2011 DRAFT blather goes here. Part 3...

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

A rookie taken 18th in a weak draft is going to average 25-30 minutes a game?

On this team? I don't know why not.

Larry Owens averaged 22 minutes per game for us. Othyus Jeffers played 19 minutes a game. We've got Shard but he missed what, close to 30 games last year all told?

With only 7 players under contract, any player we draft better be ready to play heavy minutes. Because there's no alternative, they're gonna play.

Also: the lottery is weak, I don't think it will pan out that the rest of the draft is weak. There are fewer all-star possibilities, no clear cut consensus standouts, but looks to me like there are solid and serviceable rotation players who will show up even in the 2nd round. And a sizeable proportion of upperclassmen who will come in better prepared to play than the youthful hypertalents we see in many other draft years.

Jeffers and Owens are guys I wouldn't mind seeing as Wizards next season, especially Jeffers. He's a great competitor who rebounds and makes big defensive plays. Owens is a very good defender, and a Bruce Bowen-like player.

[Benjammin]

A rookie taken 18th in a weak draft is going to average 25-30 minutes a game?

On this team? I don't know why not.

Larry Owens averaged 22 minutes per game for us. Othyus Jeffers played 19 minutes a game. We've got Shard but he missed what, close to 30 games last year all told?

With only 7 players under contract, any player we draft better be ready to play heavy minutes. Because there's no alternative, they're gonna play.

Also: the lottery is weak, I don't think it will pan out that the rest of the draft is weak. There are fewer all-star possibilities, no clear cut consensus standouts, but looks to me like there are solid and serviceable rotation players who will show up even in the 2nd round. And a sizeable proportion of upperclassmen who will come in better prepared to play than the youthful hypertalents we see in many other draft years.

In a much stronger draft (2010) six players averaged twenty five minutes or more in their rookie season. I like Harper, but I see him as a limited player. If this team is devastated by injuries again, then yeah, someone has to play, but I don't see Harper as a player who would DESERVE 25-30 minutes a game. Could he have a Channing Frye type career and get 25-30 minutes in a few seasons, sure, that's possible. But I think it's more likely, unless he's on a team with a lot of injuries, that he'll never average 25 minutes a game. Which is okay, he can still be a contributing player with fewer minutes.

[dangermouse]

So, is Leonard not a good fit simply because hes not a shooter? From his workouts he seems to be working hard on his shot, i like his attitude and work ethic from what i saw. He seems like he could be a Josh Howard type with better defense and rebounding.

[RickRoll_inDC]

So, is Leonard not a good fit simply because hes not a shooter? From his workouts he seems to be working hard on his shot, i like his attitude and work ethic from what i saw. He seems like he could be a Josh Howard type with better defense and rebounding.

A certain young star named John Wall was 'working hard on his shot' in workouts, too. But we all know how awful his jumper still is.

Everyone's jumper looks better without a hand in your face. We were all excited about how much Wall was working on his jumper in workouts and how well it was coming along, but it's just not the same as in a game.

Despite all this, I do like Leonard and his POTENTIAL. I think the reason he doesn't really fit is more because he's just not a polished enough offensive player to fit with the rest of the team. We're already young enough with enough questionable players. It's not that Leonard isn't a good player, but I think we need a high IQ wing player with a decent stroke from outside.

[Hoopalotta]

There have been ideas mentioned for trade backs with with Charlotte and Houston, but I wonder if we could combine both if we don't like the 6th slot.....

Charlotte - Washington
Good Guys Out: 6th
Good Guys in: 9th & 19th

MJ would need to either like Biyombo or Walker.

Then.....

Houston - Washington
Good Guys Out: 9th
Good Guys in: 14th & 23rd

Houston needs to either consolidate or launch a Stalinist purge upon their deep bench.

At that point, we have an analogous menagerie of mid plucks - a five course pot-luck of the proletariat: 14th, 18th, 19th, 23rd & 34th.

I think everyone agrees we don't need that exact influx, so.....

Phoenix - Washington
Good Guys Out: 19th, 34th & cash......maybe something else, but the point is, consolidate. Consolidate, I say!
Good Guys in: 13th

Sarver could move back and pocket about $5 million or so by selling the high second rounder. Aside from this outlandish orgy of imaginary draft day deals here, Phoenix might well be the team most likely to trade back to 18th; they just busted the 14th pick on Earl Clark and have a long history of selling picks.

Now we have whittled our stash down to something like: 13th, 14th, 18th & 23rd. I might consider trying to package the 18th and 23rd to move up again, pending my actual targets.

You could go....The Jimmer, Klay Thompson, Justin Harper & Vucevic. Wizards win, 142-140!

Or.....Singleton, Faried, Mashon Brooks & Tobias Harris. Wizards win, 56-54!

Ok, more likely is we take something in between based on best players available.....boooor-ing, but Wizards win 98-96 even if lacking an absurdly overzealous theme.

Realistically, we are of course more likely to draft three left-handers with handlebar mustaches than any of this happening,

[hands11]

They should do a reaction time test at the combine. It could be really simple. Just have someone hold a yardstick vertically while the subject player holds his finger and thumb near the base. The tester lets go of the yardstick and it falls until the player can pinch his thumb and finger together to stop the fall. Measure the distance the yardstick fell and you have a good baseline for reaction time.

My theory is that the great defenders are the ones with the great reaction time. There's a reason why Bruce Bowen defends better than Rudy Gay.

Or see if they can catch a fly with chop sticks. Concentration is very important.

[Hoopalotta]

Here's something off the Rockets board:

i have a feeling we will move up in the draft and take KAWHI LEONARD

don't play with my emotions like that

rumor out saying we are trying to move up to pick either ENES KANTER or KAWHI LEONARD
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... camp.wrap/

As was reported here on Thursday, Houston (14th, 23rd picks) is interested in moving up in the draft. The source with knowledge of the Rockets' desires said they are hoping to do so to either nab Kanter or perhaps San Diego State small forward, Kawhi Leonard.

I don't know if the Kanter or Leonard part is correct, but they're loaded with prospects to combine with those picks.

[nate33]

So, is Leonard not a good fit simply because hes not a shooter? From his workouts he seems to be working hard on his shot, i like his attitude and work ethic from what i saw. He seems like he could be a Josh Howard type with better defense and rebounding.

I agree.

Too many people are writing off Leonard as just another athletic swingman who can't shoot. Leonard improved his 3P% from 23% to 30% between his freshman and sophomore year, and he shot 40% from 3 in the second half of this season (last 14 games). Also, all the guys who have watched his workouts have said that he is shooting extremely well. And he's a 75% FT shooter.

I still like Leonard at #6 (assuming there's no way to trade up and get Kanter). I'd rather trade down to #9 or so and get him, but that's easier said than done. I defintely think he's the best SF prospect in this draft.

[closg00]

Ford has moved Vesely up on his big board, ranking him 5th

[WizarDynasty]

So, is Leonard not a good fit simply because hes not a shooter? From his workouts he seems to be working hard on his shot, i like his attitude and work ethic from what i saw. He seems like he could be a Josh Howard type with better defense and rebounding.

I agree.

Too many people are writing off Leonard as just another athletic swingman who can't shoot. Leonard improved his 3P% from 23% to 30% between his freshman and sophomore year, and he shot 40% from 3 in the second half of this season (last 14 games). Also, all the guys who have watched his workouts have said that he is shooting extremely well. And he's a 75% FT shooter.

I still like Leonard at #6 (assuming there's no way to trade up and get Kanter). I'd rather trade down to #9 or so and get him, but that's easier said than done. I defintely think he's the best SF prospect in this draft.

cosign nate leonard--bb iq, huge motor, rebounds like a center, becomes our best perimeter defender, excellent passer, and young and showing excellent improvement offensively, he is a gym rat and will live at impact where he will get even better skill wise with their guidance. I like him better than Vesely for this team.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I'm down with either Bismack or Leonard at 6. Each is far from a slam dunk, but both play with passion, energy, and seem like the kind of guys that are far from their ceiling considering their work ethic (and assuming Biyombo isn't in his 30s). I love the writeup on Biyombo (on DX I think) that compares his motor and passion to Noah and KG. That's been so absent from our squad its depressing.

If we can't get the blue chip guy like Kanter, at least get a guy who can play the right way. And Leonard and Biyombo seem to fit that bill. I think Singleton fits that as well at 18 considering his passion for defense, but I doubt he lasts that long.

[Wizardspride]

Its fine that everyone wants to address our defensive needs in this draft but just how are going to score points?

[pancakes3]

i'm lukewarm on both, but i recognize that most likely those two are what we'll have to work with at the 6th. i will say if we take leonard, singleton at 18 is a waste. the difference between the 2 is marginal imo, and if faried or the lesser morris is there, we should be looking PF rather than SF. the 2nd rounder is just icing on the cake. J Williams, J Harper, K Singler, whoever. hopefully there's a combo guard of worth because even with crawford, we're pretty thin at guard.

[nate33]

One thought:

If Kanter and Valanciunas are gone at #6, our best bet might be to draft Biyombo. The reason is that Detroit really wants a big man in this draft. With Kanter, Valanciunas and Biyombo gone by #8, they'll probably be willing to trade to get Biyombo.

We draft Biyombo at #6

Sacramento drafts Walker at #7

Detroit trades with us to move up to #6. We draft Leonard at #8 while coming away with incentive from Detroit.

[Hoopalotta]

What's up with Leonard shooting .53% at the rim, though? That isn't helping me muster much in the way of enthusiasm without there being a good reason.

One thought:

If Kanter and Valanciunas are gone at #6, our best bet might be to draft Biyombo. The reason is that Detroit really wants a big man in this draft. With Kanter, Valanciunas and Biyombo gone by #8, they'll probably be willing to trade to get Biyombo.

We draft Biyombo at #6

Sacramento drafts Walker at #7

Detroit trades with us to move up to #6. We draft Leonard at #8 while coming away with incentive from Detroit.

I could see them going small forward here. I think Jerebko is going to be more of a 4 for them when he comes back, so they might go Vesley or Leonard.

[nate33]

i'm lukewarm on both, but i recognize that most likely those two are what we'll have to work with at the 6th. i will say if we take leonard, singleton at 18 is a waste. the difference between the 2 is marginal imo, and if faried or the lesser morris is there, we should be looking PF rather than SF. the 2nd rounder is just icing on the cake. J Williams, J Harper, K Singler, whoever. hopefully there's a combo guard of worth because even with crawford, we're pretty thin at guard.

I agree that if we take Leonard at #6, we should be looking for an offensive-minded big man at #18. Markieff Morris (if he slips) or Vucevic might be good targets.

[Ruzious]

One thought:

If Kanter and Valanciunas are gone at #6, our best bet might be to draft Biyombo. The reason is that Detroit really wants a big man in this draft. With Kanter, Valanciunas and Biyombo gone by #8, they'll probably be willing to trade to get Biyombo.

We draft Biyombo at #6

Sacramento drafts Walker at #7

Detroit trades with us to move up to #6. We draft Leonard at #8 while coming away with incentive from Detroit.

I was thinking about that, too. Detroit would likely be in a no-win situation at 8 - if BizB isn't there, and he could be a very good fit for them. We'd be in a nice bargaining postion with them. If we could pick up their 2012 pick with little to no protection, it might be worth pursuing.

[tontoz]

Leonard will need to continue to hone his shot-creating and finishing ability to become a far more efficient player than he was in college, as he ranks amongst the worst prospects in the draft in the True Shooting Percentage and Effective Field Goal Percentage categories.

No thanks

[pancakes3]

well the really crazy trade partner i thought up last night before i went to bed was Boston. they need young talent something fierce. kemba walker probably. i was thinking a jeff green scenario or even giving up booker for their 2013-14 unprotected and gamble that they'll be in the running for a top 5 lotto by then. having a top 5 pick in 2013 when wall is coming into his prime, and we're gelling into a mid-seed in the playoffs would be huge.

[Ruzious]

well the really crazy trade partner i thought up last night before i went to bed was Boston. they need young talent something fierce. kemba walker probably. i was thinking a jeff green scenario or even giving up booker for their 2013-14 unprotected and gamble that they'll be in the running for a top 5 lotto by then. having a top 5 pick in 2013 when wall is coming into his prime, and we're gelling into a mid-seed in the playoffs would be huge.

I can't see Boston trading up for Walker - considering Rondo is their only young star.

And Jeff Green is a free agent who's likely going to be well over-paid for a tweener forward.