Predict Wiz Opening Day Roster 2010

[Dat2U]

I viewed Singleton as more of an undersized PF than a SF. I don't think there's room for him with Yi & Booker. Now I'd much rather have Singleton over Yi but what's done is done.

There's no sure bet that Howard will be ready at the start of the year. I say sign Cartier Martin and leave that last spot open in case we get hit with injuries and need added depth.

I think the depth chart will look like this to start the season:

PF Andray Blatche / Yi Jianlian / Trevor Booker
SF Al Thornton / Cartier Martin / (Josh Howard - INJ)
CE Javale McGee / Hilton Armstrong / Kevin Seraphin / (Hamady N'Diaye - NDBL)
SG Gilbert Arenas / Nick Young
PG John Wall / Kirk Hinrich

[Ruzious]

I viewed Singleton as more of an undersized PF than a SF. I don't think there's room for him with Yi & Booker. Now I'd much rather have Singleton over Yi but what's done is done.

There's no sure bet that Howard will be ready at the start of the year. I say sign Cartier Martin and leave that last spot open in case we get hit with injuries and need added depth.

I think the depth chart will look like this to start the season:

PF Andray Blatche / Yi Jianlian / Trevor Booker
SF Al Thornton / Cartier Martin / (Josh Howard - INJ)
CE Javale McGee / Hilton Armstrong / Kevin Seraphin / (Hamady N'Diaye - NDBL)
SG Gilbert Arenas / Nick Young
PG John Wall / Kirk Hinrich

That looks right to me. Keep a spot open, because they might need to sign a guard that becomes available.

[verbal8]

I viewed Singleton as more of an undersized PF than a SF. I don't think there's room for him with Yi & Booker. Now I'd much rather have Singleton over Yi but what's done is done.

There's no sure bet that Howard will be ready at the start of the year. I say sign Cartier Martin and leave that last spot open in case we get hit with injuries and need added depth.

I think the depth chart will look like this to start the season:

PF Andray Blatche / Yi Jianlian / Trevor Booker
SF Al Thornton / Cartier Martin / (Josh Howard - INJ)
CE Javale McGee / Hilton Armstrong / Kevin Seraphin / (Hamady N'Diaye - NDBL)
SG Gilbert Arenas / Nick Young
PG John Wall / Kirk Hinrich

I think it might make sense for Nick Young to start off the season as the back-up SF. That is the only place he would get significant minutes, and that seems to be the key to him being productive. If Young is productive with minutes, I think the Wizards consider moving Hinrich to allow Young to continue to get minutes when Howard comes back.

[fishercob]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

[KennyGreen]

I'd pencil in Martin and Hudson, sign Singleton, cut Ndyae and call it a day. I'll buy tix to see that team (or some 12 man combination thereof) play.

I agree...I originally thought N'Diaye but now I think that I'd rather see Singleton on the team...Loved his effort last year esp. on the boards and he would be a good vet to have around the young guys...Martin as the 3rd SF and Husdon playing the role of 3rd PG to come in to hound guys on D...

[Ruzious]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

I wouldn't make that conclusion. The Wiz have only 4 guards on the roster. If one goes down (to the curse of le Bulez), he's getting 25 plus minutes a games - even if they don't like him.

[WizStorm]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

I wouldn't make that conclusion. The Wiz have only 4 guards on the roster. If one goes down (to the curse of le Bulez), he's getting 25 plus minutes a games - even if they don't like him.

N1 is certainly the quintessential "break glass in case of emergency" type of player. All of the significant playing time he's ever gotten in his career is because of someone better getting injured. I would have to agree that signing Josh Howard a signal that the Wizards don't want to have to rely on N1 to have any significant role on the team. If the Wizards actually thought that N1 was ready to assume an everyday role, they would've just stuck with Cartier Martin being the "emergency" player if a rotation wing player was injured.

[fishercob]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

I wouldn't make that conclusion. The Wiz have only 4 guards on the roster. If one goes down (to the curse of le Bulez), he's getting 25 plus minutes a games - even if they don't like him.

Not saying he won't get time in case of injury. I'm saying they're not planning a significant role for him. Gil-Wall-Hinrich will get almost all the guard minutes. He's going to have to fight some combo of Thornton-Howard-Booker-Yi-Martin for SF minutes.

Given that this is his contract year and they're not planning much of a role for him, it's a decent bet that this is his last year in DC. Circumstances could certainly change that, but I'd throw a little cash on him being elsewhere next year.

[nate33]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

I wouldn't make that conclusion. The Wiz have only 4 guards on the roster. If one goes down (to the curse of le Bulez), he's getting 25 plus minutes a games - even if they don't like him.

I agree with Ruz. The Howard signing has nothing to do with Young, other than perhaps they don't consider Young capable of playing heavy minutes at the SF position (which is reasonable because Young isn't a SF).

Young is our 4th guard. It's up to him to earn minutes. If he plays well enough, he can force Flip to go with a 4-guard rotation instead of a 3-guard rotation, with Young getting all the minutes at backup SG. There's also injury considerations and there's a possibility that Arenas or Hinrich get traded before the Trade Deadline.

[nate33]

I think the Howard signing is yet another signal of the organizations hopes and expectations for Nick Young at this point.

I wouldn't make that conclusion. The Wiz have only 4 guards on the roster. If one goes down (to the curse of le Bulez), he's getting 25 plus minutes a games - even if they don't like him.

Not saying he won't get time in case of injury. I'm saying they're not planning a significant role for him. Gil-Wall-Hinrich will get almost all the guard minutes. He's going to have to fight some combo of Thornton-Howard-Booker-Yi-Martin for SF minutes.

Given that this is his contract year and they're not planning much of a role for him, it's a decent bet that this is his last year in DC. Circumstances could certainly change that, but I'd throw a little cash on him being elsewhere next year.

As Wall develops, keeping a high quality backup PG on the roster is going to be less of a priority. I don't think it makes sense to keep Hinrich around past the end of his contract in 2012 (if we don't trade him before that). With that in mind, I think there is room for Young in our long term plan provided we don't have to pay too much for him.

I think the best move would be to extend the qualifying offer ($3.7M) to Young (assuming we don't go after Melo or Horford). It'll give us a chance to keep him through the 2011/12 season and then figure out what direction we'll go after that. Maybe we cut Hinrich and turn over 3rd guard duties to Young. Maybe we trade Arenas. Who knows? If somebody else comes along and offers Young a long term contract, we'll have to decide whether or not to match it depending on the size and length of the contract.

[fishercob]

True nate, but many here have said that Young's main opportunity this year will be at SF. The organization seemingly agrees with your assessment of his ability to play the 3. Nick will indeed have to earn those minutes at the two. God willing, he won't have opportunity due to injury.

[dobrojim]

seems like the only remaining question is who basically
the last guy (signed) is going to be:

Singleton
Martin
Hudson

seems like those 3 have the inside track on the last spot

Hammy will probably end up in the D league or inactive pending injuries

[nate33]

It could also be none of the above. There's nothing wrong with keeping two roster spots open until a player is needed.

[hands11]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... .html#more

In order to sign Howard, the Wizards had to renounce the rights to free agent James Singleton, which is merely a formality. The Wizards remain interested bringing back Singleton

I was looking to sign SIngleton but now I'm not so sure this will happen since they signed Howard. We already have 12 signed. 13 if you count Hamdey going to the D League. Signing Singleton would make things tight, meaning you have to leave someone inactive who is a vet, unless they send Booker to D League or inactive. Should be interesting to see what they do. Hard to see them not having Armstrong active since he is a signed vet and your not going to sign Singleton and have him not active. I guess it has a lot to do with how ready they think Booker is and what they think is the best way to get the most from him. In the past, people have wanted to see our raw young talent get court time in the D League. Dom could have benefited from it. He was really raw. If Ted wants to sign Singleton, this could be a sign that he wants to load up his farm team.

And now they are talking like Howard could be ready to start the season. Not holding my breath but that is good to hear. But that would force their hand before they are ready.

So the easy additions would be
Singleton - They are still looking at him but already have 12 signed.
Martin
Howard - Signed

So maybe to start the season we see.

Wall 6-4 195, Kirk 6-3 190
Gil 6-4 215, Nick 6-7 212
AT 6-8 235, J Howard 6-7 210
Dray 6-11 260, Yi 7-0 250
McGee 7-1 250, Seraphin 6-10 1/2 260-265

Backing up SF and PF - Booker 6-7 240 or Singleton 6-8 230
Backing up PF and C - Hilton 6-11 235

That is 12 players active

Booker inactive but practicing or D League ?

D League
Hamdey 7-0 235 - I think it is a pretty sure thing that they sign him and send him down.
Martin 6-7 220 ??
Booker ? if Singleton is signed.

While Nick, Yi and AT will be auditioning for SF until Howard is ready, I think it's pretty clear Howard is going to step in to start once healthy. That leave AT and Yi fighting for the primary back up minutes with Nick as an interested bench scoring option at the position when needed but Nick doesn't rebound so I don't see him starting over Howard nor betting our AT as the back up. And while they talk about Yi at SF, he isn't going to be out Howard and we need bodies at primary back up PF. Then we also have competition with McGee and Seraphin over the year for starting center. If McGee looses our there, he will be backing up Seraphin with optional minutes at PF. I love all the battles and competition for minutes. This can work out several different ways which is what a lot of this year is about and what makes this all so exciting. Singleton, if we sign him, will just be a vet version Booker while we figure out what Booker can do and how ready he is. There is even a chance Booker doesn't make the 12 man roster and they send him to D League. They are both back up defensive minded players who you can plug in to primary defend at SF and PF but Booker is supposed to be really quick so maybe he can even help covering long two guards.

That a pretty sweet 10 man roster. I don't think it will be long before we see.

Wall 6-4 195, Kirk 6-3 190
Gil 6-4 215, Nick 6-7 212
J Howard 6-7 210 , AT 6-8 235
Dray 6-11 260, Yi 7-0 250
Seraphin 6-10 1/2 260-265, McGee 7-1 250
Backing up C and PF - Hilton 6-11 235

Backing up SF and PF - Booker 6-7 240 or Singleton 6-8 230

D League
Hamdey 7-0 235 - I think it is a pretty sure thing that they sign him and send him down.
Martin 6-7 220 - If they even sign him.

So the big question on the table right now is, what do they think of Bookers game. If he makes the 12 man roster, he isn't going to get much more than practice minutes and they don't practice as often once the season starts. If they send him down to the D League, he gets to play and they can call him up if someone gets injured. Should be interesting to see what Ted, EG and Flip decide. But this is great for our team. There is no room for anyone to coast because there is lots of competition and enough vets to set the tone. Not a lot of long contracts means everyone has to fight and put in the off-season work to be ready. I like it a lot.s

[hands11]

I didn't realize Singleton was such a high flyer once upon a time. I like the interview at his house. Seems like a really level headed dude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYpAY33SXV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxb5RxlD ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jaRQsLLAeM&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKL0xhHsv3w&feature=fvst

[sfam]

As Wall develops, keeping a high quality backup PG on the roster is going to be less of a priority. I don't think it makes sense to keep Hinrich around past the end of his contract in 2012 (if we don't trade him before that). With that in mind, I think there is room for Young in our long term plan provided we don't have to pay too much for him.

I think the best move would be to extend the qualifying offer ($3.7M) to Young (assuming we don't go after Melo or Horford). It'll give us a chance to keep him through the 2011/12 season and then figure out what direction we'll go after that. Maybe we cut Hinrich and turn over 3rd guard duties to Young. Maybe we trade Arenas. Who knows? If somebody else comes along and offers Young a long term contract, we'll have to decide whether or not to match it depending on the size and length of the contract.

This is one advantage of keeping Arenas. Our third guard only needs to be a decent SG who can consistently bury the outside shot. I really don't see Young ever being more than points off the bench, but he certainly plugs in well if Hinrich goes in a year or two. We can better use that money at SF then.

[hands11]

Wizard Basketball Camp
http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2010/0 ... index.html

Man we really do have a young team.

[hands11]

Looking more and more like we are going to need to use Dray at center more than I wanted to see to start the session.

McGee isn't ready.
Yi couldn't get it done at center against Party John Ramos

So that leaves Seraphin and Armstrong if we don't use Dray. Here to hoping we see something from one or both of those two. If not, we will go back to Dray at center and try to figure out who is the best PF to run with him.

[closg00]

Looking more and more like we are going to need to use Dray at center more than I wanted to see to start the session.

McGee isn't ready.
Yi couldn't get it done at center against Party John Ramos

So that leaves Seraphin and Armstrong if we don't use Dray. Here to hoping we see something from one or both of those two. If not, we will go back to Dray at center and try to figure out who is the best PF to run with him.

I don't expect we'll see Blatche at C unless there is an injury, It's going to be a McGee/Armstrong combo for the most-part for better or worse. (For the worse if you believe the Bleacher Report ranking)

[hands11]

Looking more and more like we are going to need to use Dray at center more than I wanted to see to start the session.

McGee isn't ready.
Yi couldn't get it done at center against Party John Ramos

So that leaves Seraphin and Armstrong if we don't use Dray. Here to hoping we see something from one or both of those two. If not, we will go back to Dray at center and try to figure out who is the best PF to run with him.

I don't expect we'll see Blatche at C unless there is an injury, It's going to be a McGee/Armstrong combo for the most-part for better or worse. (For the worse if you believe the Bleacher Report ranking)

Well I suggest you expect it. Dray has played at the center ever year he has been here. Even last year after we moved him to primary PF. Expect to see him playing there some to start the season. How much he plays there will be determined in preseason.