2011 DRAFT blather goes here. Part 3...

[thinker07]

This is a funny board with people just HAVING to have one guy, then forgetting about him and then another guy and another - generally with almost no intervening information. If you strip away the man crushes people have on particular players, a couple of things remain constant for me. These things are notions that are out there very publicly and obvious. To be clear, I'm not saying that my analysis is incredibly brilliant because I'm really just commenting on things that are readily out there.

1) The Wizards need a scoring/shooting wing to pair with Wall who is tough and can defend some
2) The Wizards need a scoring post player who is also tough and can defend and rebound some
3) The Wizards need a 3rd string PG

You can reasonably argue which of 1) and 2) is a higher priority and maybe it just depends on who is available when the Wiz pick. You could also argue whether shooting or defending or rebounding is the most important trait the Wiz are looking for on 1) and 2).

So now look who's coming in for a workout:
Alec Burks v. Klay Thompson
Tristan Thompson v. JaJuan Johnson
Andrew Albicy v. Randy Culpepper

Wow - how did that happen? A pair of scoring wings, a pair of post players, and a pair of possible 3rd string pgs.

Here are some other smart things that I've read here that long time (wiser than me) posters have said that make imminent good sense to me:

1) Hard to imagine that the Wiz really want to add 3 rookies to such a young roster.

2) Hard to imagine the EG will want to take a guy that he plans to stash abroad, that is a raw long term development player, is a young knucklehead, or trade out the lottery for a 2012 pick - given the EG is in the last year of his contract and the team needs to show improvement next year. And

3) (This is my own new point) Hard to imagine EG trading Booker, Crawford, or Seraphin to move up in this draft because the team appears to really like all three guys. It doesn't matter that Seraphin has shown himself to be raw because they absolutely knew that he was raw when they drafted him and expected it to take a while for him to be ready to play. If anything he may be ahead of schedule.

So what does that mean that I think the Wiz will do?

1) I think that the Wiz will end up with one of these wings:
Leonard, Vesely, Burks, K. Thompson, J. Hamilton, Singleton, Marcus Morris or Tobias Harris.
And I think that the Wiz would rather reach for the best and most ready to contribute wing on the board at #6 than to reach for a post player.

2) I think that the only post player the Wiz would take at #6 is Kanter.

3) The only thing that I think the Wiz would trade to move up is the #34 pick, and they might use that to move up from the #18 pick. It wouldn't surprise me if they just sold that pick to a team like the Knicks. Otherwise I don't think there will be a draft day trade unless they buy another pick and package it with the #18.

4) I don't think the Wiz will pick Bismark, Faried (sorry CCJ), Brooks (sorry again CCJ), or Tyler -- I just don't think they fit into EG's vision for a variety of reasons.

[closg00]

It's beginning to look like our options at 18 will be better than our options at 6. There will be plenty of guys to choose-from here.

[gesa2]

It's beginning to look like our options at 18 will be better than our options at 6. There will be plenty of guys to choose-from here.

Actually I think we'll have exactly 12 more options at 6 than we'll have at 18

[closg00]

It's beginning to look like our options at 18 will be better than our options at 6. There will be plenty of guys to choose-from here.

Actually I think we'll have exactly 12 more options at 6 than we'll have at 18

I like the potential group of guys on the board at 18 better than what we are looking at with the 6th pick....unless we really reach for a guy. Better options and probably better value.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This is a funny board with people just HAVING to have one guy, then forgetting about him and then another guy and another - generally with almost no intervening information. If you strip away the man crushes people have on particular players, a couple of things remain constant for me. These things are notions that are out there very publicly and obvious. To be clear, I'm not saying that my analysis is incredibly brilliant because I'm really just commenting on things that are readily out there.

1) The Wizards need a scoring/shooting wing to pair with Wall who is tough and can defend some
2) The Wizards need a scoring post player who is also tough and can defend and rebound some
3) The Wizards need a 3rd string PG

You can reasonably argue which of 1) and 2) is a higher priority and maybe it just depends on who is available when the Wiz pick. You could also argue whether shooting or defending or rebounding is the most important trait the Wiz are looking for on 1) and 2).

So now look who's coming in for a workout:
Alec Burks v. Klay Thompson
Tristan Thompson v. JaJuan Johnson
Andrew Albicy v. Randy Culpepper

Wow - how did that happen? A pair of scoring wings, a pair of post players, and a pair of possible 3rd string pgs.

Here are some other smart things that I've read here that long time (wiser than me) posters have said that make imminent good sense to me:

1) Hard to imagine that the Wiz really want to add 3 rookies to such a young roster.

2) Hard to imagine the EG will want to take a guy that he plans to stash abroad, that is a raw long term development player, is a young knucklehead, or trade out the lottery for a 2012 pick - given the EG is in the last year of his contract and the team needs to show improvement next year. And

3) (This is my own new point) Hard to imagine EG trading Booker, Crawford, or Seraphin to move up in this draft because the team appears to really like all three guys. It doesn't matter that Seraphin has shown himself to be raw because they absolutely knew that he was raw when they drafted him and expected it to take a while for him to be ready to play. If anything he may be ahead of schedule.

So what does that mean that I think the Wiz will do?

1) I think that the Wiz will end up with one of these wings:
Leonard, Vesely, Burks, K. Thompson, J. Hamilton, Singleton, Marcus Morris or Tobias Harris.
And I think that the Wiz would rather reach for the best and most ready to contribute wing on the board at #6 than to reach for a post player.

2) I think that the only post player the Wiz would take at #6 is Kanter.

3) The only thing that I think the Wiz would trade to move up is the #34 pick, and they might use that to move up from the #18 pick. It wouldn't surprise me if they just sold that pick to a team like the Knicks. Otherwise I don't think there will be a draft day trade unless they buy another pick and package it with the #18.

4) I don't think the Wiz will pick Bismark, Faried (sorry CCJ), Brooks (sorry again CCJ), or Tyler -- I just don't think they fit into EG's vision for a variety of reasons.

The Wizards typically don't pick who I want--and to be honest, outside of Wall, they haven't picked as well as I would have.

As far as the wing scorer, I think Brooks will be the best.
In terms of a big man that can score, JaJuan Johnson already demonstrated he is that.
In terms of a backup PG, the best for the needs of this team IMO is Charles Jenkins.

All three of those guys can shoot and score efficiently.

My other favorite players in this draft are Faried, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and the Morris twins.

Grunfeld will pick talented players, but when will they contribute?

I sort of expect a trade for a veteran--I cannot see the Wizards adding three rookies.

[Black Eyed Sooz]

Jon G sticking to his guns with his latest mock at DX: he has Utah taking Knight and Toronto going for Walker, and Kanter dropping to the Wiz at 6. He then has the Wiz passing on Singleton to take Tobias Harris at 18... and then Nolan Smith at 34.

This would be my reaction if this actually happened:


But he really seems to believe in his sources telling him that Cleveland takes Valanciunas at 4, buyout issues and all.

OTOH, he does seem to be in agreement with Chad Ford about the Jazz seriously considering a guard at #3... so there is at least some hope that they might be interested in trading down knowing that either Knight or Walker would almost certainly be there at 6, if the Wiz moved up to 3.

[WallToWall]

Here are some other smart things that I've read here that long time (wiser than me) posters have said that make imminent good sense to me:

1) Hard to imagine that the Wiz really want to add 3 rookies to such a young roster.

2) Hard to imagine the EG will want to take a guy that he plans to stash abroad, that is a raw long term development player, is a young knucklehead, or trade out the lottery for a 2012 pick - given the EG is in the last year of his contract and the team needs to show improvement next year. And

3) (This is my own new point) Hard to imagine EG trading Booker, Crawford, or Seraphin to move up in this draft because the team appears to really like all three guys. It doesn't matter that Seraphin has shown himself to be raw because they absolutely knew that he was raw when they drafted him and expected it to take a while for him to be ready to play. If anything he may be ahead of schedule.

Interesting. Good point that EG is in his last year of the contract. However, the Teddy has stated that he wants to build a team by choosing youngens and "grow" a core of players together. I dont think we have a core yet. We have Wall as part of the core. But, Blatche, Crawford, McGee, etc, are not IMO part of the core. So, we have to look for the remaining part of the core that can "grow" with Wall. Do you think that EG possible desire to prove himself trumps the owners desire to "grow" a team?

[jivelikenice]

Here are some other smart things that I've read here that long time (wiser than me) posters have said that make imminent good sense to me:

1) Hard to imagine that the Wiz really want to add 3 rookies to such a young roster.

2) Hard to imagine the EG will want to take a guy that he plans to stash abroad, that is a raw long term development player, is a young knucklehead, or trade out the lottery for a 2012 pick - given the EG is in the last year of his contract and the team needs to show improvement next year. And

3) (This is my own new point) Hard to imagine EG trading Booker, Crawford, or Seraphin to move up in this draft because the team appears to really like all three guys. It doesn't matter that Seraphin has shown himself to be raw because they absolutely knew that he was raw when they drafted him and expected it to take a while for him to be ready to play. If anything he may be ahead of schedule.

Interesting. Good point that EG is in his last year of the contract. However, the Teddy has stated that he wants to build a team by choosing youngens and "grow" a core of players together. I dont think we have a core yet. We have Wall as part of the core. But, Blatche, Crawford, McGee, etc, are not IMO part of the core. So, we have to look for the remaining part of the core that can "grow" with Wall. Do you think that EG possible desire to prove himself trumps the owners desire to "grow" a team?

Disagree on Crawford and McGee not being part of the core. They may not be stars but Crawford I think at minimum can develop into a very good 3rd guard who can swing between pg/sg. In regards to McGee, I just don't get the hate here. Yes he does foolish things on the court but how many centers are out there? There are a handful of players in the NBA who can do the things the Javale can do. Wall, Crawford, McGee, and potentially Booker & Seraphin are core players IMO. (Although I would consider trading Booker OR Seraphin in the right trade up)

[closg00]

Jon G sticking to his guns with his latest mock at DX: he has Utah taking Knight and Toronto going for Walker, and Kanter dropping to the Wiz at 6. He then has the Wiz passing on Singleton to take Tobias Harris at 18... and then Nolan Smith at 34.

This would be my reaction if this actually happened:


But he really seems to believe in his sources telling him that Cleveland takes Valanciunas at 4, buyout issues and all.

OTOH, he does seem to be in agreement with Chad Ford about the Jazz seriously considering a guard at #3... so there is at least some hope that they might be interested in trading down knowing that either Knight or Walker would almost certainly be there at 6, if the Wiz moved up to 3.

Hasn't Ford been more-accurate then Givony on his picks? Ford has better sources. Of-course much of draft-picking is guess-work anyway.

I wonder if behind the scenes there might be come concern about Kanter's knees like what happened with Blair?

[fishercob]

Rumor has it that one of Kanter's parents is white, so that must explain the slide.

[Severn Hoos]

Rumor has it that one of Kanter's parents is white, so that must explain the slide.

Good thing Blake Griffin kept that under wraps before the draft. Of course, it could explain Shane Battier's slide....

[SUPERBALLMAN]

What about the #6 & #34 to the Rockets for the #14 & #23?

Gives Houston a hire pick for their new coach. We end up with picks 14, 18, 23.

[Benjammin]

What about the #6 & #34 to the Rockets for the #14 & #23?

Gives Houston a hire pick for their new coach. We end up with picks 14, 18, 23.

I don't like it at all. I don't see anyone fascinating available at 23 that is worth dropping from 6 to 14.

[doclinkin]

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2011/06/01/NBADraftWorkouts6111mp4-1721940/index.html

first workout vid is up

Tristan Thompson looked good. Nice moves and countermoves, good defense, long enough to play big, smoother than I expected. Good work. He shows no special effort rebounding though, no habit to box out etc. But otherwise nice.

[Hoopalotta]

What about the #6 & #34 to the Rockets for the #14 & #23?

Gives Houston a hire pick for their new coach. We end up with picks 14, 18, 23.

I don't like it at all. I don't see anyone fascinating available at 23 that is worth dropping from 6 to 14.

If we first traded back with Charlotte and scored the 9th & 19th picks, I could see trading back with Houston for 14th and 23rd if we didn't love anyone at 6 or 9.

Then we could try and trade up with some of our middle rounders or possibly try and procure a future 1st by trading out with one or two.

14th, 18th, 19th, 23rd & 34th. Not viable package in and of itself for our direct use, but maybe a platform for finagling something workable.

[closg00]

FWIW on Singleton.

The Cleveland Cavaliers held a draft workout on Monday that included Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Jordan Williams, Chris Singleton, Cory Joseph and Diante Garrett. Harris was matched up against Williams, Morris went up against Singleton, and Joseph matched up with Garrett. According to a source, Morris was the most impressive player in the workout. The source said that Morris really tore it up and Singleton didn't look good at all. The source also said that Garrett got the best of Joseph. The Harris-Williams matchup wasn't an ideal pairing, as Harris is more of a combo forward and Williams is a true post player.

http://thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=735

[Hoopalotta]

Obviously this is geekville and we're not typical Wizards fans, but the Wizards bring in actual prospects and the Washington Post just wants to tell us about an undersized undrafted free agent's flashy dunks?

NBA predraft workouts lean toward the bland side, and usually there isn’t much that’s eye-opening, particularly during the portion media are permitted to watch. That wasn’t the case near the end of this morning’s session at Verizon Center, where Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld and point guard John Wall, among others, saw diminutive guard Randy Culpepper put on a dunking clinic.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

They had legit targets in Klay Thompson, Alec Burks and Tristan Thompson and we get this schmaltzy powdered eclair of a fluff piece? Get with the 'effin program here, Gene Wang, we're picking 6th, 18th and 34th. We don't need five paragraph exposes on how Scotty Hopson attended 5th grade cello lessons while suffering from amoebic dysentery or how Michael Dunigan has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan plays on five continents.

6th, 18th and 34th. Learn it, live it, love it.

There are admittedly more important things in the world to get pissed off about, but this one has done it for me nicely.

[closg00]

Rubio is coming to Minny, wonder if this changes anything for pick #2?

[AnotherFinn]

Rubio is coming to Minny, wonder if this changes anything for pick #2?

I don't see Minny drafting PG this year... BUT we are talking Khan here so...

[Ruzious]

FWIW on Singleton.

The Cleveland Cavaliers held a draft workout on Monday that included Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Jordan Williams, Chris Singleton, Cory Joseph and Diante Garrett. Harris was matched up against Williams, Morris went up against Singleton, and Joseph matched up with Garrett. According to a source, Morris was the most impressive player in the workout. The source said that Morris really tore it up and Singleton didn't look good at all. The source also said that Garrett got the best of Joseph. The Harris-Williams matchup wasn't an ideal pairing, as Harris is more of a combo forward and Williams is a true post player.

http://thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=735

If Morris dominated Singleton, that could go a long way to convincing folks Morris can be a force at the 3 in the NBA. If Morris projects to the 3, the Wiz have to consider him at 6 (assuming Kanter and Jonas are gone).