day with ZERO picks in either round, to come up with 3, and 3 good 2nd round choices at that, is impressive. Jermaine Taylor is a flat out scorer. Lull they can leave abroad and Buddinger was a total steal this low. Shows what $6 mil can get a franchise in this economy.

TWolves: A Contrary to all the criticism, I think Minnie's draft day moves were sly. They are in rebuilding mode. This isn't about fielding the best team next year (a la the Wiz). It's about fielding the best team in 2-3 years. So I don't care that their 4 best players play the same PF and PG positions. There are still some moves for Minnie to make to get back to respectability and this gives them serious chips to trade and redundancy when they do. Plus, I have a nagging suspicion that Rubio's advisors are threatening that he'll stay abroad, so Flynn gives Kahn a legit retort: "F you. Stay abroad. I have a PG." And trading Lawson converts one of their picks this year into another next.

The good
Wizards: B Let's just get this out of the way. Clearly, the decision at the very top is win now. Argue with that if you want, but once that's the choice, then it absolutely makes sense to get Miller who addresses one of our most glaring problems last year (and for half a decade, really). The Wiz are one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the league, which is a HUGE part of today's NBA game. It stretches the D, opens up lanes for slashing, and allows you to close deficits quick. I like Miller for that. I was a big fan of taking Green with the 32nd, to be our defensive ace. So I can't go higher than a B+. Otherwise, I think EG made an overall upgrade to this squad's ability to win now.

Nets: B Like the Wiz, senior management made a decision -- it's time to retool. Try and argue that Jersey has a way to become a contender with last year's squad. Just try. Once you accept that, trading VC is smart, and it's even smarter when you get a player like Courtney Lee who showed so much for Orlando last year. Terrence Williams has top 5 athletic talent. He needs to grow up some, but he'll have time to do it now.

The bad
New Orleans: D After you trade Chandler, which is about as much of an open secret as there is in the NBA today, who plays center for you? Hilton Armstrong? Right... so instead of taking a guy to address your glaring need in the frontcourt, say Dejuan Blair, you take 2 guards. Riiiiiiiight.

The ugly
Warriors: F You're trading one of the league's 10 best centers (Bierdrins, see Hollinger's stats) and 3 first round picks (a #7 in Curry, a #8 in Wright, #18 in Bellinelli) for a dude with a medically doubtful eye, an allergy to playing D and no game from outside 8 feet, who's success in Phoenix might, just might have had something to do with playing with Nash, who makes everyone around him look twice as good? They're gonna rue the day they did this.

[W. Unseld]

I kind of agree w/Bill Simmons (this phenomenon is also observable in the workplace or at a bar around closing time):

"The Virgin Megastore on Hollywood Boulevard had a "Going Out Of Business!" sale this month. For the first few days, everything in the store was 30 percent off. The discount jumped to 40 percent and, finally, 80 percent. I voyaged down down there one day too late, well after every desirable DVD and Blu-Ray disc had been snagged. One wall of DVDs featured only "Don't Mess with the Zohan" and "Meet Dave," to give you a sense of what was left.

I spent 20 minutes sifting through the Blu-Ray remains. It wasn't pretty. I talked myself into "Terminator 3," "The Shining" and "Superman Returns," then carried them for a few more minutes before realizing, "Wait a second, what am I doing?" I put the Blu-Rays back and walked out of the store.

Here's the point: The 2009 NBA draft is the equivalent of that 10 minutes when I nearly talked myself into three Blu-Rays I didn't even want. I have seen "The Shining" 10 million katrillion times. I don't need to own it on Blu-Ray. But when it's sitting on the same shelf with "Along Came Polly" and "Ocean's 12"? It starts looking good by default. That's the problem with this year's draft class -- too many "Terminator 3" Blu-Rays, only everyone else is so bad, you start talking yourself into them.

Maybe Tyreke Evans really is a point guard! Maybe DeMar DeRozan can put it together! Maybe Tyler Hansbrough isn't too slow! Maybe Jrue Holiday's college stats aren't a red flag!

Trust me: It's the worst draft class since the infamous Kenyon Martin Draft in 2000."

[Wiz99]

+1 W. Unseld

I think we'll look back and think EG's a genius for moving our picks in this weak draft

[Benjammin]

Didn't Ernie say last night that he was going to have an announcement this morning??

::looks @ watch::

It's 1:39pm EST

I think the only announcement he was going to make was that the Wizards sold their second round pick. But once the news came out last night, there is nothing else to announce. That's my take.

[Kanyewest]

What Bill Simmons said about the Rubio pick:

5:03: Phew. Sota took him. The best part: Stern going into "I'm gonna be extra gregarious right now because they'll be replaying this in Europe!" mode as he announced the pick. Gotta say, I can't kill Kahn for turning Randy Foye and Mike Miller into Rubio. Nice work. An orgasmic Fraschilla says Rubio is "the best passer in the last decade of drafts" and he's "got a Gretzky-like feel, he sees the game two and three plays ahead." Totally agree.

5:13: From Ray in Washington: "Help, I can't breathe. My GM just traded the No. 5 pick for Foye and Miller while passing up Amare (mind you, our center is nicknamed Brenda and our power forward is an undersized 33-year-old). Now I'm watching the draft when, much to my dismay and sheer bewilderment, a team not called the Wizards selected -- this is difficult -- Ricky Rubio with the fifth pick. Now I'm forced to wish damnation upon this young man and his career for the rest of eternity to make myself feel better about what Ernie Grunfeld has done to us. Make sense of this please. Help."

(Sorry. I can't. Rubio is going to haunt you like Stevie Nicks haunts Lindsey Buckingham every time she sings "Silver Springs." He's gonna bulge his eyes at you and look crazy and vindictive just like Stevie as he's wearing a visiting uniform and throwing no-looks in a half-empty Verizon Center. You wait.)

[LyricalRico]

Why is Rubio the only standard that we can compare the trade to? How bout waiting till draft night and then seeing what Minnesota (or any other team for that matter) would be willing to give up for Rubio?

How bout Miller & Curry? Or Miller & Flynn? Or Curry & the 18th pick? Those are possible options we gave up by making a deal early.

And no one solidly backing this trade wants to address the real issue. How do we pay for Mike Miller & Randy Foye come next offseason? And why are we penny pinching now if we just threw away the option of selecting guys on rookie deals to potentially pay big bucks to two free agents next season.

To me, the impending free agency next offseason of Miller & Foye is like the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.

Well, I think its likely Foye could extend for a reasonable amount. Moreover, Foye isn't a true FA as its likely he'll get the QO.


Regarding Miller, no team (especially in this economic climate) is going to give him more than a bit above the MLE if that. When talk about Hedo is centering around 10 million, then Miller
s value is around 6-7 million per year. Considering the huge number of FAs available for 2010, then Miller could extend as well for a reasonable price.

Agreed. Miller won't be hard to re-sign and I wouldn't be surprised to see Foye extended this summer. Each can probably be had for $5-6M per season IMO. I'm not worried about that at all.