Who do you like at SF?

[RickRoll_inDC]

I think that the consensus is Thornton to start, but I think Howard still deserves a spot as the backup.

Still, I would draft a SF with one of the other picks and work them in to the back-up role and then possibly get rid of howard by the break.

[closg00]

Luke Babbitt.

[nate33]

Obviously, the best option is to make a BOYD trade to acquire a pick high enough to draft Xavier Henry or Luke Babbitt. I like Henry over Babbitt, but frankly, I don't know enough about either guy to have an informed opinion.

If that doesn't pan out, my next choice would be to secure the best veteran SF we could get on a one year deal. The idea is to keep our options open for free agency in 2011 (*cough* Melo *cough*). There are any number of possibilities:

Trade a TPE for Battier
Trade a TPE for Prince (and maybe get a little extra in return)
Sign Josh Howard for a 1-year deal (or a 2-year deal with a TO on Year 2)
Sign Mike Miller for a 1-year deal

I think the most likely scenario is to sign Howard on a 1-year deal. That's fine with me. I read somewhere that he'll be back by training camp.

If we did end up going for a veteran SF like Howard, I'd also like to grab a SF in the draft with our #30 or #35 pick. Pondexter will probably be the best guy available.
FWIW, all else being equal, I'd prefer Howard over Mike Miller.

[closg00]

I as well like the split between Thronton and a draft pick in a platoon situation, but I reserve more forceful votes for NOT Miller or Howard.

Nothing against those guys personally, but it's time to move on.

+1 I hope Ted is of the same mind-set.

[go'stags]

I'm with mhd, and also Fish.

I want to see how Thorton plays this year. He showed what he is capable of defensively, with his quicks, strength, intensity, and also strong hands. I think if Flip and EG make it clear that his role is to be a defensive stopper then he will excel at it.

That, along with sticking mid-ranger jumpers off the catch (which he is capable of), crashing the offensive boards, running the floor with Wall, and the occasional post-up will make him a very valuable player. He just needs to know exactly what his role is, and he needs a PG to help him get there.

I also like what I hear about Babbit. Very skilled player with a little bit of an edge to him. Very good shooter, scorer, passer, and rebounder. I don't see any reason why he and Thorton can't share SF, with maybe with one them playing some small-ball minutes at PF occasionally. His defense is the only thing one might question, and you absolutely need someone to be able to guard SFs in todays league.

[truwizfan4evr]

I want Thorton too be are starting small foward. I like him for are future plans also.

[DaRealHibachi]

Pondexter...

[Hoopalotta]

I as well like the split between Thronton and a draft pick in a platoon situation, but I reserve more forceful votes for NOT Miller or Howard.

Nothing against those guys personally, but it's time to move on.

+1 I hope Ted is of the same mind-set.

Yeah, if we can't get much done with BOYD trades this summer, there'd be nothing wrong with carrying cap space into the next trade deadline.

Thornton and a rookie, picked either high or low, would be a decent competition and rotation for our developmental situation. Thornton plays hard and should do well in an uptempo game even if he's not great off the ball.

As to a specific rookie I couldn't say now, but the Wizards insider makes it sound like Stanley Robinson and Pondexter might be popular with the front office. I have no problem with that, though the sexy talk of Babbit or George is exciting.

All in on the kids!

[AceDegenerate]

I'm happy with Howard on a small 2-year deal like nate mentioned. I'd rather not bring back Mike Miller, I don't think he really brings anything to the table for next year's team and going forward. Howard if he can regain his form is worth keeping around at the kind of money we were paying Stevenson.

I'd like to keep Thornton around as a backup, he seems to play with a lot of energy at times and they seem to come in bursts, he may be best suited off the bench or using to trade at the deadline.

[ErikChowbay023]

Corey Brewer!!!!!

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I like Babbitt too, but I'm not sure he makes it past the middle of the 1st. Once he tries out for more people, I'm pretty sure people will pick up on why Bilas has him in his top ten prospects of the entire draft, ranked #9.

It's a decent draft to be drafting a small forward in the late 1st tho, with Pondexter, Robinson, and possibly Babbitt around.

[JWizmentality]

Why are people so high on Thornton. He's got potential, but he's far from starter potential IMO.

[rl25g]

Corey Brewer!!!!!

+ 1. Plus the wiretap says Minnesota might go after Gay. I wonder if that would make Brewer expendable (?)

[Hoopalotta]

Why are people so high on Thornton. He's got potential, but he's far from starter potential IMO.

He's cheap, already under contract and we probably aren't taking the Magic to game 7 next year no matter what we do.

[no D in Hibachi]

I like the idea of trying to pick up Thad Young on the cheap if the 76ers draft Evan Turner. There really is no room for him on that roster with Turner/Iggy/Green/Kapono. He is a pretty good shooter, and is a very good defender and rebounder at the SF spot.

[BigA]

I'd like to see Howard next year for the right price.

[tkunit]

I don't get why people are so high on thorton. He is not our long term solution at sf, and since we are going full rebuilding and bringing in your players his style is only going to get in the way. he is best suited coming of the bench and allowed to shoot the ball on the second unit.


I like howard on the cheap, but his injury history does worry me.

[Hoopalotta]

2011 Washington Wizards small forward?

Gimme a 'C'!
Gimme a 'H'!
Gimme a 'E'!
Gimme a 'A'!
Gimme a 'P'!

What's that spell?

Ideally, we'd have Wesley Johnson to plug in. Athletic, good attitude, disciplined, cuts off the ball, solid defender and spaces the floor.

Al offers 'athlete' and 'good attitude'. I'm alright with that and some kind of a rookie.

The spacing and discipline could be better, but I don't think we can hit on all that criteria and Al can at least get out and run with Wall.

[ErikChowbay023]

Brewer is 6`8, long, athletic, a proven winner..and is great defensively...

[montestewart]

^
Thornton also plays defense with intensity and is often clearly the best defender on the floor. Don't seel that short, because the Wizards need that. He's not the long term answer, but he's fairly reliable and seems pretty durable. I'm more concerned with shoring up the center position (hopefully Blatche plays few minutes there).