2012 Draft, Part VI (Draft Week is Here!)

[Knighthonor]

Nice dig Hoopalotta

I knew Wall and MKG were tight, but that is good news about Beal too.

I'd be happy with either of those guys. Ernie is (Please Use More Appropriate Word) if he is actually considering Barnes and it isnt just smoke.

I heard that rumor before, but I call BS.

[AFM]

Anyway we can trade Okafor + ________ for J Smith?

[7-Day Dray]

ESPN Stats & Info‏@ESPNStatsInfo

Of the 125 players who defended at least 75 post-up plays this season, Andre Drummond allowed the fewest points per play. #NBADraft

I don't think the same could have been said about Javale in college.

Yeah, the thing with Drummond is his ceilings so high that he doesn't even need to reach his potential to be a game changer. If you're quick, long, strong, defensively minded and can make reads at NBA speed, your floor isn't really that low unless your a total disaster as a human being. His red flags don't sound all that red to me. Maybe more like orange flags.

I don't think I'd have it in me to take him at three, but in the right trade down I'd be for it as he could be a guy who sets the table for your whole defense even if he never turns into much offensively.

Yeah, people are underrating his floor. At worst, he'll be a guy that can get rebounds and be a great defensive player w/ shot-blocking.

And plus, Drummond and Nene are tailor-made for each other. They compliment each other perfectly.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Hoopalotta I remember that Michael Lee story also. However, I don't think Wall's preference will deter Ernie from his pick.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I would trade the #3 plus one of our young'uns on a rookie deal for Harden in a heartbeat.

Even if Beal ends up as an All-Star, we'd likely still look back at this trade as a success. It's darned easy to get caught up in the pre draft excitement and fantasize about the upside of high picks.

But the reality is that, outside of Davis, no one in this draft is a sure thing.

Remember how everyone believed Evan Turner was destined for greatness. Now, he's clearly turning out to be a decent NBA player, but not a stud.

Harden is a known quantity and hence a bit devalued this time of the year. But we know who he is... And we like him.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I think that story was actually last year. Before last years draft, before Barnes announced he was returning to school.

[SaveOurBullets]

I would trade the #3 plus one of our young'uns on a rookie deal for Harden in a heartbeat.

Even if Beal ends up as an All-Star, we'd likely still look back at this trade as a success. It's darned easy to get caught up in the pre draft excitement and fantasize about the upside of high picks.

But the reality is that, outside of Davis, no one in this draft is a sure thing.

Remember how everyone believed Evan Turner was destined for greatness. Now, he's clearly turning out to be a decent NBA player, but not a stud.

Harden is a known quantity and hence a bit devalued this time of the year. But we know who he is... And we like him.

How is that going to lead to a championship, though? We need a bona fide superstar, and Harden probably isn't that guy. Our best chance might be relying on a gamble, even if the odds aren't likely.

[ecnirp]

Im from the STL area.

Know Beal's older brother.

As an objective fan, I dont want Beal in Washington. Dont think he fits well next to Wall and I like MKG.

But word is he's expecting to be a Wizard tomorrow. Take it FWIW. Good kid who should have a good future in Washington. As of now, its NOT LIKELY that the Cavs would trade up. They are looking at MKG and Barnes (more likely MKG).

Again, take it FWIW. Maybe thats what the family is hoping for. Idk. Thats the word out of all the people in STL right now.

Sidenote: Last guy from STL to play for the Wizards.....Larry Hughes :/....Hopefully he fairs better than Larry..which he will (Kid's got an unbelievable work ethic and a much better shooter)

Oh well. He's a good dude. So I wish him in Washington if everything goes to plan.

[7-Day Dray]

I would trade the #3 plus one of our young'uns on a rookie deal for Harden in a heartbeat.

Even if Beal ends up as an All-Star, we'd likely still look back at this trade as a success. It's darned easy to get caught up in the pre draft excitement and fantasize about the upside of high picks.

But the reality is that, outside of Davis, no one in this draft is a sure thing.

Remember how everyone believed Evan Turner was destined for greatness. Now, he's clearly turning out to be a decent NBA player, but not a stud.

Harden is a known quantity and hence a bit devalued this time of the year. But we know who he is... And we like him.

How is that going to lead to a championship, though? We need a bona fide superstar, and Harden probably isn't that guy. Our best chance might be relying on a gamble, even if the odds aren't likely.

That's why we need to gamble on Drummond!

[Terpman]

Twenty-nine percent.

[W. Unseld]

Things that may (or may not) look obvious in hindsight:
1. Why did we ever think a quasi-athletic guy with only a handful of great college games and an average shooting % was worthy of the #3 pick?
2. T Robinson was just another good but not great undersized PF
3. MKG was a jack of all trades, master of none. He's a good perimeter defender but this is the NBA & the superstars can't be guarded one on one
4. The best shooters were all in the 2nd round

I don't agree with all of the above but it's an interesting exercise to think 3-4 years in the future on these guys--it sobers you up from draft fever

[sfam]

Im from the STL area.

Know Beal's older brother.

As an objective fan, I dont want Beal in Washington. Dont think he fits well next to Wall and I like MKG.

But word is he's expecting to be a Wizard tomorrow. Take it FWIW. Good kid who should have a good future in Washington. As of now, its NOT LIKELY that the Cavs would trade up. They are looking at MKG and Barnes (more likely MKG).

Again, take it FWIW. Maybe thats what the family is hoping for. Idk. Thats the word out of all the people in STL right now.

Sidenote: Last guy from STL to play for the Wizards.....Larry Hughes :/....Hopefully he fairs better than Larry..which he will (Kid's got an unbelievable work ethic and a much better shooter)

Oh well. He's a good dude. So I wish him in Washington if everything goes to plan.

Thanks for stopping by! I still think Cleveland screws with our plans but would love seeing Beal here.

[MF23]

Top 20 players aren't easy to draft or develop. He's 23 years old and MKG might become as good as Harden. Beal I doubt he can get to that level and that's not a knock of Beal who's the most NBA ready player in this draft. The Wizards have had a top 20 player once maybe twice in the last 20 years.

With Saraphin can we stop overrating players. It's just dumb to me like Paxson holding on to Deng and Hinrich instead of grabbing HOF'r Kevin Garnett in a trade.

You keep saying Harden is a top 20 player. I'm not convinced that he is.

Fine, name me 5 players who always space their defender away from the ballhandler on offense. Who see the floor well and make the right pass. Fight off defenders who try to deny cuts. Who's aggressive when it's needed but still understands what's best for his team. Who can shoot of the dribble and spot up. Who's great in transition. Gets to the line. Sets good picks for a guard. Scores well in the paint and beyond the arc. Do I need to go over his rebounding and defensive abilities which are exceptional? More importantly his play in the last 2 minutes of games? The only thing that someone can say negatively about Harden is that he hasn't been a #1 option so it's questionable what kind of player he's in that role.

DCZards, you don't need to answer any of those questions I'm attempting to point out why that player is so valuable. If I started going into basketball talk I could expound more on things Harden does that you don't see from todays players. I'm not doing that. Harden rarely makes mistakes on the court and is one of the most execution focused players in the NBA.

Team player who hasn't shown an inkling of bad attitude.

[nuposse04]

Im from the STL area.

Know Beal's older brother.

As an objective fan, I dont want Beal in Washington. Dont think he fits well next to Wall and I like MKG.

But word is he's expecting to be a Wizard tomorrow. Take it FWIW. Good kid who should have a good future in Washington. As of now, its NOT LIKELY that the Cavs would trade up. They are looking at MKG and Barnes (more likely MKG).

Again, take it FWIW. Maybe thats what the family is hoping for. Idk. Thats the word out of all the people in STL right now.

Sidenote: Last guy from STL to play for the Wizards.....Larry Hughes :/....Hopefully he fairs better than Larry..which he will (Kid's got an unbelievable work ethic and a much better shooter)

Oh well. He's a good dude. So I wish him in Washington if everything goes to plan.

I think MKG will be the better player when it is all said and then. That being said, saying Beal isn't a good fit next to Wall is asinine. Of all the SGs in the draft, he most geared to play next to wall. My dream draft still would be MKG/Ross though.

Oh and for people who would trade the #3 AND seraphin for Harden, you're out of your **** minds. While Harden is a premier talent in this league I have my doubts about how much offensive load he can carry night in, and night out. I don't think he will cripple a team like Joe Johnson did with his max contract but I doubt Harden has the ability to save a franchise. If Beal even becomes 3/4s of Harden plus Seraphin's production continues, that outweighs his acquisition in my mind. #3+Booker, they can have it, but nothing more.

[Higga]

I'd be happy if we dealt the #3 for Harden, but I think it's a telling sign when smart organizations like the Thunder and Spurs are wanting Beal....

[The Consiglieri]

I'd take both those guys over Mike Miller and that other guy....

+1, i actually kind of ike those players, i never liked the two scrub pending free agents we traded for.

[TheKingOfVa360]

Beal or MKG have to be the pick. I really want Beal and feel he would shine with Wall. But MKG has something special about him and should be a future all star if he learns how to shoot.

[ecnirp]

Im from the STL area.

Know Beal's older brother.

As an objective fan, I dont want Beal in Washington. Dont think he fits well next to Wall and I like MKG.

But word is he's expecting to be a Wizard tomorrow. Take it FWIW. Good kid who should have a good future in Washington. As of now, its NOT LIKELY that the Cavs would trade up. They are looking at MKG and Barnes (more likely MKG).

Again, take it FWIW. Maybe thats what the family is hoping for. Idk. Thats the word out of all the people in STL right now.

Sidenote: Last guy from STL to play for the Wizards.....Larry Hughes :/....Hopefully he fairs better than Larry..which he will (Kid's got an unbelievable work ethic and a much better shooter)

Oh well. He's a good dude. So I wish him in Washington if everything goes to plan.

I think MKG will be the better player when it is all said and then. That being said, saying Beal isn't a good fit next to Wall is asinine. Of all the SGs in the draft, he most geared to play next to wall. My dream draft still would be MKG/Ross though.

Oh and for people who would trade the #3 AND seraphin for Harden, you're out of your **** minds. While Harden is a premier talent in this league I have my doubts about how much offensive load he can carry night in, and night out. I don't think he will cripple a team like Joe Johnson did with his max contract but I doubt Harden has the ability to save a franchise. If Beal even becomes 3/4s of Harden plus Seraphin's production continues, that outweighs his acquisition in my mind. #3+Booker, they can have it, but nothing more.

When I say fit...I think he's too small....

Love the skill level...Just think eventually that small a backcourt will cause trouble..(especially since you have a small 2 guard in Crawford already (even though I think Beal will be better)

Honestly, I think his true upside is a team that allows him to be a scoring pg (Im one of a few that think that....so I understand if most disagree)

[Hoopalotta]

The NO trade to me seems much more like a sober recognition that the Wizards were probably not likely to bring in high character veteran contributors via FA, which the front office clearly believes is necessary to help mentor our prospects. Neither of the NO players are long term - they very well may be gone in less than two years. The whole "win now" thing seems way overblown to me. If we move away from the caricature of EG, I think a much more reasoned view, whether or not we agree with the trade, is that Ted has directed EG to get us out of the basement and on to the road toward a team that doesn't embarrass its fan base. This is different from a "Win now, stay mediocre for the next 10 years" mentality. If we end up in the back side of the lottery next year (the most likely circumstance), with continued development from our under 25 crew, along with the development of a professional atmosphere fully instilled, most of us will look at the team as moving in the right direction.

Sure, another year of tanking has its attraction, as does the idea that we could have done more with the cap space. But that the Wizards chose this course hardly indicates the worst possible outcome. That said, if we make the Gasol trade, everything I said becomes null and void.

I totally agree and I don't even think it's up for debate with Leonsis having responded to that Wages of Win article predicting 45 wins with a "are they a little bit over optimistic on our win total?" comment. The tea leafs aren't requiring a particularly savvy diviner in order to be deciphered.

Maybe it was the wrong move, but the "win now" meme doesn't stand stand up against any scrutiny.

Also, as far as the third for Gasol, the only way to make the salaries match is to have Nene in there and I really don't see that happening with us including the 3rd pick. There's always absurd rumors of the Lakers extracting huge value in trades around the draft and the deadline.

Of course, none of that is to say that we couldn't do something devastatingly foolish in the next 24 hours.

[jivelikenice]

Beal is growing on me. Still have a few concerns, but he might be able to form a dynamic backcourt w/ Wall. I'm actually more interested in what we do after the 3rd pick. I really hope Ted & Ernie don't waste the opportunity here. We have a surplus of forwards and a high 2nd round pick. This draft is deep on wing players. Even if you get Beal, to me it makes all the sense in the world to acquire a mid 1st rd selection to get a SF in the pipeline who can develop behind Ariza. Terrence Ross would be a great pickup. Shooting/ athleticism....We'd have a complete team that can shoot, spread the floor, and play physical inside. Let's hope Ernie is on his game....