Free Agents Thread

[LyricalRico]

the wiz cant even fill up the bottom bowl and the upper deck is entirely closed off half the time.

I've been to all but 2 wizards games this season and the "VW Penthaus" has never been closed off. Is there a level higher than the 400 level?

that said, it's been about 1/2 - 2/3 full in the lower level most games. of course, there's the crap games where it's closer to 1/3, but there's also the games where it's 7/8 full. It's never been a sell out (except maybe Lakers or Heat have been close) but it's hardly empty.

So during free agancy the Wizards should target fans?

[Nivek]

That's a big fat no to Reggie Evans or Joey Dorsey. Having a great rebounder doesn't help when they're so bad at the rest of the game that they can't get minutes.

Carl Landry is a worse rebounder than Rashard Lewis and can't hold a candle to Andray Blatche or Yi Jianlian in the rebounding department. Landry can score, but he can't rebound (or defend). There's a reason why he doesn't even start on the lowly Sacramento Kings.

What happened to Landry? He was a solid rebounder his rookie season, but he dropped off a lot his 2nd season and basically stopped boarding in Sacramento. And it's not like he's playing SF and doesn't have rebounding responsibilities. He's still a PF -- he's just not rebounding. Strange -- rebounding is usually one of the more consistent stats year to year.

[AceDegenerate]

the wiz cant even fill up the bottom bowl and the upper deck is entirely closed off half the time.

I've been to all but 2 wizards games this season and the "VW Penthaus" has never been closed off. Is there a level higher than the 400 level?

that said, it's been about 1/2 - 2/3 full in the lower level most games. of course, there's the crap games where it's closer to 1/3, but there's also the games where it's 7/8 full. It's never been a sell out (except maybe Lakers or Heat have been close) but it's hardly empty.

So during free agancy the Wizards should target fans?

Uncle Groupon agrees.

[theboomking]

I've got a burning question that I'm not sure anyone will be able to answer. Do you guys think if there is no 2011 season, that players will still accrue the year toward FA. Meaning, if the season is cancelled, does that mean that Dwight Howard et al won't be able to become free agents until 2013 instead of 2012.

I like Arron Afflalo. He turns 26 in October 2011, is playing 34 minutes a game in Denver, puts up 12.6 ppg, and is a good defender on a team that is doing quite well defensively since Melo left. He can't create offense the way NY can, but has a TS% of 62% without being a high usage player. If Nick was healthy, I may prefer him, but given NY's knee issues, his apparent flakiness, and his possible cost in FA, we may be better off signing Afflalo and spending our money elsewhere. Alternatively, if we resigned NY, he may be a tradeable commodity in a package deal, and it wouldn't hurt to have a young talented wing defender on the team in Afflalo.

What do you guys think about adding Kris Humphries? He is also 26, and could help solidify thee PF position if we go another direction in the draft. I'm not sold on him, but am curious.

[verbal8]

What do you guys think about adding Kris Humphries? He is also 26, and could help solidify thee PF position if we go another direction in the draft. I'm not sold on him, but am curious.

I would consider him, but definitely maybe as plan C. It might work out giving him a 2 year deal to prove himself for a final full length contract.

I think having a big who can push McGee and Blatche while Seraphin develops would be a good thing. However I think ideally it would be someone a little bit younger. In a lot of ways he is the floor for Seraphin's expected development.

Although we might not have to complain about soft bigs anymore:

[no D in Hibachi]

What do you guys think about adding Kris Humphries? He is also 26, and could help solidify thee PF position if we go another direction in the draft. I'm not sold on him, but am curious.

I would consider him, but definitely maybe as plan C. It might work out giving him a 2 year deal to prove himself for a final full length contract.

I think having a big who can push McGee and Blatche while Seraphin develops would be a good thing. However I think ideally it would be someone a little bit younger. In a lot of ways he is the floor for Seraphin's expected development.

Wait a second, Humphries is 26 years old, why would it be ideal to have someone a bit younger as a 'guy to push McGee and Blatch?' Any younger and you'd just get another McGee or Blatche--what good would that do?

Also, Humphries is averaging 10/10 with a PER of 18...call me negative nancy if you will, but honestly I don't see all this promise in Seraphin to suggest he'll post a double double and a well above average PER in his prime.

[Error Afflalo]

Afflalo for the max!



But seriously, Afflalo would be a great addition for the reasons mentioned. Problem is players like Afflalo bring value to every team, so unless he's overpaid I don't see a reason for him to join us over a contender. I would take Afflalo over NY all day.

[Ruzious]

What do you guys think about adding Kris Humphries? He is also 26, and could help solidify thee PF position if we go another direction in the draft. I'm not sold on him, but am curious.

I would consider him, but definitely maybe as plan C. It might work out giving him a 2 year deal to prove himself for a final full length contract.

I think having a big who can push McGee and Blatche while Seraphin develops would be a good thing. However I think ideally it would be someone a little bit younger. In a lot of ways he is the floor for Seraphin's expected development.

Wait a second, Humphries is 26 years old, why would it be ideal to have someone a bit younger as a 'guy to push McGee and Blatch?' Any younger and you'd just get another McGee or Blatche--what good would that do?

Also, Humphries is averaging 10/10 with a PER of 18...call me negative nancy if you will, but honestly I don't see all this promise in Seraphin to suggest he'll post a double double and a well above average PER in his prime.

I'd love to have Humphries, but he'll cost, and with Blatche eating far more cap space than he's worth, the Wiz can't even think about going after Humph.

[nate33]

Humphries is a nice role player but not what we need right now - unless it's on a 1-year deal, and I don't see why he'd sign one.

I like Young and Afflalo, but I value Young more because of his ability to create his own shot. It's a small sample size, but Afflalo's scoring and shooting percentages have plummeted since the Melo trade. He averaged 13.2 points per game with an eFG% of .580 through January. In February and March, he is averaging just under 12 points per game with an eFG% of .530.

I'd take Young at $5M a year over Afflalo at $4M a year.

[Error Afflalo]

Humphries is a nice role player but not what we need right now - unless it's on a 1-year deal, and I don't see why he'd sign one.

I like Young and Afflalo, but I value Young more because of his ability to create his own shot. It's a small sample size, but Afflalo's scoring and shooting percentages have plummeted since the Melo trade. He averaged 13.2 points per game with an eFG% of .580 through January. In February and March, he is averaging just under 12 points per game with an eFG% of .530.

I'd take Young at $5M a year over Afflalo at $4M a year.

Hypothetically speaking, Young at $5M would be nice, but I think I'd still take Afflalo because he gives us more balance. I know it's a small sample size, but Crawford has shown the ability to create his own shot and possibly fill NY's scoring role as a sixth man. Afflalo can come in and be the lock up perimeter defender we so desperately need. I'll admit it would be hard to let Young walk after he finally started producing like we though he would.

$5M sounds about right for Young. I was in the barber shop the other day having this discussion. Most said he's worth about the mid-level, and considering the current economic climate of the league I doubt he'd get much more anyway.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Reggie Evans is a free agent this summer - he is exactly the type of player the Wizards need. If we draft Perry Jones, I like the mixture of talent this team could have with Reggie Evans as the PF.

Wall/Crawford
Young/Crawford
Perry Jones/Hawks 1st Pick (a 3pt specialist would be nice here)
Reggie Evans/Booker
McGee/Seraphin

The only thing is what to do with Blatche. I say trade him for a 2nd round pick to whomever wants him. There has got to be somebody out there that wants him!

[Ruzious]

Reggie Evans can help a playoff team, but he'd make little sense here. Why tie up salary and playing time on a 31 year old who can't shoot to save his life - when you're in rebuild mode?

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Reggie Evans can help a playoff team, but he'd make little sense here. Why tie up salary and playing time on a 31 year old who can't shoot to save his life - when you're in rebuild mode?

I didn't realize he was 31. But irregardless, that's at least 3 more good years which means that he'll be producing when we are a playoff team (you don't think we'll be in the playoffs within 3 years from now? I sure do). How expensive do you think he'll be?

[nate33]

Reggie Evans isn't a good NBA player. He's 6-8 with only one skill: rebounding. At that height, you better bring some more to the table, like freak athleticism and shot blocking ability, an outside shot, or a deadly post game. Evans has none of this. Evans wouldn't get minutes on a good team and he barely gets minutes on a bad team.

If he got regular minutes on our team next year, it would only be a confirmation that we still suck.

People need to stop thinking that adding small minute bench players will change the complexion of this roster. Reggie Evans could be the toughest guy in the world but he won't add any toughness to our regular rotation if he isn't good enough to be in our regular rotation.

In a nutshell, most of the reserve role players that we need are already on this roster. The problem is, they're starting. What we need are starters, not more reserves.

[Benjammin]

"You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling". 2011 is not the year for free agents for the Wizards. As nate points out, you don't worry about reserves when this team needs starters. Hopefully the draft will bring another starter and another rotation player to the roster.

But I must disagree with nate about the breadth of skills of Reggie Evans. He would also be very "handy" in a urologist's office.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

I understand the one-dimensional argument, but rebounding is one of this team's biggest problems. If you need rebounding - you get rebounders. Perhaps there are better solutions out there though.

[fugop]

We should use free agency to target defensive players, while looking for two-way/offense in the draft. Along those lines, some young guys who we should consider this offseason:

Thaddeus Young. Young will be a restricted free agent this offseason. He's still only 22. His perimeter game has yet to reach mediocre (40% eFG on jumpshots, extremely low volume 3P FGA), but he's improved his turnovers and rebounding this season, which suggests some maturation. He sees most of his minutes at the PF position, but has a strong +/- (+9), despite being undersized and coming off the bench.

Alexis Ajinca. Ajinca doesn't even see playing time with the raptors, behind Amir Johnson and Ed Davis. He was acquired in a dump from Dallas back in January. He's near 23 years old, a legit 7 footer, who has averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per 36 in very limited numbers. Again in limited time, he has a DRB% of 22.3, the same as McGee's.

Contrary to my general rule, I might also take offer Shawne Williams 8/3, though he appears to be a poor defender. He's a 25 year old big who can stretch the floor for Wall. If he got to the line at all, he'd be an efficient offensive player; the D'Antoni system may account for the fact that more than half his shots are threes. He has a 54% eFG on jumpshots.

[nate33]

Those suggestions are much more in line with what I'm talking about fugop. In free agency, we need either legit starters, or really cheap role players that can be had for the vet minimum.

[Dat2U]

Free agency as consistently proven to be fools gold in the NBA. We shouldn't be using free agency at all, unless were going to sign a top 50 player all time (S.O'Neal), a future all-star who's just beginning to show his true wares (Arenas) or if were seeking a final piece to a championship puzzle (D.West or Barnes).

The ideas of signing Arron Afflalo, Reggie Evans, Shawne Williams or the like are bad ones. None of these guys serve any real purpose but to eat up valuable cap space for when we actually do need it.

I don't even like the idea of re-signing Nick Young, but at least it can be argued under the premise that we'd be keeping a young talented player in-house that we've spent 4 years developing. That's what our cap room should be used for, not to sign marginal talent outside the organization that will make a negligible difference in our win/loss record.

At this point, I'm all for continuing the BOYD strategy. With a special emphasis on acquiring 2012 draft picks while we continue to avoid free agency for the time being.

[Ruzious]

Now that they're talking about raising the draft age (for the NBA, that is), the 2012 draft might get badly diluted.