Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part III

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

After watching some more of his scouting reports, I'm really liking CJ McCollum. Dude is just a straight up baller IMO.

I absolutely love his game.

If they draft him at #8 I won't be upset--it will end up being a good pick.

[hands11]

After watching some more of his scouting reports, I'm really liking CJ McCollum. Dude is just a straight up baller IMO.

DraftX now has him up at 8th ahead of Zeller and Shabazz

If its our pick and Len and CJM are on the board, I would have a hard time not picking Len at this point. Even though I would love to have CJM on the team which should be clear by how much I post about him.

But if Len is gone and its CJM, Dieng, Zeller and Shabazz, I would have to decide between CJM and Dieng. Hmmm. Still a tough call.

But they could still go:

CJM, Muscala, Erik Murphy That would be a great draft.

Their need for a tall young long defensive center is just so great, its hard for me to get past that. When they played teams that had that at C and PF, Nene and Okafor struggled and Kevin S and Ves were not enough to help. But they are also very vulnerable at back up SG with great handles that can score. They only have Price. CJM is way more talented then Price.

We all know this teams problem is depth. How they fill it is a dynamic situation. Something tells me it is easier to find that guard in other ways then the draft and finding that center is harder. I could be wrong.

And after listing to the Randy exit interview, it seems less likely they will use all three picks which is sad. There is just a boat load of talent in the 2nd round of this draft. But the team wants to add more vets and seeing the teams in the playoffs, I can understand why. There are good teams there that are deep with vets who have lots of players 29-36 on their teams.

For me, I think where the Wizards are in the rebuild stage where they still need to use the draft this year. The key is finding players with skills that are mature. Not projects like Kevin S and Ves. It won't help you as much next year in the playoffs but it will 2-3 years down the road.

So to work at this backward, we need to answer this question first. Where would they add a vet since they sound like they want to add one ? But then the challenge is this. The draft is before FA.

[nate33]

Their need for a tall young long defensive center is just so great, its hard for me to get past that. When they played teams that had that at C and PF, Nene and Okafor struggled and Kevin S and Ves were not enough to help.

This is simply untrue. There is no indication that the team has struggled against teams with length at C and PF.

We can certainly use a big man in the draft because we don't have much in the pipeline, but not because we have any specific vulnerability to length.

[hands11]

Baylor’s Cory Jefferson to return for senior year

http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/baylor/m ... ff617.html

Cool. Maybe we can get him next year.

I didn't find the Smart news of the board you mentioned but found this in a DET paper. Hopefully he enters the draft. He should.

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/4/26 ... -to-school

Real interesting story on Dieng and his family. This raises his stock more in my book. Solid character guy. I think he would be a can't miss pick. Perfect Okafor replacement longer term.
http://www.wdrb.com/story/22080964/prof ... -the-paint

[closg00]

Checked-out Olnyk for the first time, I imagine that this is how Vesely would play if he wasn't playing-scared. Picking 8th+, I would put Olynk on my board and D-League him until Vesely is back in Europe. That's one of my scenarios anyway. I wouldn't trust The Wizards with Len.t
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kelly-Olynyk-19790/

[hands11]

Their need for a tall young long defensive center is just so great, its hard for me to get past that. When they played teams that had that at C and PF, Nene and Okafor struggled and Kevin S and Ves were not enough to help.

This is simply untrue. There is no indication that the team has struggled against teams with length at C and PF.

We can certainly use a big man in the draft because we don't have much in the pipeline, but not because we have any specific vulnerability to length.

We will have to disagree. I saw it with my own eyes. I would predict it would happen before games and it would happen.

Nene and Okafor struggled to handle teams that had more athletic longer bigs. Nene could not get past them so I guess it was really more Nene then Okafor. Now part of that was because Nene was injured. Maybe most of it was because of that.

But at the end of the day, doesn't matter if we agree if that happened. Like you said, we need that player anyway.

[hands11]

Checked-out Olnyk for the first time, I imagine that this is how Vesely would play if he wasn't playing-scared. Picking 8th+, I would put Olynk on my board and D-League him until Vesely is back in Europe. That's one of my scenarios anyway. I wouldn't trust The Wizards with Len.t
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kelly-Olynyk-19790/

I think this idea of not trusting the Wizards to develop a player is over blown. Players development is 80-85% on the player.

Good players with talent, work ethic and character work on their games. Specially in the off season. And those players get better.

The Wizards locker room is solid now. It wasn't before. So that isn't a factor. And players like Wall, Beal and Webster are all talking about working out together. Beal was only 19 and he got a lot better even while the season was going on. Wall, he worked really hard in the offseason and he has gotten better.

Randy is an organized hands on person who is running a program. He is on top of what they are doing in the off season. He communicates clearly what they need to do. Sets goals. He sets up a program. He stays in tough with them.

Now its time for those players like Kevin S, Ves and Singleton to measure up. If not, the team needs to move on. I think he is made that clear to them. But its on them to put in the right work to maximize their talents.

The risk happens when you pick players with poor work ethic, character and weak skills. So if Len is a risk, it would be because of those reasons. It would be about Len, not the Wizards.

I see nothing about the current Wizards coaching staff and locker room that would lead me to be concerned about them adding young players who are the right young players.

The only risk I see is with players that I think are risky. Not with what the Wizards would do with them.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'm still hoping for Otto Porter. I think he may actually test out better than expected, but may still be available to us primarily due to SF being viewed as the easiest position to fill.

I love Porter's old school classic game. He is like the SF version of Tim Duncan. All around skills, fundamentally sound, defense, rebounding, passing, high IQ & leadership, scoring inside and out. He's got it all.

He allows us to replace Ariza either this year via trade or next via free agency & use his salary space to address another need.

IMO a Porter/Murphy draft would be ideal & a very successful draft fot the Wizards.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'm expecting Noel, Mclemore, Bennett to go top 3.

So beyond that, unless we get lucky, for the Wizards I like Porter, then if he's gone I go best remaining center, be it Len, Dieng, Zeller, Olynyk, etc.

If we do get Porter I like Muscala 2nd round followed by Murphy. If we do go center 1st, then Murphy would top my list at 37.

[The Consiglieri]

Well like CCJ said, I think the main motivation to return was to play for his dad.

So what about Patrik Murphy as a 2nd round target? 6-10 PF from florida, former teammate of Beal, shot 45% from 3.

I also don't think it's a big deal. He's gonna be picked somewhere between 10-40 no matter what at some point in the next 15 months, why not enjoy your college career, you only get to do it once. He doesn't have financial need, and sometimes being picked later is better if you can get picked by the right organization. A lot of incompetent/disorganized front offices in the top 10-15 this year.

[The Consiglieri]

I think had Len/Bennett not been there when our turn rings up, we absolutely should trade out. Those are the only two realistic guys around that area that could have a longterm positive impact for us. I'm not a believer in Zeller as some aren't a believer in Muhammad. I think Oladipo is a glorified role player who won't pay any real dividends for a season or two.

The problem with trading out is you're getting an even less impactful player. I rarely think this makes sense in basketball. A number of the players available around 8-12 will have the potential to be solid contributors. Far more chance than those you get in the 20s for instance.

I would trade out for '14, not sure who'd be stupid enough to do that, but I'm sure you could swing a deal with someone whose sure they'll be in the playoffs and worried for their job (basically, another E.G.). There are a few guys I'd consider drafting at slot: Bennett, Len, Muhammad, but after that I'd trade the pick for '14 ammo. '14 draft is miles better, and if those guys are gone, I'd just rather have ammo to trade up with, and go with what we have, which appeared to be a 44-48 win team if its healthy in '13-'14.

[gambitx777]

I am ok with McDermott going back, because next year, if we have a good off season and do the things we need to do, we could end up in the 20 range. so him, and all of these other guys going back that could have been loto picks is fine for me. because in a stacked draft next year, these guys will be falling to the mid to late round were we could be picking.

and larkin could fall, its very possible. which would be great, i would love to grab Larkin and enis in the second round !

[closg00]

Checked-out Olnyk for the first time, I imagine that this is how Vesely would play if he wasn't playing-scared. Picking 8th+, I would put Olynk on my board and D-League him until Vesely is back in Europe. That's one of my scenarios anyway. I wouldn't trust The Wizards with Len.t
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kelly-Olynyk-19790/

I think this idea of not trusting the Wizards to develop a player is over blown. Players development is 80-85% on the player.

Good players with talent, work ethic and character work on their games. Specially in the off season. And those players get better.

The Wizards locker room is solid now. It wasn't before. So that isn't a factor. And players like Wall, Beal and Webster are all talking about working out together. Beal was only 19 and he got a lot better even while the season was going on. Wall, he worked really hard in the offseason and he has gotten better.

Randy is an organized hands on person who is running a program. He is on top of what they are doing in the off season. He communicates clearly what they need to do. Sets goals. He sets up a program. He stays in tough with them.

Now its time for those players like Kevin S, Ves and Singleton to measure up. If not, the team needs to move on. I think he is made that clear to them. But its on them to put in the right work to maximize their talents.

The risk happens when you pick players with poor work ethic, character and weak skills. So if Len is a risk, it would be because of those reasons. It would be about Len, not the Wizards.

I see nothing about the current Wizards coaching staff and locker room that would lead me to be concerned about them adding young players who are the right young players.

The only risk I see is with players that I think are risky. Not with what the Wizards would do with them.

Nonsense. If development were 80-85% (you arrive at this % how?) on the player, then why-bother having a Player Development position? (Tapscott).

The A-list NBA organizations have a rigorous player development program which includes the increased usage of a single-affiliation or shared NBDL team. The Wizards don't bother with either.

[gambitx777]

and that is why our team never get's better, if singleton and ves had been sent to the D league, they might have gotten the minutes they need to get good enough to earn minutes in the nba

[nate33]

and that is why our team never get's better, if singleton and ves had been sent to the D league, they might have gotten the minutes they need to get good enough to earn minutes in the nba

I don't think this is true, particularly in the case of Singleton.

Let's not act like the only time players can develop their basketball skills is if they're on the court during a game. Development takes place in practice, either with the team or solo. Game experience helps in honing the basketball IQ, but it's not going to make that much difference in developing basketball skills. For Singleton, his problem is his skill. He doesn't have much. More minutes wouldn't help much. The guy was force fed way more minutes that he deserved in his rookie year and it didn't make him a better player. I don't think the D League would have helped him all that much either. He needs to become a better shooter, a better ball-handler, and a better rebounder.

Vesely is a different case, I suppose. Clearly one of his biggest issues is confidence. One would assume that playing in the D-League against inferior talent would help him establish that confidence. At the very least, with confidence, he could have played at least as good as he did last season. That said, he also needs a ton of work on his skills and his body. A weakling that can't shoot isn't going to get better simply by playing more minutes in D League. He needs to practice shooting and he needs to spend more time in the weight room.

[closg00]

and that is why our team never get's better, if singleton and ves had been sent to the D league, they might have gotten the minutes they need to get good enough to earn minutes in the nba

+1 Under the watchful eye of an assistant, players can work on different aspects of their game during practices, then tryout what they are learning during no-pressure D-League games, that is what most teams are doing. You maximize your chances of your investment paying-off rather-than limiting your rooks to just practices alone.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Well on the espn simulator I keep getting Len or Zeller.


Once in a while I do get Porter, but only if we move up to 2.

Very discouraging.



I foresee an offseason...

Wizards draft Zeller 1st round

Sell both 2nd rounders for cash

Re-sign Webster MLE
Re-sign Price Bi-annual
Re-sign Temple vet min
Re-sign Cartier vet min


Ernie gives a speech dwelling repeatedly on the value of continuity, and how good the team played after Wall's return. Young players like Singleton and Vesely will continue to improve. Zeller was the player we wanted all along and he luckily fell to us. Continuity.

[sfam]

Nonsense. If development were 80-85% (you arrive at this % how?) on the player, then why-bother having a Player Development position? (Tapscott).

The A-list NBA organizations have a rigorous player development program which includes the increased usage of a single-affiliation or shared NBDL team. The Wizards don't bother with either.

This is the most obvious change I'd like to see from the franchise. They need only to look at the Nationals for an example of spending money on player development.

[sfam]

and that is why our team never get's better, if singleton and ves had been sent to the D league, they might have gotten the minutes they need to get good enough to earn minutes in the nba

I don't think this is true, particularly in the case of Singleton.

Let's not act like the only time players can develop their basketball skills is if they're on the court during a game. Development takes place in practice, either with the team or solo. Game experience helps in honing the basketball IQ, but it's not going to make that much difference in developing basketball skills. For Singleton, his problem is his skill. He doesn't have much. More minutes wouldn't help much. The guy was force fed way more minutes that he deserved in his rookie year and it didn't make him a better player. I don't think the D League would have helped him all that much either. He needs to become a better shooter, a better ball-handler, and a better rebounder.

Vesely is a different case, I suppose. Clearly one of his biggest issues is confidence. One would assume that playing in the D-League against inferior talent would help him establish that confidence. At the very least, with confidence, he could have played at least as good as he did last season. That said, he also needs a ton of work on his skills and his body. A weakling that can't shoot isn't going to get better simply by playing more minutes in D League. He needs to practice shooting and he needs to spend more time in the weight room.

If there was ever a player drafted for the NBA that needed to go to the D-League, Vesely was it. He has no confidence in his game, and needs a place to play where he won't be afraid to make mistakes, take bad shots, etc. There is no logical reason why after 10 games into the season they didn't send him there. This was a really detrimental decision on the part of the Wizards. And yes, more of the blame resides with Vesely and his poor preparation.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Nonsense. If development were 80-85% (you arrive at this % how?) on the player, then why-bother having a Player Development position? (Tapscott).

The A-list NBA organizations have a rigorous player development program which includes the increased usage of a single-affiliation or shared NBDL team. The Wizards don't bother with either.

This is the most obvious change I'd like to see from the franchise. They need only to look at the Nationals for an example of spending money on player development.

This has been a perplexing and maddening aspect of Leonsis' ownership. When he took over he announced intentions of using the Dleague.

I have posted many times, and it actually confounds me that the Wizards have yet to see the wisdom in the following proposal...

Establish their own single-affiliation Dleague team. The Baltimore Bullets.

They already have the name rights. They can sell new Bullets merchandise. They can promote and sell the team to B'more, a huge basketball city. Have their own coach in place, their own system, easily monitored and scouted by the parent club at close proximity. Someone like Cassell who might be a coach in waiting can go up and be the head guy for a year. If they need healthy players to practice (a common yearly issue) and/or scrimmage they are a short drive away. Players like Vesely or Singleton can get pt there and come back at a moments notice. Rehabbing players not quite back up to NBA quality can go up there and play a couple games and get their legs and game speed back. Etc etc.