Wizards Interested in DeJuan Blair!

[Knighthonor]

aww crap. kiss 2014 first round pick good bye...

eg kind of move.

[nuposse04]

Blair+Bonner doesn't net a 1st round pick of any kind. Blair's caliber players are not going to change the fortune of the Wiz, and while Bonner might be ok for a season, thats as long as we'd have him on a reasonable deal without having to overpay him to stay. I'd do Ariza+2nd rounder, but that is the maximum offer. When healthy, Blair is no more impactful then Booker when healthy.

[hands11]

Spurs fan here, for a couple of comments.

1) The only way the proposed deals with Splitter included work, would be if WAS included a couple of unprotected 1st round picks.... In other words, they don't.

2) The Spurs are probably looking for a SF (having 7 guards, 6 bigs, and 1 SF on the roster...). Wiz have Porter, who they just drafted at 3ed, so I doubt he's going anywhere, Webster, who they just re-signed for $22M/4 years, and Ariza - who's making $7.7M to be 3ed SF? What do you think is going to happen?

3) According to many comments on this thread and the wiretap, the Wiz are looking for a stretch 4. The Spurs are likely willing to deal Bonner - he didn't play of lot of minutes for them last year. Other possible SAS candidates for making a deal include Gary Neal (S&T), Mills, and DeColo (and maybe Baynes).

IF a deal happens, the core of the deal will look something like

Ariza for Blair + Bonner

and SAS will likely want at least a 2nd round pick back for taking on $7.7M in salary.

Oh come on. It wouldn't take that much. Besides, we were giving you two unprotected firsts. Ves and Kevin S

Trevor A, Kevin S and Ves for Blair and Splitter. We are way over paying in giving you Trevor A for Blair and your getting some nice young prospects that are first rounders.

[willbcocks]

Spurs fan here, for a couple of comments.

1) The only way the proposed deals with Splitter included work, would be if WAS included a couple of unprotected 1st round picks.... In other words, they don't.

2) The Spurs are probably looking for a SF (having 7 guards, 6 bigs, and 1 SF on the roster...). Wiz have Porter, who they just drafted at 3ed, so I doubt he's going anywhere, Webster, who they just re-signed for $22M/4 years, and Ariza - who's making $7.7M to be 3ed SF? What do you think is going to happen?

3) According to many comments on this thread and the wiretap, the Wiz are looking for a stretch 4. The Spurs are likely willing to deal Bonner - he didn't play of lot of minutes for them last year. Other possible SAS candidates for making a deal include Gary Neal (S&T), Mills, and DeColo (and maybe Baynes).

IF a deal happens, the core of the deal will look something like

Ariza for Blair + Bonner

and SAS will likely want at least a 2nd round pick back for taking on $7.7M in salary.

Oh come on. It wouldn't take that much.

Multiple unprotected picks is an exaggeration, but the point is the same--we're not getting splitter for assorted junk and Ariza. It's not even close. He's a starting center for a team that went to game 7 of the NBA finals.

[pad300]

Blair+Bonner doesn't net a 1st round pick of any kind. Blair's caliber players are not going to change the fortune of the Wiz, and while Bonner might be ok for a season, thats as long as we'd have him on a reasonable deal without having to overpay him to stay. I'd do Ariza+2nd rounder, but that is the maximum offer. When healthy, Blair is no more impactful then Booker when healthy.

Ariza + a 2nd rounder for Blair + Bonner

would be something I'd take, and I think is about fair.

[pad300]

Spurs fan here, for a couple of comments.

1) The only way the proposed deals with Splitter included work, would be if WAS included a couple of unprotected 1st round picks.... In other words, they don't.

2) The Spurs are probably looking for a SF (having 7 guards, 6 bigs, and 1 SF on the roster...). Wiz have Porter, who they just drafted at 3ed, so I doubt he's going anywhere, Webster, who they just re-signed for $22M/4 years, and Ariza - who's making $7.7M to be 3ed SF? What do you think is going to happen?

3) According to many comments on this thread and the wiretap, the Wiz are looking for a stretch 4. The Spurs are likely willing to deal Bonner - he didn't play of lot of minutes for them last year. Other possible SAS candidates for making a deal include Gary Neal (S&T), Mills, and DeColo (and maybe Baynes).

IF a deal happens, the core of the deal will look something like

Ariza for Blair + Bonner

and SAS will likely want at least a 2nd round pick back for taking on $7.7M in salary.

Oh come on. It wouldn't take that much.

Multiple unprotected picks is an exaggeration, but the point is the same--we're not getting splitter for assorted junk and Ariza. It's not even close. He's a starting center for a team that went to game 7 of the NBA finals.

Not much of one. The Spurs haven't been able to put a "big" big man (6'10" +) beside Duncan for 4 years or so previous to this, and their defense has gone to **** as a result. This year, they were 3ed best defensive team in the league. Splitter can play against teams playing "big" ball, and 90% of small ball alignments (for example, against GS). It's only Miami with Lebron at the 4 (and maybe OKC with Durant), that make it unworkable.

[nuposse04]

Blair+Bonner doesn't net a 1st round pick of any kind. Blair's caliber players are not going to change the fortune of the Wiz, and while Bonner might be ok for a season, thats as long as we'd have him on a reasonable deal without having to overpay him to stay. I'd do Ariza+2nd rounder, but that is the maximum offer. When healthy, Blair is no more impactful then Booker when healthy.

Ariza + a 2nd rounder for Blair + Bonner

would be something I'd take, and I think is about fair.

I'd do it just for the sake of adding a stretch 4 and healthy depth. Its not the best deal we could make I think, but its acceptable IMO. Does Bonner plan on ring chasing? Do you know? Wiz are prolly 2 years from ascending into a contender role in the most optimistic outlook so not sure he'd want to wait.

[LyricalRico]

I would also do Ariza for Blair+Bonner. Don't think we need to add a second.

[TwentyOne920]

I would also do Ariza for Blair+Bonner. Don't think we need to add a second.

We get a backup SF (who won't see much PT because Leonard should be playing 36 minutes anyway)

You get

a decent undersized big good in the pick and roll
and the stretch 4 Wittman wants.

Too bad Pop likes Bonner.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I hope if the Wizards get Blair that they also keep Trevor Booker.

All that back and forth yesterday about who is better was unnecessary. Trevor is a keeper.

[nate33]

I would also do Ariza for Blair+Bonner. Don't think we need to add a second.

Matt Bonner averages 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes. Ariza rebounds better and blocks nearly as many shots. Ariza at PF may be a small ball configuration, but we would still be playing "bigger" than if we played Bonner at PF. And that doesn't even factor all of the SF things that Ariza is really good at and Bonner couldn't hope to emulate.

People are reaching too hard to find a stretch four. Adding a stretch four to the roster is pointless unless that stretch four plays "bigger" than Ariza defensively. He must average more rebounds than Ariza or there's no point in considering him. If he doesn't rebound, I'd rather just play Ariza at PF and be done with it.

[mhd]

I would also do Ariza for Blair+Bonner. Don't think we need to add a second.

Matt Bonner averages 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes. Ariza rebounds better and blocks nearly as many shots. Ariza at PF may be a small ball configuration, but we would still be playing "bigger" than if we played Bonner at PF. And that doesn't even factor all of the SF things that Ariza is really good at and Bonner couldn't hope to emulate.

People are reaching too hard to find a stretch four. Adding a stretch four to the roster is pointless unless that stretch four plays "bigger" than Ariza defensively. He must average more rebounds than Ariza or there's no point in considering him. If he doesn't rebound, I'd rather just play Ariza at PF and be done with it.

I don't think there is a player out there who is better than Ariza is when you factor in defense, rebounding, improved 3 point shooting, and his expiring contract.

[thinker07]

I would also do Ariza for Blair+Bonner. Don't think we need to add a second.

Matt Bonner averages 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes. Ariza rebounds better and blocks nearly as many shots. Ariza at PF may be a small ball configuration, but we would still be playing "bigger" than if we played Bonner at PF. And that doesn't even factor all of the SF things that Ariza is really good at and Bonner couldn't hope to emulate.

People are reaching too hard to find a stretch four. Adding a stretch four to the roster is pointless unless that stretch four plays "bigger" than Ariza defensively. He must average more rebounds than Ariza or there's no point in considering him. If he doesn't rebound, I'd rather just play Ariza at PF and be done with it.

I think that's exactly right - except that EG wanted to trade Ariza for Caron Butler, so for whatever reason EG doesn't really seem to value Ariza. The teams with excess bigmen that could be intriguing for the Wiz seem to include:

Boston - Bass (and they really would like to move Humphries and/or Wallace)

Phoenix - Morris brothers, Frye

Sacramento - Thompson, Peterson

Milwaukee - Ilyasova, Henson, Udoh, Ayon

Minnesota - Williams

[payitforward]

...I think Blair's an elite talent.

He had a 20/20 game as a rookie and has started a couple hundred games for the Spurs. He's younger than Booker by about a year-and-a-half. Trevor's explosive and a good player, too, but he's not in the same class as Blair IMO. Blair is a much stronger rebounder and an even better interior scorer. Trevor is way faster and a quicker leaper but he isn't a big bully like Blair is.

What makes Blair the better player IMO is the physicality and extra rebounds with a few more points he can give.

To me, what's interesting about this thread is the way it illustrates the difference between drafting a player and trading for him. Blair was an obvious and astonishing bargain at the top of Round 2 in '09. I can sort of imagine his knees keeping him out of Round 1 -- simply increasing risk too much to feel comfortable giving him a guaranteed contract. After all, we didn't know then what we know now in retrospect.

But not to take him in Round 2, where you don't have to guarantee a guy....?? Really stupid. But even stupid beyond stupid if what you do instead is sell the pick for a few bucks as Ernie did! (while maxxing an injured player....!!)

But that's a different situation than the one we face right now. Blair's rebounding has declined the last two years, especially his offensive boards -- which have gone down every year from a rookie high point.

Blair plays C not PF -- trading him for Booker would be a downgrade at the 4 while not doing all that much for us at the 5 where what we really need is a young player who has the potential to become a starter as the team improves. Blair is young, it's true, but the trend isn't in the right direction.

That said, I'd swap Seraphin for him in a minute. Blair is more of an injury risk, but Kevin has had over 3500 minutes of NBA time and hasn't learned to play the game. I'd rather take the risk w/ Blair, a far better player in every way.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Swapping Seraphin for Blair would be good for Seraphin and Blair, as well as for the Wizards and the Spurs, pif.

[verbal8]

Swapping Seraphin for Blair would be good for Seraphin and Blair, as well as for the Wizards and the Spurs, pif,

Blair could be helpful in the Wizards rotation.

Seraphin has not been as productive, but may be intriguing for his potential. He also would not be a long term commitment, but could be retained if things worked out.

[barelyawake]

I'm great with swapping Blair for Seraphin. No picks and an under MLE (short) contract is great. A seven million dollar Blair is not acceptable. Blair is candy. The meal comes (or should come) with cap and picks.

PS We need Nene to make the playoffs. I think Porter has demonstrated that. Trading Nene, when we have missed the playoffs for so long and are scheduled to make the playoffs, is simply unrealistic. No GM would do that when the simpler plan is to let our players expire (while exploring trade options for real difference makers). No GM who could possibly sign Dirk, Melo or Cousins (no matter how unrealistic you feel those options to be) would blow a certain playoff run to have more cap next season (when Wall could walk as an outcome). No GM in reality would do that. You only trade Nene for cap after you have a star big in place.

[Nivek]

Seraphin for Blair is a no-brainer. I don't see why the Spurs would be interested in Seraphin (or any of the Ernie Three), however.

[TGW]

As someone who's interested but not in love with Blair as some others, I have to say this is pretty impressive:



from this:

[LyricalRico]

Ariza at PF may be a small ball configuration, but we would still be playing "bigger" than if we played Bonner at PF.

Then it's a good thing I was envisioning Bonner playing center.