Draft Thread Continued. 2011 part two...

[Wizards2Lottery]

So who can we get with the 7th pick in the draft?

[hegotgame132]

With the win, the Celtics and Heat were tied at 54-23 with four games left in the regular season -- including one head-to-head matchup in Miami on Sunday. The Celtics would win the tiebreaker because they beat Miami in their first three meetings this season.

"We want all these games," said Kevin Garnett, who scored 14 points. "Playoffs is like the main course. This will definitely be an appetizer."

Good news for the tank!

[Hoopalotta]

I checked out the Raptors board and they have a 94 page tank thread (!!!), which is completely seperate from the draft thread.

Anyway, I made off with this report from the enemy encampment:

Battle For 3rd Place!!
Updated April 5th

W L %
16 61 0.208 - Cleveland
17 61 0.218 - Minnesota
21 56 0.273 - Washington
21 56 0.273 - Toronto
23 54 0.299 - Sacramento
24 53 0.312 - New Jersey

Washington
Apr 06 - @Ind
Apr 08 - @Bos
Apr 09 - Atl
Apr 11 - Bos
Apr 13 - @Cle
Unwinnable - 03
Winnable - 02
Tank vs Tank - 01

Toronto
Apr 06 - Cle
Apr 08 - @Phi
Apr 10 - NJ
Apr 11 - @Mil
Apr 13 - Mia
Unwinnable - 02
Winnable - 03
Tank vs Tank - 02

Sacramento
Apr 06 - @SA
Apr 08 - @Mem
Apr 10 - @GS
Apr 11 - OKC
Apr 13 - LAL
Unwinnable - 04
Winnable - 01

New Jersey
Apr 06 - @Det
Apr 08 - NY
Apr 10 - @Tor
Apr 11 - Char
Apr 13 - @Chi
Unwinnable - 02
Winnable - 03
Tank vs Tank - 01

Cleveland
Apr 06 - @Tor
Apr 08 - Chi
Apr 09 - @Mil
Apr 11 - @Det
Apr 13 - Wash
Unwinnable - 01
Winnable - 04
Tank vs Tank - 02

Minnesota
Apr 06 - Pho
Apr 09 - @Den
Apr 11 - @Pho
Apr 13 - Hou
Unwinnable - 04

We don't need to care about some of those teams, but there it is. We have a chance of losing the next four games with those villains from Otranto (along the Aegean...) having games against The Nets - now without Deron (?!?!?!?!) - and Cleveland. Both home games there too.

We can do this.

[dangermouse]

It doesnt matter about where we finish, how many more games we win, or how many ping pong balls we have...

All that matters is that nate33 CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO START THE OFFICIAL DRAFT LOTTO THREAD!

In fact I propose that he recieves a 1 day ban on that very day. All in favour?

[DaRealHibachi]

It doesnt matter about where we finish, how many more games we win, or how many ping pong balls we have...

All that matters is that nate33 CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO START THE OFFICIAL DRAFT LOTTO THREAD!

In fact I propose that he recieves a 1 day ban on that very day. All in favour?

*raises hand

[closg00]

It doesnt matter about where we finish, how many more games we win, or how many ping pong balls we have...

All that matters is that nate33 CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO START THE OFFICIAL DRAFT LOTTO THREAD!

In fact I propose that he recieves a 1 day ban on that very day. All in favour?

[Severn Hoos]

You mean the one day that the mods lift the ban on Ji (back to his original screen name) to start the Lotto thread?

[dangermouse]

You mean the one day that the mods lift the ban on Ji (back to his original screen name) to start the Lotto thread?

If this doesnt happen, I forego my Wizards fandom and start rooting for and posting on the Heat board.

[fishercob]

I'm not worried about our draft spot. The basketball gods have taken note of Ted, Irene, and this organization. We'll get up to the top 3.

Doesn't everyone remember that we jumped up from 5th last year to get Wall, and that the team with the worst record hasn't gotten the top pick in like a decade?

We'll be fine.

[closg00]

If we are selecting 5th would you take one of the Euros: Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, before taking Jones? I think that I would despite the huge up-side potential of Jones.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Barnes
4. Kanter
5. ?

[verbal8]

If we are selecting 5th would you take one of the Euros: Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, before taking Jones? I think that I would despite the huge up-side potential of Jones.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Barnes
4. Kanter
5. ?

I think sitting at 5 is a decent position for a trade-down.

The Jazz might be a good trade partner, they have 2 1st and probably want a high upside guy like Perry Jones. They would only be moving up 2 spots, so it probably costs the ATL pick, but I think for the Wizards in this draft 7 and 12 helps a lot more than 5 and 19.

Normally I don't think it would be a good idea to move out of the top 5, but there does not seem to be a lot of top level talent in this draft, but there seem to be a good number of players who could be decent contributors.

[Rafael122]

If we are selecting 5th would you take one of the Euros: Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, before taking Jones? I think that I would despite the huge up-side potential of Jones.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Barnes
4. Kanter
5. ?

I think sitting at 5 is a decent position for a trade-down.

The Jazz might be a good trade partner, they have 2 1st and probably want a high upside guy like Perry Jones. They would only be moving up 2 spots, so it probably costs the ATL pick, but I think for the Wizards in this draft 7 and 12 helps a lot more than 5 and 19.

Normally I don't think it would be a good idea to move out of the top 5, but there does not seem to be a lot of top level talent in this draft, but there seem to be a good number of players who could be decent contributors.

Or we could threaten Utah by saying we're gonna take Jimmer.

[nate33]

If Irving, Kanter, Williams and Barnes are not options, I think I'd go with Vesely as a draft and stash. He's under contract until 2003 so he could continue to get experience while we wait out the lockout.

[Rafael122]

I may be in the minority but we're in no position to draft and stash guys for 1-2 years. 3rd straight year with a lottery pick and we only have John Wall to show for it, and that's good in itself, it softened the blow a bit by trading Curry the year prior, but we can't screw this pick up. At 18/19th pick, fine, but not with a top 5 pick.

[no D in Hibachi]

I'd still take Perry Jones over Vesely, etc. at this point. A few days ago Dat put out a great argument as to why Perry Jones is a good consolation prize. His basic premise was that no one would have considered Derrick Williams a lotto pick after last season, but after his second season he's basically the #1 overall pick. If Perry Jones were able to play he sophomore season with Derrick Williams' supporting cast (I.E. a good PG, no selfish shot jacking combo guards) I'd expect him to have a monster season as well.

He's not a franchise guy, and thankfully for the Wiz he wouldn't have to be, but in the right situation I think he could be a match-up nightmare as a SF and be at least a fringe all-star caliber player.

[Dark Faze]

If we are selecting 5th would you take one of the Euros: Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, before taking Jones? I think that I would despite the huge up-side potential of Jones.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Barnes
4. Kanter
5. ?

I think sitting at 5 is a decent position for a trade-down.

The Jazz might be a good trade partner, they have 2 1st and probably want a high upside guy like Perry Jones. They would only be moving up 2 spots, so it probably costs the ATL pick, but I think for the Wizards in this draft 7 and 12 helps a lot more than 5 and 19.

Normally I don't think it would be a good idea to move out of the top 5, but there does not seem to be a lot of top level talent in this draft, but there seem to be a good number of players who could be decent contributors.

This isn't a bad idea, nor would moving up to get Williams as well.

We still have a decent shot at finishing with the third worst record. Hope remains.

I don't want any euros that aren't supposed to go top 3. Sorry. Not a racist thing at all, its just basketball. I just don't think any of those guys EXCEPT maybe Kanter could help us, and Kanter is scaring me with his fear of playing at the Hoops summit, so he can take a seat as well imo.

There are a variety of options for the front office. I'll remain optimistic.

[nate33]

I may be in the minority but we're in no position to draft and stash guys for 1-2 years. 3rd straight year with a lottery pick and we only have John Wall to show for it, and that's good in itself, it softened the blow a bit by trading Curry the year prior, but we can't screw this pick up. At 18/19th pick, fine, but not with a top 5 pick.

The way I see it, guys like Vesely and Perry Jones would make no meaningful impact in their rookie season anyhow. We're better off stashing them if possible, which allows us to postpone the start of the rookie contract clock.

While we're on the subject, I'd actually like to see a provision in the new CBA allowing a team to "stash" any rookie in the NBDL. While in the NBDL, the rookie would make a modest salary and the start of his rookie contract would be delayed until the team was ready to call him up to the big leagues. The idea here is to discourage not-ready-for-prime-time players from declaring early, while still allowing for the truly gifted high schoolers and 1-and-done college players to enter the NBA if they want. It would also boost revenue for NBDL teams and hopefully be the start of a legit NBA farm system.

[pancakes3]

i have to say again, i feel like i'm taking crazy pills every time i read the love that Derrick Williams is getting. i really don't see a perennial all-star when i look at him. I see the lovechild of caron butler and antawn jamison, and all the tweenerism goes along with those genetics. He can drain threes but his FT% is still mediocre. He can throw down some thunderous dunks but his shotblocking is suspect. He's got pretty good rebounding numbers, but not NBA PF good (great for a SF). He's definitely a better PF candidate than some of the other tweeners out there like singleton or terrence jones but i don't see a gamechanger by any means. i mean, it's really easy to spot the good ones. Durant, Melo, etc. Collegiate 20/10 freshmen who sweep the POY awards. any other player... we really shouldn't be so quick to automatically label as slam dunks.

in a draft where guys are pulling out left and right, doesn't our big board choices get easier and easier? Williams, Kanter, Jones. One of them will definitely still be there by the time we pick. Personally I hope we go with Kanter because our backup frontcourt is just really short. Our short bulldogs - Booker and Seraphin are good enough to compete with the 2nd unit but they run into trouble with the 7 foot starters of the league - Howard, Hibbert, Lopez, Aldridge, etc. When McGee invariably gets into foul trouble, we need a TALL 7footer to go in there and get in the way long enough until the subs go in. Once the opposing 2nd squad goes in, we can pull our guy and put in Booker/Seraphin. This is why Yi gets so many minutes. he's a 7 footer who can body up other 7 footers. you can have all the hustle in the world (booker) but if you're not tall enough, you're not tall enough.

ultimately, i have no real expectations for williams, kanter, or jones. none of them are slam dunk choices like Wall was. it's a weak draft and we really shouldn't be convincing ourselves that there are plug-and-playable pieces in this draft. our players right now were groomed - 4 years in the making. In all likelihood it'll take another 3-4 of painful grooming for anyone in THIS class be it derrick, enes, or perry, to be properly productive. So, no surefire talents + a pretty talented squad 1-5, means we draft based on need, manage our expectations, and don't hitch our dreams to any one specific player (or dismiss others like many of you are doing with williams and jones ... imo).

[Jazzfan12]

If we are selecting 5th would you take one of the Euros: Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, before taking Jones? I think that I would despite the huge up-side potential of Jones.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Barnes
4. Kanter
5. ?

I think sitting at 5 is a decent position for a trade-down.

The Jazz might be a good trade partner, they have 2 1st and probably want a high upside guy like Perry Jones. They would only be moving up 2 spots, so it probably costs the ATL pick, but I think for the Wizards in this draft 7 and 12 helps a lot more than 5 and 19.

Normally I don't think it would be a good idea to move out of the top 5, but there does not seem to be a lot of top level talent in this draft, but there seem to be a good number of players who could be decent contributors.

Jazz are at 6, not 7 and I think the team would only trade up into the top 3 instead of to 5.

[Lightz]

In this draft I mainly want to draft more players who have a decent head on their shoulders and are driven to win. I think in order to eventually become a championship caliber team we need another superstar other than Wall who has some crazy work ethic, and a great attitude.

Even as a duke fan that's why I was interested in us picking Barnes (I want to puke in my mouth typing this) but for any of Barne's flaws his biggest strength is that he works as hard as any basketball playing human being to get better (his high school workout routine was Kobe-esque). Wall doesn't have this natural innate drive but if there were another player on our team with it that would inspire Wall to become the absolute best player he could possibly be. Meanwhile if you surround Wall with lazy bad attitude players (Blatche), then he'll sometimes have a tendency to get distracted. I think Barnes is returning though so we'll have to see.

Saying that I think Derrick Williams is the best pick should we be fortunate enough to get him. If not I'm fairly high on Kanter, post players who move people out of the paint, grab boards, and have basketball IQ do not come around. Plus I think he may be underrated given he didn't play this season, he pretty much dominated Sullinger in the Nike Hoops Summit (who dominated the paint in college basketball) at the things Sullinger does best, and really everything else for that matter.

IMO we need to get a top 4 pick and if we don't we should probably just trade down, this lottery looks horrible IMO outside of Irving, Williams, Kanter, and P. Jones (add in Barnes if he declares). Hopefully we get lucky with the ping pong balls again