Nick Young traded to Clippers/McGee to Denver/Nene to DC

[pcbothwel]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

I assume that if we amnesty him, that $13.7M figure applies. So Ted owes him $13.7M but he costs nothing against the cap.

If we amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, we'll have about $18M in cap room this summer. If we amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis, we'll have about $12M in cap room this summer (plus have Blatche permanently gone from the books). I think the best move is to amnesty Blatche.

It wouldn't surprise me if they did neither. They might just cut Lewis and keep Blatche for another year without using the amnesty provision. We'd still have about $5M in cap room to sign a shooter. The goal would be to rehabilitate Blatche's value and try to move him for an expiring contract at the Trade Deadline - or maybe amnesty him in 2013. By then, assuming he played a little better next season, he would be less likely to clear waivers (meaning another team will pick up some of the 2 remaining years on his contract).

It really depends on how much Ted wants to spend on free agency this offseason. If the plan is to spend less than $5M, there's no compelling financial reason to amnesty Blatche or Lewis.

I agree Nate. I think the Wiz handled this perfectly. If you listen to Blatche he seem really embarrased and does not seem to be deflecting blame on anybondy else but himself. i think he comes back in better shape (not like a Kendrick Perkins transformation or anything) and we ship him our for expiring. Bigs have a knack of getting hurt and Blatche may be appealing enough to suffice.

[Nivek]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

I assume that if we amnesty him, that $13.7M figure applies. So Ted owes him $13.7M but he costs nothing against the cap.

Yes.

If we amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, we'll have about $18M in cap room this summer. If we amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis, we'll have about $12M in cap room this summer (plus have Blatche permanently gone from the books). I think the best move is to amnesty Blatche.

Something's wonky with your first number. According to my spreadsheet, if the Wiz amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, they'd have about $9 million in cap space BEFORE accounting for their 1st round pick. Your $12 million number (if they amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis) seems about right.

It wouldn't surprise me if they did neither. They might just cut Lewis and keep Blatche for another year without using the amnesty provision. We'd still have about $5M in cap room to sign a shooter. The goal would be to rehabilitate Blatche's value and try to move him for an expiring contract at the Trade Deadline - or maybe amnesty him in 2013. By then, assuming he played a little better next season, he would be less likely to clear waivers (meaning another team will pick up some of the 2 remaining years on his contract).

Not according to my salary worksheet. If they keep both and the cap remains about flat (which it's supposed to do), they'd have no cap room after accounting for their 1st round pick.

I think Lewis is gone regardless. They'll either trade him near the draft to pick up other "assets" (whatever those might be) or they'll release him/use the amnesty clause on him. Either way, they save $9 million by making sure Lewis is not on the roster July 1.

[queridiculo]

We've seen remorseful Blatche before. I'm sure he really means it THIS time, but I'm not holding my breath to be honest...

It's not too late for a young guy like him, but I'm already seeing a few signs that don't make me real hopeful. His mentioning of being a night person is the first warning flag. Take responsibility, change your lifestyle, and go to bed at a reasonable hour.

I commend the effort, but going to the gym at 3:30AM isn't exactly conducive to success.

[nate33]

I would have prefered Kaman and Landry to be honest. I like Landry's game.

I can't for the life of me understand why EG even considered that deal. Kaman and Landry are expiring contracts with no RFA rights. They have no value at all. We'd essentially be giving up RFA rights on McGee just to facilitate a Lewis for Ariza swap. And Ariza is actually owed more in his remaining 2 years than Lewis is owed in his remaining one year.

If we wanted cap room, we'd be better off just standing pat. It's better than being stuck with Ariza at $7M a year through 2013.

nate, I can't believe you think Nene at $13M through 2015 with (recently) a bad back, Achilles, calf, and also a history of knee surgeries is a better value than Trevor Ariza at 7M.

Ariza is a $7M waste of cap space. The guy hasn't cracked a TS% of .500 in 3 years.

The point is, it would be far better to do nothing at all than make that Ariza trade. By doing nothing at all, we retain McGee as a possible trade asset (or keep him if nobody offers very much) and we keep Rashard Lewis' shorter contract. There is absolutely no benefit to us by making the trade.

At least with the Nene trade, there is a clear and obvious tangible benefit. Nene is unquestionably an upgrade over McGee when healthy and he can help change the culture. You may be right that in the long term, we might regret the decision due to financial and health considerations, but there's no way to argue that there aren't any benefits at all.

With the Ariza trade, there are absolutely no short term or long term benefits. All he does is cost us more money while forcing us to relinquish McGee's RFA rights.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sources said that the Hornets did engage in discussions last week with Washington on a deal that would have featured Kaman, Landry and Trevor Ariza going to the Wizards for center JaVale McGee, veteran forward Rashard Lewis and a future second-round pick. But Washington opted to deal with Denver instead, sending McGee to the Nuggets as part of a three-team swap with the Los Angeles Clippers that routed Nene to the Wizards.

Interesting. Kaman and Landry would have been expiring contracts so essentially it would have been McGee for Ariza. Lots of cap space, but then again, who would play here? Cap space is fine as long as you got players willing to come here.

What makes you think Nene really wants to be a Wizard? Just because Nene was hijacked from Denver and he is making the best of it doesn't mean he's happy. He had too much money tied up than to tear up his contract like Derrick Fisher did after being traded to Houston. I think Nene can't possibly enjoy this team the longer he is on it. The Wizards aren't winning anything any time soon.

I would rather have seen the Wizards take a chance on a young player who never got big money and who never had an expectation of 50-win seasons and playoff runs. The player that would have come here is a guy who got a Nene-sized contract to do so.

[nate33]

]If we amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, we'll have about $18M in cap room this summer. If we amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis, we'll have about $12M in cap room this summer (plus have Blatche permanently gone from the books). I think the best move is to amnesty Blatche.

Something's wonky with your first number. According to my spreadsheet, if the Wiz amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, they'd have about $9 million in cap space BEFORE accounting for their 1st round pick. Your $12 million number (if they amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis) seems about right.

If you agree that we'll have $12M if we amnesty Blatche, then why won't we have $18M if we amnesty Lewis? Assuming a $13.7M buyout, Lewis' cap figure is $13.7M next year. Blatche's is $7.2M. Amnestying Lewis should save us just over $6M more than amnestying Blatche.

It wouldn't surprise me if they did neither. They might just cut Lewis and keep Blatche for another year without using the amnesty provision. We'd still have about $5M in cap room to sign a shooter. The goal would be to rehabilitate Blatche's value and try to move him for an expiring contract at the Trade Deadline - or maybe amnesty him in 2013. By then, assuming he played a little better next season, he would be less likely to clear waivers (meaning another team will pick up some of the 2 remaining years on his contract).

Not according to my salary worksheet. If they keep both and the cap remains about flat (which it's supposed to do), they'd have no cap room after accounting for their 1st round pick.

I wasn't indicating that they would keep both. Clearly, Lewis is a goner either way. The only question is if it's a $13.7M buyout that costs against the cap, or a $13.7M amnesty check that doesn't cost against the cap. But as you pointed out before, we'll have $12M in cap room if Blatche is amnestied and Lewis is bought out. Therefore, we'll have about $5M if Lewis is bought out and Blatche is not amnestied.

[Rafael122]

Sources said that the Hornets did engage in discussions last week with Washington on a deal that would have featured Kaman, Landry and Trevor Ariza going to the Wizards for center JaVale McGee, veteran forward Rashard Lewis and a future second-round pick. But Washington opted to deal with Denver instead, sending McGee to the Nuggets as part of a three-team swap with the Los Angeles Clippers that routed Nene to the Wizards.

Interesting. Kaman and Landry would have been expiring contracts so essentially it would have been McGee for Ariza. Lots of cap space, but then again, who would play here? Cap space is fine as long as you got players willing to come here.

What makes you think Nene really wants to be a Wizard? Just because Nene was hijacked from Denver and he is making the best of it doesn't mean he's happy. He had too much money tied up than to tear up his contract like Derrick Fisher did after being traded to Houston. I think Nene can't possibly enjoy this team the longer he is on it. The Wizards aren't winning anything any time soon.

I would rather have seen the Wizards take a chance on a young player who never got big money and who never had an expectation of 50-win seasons and playoff runs. The player that would have come here is a guy who got a Nene-sized contract to do so.

Denver probably wasn't going to win anything either. Let's be serious here, there's 4 or 5 teams with legit shots at winning a championship. Everyone else is just trying to put together a winning team on the floor.

[Ruzious]

Something's wonky with your first number. According to my spreadsheet, if the Wiz amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, they'd have about $9 million in cap space BEFORE accounting for their 1st round pick. Your $12 million number (if they amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis) seems about right.

If you agree that we'll have $12M if we amnesty Blatche, then why won't we have $18M if we amnesty Lewis? Assuming a $13.7M buyout, Lewis' cap figure is $13.7M next year. Blatche's is $7.2M. Amnestying Lewis should save us just over $6M more than amnestying Blatche.

I gotta agree with Nate's logic there. Amnestying Lewis this offseason should give more cap space this offseason than amnestying Blatche.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I can't for the life of me understand why EG even considered that deal. Kaman and Landry are expiring contracts with no RFA rights. They have no value at all. We'd essentially be giving up RFA rights on McGee just to facilitate a Lewis for Ariza swap. And Ariza is actually owed more in his remaining 2 years than Lewis is owed in his remaining one year.

If we wanted cap room, we'd be better off just standing pat. It's better than being stuck with Ariza at $7M a year through 2013.

nate, I can't believe you think Nene at $13M through 2015 with (recently) a bad back, Achilles, calf, and also a history of knee surgeries is a better value than Trevor Ariza at 7M.

Ariza is a $7M waste of cap space. The guy hasn't cracked a TS% of .500 in 3 years.

The point is, it would be far better to do nothing at all than make that Ariza trade. By doing nothing at all, we retain McGee as a possible trade asset (or keep him if nobody offers very much) and we keep Rashard Lewis' shorter contract. There is absolutely no benefit to us by making the trade.

At least with the Nene trade, there is a clear and obvious tangible benefit. Nene is unquestionably an upgrade over McGee when healthy and he can help change the culture. You may be right that in the long term, we might regret the decision due to financial and health considerations, but there's no way to argue that there aren't any benefits at all.

With the Ariza trade, there are absolutely no short term or long term benefits. All he does is cost us more money while forcing us to relinquish McGee's RFA rights.

I agree with doing nothing at all would be better than the Ariza trade. Trevor Ariza has had playoff success and is basically a Bruce Bowen, but at that price he's not worth that much IMO.

While I do see benefits to the culture and defense in the Nene trade as obvious gains, the costs of having a guy miss games (already with back spasms!) is going to eventually far outweigh those benefits. (Culture and defense don't improve with a player in street clothes. Morale actually goes down). This one is worse than resigning Gil IMO. Gilbert had earned benefit of a doubt and hero status. I can half way understand an emotional decision I felt was wrong all along. With Nene, however, I still cannot believe 90% are viewing the deal with rose colored glasses. This player will not suit up if he is hurting, at all. Denver gave him a big contract and immediately sought to trade him after he missed several games after signing. That should have been the biggest red flag of all. I say there is virtually NO WAY the benefits outweigh the risks long term.

As far as the benefits go in the short term, the trade deadline was the wrong time of the season to improve via adding an older free agent. It would have been better to go ahead and tank all the way IMO. Denver will blow their team up and come back stronger IMO. Washington did not accomplish either of the two things it should have: Getting rid of Blatche and Lewis. That would have been most beneficial.

Any how, it is a done deal. Sorry for the rant.

[montestewart]

CCJ, I'm sure once you catch your breath, you can see that not agreeing with you 100% isn't the same as disagreeing with you 100%. Most posters are concerned with the size of Nene's contract, and almost as many are concerned about how soon and rapidly he declines and how injuries will play into that. Quite a few also recognize McGee has talent and might develop further, knucklehead or not.

I wouldn't have done this trade, especially for the the last two years of Nene's deal, but it's done, and all we can do is look at how it's playing out (and I guess complain). Nene's numbers and on court effect seem positive so far. McGee and Young removed from the team took away top two offensive weapons, but seems to have improved team defense. McGee's numbers look good so far, but possibly not his on court effect overall (though he did win that game with a tip in). Nene's only played 3 games and is already missing games. If you ask me, there's not enough of anything yet to judge with finality. Hoping something works out isn't the same as wearing rose colored glasses.

[Nivek]

]If we amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, we'll have about $18M in cap room this summer. If we amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis, we'll have about $12M in cap room this summer (plus have Blatche permanently gone from the books). I think the best move is to amnesty Blatche.

Something's wonky with your first number. According to my spreadsheet, if the Wiz amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, they'd have about $9 million in cap space BEFORE accounting for their 1st round pick. Your $12 million number (if they amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis) seems about right.

If you agree that we'll have $12M if we amnesty Blatche, then why won't we have $18M if we amnesty Lewis? Assuming a $13.7M buyout, Lewis' cap figure is $13.7M next year. Blatche's is $7.2M. Amnestying Lewis should save us just over $6M more than amnestying Blatche.

I must have done something stupid when I went through the numbers. Here's a better run-through. These numbers assume the same salary cap, the 3rd pick in the draft, and includes the minimum salary cap holds required to get the team to 11 cap holds.

- Amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche = $17.65 million in cap room (assuming the 3rd pick in the draft)

- Amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis = $11.1 million

- Release Lewis (no amnesty) and keep Blatche = $3.9 million in cap space

So yeah -- Lewis needs to be gone no matter what. My hope is they'll release Lewis and amnesty Blatche. Not sure if Ted wants to write those checks, though -- that's $37.1 million to make guys go away. Plus, I kinda think they're going to try to rehab Blatche and bring him back next year.

[queridiculo]

I was content with letting McGee walk this offseason and like many I'm not comfortable with the size and length of Nene's contract.

That said, simply getting rid of McGee has done wonders to our defense and interior toughness. Seraphin has been a revelation and is already way ahead of where Javale was at this point in his career.

The McGee experiment needed to come to an end and I for one am glad that he's no longer part of the team.

[WizarDynasty]

having a two way proven bigman p/f leader is something this organization has never experienced in decades.

It's very hard for 6'4 guard to check the effort level of 7'0 270 lb man. For the rest of Nene's contract, the wizards finally have a leader who works on booth side of the court at high level and has that same expectation of those around him.

Seraphin is already playing his heart out just because he knows Nene is watching.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, I'm sure once you catch your breath, you can see that not agreeing with you 100% isn't the same as disagreeing with you 100%. Most posters are concerned with the size of Nene's contract, and almost as many are concerned about how soon and rapidly he declines and how injuries will play into that. Quite a few also recognize McGee has talent and might develop further, knucklehead or not.

I wouldn't have done this trade, especially for the the last two years of Nene's deal, but it's done, and all we can do is look at how it's playing out (and I guess complain). Nene's numbers and on court effect seem positive so far. McGee and Young removed from the team took away top two offensive weapons, but seems to have improved team defense. McGee's numbers look good so far, but possibly not his on court effect overall (though he did win that game with a tip in). Nene's only played 3 games and is already missing games. If you ask me, there's not enough of anything yet to judge with finality. Hoping something works out isn't the same as wearing rose colored glasses.

I guess I overstate much.

Most of all, I'm more upset with Ted and Grunfeld and feeling fans in general are pretty naive, monte. That deal wreaks of stupid IMO. But then again, I'm pretty extreme and intolerable if you ask some.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Something's wonky with your first number. According to my spreadsheet, if the Wiz amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, they'd have about $9 million in cap space BEFORE accounting for their 1st round pick. Your $12 million number (if they amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis) seems about right.

If you agree that we'll have $12M if we amnesty Blatche, then why won't we have $18M if we amnesty Lewis? Assuming a $13.7M buyout, Lewis' cap figure is $13.7M next year. Blatche's is $7.2M. Amnestying Lewis should save us just over $6M more than amnestying Blatche.

I must have done something stupid when I went through the numbers. Here's a better run-through. These numbers assume the same salary cap, the 3rd pick in the draft, and includes the minimum salary cap holds required to get the team to 11 cap holds.

- Amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche = $17.65 million in cap room (assuming the 3rd pick in the draft)

- Amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis = $11.1 million

- Release Lewis (no amnesty) and keep Blatche = $3.9 million in cap space

So yeah -- Lewis needs to be gone no matter what. My hope is they'll release Lewis and amnesty Blatche. Not sure if Ted wants to write those checks, though -- that's $37.1 million to make guys go away. Plus, I kinda think they're going to try to rehab Blatche and bring him back next year.

Whatever makes the least amount of sense is what I expect at this point. Blatche will be back. Ted might ride it out with Lewis, too.

[TGW]

They're going to amnerty Lewis and keep Blatche. The FO's think for some strange reason they can "rehab" Blatche's value, which is wishful thinking at its worse.

[Rafael122]

I'm thinking they are trying to rehab Blatche's image in hopes that they can trade him for at least a late first round pick or something, if not just outright trade him for scraps. Really doubt Ted would want to cut a big check to both Andray and Rashard.

[Ruzious]

Of course, if they're not going to use the cap space this offseason, they very well might keep both Blatche and Lewis on the roster next season - at least if Kev is right that the non-guaranteed portion of Lewis' contracts is made up on incentives that he will never get - regardless of whether or not he's on the roster.

[verbal8]

Of course, if they're not going to use the cap space this offseason, they very well might keep both Blatche and Lewis on the roster next season - at least if Kev is right that the non-guaranteed portion of Lewis' contracts is made up on incentives that he will never get - regardless of whether or not he's on the roster.

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.
.

His deal calls for him to earn 22.7 million next year, he will be released June 30th(or earlier) and receive $13.7 million next year. There however are 3 possibilities:
1. he could be traded after the season and released by another team
2. he could be released outright
3. he could be amnestied(paid the same amount, but no cap hit) - although now that I think about it might not be possible because it technically would be in this season

[tontoz]

3. he could be amnestied(paid the same amount, but no cap hit) - although now that I think about it might not be possible because it technically would be in this season

That's a good point. I am not sure about the exact date when they can amnesty Lewis but i would assume it is July 1 or later. That would take the amnesty option off the table.