Wizards 2019 Draft thread. (Tank for Zion, or OTHER NAME HERE)

[80sballboy]

Luka Samanic at 9. Croatian KD

Yeah 6-11, with a 6-10 wingspan, he's KD. But not bad.38 inch vertical and he can stroke it but not at 9.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Luka-Samanic-98706/
More on Brandon Clarke and others
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-draft-combine-tacko-fall-still-turning-heads-croatias-luka-samanic-on-the-rise-and-other-takeaways/

[WallToWall]

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[payitforward]

There is no abstract question "Would the Wizards be better off keeping Brad Beal or trading him?" Whether team X (any team in the league, the Wizards included) does or does not trade player Y (any player in the league, Bradley Beal included) comes down to one question only:

What does team X get in return for player Y.

Nothing else is relevant.

It's not about "is player Y at his peak or not?" It's not about "is player Y going to stay with our team until the planet crumbles at the end of time?" It's not about "is player Y a top 20 player in the league?" It's just about the deal.

[payitforward]

It’s hard to know for sure what a smart, savvy GM would do regarding the Zards situation....

Sure is. Here's hoping we start finding out soon!

If it's Connelly, lets hope "smart, savvy" turns out to be the description we apply in retrospect. One thing is certain; he's not afraid to make change: he turned over the entire Nuggets roster, 100%, in 4-5 years.

[pancakes3]

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

[WallToWall]

One man's trash is another man's treasure. There could be some GM who values the #9 to the point that they will give up a lower draft pick and more.

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

[Dat2U]

There is no abstract question "Would the Wizards be better off keeping Brad Beal or trading him?" Whether team X (any team in the league, the Wizards included) does or does not trade player Y (any player in the league, Bradley Beal included) comes down to one question only:

What does team X get in return for player Y.

Nothing else is relevant.

It's not about "is player Y at his peak or not?" It's not about "is player Y going to stay with our team until the planet crumbles at the end of time?" It's not about "is player Y a top 20 player in the league?" It's just about the deal.

I'm coming around to this offer for Beal

3rd pick
C Mitchell Robinson
Both Dallas picks
Whatever filler NY wishes to include: Likely Ntilikina, Trier & Knox

We solidify the C positon with Robinson/Bryant for the foreseeable future. Robinson flashed Gobert type potential as a defensive game changer.

Three picks, one being a top 3 this year.

We take fliers on secondary talent that might pan out in time. Knox just wasn't ready. Trier is a bit of an overachiever but a fighter. Ntilikina... at least he's an expiring lol.

I'd probably grab Darius Garland at 3. Trade the 9 for the 14 & 20 and grab Tyler Herro & either P.J. Washington or Grant Williams.

[Dat2U]

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

[payitforward]

Standouts from the Combine yesterday... https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-051619-2019-nba-draft-combine-day-1-takeaways

Kris Wilkes
Luka Samanic
Dewan Hernandez
Tacko Fall
Nicolas Claxton
Jaylen Nowell

Thoughts...?

[payitforward]

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

Into the one 39 pick? That's a deal to grab!

[Ruzious]

Is there really anyone available at #9 that is worthy of the gamble? It seems like the value of a #9 pick is very close to #15-20. I would look to trade down and at the same time get more picks in next years/future draft.

Sent from my SM-G965U using RealGM mobile app

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

I'd love to get 14, 20 and 22 for 9. Unfortunately, we got nuttin to add as sweetner to convince Boston - not even a stinkin 2nd rounder. Not even a Devin Robinson or a Christian Wood.

[Shoe]

Luka Samanic at 9. Croatian KD

Yeah 6-11, with a 6-10 wingspan, he's KD. But not bad.38 inch vertical and he can stroke it but not at 9.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Luka-Samanic-98706/
More on Brandon Clarke and others
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-draft-combine-tacko-fall-still-turning-heads-croatias-luka-samanic-on-the-rise-and-other-takeaways/

T. rex arms KD

1. Keep an eye on Luka Samanic
International players will be few and far between in the first round. But it may have expanded by one after Thursday following a complete showing from Croatian sensation Luka Samanic.

Samanic balled out in the scrimmage portion of Thursday's combine, scoring 13 points in a stellar outing in fewer than 20 minutes played. The 6-foot-9 1/2 forward tested well, too, with a shuttle run, max vertical leap and three-quarter court sprint that all rated inside the top five of draft-eligible players at his position.

Samanic showed off a pure, smooth shooting stroke that netted him a 5-for-7 outing in his scrimmage. And better yet, Samanic showed the type of agility and versatility that NBA scouts were thrilled to see. Samanic is the No. 37 prospect on the CBS Sports Big Board, but may be a big riser upon the imminent update next week.

Standouts from the Combine yesterday... https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-051619-2019-nba-draft-combine-day-1-takeaways

Kris Wilkes
Luka Samanic
Dewan Hernandez
Tacko Fall
Nicolas Claxton
Jaylen Nowell

Thoughts...?

Luka Samanic may not have been on a lot of draft radars entering Thursday afternoon, but he certainly is now. The 6-foot-10 Croatian forward dropped in 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field for Team 2, while also corralling a game-high seven rebound for the winning squad.
Samanic showcased great offensive versatility, proving that he could knock down the deep ball and also finish with finesse at the rim. He also displayed some unexpected handles, at one point losing his defender on a double, between-the-legs crossover. On the defensive end, the 19-year-old displayed great lateral quickness as he switched off of big men to defend smaller guards with ease.

That quickness was also on display during agility drills, as Samanic placed third among all forwards in both the shuttle run (3.03 seconds) and the three-quarter court sprint (3.23 seconds). He also had the fourth-highest max vertical leap among all forwards with a jump of 38 inches.

Luka Bowl 2023, nba finals, Doncic vs. Samanic, time to settle the Slovenia- Croatia border dispute

Mavs sign Bosnian Nurkic and Wizards trade for Serb Jokic by then. Yugoslavian finals.

EDIT: Whoa I just realized. Did the Nuggets trade Nurkic because he is Bosnian and Jokic is Serbian? Bosnian war was only 30 years ago

[dckingsfan]

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

Yep, for the third, fourth or fifth pick...

[queridiculo]

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

Yep, for the third, fourth or fifth pick...

If Ainge can parlay 14, 20 and 22 into a top 5 pick he should be a shoe in for the 2020 executive of the year award.

[pancakes3]

Idk, if if Boston walks away from the draft with Garland in exchange for Bol, Bruno, and Ty Jerome, I'd say the other side won, as much as I like Garland.

[nate33]

Well, the athletic measurements are out too, and Brandon Clarke is indeed a freak athlete. He has the 3rd highest standing vertical in the draft (behind only a pair of 6-2 guards) and the 8th best lane agility score (behind only a few guards).

I'm starting to sour on him a bit though. I can't get over the alligator arms. At that size, he is going to have to play a fair amount of SF to succeed in the league. He is going to have to show that he has developed a perimeter shot if he wants to get picked in the lottery.

Dedric Lawson has a great wingspan, but his lane agility score is really poor at 11.80. Lane agility isn't all that great of an assessment tool though. In general anything higher than 12.0 means you can't play in this league if you're not 7 feet tall. And anything below 10.7 for a wing or a big means you're probably going to be extremely quick and light-footed. But any score in between doesn't really inform very much.

[Dat2U]

the bolded is the reason why trade-down scenarios are unlikely to happen. why would any potential trade partners give up assets to move up when the value of the picks are more or less the same?

Boston probably wouldn't mind consolidating their 3 1st round picks.

I'd love to get 14, 20 and 22 for 9. Unfortunately, we got nuttin to add as sweetner to convince Boston - not even a stinkin 2nd rounder. Not even a Devin Robinson or a Christian Wood.

I never assumed or suggested the Wizards could acquire all 3 picks.

I'm suggesting a simple 9 for 14/20 swap for which there is historical precedent.

[nate33]

Jarrett Culver tanked the standing reach to improve his vertical leap measurement. Dude is 6'-6.75" with a 6'-9.5" wingspan and has a standing reach of just 8'-4.5"? GTFO of here. Are Culver's arms attached to his torso at the kidneys?

For comparison, Tyler Herro also has an 8'-4.5" standing reach, but he does it while having a height of 6'-6" and a wingspan of just 6'-3.25".

[doclinkin]

What would a smart, savvy, creative GM do to solve the Wall situation? The paragraph was thin on specifics. It's the worst contract in the league, probably the worst max contract ever. I don't think it's movable.

Wall's contract? Not terrible. Ted doesn't have to pay it, since 32 million dollars of it will be paid by insurance. What other team will have 32 mills in savings in player contracts? And aside from that we have shown we are willing to pay even over the cap. It gives us an odd sort of freedom that while we are capped out, it doesn't hurt the owner's pockets. And gives the new GM a bit of wiggle room.

Yes Walls deal affects the cap but it also tamps down expectations and allows the team a little patience to retool while figuring the direction of the franchise. The new lotto has shown you can get a decent pick even if you are mediocre.

Also, I don't count John out. I'm not among the crew who are racing to call the patient dead on the table. We read panic and dire predictions about Wall's future but I don't see why people here are so quick to give up on a guy like Wall without giving him a chance to make it back. This guy is another baskeball lifer. He too has opportunity to mature and grow with the health scare of his mom, and the birth of his first child. The Wall we get back will be tempered by setbacks, will be fired up to prove doubters wrong and will have had a chance to learn from the sidelines. Flip Saunders, even after he left the team, said Wall was the smartest player he ever coached. If you listen to Wall in post game comments. or even years later, he can break down a second by second analysis of what happened in game situations. This guy watches film of WNBA games for crying out loud. If he loses a some mph off his top speed he still has a remarkable depth of talent to fall back on. And players who have come back from Achilles injuries and had better years were the athletic hypertalents like Dominique Wilkins and Rudy Gay. John is that and more: both an athletic hypertalent and a basketball obsessive.

So. We get one or two years of lowered expectations while he works himself back into game shape. And while the GM works what he can do. And while Beal puts his stamp on the team. No panic, We have a new GM who will do whatever he can to add talent, and you never know what the lotto may bring. Championship contention only comes with top 5 talent. But Giannis and Kawhi fell to late in the draft. Yeah you want a #1 overall guy, but even in swapping picks you aren't guaranteed that. And most picks you are offered are top 3 protected. If Tim Connelly is our GM he has a history of trading back in the draft and getting useful players and additional picks. After the top 3 PIF (and myself, and others) have shown there is little correlation between the draft order and success in the league even into the top of the 2nd round. So we will make the trades we can that net us more opportunities. But what's the hurry?

We are not in contention with GSW this year. The East is in flux but there are some powerhouses developing. What is our rush to win a championship in short order? I'd rather have a plan to build a solid long term foundation and solid franchise mindset than to start with any get rich quick scheme for immediate success. Realistically there are only about two teams a year that can hope to contend for that final trophy. We're not one, and no team in the league can hope to get there unless they are extraordinarily lucky. San Antonio is a model franchise and they won only with HOF Tim Duncan. And then could not get past LA when Shaq and Kobe came into the league. Championships are won by the team that has the no-debate-best-player in the league, supported with supplemental depth and co-stars. There is no possible plan that lands you that guy other than: get lucky, draft well. Plenty of teams have stockpiled draft picks every year and wasted their chances. And now with the flattened lotto odds, more than ever there is no quick route to getting lucky. Yeah we want more draft picks, but if you already have a good player, good, that is one fewer player you have to land.

Brad is young enough that he can be good for us for a long time. Wall may earn a % of that contract. I think actually a rehabbed Dwight Howard will show he can still rebound and swat shots and a team that wants a big body to throw at the Embiids of the league may try him out as bench depth for the cost of half a years salary at the all-star break. Even Mahinmis expiring contract may be an asset to a team that is more scared of the lux tax than we have been. So. If you want and immediate answer to the question of 'what do we do????" the answer is: slow down. See what we get. Develop the talent we have better. Build from the top down (GM) and bottom up. Identify inefficiencies and exploit them. Build a G-League team that develops talent to suit our style.

To me it seems like the best deals and undervalued talent is in big men and rebounders. I feel like that is starting to switch. In the postseason we are seeing the teams with the sneaky good low post play are doing better than expected. Teams will start to pay for those. If we land a few of those guys and then fine, teach them to hit the three later, we will have cheap assets for trades. Teams are fetishizing the three ball and wing defenders. But rebounding seems to have a strong correlation with wins right now, second to efficient scoring, but still. Rebounding is a weakness for us. lets shore that up. Lets get surplus rebounders. Let's not shy away from Bigs just because well we already have one. We don't need "one" of any thing. we need a team and competition at every spot.

Yes if we can trade the 9 for Boston's handful. Or two of them plus future picks and 2nd rounders. Cool. If not, then okay, not this year. Look for undrafted guys. Use the Gleague the way Brooks hasn't yet. I'd like to re-sign Jabari Parker if he comes at a discount. His history else where suggests teams may shy away from giving him a large dollar deal. All else being equal maybe he signs here at a decent price on a short term contract hoping to rehabilitate his image further with a team that values him and hasn't had a short leash with him. DeMarcus Cousins signed on the cheap with GSW and now still has to rehab his body and value. Maybe he doesn't get the offers he wants and joins here on a similar deal to spend time with his boy Wall while he works. Who knows. There are players every year who prove a bargain for the teams that ink them. With better analysis and money people maybe we land them.

So. Specifics are less important than mindset. To me the mind set that says we 'have' to do anything weakens our position. As fans it sucks to be told to be patient, but take a breath and look around. That is where we are right now. At least now for once we have hope that it CAN change. That opportunities won't be passed up. That we hire a GM who can surprise even US and get the better side of any deals we might make in the future. And so, as for Wall's contract and his value. I say, hey, in the back of your mind allow for the possibility that he may surprise the F^ck outta you. Because there's no doubt in my mind that that is what he is laser focused on trying to do.

[queridiculo]

Wizards go full rebuild, trade Beal to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Mo Wagner, the 4th pick overall and a lottery protected 2020 1st.

Washington trades the 9th overall to Boston for pick 14 and 20.

4 - Deandre Hunter
14 - Nickeil Alexander-Walker
20 - Goga Bitadze/Bruno Fernando

I'd enjoy watching that team and I wouldn't be heartbroken over losing Beal with him playing in different timezone and only seeing him twice a year.