Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part V

[Ruzious]

Getting back to Porter, i don't think Ariza/Webster should factor into the decision at all. Webster is a UFA and Ariza has one year left.

Porter can create his own shot off the dribble. Ariza/Webster couldn't do that much at all.

I don't understand why Webster shouldn't be a factor. He likes it here. We like him in on the court and he is a locker room leader. He is young enough to be part of our core for another 5 or 6 years. He's a perfect fit offensively for John Wall. And his price range is something we can afford with the MLE. All indications are that he will remain with the Wizards if we want him. Just to blindly write him off as if he's not a factor in the decision is senseless. You are arbitrarily trying to simplify a decision that isn't that simple.

This is a good question - which I'm sort of in the middle on. I don't think Webster per se should be part of the decision - as we don't know if he'll be back or healthy - but the fact that you can usually get a player like him fairly cheaply - who can be an adequate starting 3 - should be part of the equation.

[nate33]

Cleveland won't draft Porter with the #1 pick. If they are uncomfortable drafting Noel, they will trade the pick to a team who will draft Noel, McLemore or Burke first. Porter will definitely be available at #3.

[tontoz]

Getting back to Porter, i don't think Ariza/Webster should factor into the decision at all. Webster is a UFA and Ariza has one year left.

Porter can create his own shot off the dribble. Ariza/Webster couldn't do that much at all.

I don't understand why Webster shouldn't be a factor. He likes it here. We like him in on the court and he is a locker room leader. He is young enough to be part of our core for another 5 or 6 years. He's a perfect fit offensively for John Wall. And his price range is something we can afford with the MLE. All indications are that he will remain with the Wizards if we want him. Just to blindly write him off as if he's not a factor in the decision is senseless. You are arbitrarily trying to simplify a decision that isn't that simple.

Webster is not under contract. Even if he was under contract you shouldn't take role players into account when drafting high in the lottery.

I like Webster and would like to keep him but he can't create off the dribble and his rebounding is weak. Not to mention his history with injuries. He was a role player and that won't change if he is resigned.

[nuposse04]

Suppose we draft Porter, resign Webster, does Ariza pick up his option even though he knows he'll get minimum playing time to showcase his value? Would he opt out in order to get playing time somewhere else? I have to think that would be a good strategy for the FO to make in order to "fix" the situation. Or maybe im being foolishly optimistic in thinking Ariza values playing time and his next contract more than 7 mil.

[Ruzious]

I would not trade the 3rd overall pick for a top 3 protected 2014 pick. You'd probably end up with something in the late lottery if you did that.

I still think Zeller is going to go way earlier than 10ish. I would much rather we pick the guy we want at 3 even if it's a reach than trade down to the mid/late lottery and have to settle for what's left and try and shoe horn them into our construction.

Yeah, if they don't trade the pick, I would go with Zeller - assuming Noah isn't there. He had a bad NCAA tournament, so fans are down on him, but his combo of size, skills, athleticism, and work ethic are rare. Quality bigs are very hard to find - especially ones that play both ends of the court. Porter is probably as good a 3 as Zeller is a 4/5, but quality 3's are nowhere near as difficult to find. And the Wiz need to add 2 quality bigs for the long term, imo. If they add zero this offseason, it puts them in a bind for the future.

I would still favor a trade with Utah - getting Kanter and the 14th pick - and taking the BPA regardless of position (other than a guard who can play only 1 position) with that pick.

I gotta say your wrong here. Regardless of what you & I think of Zeller (and we are far apart on him), productive bigs are easier to come by these days than quality 3s. Quality 3s are scarce. LeBron & Melo play the 4 almost exclusively now. After Durant, who else is there? Paul George? A 35 yr old Paul Pierce? If Otto Porter is the next Tayshaun Prince, that would make him a top 5 SF in this era.

Meh. The fact that top 3's like Melo and Lebron are playing 4 is BECAUSE of the lack of quality bigs in the NBA. Who's a dominant big in the NBA now? There's not even 1 in the entire NBA - now that Howard has deteriorated. That's never been the case since I started watching the NBA... and I'm old. Players like Javale McGee and DeAndre Jordan still get enormous contracts - not to mention Okafor. The Wiz picked up their starting 3 for the NBA minimum.

Plus, you need 2 bigs for every 3.

[nate33]

Getting back to Porter, i don't think Ariza/Webster should factor into the decision at all. Webster is a UFA and Ariza has one year left.

Porter can create his own shot off the dribble. Ariza/Webster couldn't do that much at all.

I don't understand why Webster shouldn't be a factor. He likes it here. We like him in on the court and he is a locker room leader. He is young enough to be part of our core for another 5 or 6 years. He's a perfect fit offensively for John Wall. And his price range is something we can afford with the MLE. All indications are that he will remain with the Wizards if we want him. Just to blindly write him off as if he's not a factor in the decision is senseless. You are arbitrarily trying to simplify a decision that isn't that simple.

Webster is not under contract. Even if he was under contract you shouldn't take role players into account when drafting high in the lottery.

I like Webster and would like to keep him but he can't create off the dribble and his rebounding is weak. Not to mention his history with injuries. He was a role player and that won't change if he is resigned.

That's different. You are arguing that Webster isn't nearly as good as Porter. That's an opinion that may or may not be correct. But it doesn't mean Webster should be ignored. The fact is, he is a bonafide starting-caliber player in this league and is just 26 years old. He was the 2nd best under-30 player on the team last year and will probably be the 3rd best under 30 player this year.

[GhostsOfGil]

Over on the cavsboard, Cavs fans are hoping they take Porter at #1.

[AFM]

I would much rather draft Porter, resign Webster, and let Ariza walk/trade him. Porter starts, Webster comes off the bench to shoot the corner 3 for 20 minutes a game.

[GhostsOfGil]

I would start Webster. He's compliments Wall/Beal perfectly. Bring Porter along slowly; a luxury the Wizards haven't had over the last few seasons.

Apparently, Dallas is shopping the 13th pick. I would be interested in giving up assets for that if Zeller/Olynyk/Len are available.

[pancakes3]

Webster is not under contract. Even if he was under contract you shouldn't take role players into account when drafting high in the lottery.

I like Webster and would like to keep him but he can't create off the dribble and his rebounding is weak. Not to mention his history with injuries. He was a role player and that won't change if he is resigned.

I don't think drafting porter rules out resigning Webster or vice versa. Webster can back up the SG position and in my estimation can be had for something like 10mil for 3 years with a 4th year option.

Suppose we draft Porter, resign Webster, does Ariza pick up his option even though he knows he'll get minimum playing time to showcase his value? Would he opt out in order to get playing time somewhere else? I have to think that would be a good strategy for the FO to make in order to "fix" the situation. Or maybe im being foolishly optimistic in thinking Ariza values playing time and his next contract more than 7 mil.

Ariza almost certainly picks up his option. There's no way he walks away from 7 million dollars guaranteed for the chance of 4 mil.

[thricethefun]

Over on the cavsboard, Cavs fans are hoping they take Porter at #1.

I hope they do as well. That would leave us with Noel.

[FAH1223]

I would still re-sign Webster. He isn't going to break the bank.

If Porter is there, I take him. If CLE takes him at #1, then you just take the BPA and see if you can dangle that for value.

[payitforward]

If the choice is between Porter and Bennett, I don't know how anyone would pick Bennett. Nor do I think anyone will trade up for a chance at him. He's obviously a tremendous offensive player at the NCAA level, and maybe he would be in the NBA as well, but I wonder. Bennett reminds me of Michael Beasley except not as good.

If the choice is between Porter and Oladipo, I pick Porter again. YODA ranks him very high, and in fact he was tremendously productive. But he's a year older than Porter -- run those YODA numbers again using his Sophomore stats and you'll like them a lot less.

Aside from his outstanding numbers, aside from his obvious composure and intelligence (and bball intelligence as well), aside from the fact that he's had 2 tremendously efficient years before even turning 20, he is also very tall and long. He might still grow!

I remember a lot of people saying Kawhi Leonard was at best a role player. Fans (including most here as elsewhere) can't help liking guys who take lots of shots and score a lot of points.

Very very happy to add this guy -- it's as if all of a sudden we got not only Beal last year but also Kidd-Gilchrist.

[Nivek]

I guess it depends on who you want to call a "big." A number of guys designated as PF would have been centers in previous times. It almost seems like PFs these days are tall guys with skills. Centers are a little taller, but lack ball skills.

Back in April, I took a look at the quality of bigs over at the blog because a guy at Sheridan Hoops wrote a piece pointing out there would be no player to average 20 & 10 per game for the first time since...whenever it was. However, when I controlled for pace and playing time, I found that this season there was a near record in the number of players who topped 20 & 10 per 40 minutes.

I think the reason we're seeing Lebron and Carmelo succeed at PF is that the game is being changed by the 3pt shot and bigger players with athleticism and ball skills. Coaches are trying to spread the floor more, take more 3s, and keep the lane open for post opportunities and dribble penetration (either for a finish at the hoop or a kick to a corner 3).

[sfam]

Although bench press isn't a great way to judge NBA strength I guess it is encouraging he did 9 reps at the combine

Durant did 0.

Durant was a way better athlete though. Thats the only thing that scares me about Porter. He is weak and thin right now, and he doesnt make up for it by being an above average athlete like Durant. Can he improve on that? Can he bulk up to be effective in this league and not just a 4th banana type? Thats the gamble here.

Bennett is undersized. IF he could trim up a bit and become a 3, then i'd take him. He just doesnt have the skills though. He is a 4, maybe a 4/3 combo at a stretch. He is good at what he does, but whether he can do those things at the next level is a the gamble here.

The other guy I really like is Oladipo. Hes too undersized for the 3 spot though of course. And with Beal in tow what minutes would be get?

I think we should weigh up Otto against Bennett and decide who is the best bet. Personally I think its Otto. He can hit the weight room. What can Bennett do? Grow 3 inches? Develop SF handles/skills? Both extremely unlikely.

Of course there is the old argument: "Would you pass on Charles Barkley for being undersize?" He aint no Barkley. Of course, I'm fully prepared to eat my words on that one but I think ill store them in the freezer for fear they would be stale, rancid words by the time it ever happened, if at all.

Bennett isn't Sir Charles, but he may be Grandmama. I like porter but we should do a thorough eval of Bennett before passing him up.

[FAH1223]

Taking tweeners at the top of the draft isn't a good idea. We need guys who can play a position and stick there.

[thricethefun]

I just don't know if Porter would be better for this team than Webster. Webster is probably the better 3 point shooter and what Wall needs is great 3 point shooters to kick out to.

[nate33]

Apparently, Dallas is shopping the 13th pick. I would be interested in giving up assets for that if Zeller/Olynyk/Len are available.

Dallas is presumably shopping the pick in order to generate more cap room to acquire Howard. The best we could do to help them meet that goal would be to swap Ariza for Marion while giving them a future pick. It saves them $1.5M in salary and another $1.7M in rookie pay, while giving them a viable starting SF on an expiring contract.

They could probably find a better offer elsewhere, but it's worth considering. Marion actually fits better than Ariza because he can play more PF. And with the #13 pick, we can add Dieng or Adams as a defensive center for the future. If we drafted Porter at #3, it would look like this:

PG Wall
SG Beal/Webster
SF Webster/Porter
PF Marion/Nene
C Okafor/Adams

We then shop Vesely, Seraphin and/or Booker for backcourt help.

[GhostsOfGil]

Over on the cavsboard, Cavs fans are hoping they take Porter at #1.

I hope they do as well. That would leave us with Noel.

I would be very happy if we got Noel at 3. Weight issues and all.

[FAH1223]

I just don't know if Porter would be better for this team than Webster. Webster is probably the better 3 point shooter and what Wall needs is great 3 point shooters to kick out to.

We can keep Webster and draft Porter, problem solved.