Grade The Offseason

[closg00]

The offseason is almost a wrap, here is a recap of our offseason moves to-date.

Draft 2013
Selected forwards Otto Porter (3rd overall pick) and Arsalan Kazemi (54th overall pick) and guard Nate Wolters (38th overall pick). Traded the draft rights to guard Nate Wolters and forward Arsalan Kazemi to the Philadelphia 76ers for the draft rights to forward Glen Rice Jr.

July 10 2013
Re-signed guards Garrett Temple and Martell Webster and signed guards Eric Maynor and Glen Rice Jr and forward Otto Porter.

July 31 2013
Signed guard John Wall to a max contract extension, 5-year $80 million

August ?
Signed Al Harrington


Voters can change their grade should any additional moves be made before the start of the season.

[jangles86]

In my opinion has to be an A.

We lucked out with a top 3 draft pick and picked a can't mis guy who compliments our future stars.
Locked up our franchise star for 5 years.
Also add to this the signing of a quality back up pg in Maynor who I think could be a really clever signing. He has some real talent and is very capable and alot better than Price, Mack, Pargo, Livingston signings.
I really like that we rewarded Webster with a contract. He gave it his all last season and will space the floor for Wall again.

Would've looked alot bleaker with pick 8 and going into season not knowing the future of our franchise star.

[Upper Decker]

I give it a D.

The team lucked into a top 3 pick and selected a player I have little faith in. Even before Porters terrible summer league performance I expressed serious concerns about his game in the OP Jr. thread (lack of athleticism, not elite skills, inability to create off the bounce). I don't believe he was the right pick considering Noel was available and is basically the exact type of big man this team needs for the future (athletic, defensive oriented).

I'm pleased with the Webster extension and I believe he'll never relinquish the starting SF role to Porter.

I hate the Maynor signing. He has a 4 year track record of being an awful NBA player. He has no NBA skill that even rates as average. I consider him a step down from Price. He's a league minimum player, if that. It was reported Nate Robinson was interested in joining the Wizards. If they could have matched the Nuggets offer he was coming to DC. Beno was a better option and he signed for the minimum, Collison signed the LLE and is 10 times the player that Maynor is. The failure of this acquistion is not only that EG overpaid, but he did it on the first day of the FA period.

The Al Harrington signing is a good signing, but supremely risky. Older player coming off an injury. If it works out he'll be excellent for the team. If he doesn't at least we have Jan! Failure to adequately address the front court rotation really destroys the off-season grade.

I don't think John's extension should be a factor in this grade, by the way EG's operated the franchise he had no choice but to give an extension at the first possible minute for the most amount of money possible. Whether it was this off-season or next John was getting the full-max. Further, John really had no options because he wasn't going to risk injury during the QO season. He was going to sign an extension in Washington. That's just how the current CBA works. This was an inevitability. Until proven otherwise John's extension is a negative because he's essentially making double Curry and Lawson, who are basically his peers. I'll cede that it's possible, if not likely, that John justifies this contract by the all-star break this season.

[jangles86]

I agree with you on the Wall signing. But I'd rather know we have him locked up going into his prime than not. I think your being fairly harsh on Porter and Maynor.

[closg00]

Draft 2013
Selected forwards Otto Porter (3rd overall pick) and Arsalan Kazemi (54th overall pick) and guard Nate Wolters (38th overall pick). Traded the draft rights to guard Nate Wolters and forward Arsalan Kazemi to the Philadelphia 76ers for the draft rights to forward Glen Rice Jr.

C+
Porter was a top-5 pick on most analyst boards, but Ariza was not traded, Webster was resigned, and we traded-up for Rice. From a roster balancing and team-building stand-point, I don't think you pass-up the opportunity to bolster your aging front court with either Noel or Zeller.

July 10 2013
Re-signed guards Garrett Temple and Martell Webster and signed guards Eric Maynor and Glen Rice Jr and forward Otto Porter.

C+

Eric Maynor - Rush-signing and we paid too-much

Temple - Don't see the need with Rice & Webster on the team. Sign a D-leaguer if Wall/Maynor goes down

Webster - Like having him, glad he has to meet performance benchmarks. Would have preferred Webster on a 2-3 year deal

July 31 2013
Signed guard John Wall to a max contract extension, 5-year $80 million

B

We maxed him early, all 5 years guaranteed. Minor quibble

August ?
Signed Al Harrington

A
1-year deal at the minimum? Good signing. Sounds like he is in good shape and ready for a comeback.

Overall Grade I give is C until we unload some roster trash and add another Center.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

C - Just for drafting Porter and signing Maynor over Robinson.

[nate33]

D

I agree mostly with what Upper Decker wrote. In the draft, I would have been much happier with Noel. And after summer leagues, I'm even more down on Porter. I just don't think he's going to be anything more than a meh player. He's the next Evan Turner - a competent player, but not a difference maker.

The Maynor signing was really bad. Not only did EG rush into a signing without waiting for better deals to materialize, but he also locked Maynor into a 2-year deal which could really crimp our cap flexibility next summer. EG could have had Nate Robinson for the same money. Or resigned AJ Price for a 1-year deal (probably at the vet minimum).

The Webster extension was fine. Even in hindsight, it looks like a pretty good deal for a 3&D wing compared to what some other guys signed for. No complaints there.

The Temple signing was fine too. A vet-minimum 1 year deal has no downside.

I don't have a problem with the Wall extension either. He was going to get a max contract eventually even if he never quite earns it.

The Al Harrington deal is the only one I'd really characterize as "good". I think it's pretty likely that Harrington will be worth far more than the minimum salary contract it cost to sign him.

Bottom line, EG could easily have had the following lineup going forward:

PG Wall/Robinson
SG Beal/Robinson/Rice
SF Webster/Ariza/Rice
PF Nene/Harrington/Booker
C Okafor/Noel/Seraphin
End of bench: Temple, Singleton, Vesely

That lineup is far more balanced with better upside and a future core of Wall, Beal and Noel already in place. Instead, he's got no big man of the future and he's going to have Porter and Rice languishing on the bench.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Wizards needed to draft a PF. They did not have money to sign the best FA they could have picked up, DeJuan Blair. They had a really good PG in the draft who they traded for Rice, Jr. OTOH, Maynor should be a decent distributor with the second unit. They did get a veteran, stretch four at the minimum. Overall, they are instilling confidence whenever FAs want to sign with the Wizards.

Overall, I give them a C. Some good, some bad.

Had they done what I wanted them to do, which was draft Olynyk and Wolters, and also sign Blair; then they'd be getting an A. I think increased scoring efficiency and added rebounds will win more games than having an inordinate amount of three point shooters. The Wizards needed a quality, young, big man; and they didn't get that. They could have.

[Ruzious]

I'll give him a C- teetering on a D. The Maynor signing was really amateurish at best in so many ways, but as bad as it was - it was small enough that it didn't cripple anything.

Has he done anything this offseason that required more than 5 minutes of work? Seriously, I'd like to know how much time he puts into his job. I follow the Baltimore Orioles closely. Every day, they are making personnel decisions and maneuverings with their MLB roster and the rosters of their 5 or 6 minor league team. They set an all-time record last season with the most adjustments to their major league roster. That front office works its arse off. The Wiz front office... I get the feeling the biggest decision they typically make is where to order lunch from.

[argath]

I'll give him a C- teetering on a D. The Maynor signing was really amateurish at best in so many ways, but as bad as it was - it was small enough that it didn't cripple anything.

Has he done anything this offseason that required more than 5 minutes of work? Seriously, I'd like to know how much time he puts into his job. I follow the Baltimore Orioles closely. Every day, they are making personnel decisions and maneuverings with their MLB roster and the rosters of their 5 or 6 minor league team. They set an all-time record last season with the most adjustments to their major league roster. That front office works its arse off. The Wiz front office... I get the feeling the biggest decision they typically make is where to order lunch from.

You realize you're comparing a front office that manages over a hundred players to a front office that manages 15 correct?

[MJG]

Seems like a C to me. I'd begrudgingly give Harrington for the minimum an A, I'd enthusiastically give Maynor an F, and shoulder-shruggingly give everything else between B and D.

[stevemcqueen1]

Draft: A - really like Porter and GRjr picks. Porter was the best two way player and perimeter player in the class IMO. He was our guy and I'm glad we got him. For the second year in a row, there was an obviously good fit for us at the third pick and we made the right choice IMO. Now our long term foundation is secure with three of best talents at their position in the NBA, ages 20 and 22. I doubt we could have drawn up a more ideal set of wings to pair with Wall than Beal and Porter.

The people criticizing him over his SL games are being ludicrous and will end up looking just as silly as the ones who were calling Beal a bust three games into last season. It was two games. And SL isn't the most serious format. Nobody really hurts themselves in SL IMO.

GRjr wasn't on my radar before the draft, but I didn't get that invested in any pet second rounders so I didn't get pissed when we picked him. I didn't expect any second rounder to become part of the rotation. He's been a pleasant surprise so far. Not a typical second rounder, much more skilled and athletic than I had hoped. And I liked the aggressiveness and maturity of his game that stood out for stretches in SL. I think he's actually going to be a pretty decent reserve eventually.

Re-signings: A - we needed to keep Webster and the MLE is what I expected him to get. I wish we could have signed him for a little bit less, but I'm not sure that was possible. Again, he was our guy, this was an important move. I also like that we kept Temple. Of all the fringe guys like him, Cartier Martin, and AJ Price, he was the one I wanted us to keep.

I'm glad we finished the Wall extension. It was obvious he was going to get a max extension after last season, glad we got it done this summer. I didn't see the upside in waiting like many do. I think it would have been an ongoing distraction until it happened, and there was no way it wasn't going to happen eventually. Now we've got our ducks in a row and Wall and the team can just got out and do their thing.

FAs: B - not a lot of money to work with here, but I like both Maynor and Harrington. I've followed Maynor since VCU, saw him play a lot in OKC. He's a good player and I think he's a great fit here as the backup PG. I think he's a far better player than the most vocal critics of the move realize--critics who are basing their opinion entirely off of his numbers. I don't think we spent too much signing him, and I don't think the move carried the opportunity cost most are complaining about. I doubt any of the other options out there would have been much more impactful than Maynor. I'm glad we identified the guy we wanted and then went and got him.

I can understand the criticism of the second year--I agree that it was probably an unnecessary risk. But it wasn't much money and, if he works out as well as I think he will, it'll be nice to have our backup PG situation addressed for next season too.

Harrington is an OK signing. No upside whatsoever, but we can definitely use a forward with his skill set. I wasn't in the camp who thought we desperately needed a stretch 4, but it'll be nice to have another 3 point shooter next season for sure. But I think he's a player likely to only be here for one season, two at the max. We'll be looking for a face up forward next summer again probably.

I wish we'd had the money to get in on some cheap-ish vets that I personally like. DeMarre Carroll, Chris Kaman, Chris Copeland for example. Paul Millsap would have been ideal but I don't know where you get that money from.

I also wish we'd have been able to upgrade Seraphin into a better young-ish big. Someone who has a big body but rebounds and plays with more awareness. An Asik deal would have been nice, but doesn't seem like he was actually on the table for Houston.

And we've still got to figure something out with Ariza and the glut of young PFs on the roster. With Harrington now, there'll probably be even fewer minutes for Booker, Singleton, and Vesely unless there is a major injury.

Having Ariza and Okafor both pick up their options was probably also another good part of the offseason. We'd have been hurting if Okafor had declined his option. And another was Vesely looking like a real NBA player in SL. Let's hope his jumper and his nascent post game stay with him into the season this year.

A-

[Ruzious]

I'll give him a C- teetering on a D. The Maynor signing was really amateurish at best in so many ways, but as bad as it was - it was small enough that it didn't cripple anything.

Has he done anything this offseason that required more than 5 minutes of work? Seriously, I'd like to know how much time he puts into his job. I follow the Baltimore Orioles closely. Every day, they are making personnel decisions and maneuverings with their MLB roster and the rosters of their 5 or 6 minor league team. They set an all-time record last season with the most adjustments to their major league roster. That front office works its arse off. The Wiz front office... I get the feeling the biggest decision they typically make is where to order lunch from.

You realize you're comparing a front office that manages over a hundred players to a front office that manages 15 correct?

Oh my gawwwwwd, that never occurred to me.

[hands11]

D

I agree mostly with what Upper Decker wrote. In the draft, I would have been much happier with Noel. And after summer leagues, I'm even more down on Porter. I just don't think he's going to be anything more than a meh player. He's the next Evan Turner - a competent player, but not a difference maker.

The Maynor signing was really bad. Not only did EG rush into a signing without waiting for better deals to materialize, but he also locked Maynor into a 2-year deal which could really crimp our cap flexibility next summer. EG could have had Nate Robinson for the same money. Or resigned AJ Price for a 1-year deal (probably at the vet minimum).

The Webster extension was fine. Even in hindsight, it looks like a pretty good deal for a 3&D wing compared to what some other guys signed for. No complaints there.

The Temple signing was fine too. A vet-minimum 1 year deal has no downside.

I don't have a problem with the Wall extension either. He was going to get a max contract eventually even if he never quite earns it.

The Al Harrington deal is the only one I'd really characterize as "good". I think it's pretty likely that Harrington will be worth far more than the minimum salary contract it cost to sign him.

Bottom line, EG could easily have had the following lineup going forward:

PG Wall/Robinson
SG Beal/Robinson/Rice
SF Webster/Ariza/Rice
PF Nene/Harrington/Booker
C Okafor/Noel/Seraphin
End of bench: Temple, Singleton, Vesely

That lineup is far more balanced with better upside and a future core of Wall, Beal and Noel already in place. Instead, he's got no big man of the future and he's going to have Porter and Rice languishing on the bench.

They had a first hand look at Price running the PG. Upgrading to a PG that can run an offense was one key off season move they needed to make. I think they did that. Nate is a scorer more then anything. And I wouldn't be so sure they could have gotten him. So I disagree with lowering the grade based on this.

As for Noel. MEH. Talk to PHX. They drafted Len over him. Not saying Otto was the right pick or not but clearly there were plenty of concerns about Noel. I see Otto as Trevor A insurance. Now they have more options. If Trevor A plays solid and they want to keep him, they may have that chance. If not, you have a tall SF that has a similar mold to him with one year experience in the wings.

Can't really judge the draft until we get to see more. But I like VO, Zeller, Burke, CJM and it looks like Kelly should be contributing something his first year. But I felt they wanted to add a vet at PF for now. That means no Zeller, Kelly. Len would have been a good choice for a longer term center. I would have been fine with a Len pick.

That leaves Burke or CJM. If either blows up, I will be kind of pissed. Specially if it is CJM. Wall, Beal and CJM might have turned out to be a sick guard trio.

I think my final draft list was VO, CJM, Burke and Len...

[Upper Decker]

...I see Otto as Trevor A insurance. Now they have more options. If Trevor A plays solid and they want to keep him, they may have that chance. If not, you have a tall SF that has a similar mold to him with one year experience in the wings...

Trevor Ariza insurance? Hands, they spend the #3 pick in the draft as insurance for a back up SF? How can the pick not be a colossal failure if that's what you see.

[hands11]

...I see Otto as Trevor A insurance. Now they have more options. If Trevor A plays solid and they want to keep him, they may have that chance. If not, you have a tall SF that has a similar mold to him with one year experience in the wings...

Trevor Ariza insurance? Hands, they spend the #3 pick in the draft as insurance for a back up SF? How can the pick not be a colossal failure if that's what you see.

Depends on what you end up with.

Trevor A leaving and Otto staying and playing well or Otto getting traded.

Isn't that what you quoted ?

[stevemcqueen1]

Porter is definitely more than that. We picked him to be a long term building block with Beal and Wall.

[stevemcqueen1]

Luck played a big factor in the success of the offseason. We got lucky to get the third pick for the second year in a row. We went from the prospect of having to make it work with the left overs at 8 to getting the top guy on our board at 3. Went from having to figure out a way to make it work with KCP or Trey Burke to an ideal long term building block to put with Wall and Beal.

This offseason really boils down to two big moves: the Wall extension and the Porter pick. Everything else is very minor, save maybe the Webster MLE contract. If you like those two moves, you're going to be happy with the offseason. If you don't like the Wall contract and/or wanted somebody else at 3, then you won't like the offseason. If I had been in Ernie's place, I would have drafted Porter and signed Wall to a max extension too.

[penbeast0]

B- Didn't screw up, signed the positions we targeted (playmaking point, young SF, possibly a veteran stretch 4), basically a student that did the work without putting in any extra. Those students gets B's in real life but Ernie is in a highly competitive AP/Honors curriculum here so call it a B-.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

How Maynor works out is going to be a major determination on this offseason IMO.

Price was a solid backup PG who could come in and hold his own, hit some shots and defend.

Maynor is a slick passer, more of what I generally think of as a pg, and he's got more upside than Price. He could be a perfect fit as Wall's sub. I don't know if there was some kind of friction between Price and Wall. IMO signing Maynor with his injury history and letting Price go leaves us dangerously thin at the position, especially considering how many games Wall missed last year, and the somewhat reckless way he plays. Temple can't play pg for any significant stretch. I would feel alot better about adding Maynor if we had kept Price as well, maybe in place of someone like Singleton.

I like our draft, moving up to 3 and coming away with Otto was a nice scenario. The pick of Rice could be a steal.

I like that we kept Webster. I like the addition of Harrington if that happens. I like the way Vesely played in Vegas. I like the way everyone seems to be working and focusing this offseason. I like that we extended Wall.

But IMO this offseason is going to come down to Maynor. He could be this year's Webster for us. A surprise gem. If Wall stays healthy, and Maynor proves to be a good backup, this is a successful offseason. If Wall goes down and Maynor is terrible, this offseason is a disaster.