Grade The Wizards Off-Season

[MDStar]

I gave the off season a C on the poll but I'm sitting here wondering if that's fair. For reasons stated from some of our more vocal friends, there are some moves that we currently feel would have been better for the Wizards organization. No doubt about that but here's my question.

If the 2012-2013 Wizards somehow manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs, would the moves be justified? And vice versa, if we end up battling for the #1 pick again and the team sucks, would the off-season be a complete failure?

The Philadelphia Eagles were the "Dream Team" with all of their moves and acquisitions last off-season. The media and fans were giving them an "A" for off-season grades. We know how that went. 8-8.

[payitforward]

I gave the off season a C on the poll but I'm sitting here wondering if that's fair. ...

If the 2012-2013 Wizards somehow manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs, would the moves be justified? And vice versa, if we end up battling for the #1 pick again and the team sucks, would the off-season be a complete failure?

What's the goal? Is the goal to build a title-contending team, as Ted announced it in 2010? If so, then this has been an awful off-season in the sense in which I and several others have described it.

Is the goal to "manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs"? If so, then if we come through on that goal, it was successful But... why would that be our goal as a franchise?

First off, one might say, because that's always Ernie's goal -- his mantra a few years back was "we can compete with anyone." Big deal. I don't want to compete, I want to win.

Secondly, perhaps, Ted blinked -- fans didn't like losing, didn't like rebuilding with "youth and the draft" (his words), and he caved in and told Ernie to figure out a way to put a competitive product on the floor and to Hell w/ the bigger goals.

I don't like that goal, so to me it was an awful off-season. And even if I did accept it, Ernie will have achieved it in a gutless way -- tho "gutless" in this sense also equates to "surest".

And, btw, I do think we'll win 40+ games and likely make the playoffs. And I think Ernie will get plaudits. He won't deserve them.

[fishercob]

Define top tier? Maybe not DWill but he was the only elite FA this offseason. All the guys we've been talking about prior to free agency, Ilyasova, Anderson, Batum and the like were all available and they signed with teams that didn't have a rich history of winning.

There's an underlying assumption embedded in this statement that these types of players matter -- or that the difference between these types of players and OkaRiza, -- matter. I'm not convinced, especially when you factor in the marginal cost via the added time commitment. Batum strikes me as the highest ceiling guy of those three, but keep in mind he was good enough last year to be the second best player on a team that finished 28-38. I'm not saying this to denigrate Batum; I like the guy and would have loved him here. But is Nico Batum the difference between being a bad and a good team, or a good and a great team -- for anyone? Not to mention the fact that he was an RFA and retained by POR, despite some reportedly aggressive S&T offers from MIN.

A rebounding stretch 4 would have been a nice fit on the Wizards. But how much of a true difference would won have made? How much better would the Wiz have be with one of AnderSova than the defensive gain they'll get from Okafor? Maybe some. Enough to matter? Enough to tie up money 3 and 4 years down the line? I'm unconvinced. I wouldn't have made the OkaRiza myself based on what little I know, but the more time passes the less worried I am about the opportunity cost really being that big or really mattering much. For better or worse, the long term future of the franchise is tied to Wall, Beal, and our ability to acquire a TRUE star to play with them.

The current front office is a lost cause. They've demonstrated and stated that they don't believe they can compete with the elite teams. That loser mentality says it all. GMs, players and insiders around the NBA wonder why Ernie Grunfeld and his staff still have a job. We aren't taken seriously around the league because of who's in charge and their history, not because were the Washington Wizards. Leonsis had an opportunity to disassociate himself with the previous regime and start anew and he dropped the ball, so this excuse that we can't compete is now given merit.

I would have fired Ernie, sure. But I don't believe the loser mentality deal. I don't believe they don't think they can compete. I'm sure the FO is comprise of very competitive people from Ted on down. Just because they can be honest and realize that DC isn't a preferred FA destination today doesn't mean they are conceding anything in the long term. In fact, I believe just to the contrary -- that one of Ted's primary focuses since taking over has been changing the overall culture so that people want to be here. That means winning, sure. It also means filling the building (via making the fan experience better), bringing in professionals like Nene and Okafor, showing love to your guys in press, etc etc.

I would have executed the strategy differently, but I remain down with the overall strategy.

[FAH1223]

I give the offseason a C. There won't be many other moves made... even if we sign Singleton/Mason back, I'd give it a C.

Beal was a good pick but something most of us would have done. Amnestying Blatche was a no-brainer.

Ariza/Okafor deal screams of 'mehhhhh..' ...

[fishercob]

I gave the off season a C on the poll but I'm sitting here wondering if that's fair. ...

If the 2012-2013 Wizards somehow manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs, would the moves be justified? And vice versa, if we end up battling for the #1 pick again and the team sucks, would the off-season be a complete failure?

What's the goal? Is the goal to build a title-contending team, as Ted announced it in 2010? If so, then this has been an awful off-season in the sense in which I and several others have described it.

Is the goal to "manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs"? If so, then if we come through on that goal, it was successful But... why would that be our goal as a franchise?

First off, one might say, because that's always Ernie's goal -- his mantra a few years back was "we can compete with anyone." Big deal. I don't want to compete, I want to win.

Secondly, perhaps, Ted blinked -- fans didn't like losing, didn't like rebuilding with "youth and the draft" (his words), and he caved in and told Ernie to figure out a way to put a competitive product on the floor and to Hell w/ the bigger goals.

I don't like that goal, so to me it was an awful off-season. And even if I did accept it, Ernie will have achieved it in a gutless way -- tho "gutless" in this sense also equates to "surest".

And, btw, I do think we'll win 40+ games and likely make the playoffs. And I think Ernie will get plaudits. He won't deserve them.

I'm so glad you've joined us, PIF. Because, I mean, I'm a pretty bright guy. But sometimes, and I know this is a little crazy -- silly, really -- well, sometimes I don't know the answer to some stuff. But YOU'RE here now! And you know the answer to everything! And for simple guys like me, it's just so comforting to know that I can come here and find out the answers to most anything I don't know -- from you! Yaaaay!

Yes, there was an opportunity cost to the OkaRiza trade. I cannot understand how anyone thinks that cost marks the difference between aiming for mediocrity and aiming for a title. The guys that we opted not to target this summer just are not that important in the grand scheme of the NBA landscape. I am confident that we're not going to miss out on any all-NBA talent in the trade or FA market over the next two seasons because of this trade.

I'm curious as to why among the chorus of "we're striving for mediocrity" crowd, why I haven't seen one person advocate for another year of tanking. I would at least understand if the FO decided that we needed another high lottery pick to better our chances of being a long-term contender, and so we were going to hold our noses and tank one more time. It would have meant no Nene deal and probably S&Ting Vale for whatever we could get and keeping Dray for another year to anchor the tank ship. I can see the argument that such a strategy made better long term sense. But there would have been a complete fan revolt and the culture would have been further poisoned. Not what I would have done; I'm just surprised no one has advocated it.

[MDStar]

I gave the off season a C on the poll but I'm sitting here wondering if that's fair. ...

If the 2012-2013 Wizards somehow manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs, would the moves be justified? And vice versa, if we end up battling for the #1 pick again and the team sucks, would the off-season be a complete failure?

Is the goal to "manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs"? If so, then if we come through on that goal, it was successful But... why would that be our goal as a franchise?

For a team that had the 2nd worst record in the entire league, you don't believe a .500 season and making the playoffs should be a goal? Of course we all want to win championships but I seriously think that you should temper your expectations. Getting Ryan Anderson, Ilyasova, a future 1st, or whatever who/what ever else was available, would not have made us a championship caliber squad. Would it possibly be better team than what we have? Sure. But I believe the organizations goal was to become a competitive team, who had the opportunity to win on any given night. I believe considering where we came from just last year (understanding full well that it's EG's fault we were there in the 1st place), that "manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs" should be an initial goal.

[Higga]

B-.

Glad we amnestied Blatche and Beal was a good draft pick. The Okafor/Ariza trade wasn't terrible but kinda meh and felt we could have/should have gotten more.

[Kanyewest]

I believe we are headed in the right direction; no one was going to come to DC except for the pay check. The Wizards are in early stages of altering the perception of how other NBA players evaluate the Washington Wizards front office. It's going to take some time for the above average or elite players to consider playing for Washington when they can go to a team with a winning history.

This is just a load of hot unadulterated bulldung IMO. So Minnesota, Milwaukee or New Jersey can alter the perception just by being aggressive and not having a loser's mentality before free agency even started. But the poor sadsack Wizards can only alter the perception by trading for expensive veterans who've seen better days.

Quickest was to change the perception? Clean house in the front office and change the weak minded mentality that you can't compete with other teams.

Offseason: C- (amnestying Blatche & drafting Beal keeps it from being lower).

With teams like New Jersey, I don't know if being aggressive really works for them in the longterm. I would say their offseason started off by trading their first round pick for Gerald Wallace which IMO was a terrible move. They then go out and acquire Joe Johnson massive contract and then they decide to max out Brook Lopez. And they still haven't gotten the Dwight Howard deal.

I think for the Wizards right now isn't their time because John Wall hasn't proven to be an elite player. When that happens, then I think the Wizards can use an all out strategy like New Jersey (although hopefully with better value contracts).

[Ruzious]

Steven Gray has been invited to our training camp.

Can I change my grade from a C to an A?

[DMVleGeND]

I gave the off season a C on the poll but I'm sitting here wondering if that's fair. ...

If the 2012-2013 Wizards somehow manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs, would the moves be justified? And vice versa, if we end up battling for the #1 pick again and the team sucks, would the off-season be a complete failure?

What's the goal? Is the goal to build a title-contending team, as Ted announced it in 2010? If so, then this has been an awful off-season in the sense in which I and several others have described it.

Is the goal to "manage to go .500 for the season and make the playoffs"? If so, then if we come through on that goal, it was successful But... why would that be our goal as a franchise?

First off, one might say, because that's always Ernie's goal -- his mantra a few years back was "we can compete with anyone." Big deal. I don't want to compete, I want to win.

Secondly, perhaps, Ted blinked -- fans didn't like losing, didn't like rebuilding with "youth and the draft" (his words), and he caved in and told Ernie to figure out a way to put a competitive product on the floor and to Hell w/ the bigger goals.

I don't like that goal, so to me it was an awful off-season. And even if I did accept it, Ernie will have achieved it in a gutless way -- tho "gutless" in this sense also equates to "surest".

And, btw, I do think we'll win 40+ games and likely make the playoffs. And I think Ernie will get plaudits. He won't deserve them.

+1 on everything. Ted lost his patience and is now striving for mediocrity. That's the way to build a team.

[bgroban]

Mark me down for a solid B.

The team is heading in the right direction. Sure, some moves have been better than others, but I have vastly more confidence in this squad (inc. Randy) than I did last season's.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I gave it a B.

1. The Amnesty of Blatche. To me this is single handedly enough to warrant a B score. I had convinced myself he was going to be back. I applaud the Wizards for this decision.

2. The draft of Bradley Beal. The Wizards with Wall and Beal now have a foundation, an identity, and marketability. I see Beal as an ideal backcourt partner to Wall, and gives the Wizards something they can build around, with Crawford moving to his more suited role of 3rd guard off the bench.

3. Trade of Lewis for Okafor/Ariza. The signing of Okafor adds to the all business makeup of the roster, and defensive priority of this team. He increases the leadership and bball IQ, and allows Nene to move to his preferred position of PF. Providing excellent vets to tutor younger players like Seraphin and Booker is an added benefit. But this is a frontcourt that is well suited to defend the paint, play smart team ball (pass out of double teams, shoot high % shots, pass out to the guards, box out, set picks, etc), and our guards are going to benefit and thrive playing with these guys. Ariza also adds depth and experience to a position of need, and provides competition and help to guys like Singleton, Vesely, Martin. I like this deal for this team at this time. Also some relief because again I had worst case scenarios of Lewis staying for Ted to see if he could actually contribute something for his salary rather than buy him out.

4. Trade of McGee for Nene. Can look at this move as our offseason starting early.

5. Keeping Martin, signing Price. Martin adds depth and outside shooting, and has earned it with this team, good move by the organization. Price adds needed depth at pg behind Wall.

6. The addition of Don Newman to the coaching staff.

[Kanyewest]

I also give a B.

Drafting Beal was the most important move this offseason and gets an A+. All things considered, EG could have gone for need and taken Harrison Barnes and pretended to sell himself on Jordan Crawford as a starting shooting guard for the long term.

With the Satoransky pick, it right now appears to be a C move. However, most of WIzards draft will be judged by the Beal pick down the line anyways.

The Okafor/Lewis trade gets a C+ from me. I like it more than signing off-season options of signing guys like Anderson or Danny Green. Anderson benefited greatly from playing with Dwight Howard and even Orlando failed to match that contract. Anderson's efficiency dipped significantly when Howard went out with back surgery. Green while solid in the regular season isn't in my mind someone I would be comfortable starting which is what the Wizards would probably have to pay him to get him to come here. (FYI Green's current contract is at a good value but I suspect the Wizards would have to pay significant premium considering that San Antonio is a contender and they pay lower taxes in Texas). I'm also uncomfortable with how Green performed in OKC, although I have to admit that is the only time I saw him play in the postseason.

I like the Wizards bigs of Nene/Seraphin/Okafor for than the Wizards top trio going into last season (McGee, Blatche, Booker). I like the fact that the Wizards don't appear to have any soft players especially on the defensive end. People have claimed that the Wizards bigs are redundant but I see it as a significant upgrade in their bench which was a weakness last season and insurance policy to help lower injury risk.

At this point, I don't like the contract of Ariza as he appears he is overpaid. I find it interesting that one of the smarter GMs gave him that contract in the first place in Daryl Morey. Still, I'm not willing to write off Ariza as a terrible player because he has played well in stretches especially in the playoffs both with the Lakers and against the Lakers.

Personally, I think the Wizards could have gotten a bit more from New Orleans like a future 2nd round pick. But mostly I dislike that the Wizards appear to have lost flexibility to complete BOYD dead deals like the Wizards moving up in the draft to take on Kirk Hinrich.

Pretty much, the Wizards are moving forward betting on John Wall. How he does is pretty much going to determine the success of this team. This past season he took a step back, and many analysts have taken the stance that Irving is the better young and upcoming point guard. Irving had a better supporting cast and a better head coach with Scott than Flip Saunders than Wall. So let's see if the upgrades in bigs and the change of a coach from Saunders to Wittman will set up Wall for success. Wall will have to show a better jump shot and better decisin making if the Wizards plan on becoming a contender which he showed less of last year than he did in his rookie season.

[LyricalRico]

I know I said we should wait a bit before grading an offseason that's only half over, but I'm loving the posts on this page! I'm also giving Ted/Ernie a solid B. I'll bump it up to an A if we upgrade our backup guard situation, which we still have plenty of time to do. Go Wiz!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This is premature, because the offseason isn't over, but as of now, I give it a C-

Good moves:

- Drafting Bradley Beal, who was BPA at #3
- Amnestied Blatche
- Hired Don Newman

Decent moves:

- Resigning Cartier Martin

Poor moves/remains to be seen:

- Trading Lewis and #46 for Okafor and Ariza
- Signing AJ Price
- Drafting T. Satoransky


All in all, the team went from a ~25 win team to a ~35 win team with the moves they made. I don't think they make the playoffs as currently constructed—there's simply not enough firepower nor shooting ability to win on a consistent basis. If they do win games, it'll be low-scoring/ugly affairs with scores in the 80's. The biggest disappointment is that Vesely and Booker now have to compete for minutes, and one of them will have to sit in order to play sorry ass Okafor. If they resign Singleton, then it moves back up to a C.

+1

TGW, I agree with everything you wrote, and your final grade of C-

--Seraphin's minutes will also be decreased due to Okafor on the roster. Unless Okafor comes off the bench or gets injured, Kevin cannot average the minutes he did when he had the string of double figure point games.

--What remains to be seen is how the Wizards' offseason compares relative to changes other teams have made:

Orlando has some different personnel and a new coach, plus Dwight Howard could be traded. Andrew Nicholson looks like the real deal to me. Charlotte has a veteran core now and a new coach, along with a dynamic rookie, Michael Kidd Gilchrist. The Knicks lost out on Linsanity, to include not just Jeremy Lin but also Landry Fields and Jared Jeffries. Philadelphia lost Louis Williams, the team leading scorer, and Elton Brand, their best interior defender. Nick Young and Kwame Brown are the replacements. Chicago won't have Derrick Rose until the all star break, and they lost Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Omer Asik, CJ Watson, and John Lucas III. I don't care how well Tom Thibodeau coaches, that defense and depth won't be the same this season. Chicago will win a lot less games. Boston has no more big three without Ray Allen, and both Pierce and Garnett will be one more year older. The Cs reloaded in the frontcourt and backcourt. Atlanta will have Horford back but no James Johnson. Rookie John Jenkins looks like a scorer for them. The Nets have made a whirlwind of changes but are any of them for the better? Joe Johnson is overpaid IMO.

My guess is some teams got worse and only a few got better. Washington just by having some continuity should win that extra 10 games this season. The question is where will the scoring in the clutch come from? I still don't see any superstar or any player on the Wizards who can step up at winning time.

A whole lot is riding on Nene and Okafor.

[MVP Rose]

The fact that you guys turned from a lottery team to potentially a playoff team in one off-season, is commendable. Kudos to your FO, they seem like they're serious now about building around Wall. Also, don't be surprised if Beal ends up being the 2nd (or best) player in this draft. His upside is a more explosive, ball handling Ray Allen that can play defense and rebound. Let that sink in for a second.

[DMVleGeND]

The fact that you guys turned from a lottery team to potentially a playoff team in one off-season, is commendable. Kudos to your FO, they seem like they're serious now about building around Wall. Also, don't be surprised if Beal ends up being the 2nd (or best) player in this draft. His upside is a more explosive, ball handling Ray Allen that can play defense and rebound. Let that sink in for a second.

Beal is not more explosive than prime Ray Allen.

[queridiculo]

I'm sorry, but I don't see the fact that Booker and Vesely will have to fight to get playing time as a negative. As Wizards fan in particular we should have learned our lesson at this point and perhaps adopt the mindset that minutes are earned, and not distributed based on draft position or potential.

It's time that the Wizards put an end to the institutionalized sense of entitlement.

I have faith that Wittman will find minutes for the guys that deserve it.

[montestewart]

The fact that you guys turned from a lottery team to potentially a playoff team in one off-season, is commendable. Kudos to your FO, they seem like they're serious now about building around Wall. Also, don't be surprised if Beal ends up being the 2nd (or best) player in this draft. His upside is a more explosive, ball handling Ray Allen that can play defense and rebound. Let that sink in for a second.

Beal is not more explosive than prime Ray Allen.

Hence the use of the word "upside" as in "could get there someday." Of course, there's no harm in saying "he'll never get there." It's not like we're going to hire detectives to track you down in Paraguay when Beal makes the all-star team.

[TGW]

I'm sorry, but I don't see the fact that Booker and Vesely will have to fight to get playing time as a negative. As Wizards fan in particular we should have learned our lesson at this point and perhaps adopt the mindset that minutes are earned, and not distributed based on draft position or potential.

It's time that the Wizards put an end to the institutionalized sense of entitlement.

I have faith that Wittman will find minutes for the guys that deserve it.

I have no doubt that Okafor will start simply because of his salary, and not because of what he brings to the court. I honestly feel that Booker, Seraphin and Singleton are more effective options at a much cheaper price, but because Okafor is being paid like a star, he'll get the bulk of the minutes. That's just how I see this shaking out, because in reality, Okafor stunk last year—those 3 players I mentioned were better than him.