2011 DRAFT blather goes here. Part 3...

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have never seen the Wizards draft anyone that CCJ wanted

They did once, Ji, believe it or not...

MJ drafted a player I liked named Mike Smith (not Mike "the Animal" Smith, from Providence; and also, not the Mike Smith of BYU, Celtics, and Clippers announcing fame). Way back in 2000, he had a good Portsmouth Invitational Tourney set of games. (Much like Jimmy Butler, Marquette, did this season).

This Mike Smith turned out to be nothing more than MJ's first draft pick.

[Ruzious]

Ben, I would take Biyumbo ahead of Morris, too, but I don't think the Wiz take an unskilled big like Biz. And JV will likely be gone if he decides to play in the NBA next season. So, we gotta pick somebody, and Morris has to be one of the few candidates, because... who else is there???

And there is no question about his shooting ability and range, and he can create his shot. He's shown it. He will score in the NBA. The only question I have on him is his ability to defend the 3, and I'm NOT going to assume he can't do it - at least not at this point. His length is acceptable at the 3, and he's got great size for the position. Is he quick enough? I don't know. I do know that he'd be a much better pick than Vesely.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Both Morris brothers will have long, successful NBA careers IMO. Either would be a good pick, but not at 6 IMO.

[verbal8]

Both Morris brothers will have long, successful NBA careers IMO. Either would be a good pick, but not at 6 IMO.

I think they are "high floor" players(in that they should stick in the NBA). But I think their "upside" is too low to pick at 6, even in this draft. They do seem like a good option for trading back(especially if picking up a 2012 pick), and can't miss if available at 18.

[jazzfan1971]

It seems like this is the most active thread around, what's your secret? Why so many posts?

[tontoz]

People are getting too hung up on the number 6. This is not a normal draft. The 6th pick this year isn't as valuable as the 6th picks in years past. If a guy is a good pick at 10 then he is a good pick at 6 in this draft.

[verbal8]

It seems like this is the most active thread around, what's your secret? Why so many posts?

We are trying to distract ourselves from Heat leading in the NBA championship

I also think of the early lotto teams, our draft pick is the most up in the air. 3 of the top 6 players are PGs, which is not a need for the Wizard. Williams or Kanter would likely be the best fit, but they will likely be gone.

[jazzfan1971]

I hear that about Miami. It'll be a sad day if Miami wins.

But, on your pick, in my mock I see a good fit between BPA and need in Vessely for Washington. Is that not how you guys see it?

[tontoz]

I hear that about Miami. It'll be a sad day if Miami wins.

But, on your pick, in my mock I see a good fit between BPA and need in Vessely for Washington. Is that not how you guys see it?

If Vessely gets picked this whole board will be like.....

He is the one guy that nobody wants.

[Benjammin]

I hear that about Miami. It'll be a sad day if Miami wins.

But, on your pick, in my mock I see a good fit between BPA and need in Vessely for Washington. Is that not how you guys see it?

A common view of Vesely is that he's not a good shooter, he's not a good rebounder, he struggles defensively somewhat against smaller, quicker players. Whether that's accurate or not, I'm not a European scout. I sort of have visions of a European Jared Jeffries in my head and that's not a good thing. Now it's quite possible that Ernie G and the Wizards really like him, so who knows.

[jivelikenice]

I don't like Biyumbo at 6. I think he'll develop in time, but he's too raw offensively to be an immediate help to this team and the lane would absolutely be clogged if we had BB and Javale in their at the same time which would really inhibit the ability of Wall & Crawford to get to the hoop. I like Marcus Morris. He may not be the creator we all want at the 3 but with Wall & Crawford handling the ball the majority of the time that's not really needed. His defense at that position can go either way but Marcus does brings some things to the table that can allow him to immediately contribute;

1. Shooting- he's already good from 18 ft and should be able to extend his rangoe out even further
2. Rebounding- As a 4 he won't be great on the boards but at the 3 he can help compensate for rebounding defeciencies of our 4 & 5.
3. Post up- He'll be able to post up other 3's in the league and could create matchup problems that other teams will have to gameplan around

[Benjammin]

People are getting too hung up on the number 6. This is not a normal draft. The 6th pick this year isn't as valuable as the 6th picks in years past. If a guy is a good pick at 10 then he is a good pick at 6 in this draft.

That's a fair point. But if I'm going to draft a guy with lots of questions I'd rather go big with BB or Johnny V because the upside if the pick works seems much higher to me than the likes of Marcus Morris, Leonard, or Vesely. If the 3 position doesn't get addressed or "fixed" this year, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

[Benjammin]

I don't like Biyumbo at 6. I think he'll develop in time, but he's too raw offensively to be an immediate help to this team and the lane would absolutely be clogged if we had BB and Javale in their at the same time which would really inhibit the ability of Wall & Crawford to get to the hoop. I like Marcus Morris. He may not be the creator we all want at the 3 but with Wall & Crawford handling the ball the majority of the time that's not really needed. His defense at that position can go either way but Marcus does brings some things to the table that can allow him to immediately contribute;

1. Shooting- he's already good from 18 ft and should be able to extend his rangoe out even further
2. Rebounding- As a 4 he won't be great on the boards but at the 3 he can help compensate for rebounding defeciencies of our 4 & 5.
3. Post up- He'll be able to post up other 3's in the league and could create matchup problems that other teams will have to gameplan around

Ah, the definition of a tweener, so sweet to hear. Maybe he can say hi to Jared Jeffries, Harvey Grant, or Tom Hammonds or Terry Catledge. I'm sure I could name several other standout guys in Boulez/Wizards history. This great need for immediate help, however mediocre, is no way to build a team for the future. I have no idea if BB or Vale can play together, but if I like BB Vale's presence (or Blatche, Seraphin, Booker) is not going to keep me from picking him. Talented big guys are usually in demand. Now if we were talking about Harrison Barnes or Perry Jones at six, then it wouldn't be an argument. But Marcus "I'm a poster child for a tweener forward" Morris, no thanks. If the Wiz can get a good deal and move back to 9 or 10 and get Morris I wouldn't complain as loudly.

[Jay81]

We should traded back and drafted Cousins last year and added assests. Then this year, we could of taken Irving or Brandon Knight.

Cousins/Irving or Knight/ and Assets

or Wall and Lenoard?

[tontoz]

People are getting too hung up on the number 6. This is not a normal draft. The 6th pick this year isn't as valuable as the 6th picks in years past. If a guy is a good pick at 10 then he is a good pick at 6 in this draft.

That's a fair point. But if I'm going to draft a guy with lots of questions I'd rather go big with BB or Johnny V because the upside if the pick works seems much higher to me than the likes of Marcus Morris, Leonard, or Vesely. If the 3 position doesn't get addressed or "fixed" this year, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

That is the same type of reasoning that led to Yi being picked at 6.

Here are the 6th picks since 2000

Udoh
Flynn
Gallo
Yi
Roy
Webster
Childress
Kaman
Dejuan Wagner
Battier
Dermarr Johnson

The picks that turned out well were the guys who had proven they could play, not the high upside picks.

[Benjammin]

^^^^

Yeah, too bad neither Morris nor Leonard really resembles Battier or Roy. The jury is out on Flynn and Udoh. Gallo has turned out to be a good player at 6. Childress resembles Morris more than the "high risk" guys. Kaman was a good pick where he was selected. Really only Yi fits the high risk, high reward big guy moniker.

[closg00]

+1 Tontoz, Morris is a Baller AND he can play right away.

[Benjammin]

+1 Tontoz, Morris is a Baller AND he can play right away.

Just like Jared Jeffries, Harvey Grant, and Tom Hammonds were "ballers". I doubt that Marcus Morris will have a career as good as Harvey Grant, for example. I'd rather take Kemba Walker at six than Marcus Morris.

[jivelikenice]

Jeffries? He has zero offensive ability so how exactly is he a comparison?

[tontoz]

^^^^

Yeah, too bad neither Morris nor Leonard really resembles Battier or Roy. The jury is out on Flynn and Udoh. Gallo has turned out to be a good player at 6. Childress resembles Morris more than the "high risk" guys. Kaman was a good pick where he was selected. Really only Yi fits the high risk, high reward big guy moniker.

If those drafts were done over do you not think Battier and Roy would have gone higher? Everyone knew they could play but they lacked "upside".

Childress was the slowest wing player tested at the combine that year and has no scoring ability outside 5 feet. None. He shoots like a girl. He was a major reach at 6 but was picked because the GM liked long wings.

The point is the talent level is generally not that great at 6 in general in a normal draft. This is a weak one. If the Wizards can get a good player at 6 then that is a good pick. They don't want another Yi or Thabeet.