If you took over as GM today, what would you do?

[Ruzious]

Parks was more comparable to Olynyk, imo. And they both kinda look overgrown hippies.

[hands11]

Well, things are looking a lot better these days.

Before the season started, things looked hopeful with what we had, but there were lots of questions.

Wall: Would he recover? Would he improve his J ? Would he learn pace ? Would he learn change of pace ?
Answer: Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes

Beal: How long would it take him to settle in ? Could he do it in the pro ? Could he actually shoot really well ?
Answers: About a month, yes and yes

Trevor A: Does he suck ? Can he return to shooting better 3 balls?
Answer: Nope and yes

Webster: Can he stay healthy ? Does he have any game left? Can he nail the 3 ?
Answer: Yeep, Yeep and oh yeah

Oakfor: Will he recovery from injury and does he have double double game left
Answer: Yeep and yeep

Nene is pretty much the only one of this group that I would say hasn't lived up to the best of expectations. He has done just ok to maybe a step below. He is the one that didn't recover as well from his previous injury. Can't really jump. Is that the injury. He he to heavy ? Probably a combination.

-----------

That's a pretty sweet list of 6 right there. And I have no complaints about Temple as one of the guards either.

While this draft with EG involved in making the pick has me very concerned, you gotta give Ted and EG some credit. They did what they set out to do.

They turned the culture around and climbed out of the gutter.
They turned a dead Gil boat anchor contract into Lewis that turned into Okafor and Trevor who is valuable players
They got the vets in Nene and Webster who helped fill the roster with basketball player to help Wall and Beal
They kept Randy who they liked and respected and he has instilled a sound defense and offense that passes.
They created an environment and team appeal that FA would consider joining.

The team has a future. They are not longer a joke. Actually, they are on the verge of really turning some heads.

Before the season started, things looked hopeful with what we had, but there were lots of questions. Now we have a lot more answers and almost all of them a toward the best case scenario.

Not many things about have gone better except things like.... healthier player earlier. Kevin S beast more earlier. Ves breaking out. But hey, not everything is going to go right. For the Wizards, I ton did.

Hell, the medical staff even deserves a ton of credit. They have done a great job this year.

[hands11]

Now that Wall seems to have gotten off the merry go round he was on the first two years and has entered a different level on which to develop his game and Beal seems to be on that level already in his first year, the team is going to have a lot more options over a lot more years.

Those are legit two way starters. A true PG and a true SG that both defend and rebound. Thats a lot to have going for you.

With them both being so young, the Wizards have a nice big window to find the next right piece to go with them. They finally have some wiggle room.

I feel like I can finally exhale.

[nate33]

We still have the problem of our aging bigs. Our defense is predicated on the continued success of a 31-year-old and a 30-year-old.

[hands11]

We still have the problem of our aging bigs. Our defense is predicated on the continued success of a 31-year-old and a 30-year-old.

Of Course.

But things do feel different all the sudden knowing you have Wall and Beal at the 1 and 2.

And with Trevor A and Webster only 26, SF is covered for now as well. I think it's highly likely Webster returns. I would hope Trevor A does as well. And if you have both, you have trade ops with Trevor A and Okafor if you so choice.

Yeah, they still have to work out the future at PF and Center of the future stuff but it doesn't have to happen next year and honestly, they don't even have to get it right the first time. Thats what having Wall and Beal does for you. Its so nice to finally have a few positions covered with top level young talent that you can project being here for the next 3-4 years and maybe you have them 10 years.

Not saying any one draft isn't important but compared to previous years, this draft is much more like playing with house money. They don't need to find another Wall or Beal. They really only need to add cheap depth. They can find that 3rd star in FA or via trade over the next 2-3 years. There will opportunities.

That being the case, I could see where them going for Len in this draft. I could also see them going for a CJM. But it seems more likely to go center. Maybe even two of them.

Maybe like Len and Muscala.

Then for next year, I think they keep Ves as a PF and evaluate during 2014.

Kevin, Ves, Booker battle it out. Not sure what they do with Singleton. Then you evaluate PF again and decide on that longer term plan of action.

[dobrojim]

We still have the problem of our aging bigs. Our defense is predicated on the continued success of a 31-year-old and a 30-year-old.

true

but as we have covered before, one of them appears to be holding up pretty well
that being Okafor. We'll just have to wait and see if an offseason of rest allows
Nene to recover more to his prior form as well as to be a bit more durable.

[queridiculo]

I wish it were that simple dobrojim, but I think Washington needs to go into the offseason with the understanding that Nene's durability will be a concern for the remainder of his career.

Getting Nene to lose some weigh would be a start, knee and foot problems aren't going to get much better as he gets up there in age.

He'll also need his minutes managed and Washington needs to work on a plan b so that we're not left with a gigantic hole in the front court 2-3 years from now.

[dobrojim]

I don't think we know if it will be that simple or not. It's within the realm of
possibility that what he needs as much as anything is simply time off.
Which he didn't get last off-season. I wouldn't bet the farm on it
but I wouldn't completely write if off either. 2-3 months into next
season we should have a much better idea.

[hands11]

I wish it were that simple dobrojim, but I think Washington needs to go into the offseason with the understanding that Nene's durability will be a concern for the remainder of his career.

Getting Nene to lose some weigh would be a start, knee and foot problems aren't going to get much better as he gets up there in age.

He'll also need his minutes managed and Washington needs to work on a plan b so that we're not left with a gigantic hole in the front court 2-3 years from now.

I agree. Nene needs to get into a serious workout and conditioning program. After he rests up of course. Would be great if he gots real serious about that and came back next year in amazing shape.

Nice to have that at realistic possibility. He is no dummy. He is a serious professional. You would think he realizes he is getting older and now is the time to get things straight to prolong his productive years. Plus with the emergence of Wall and Beal and the team coming together, hopefully he sees next year as a legit year for the team to make a push.

He clearly has talent and we have him signed. So all we need is Nene in tip top shape (5-10 lbs or so lighter) and things could get real interesting. Imagine how that quick first step would look if he could leap again.

Then add some young length via the draft.

The making for something pretty nice are there.

[nate33]

I think he needs to lose more like 10-15 pounds, but I agree with the general sentiment. If Nene is going to be effective, particularly as a part-time PF, he's going to have to get lighter. It should definitely help his foot trouble too.

[hands11]

Wall
Beal
Webster/Trevor A
Nene
Okafor

They could have a pretty interesting team next year. Nice blend of talent both young, mid aged and older early 30 types. That line up is nothing to sneeze at for your core 6. Plus Temple, etc. Its really all about how they build out the reserves.

That is a good formula for winning. Rarely do a purely young teams get very far.

Wall/(Pierre or Wolters)/Price
Beal/Temple + ( Erick Green or Carrick Felix or C.J. Wilcox or Michael Snaer or Brandon Paul)
Webster/Trevor A
Nene/Kevin/Ves/Booker
Okafor/(Len or Dieng) and Muscala) targeting Len first.

Then you just have to decide between Singleton and Price. I would tell Singleton he needs to size down to a SF.

And Ves has to come back next year with something that looks like a mid range shot. If he had that, he would be a lot more useful.

Hey, if Ted/EG can pull that off in the draft, that wouldn't suck at all. They would have added really nice depth and great lengh in the post and even added a small skitter bug to cover the Nates of the NBA.

[dobrojim]

to whatever extent he is overweight (I'm not sure it's that much but lets not
get sidetracked on that), it probably has a lot to do with nagging injuries.
He probably needs rest in order to get healthy. Then he can resume the
sort of conditioning regimen that a professional athlete and NBA player
has to do. While the season is still going on, he's probably not fully
recovered.

[Dat2U]

I can't see an ideal situation where Nene is here next year. The wheels have begun coming off IMO. I was a huge proponent of trading him when he was playing well. I'm afraid his value has dipped already considering his questionable availability now.

I'd deal Nene for basically anything of value at this point. Anything that gets us out the remaining 3 year commitment. We need guys that can reliably play. Nene is going to be day-to-day for the rest of his career and that might be his best case scenario.

[jivelikenice]

I don't think Nene is overweight, he just has to adjust his playing weight to take pressure off of his legs as he gets older. Droping 15-20 pounds shouldn't have any impact on his level of physcality and should help with the nagging leg injuries.

[fishercob]

I can't see an ideal situation where Nene is here next year. The wheels have begun coming off IMO. I was a huge proponent of trading him when he was playing well. I'm afraid his value has dipped already considering his questionable availability now.

I'd deal Nene for basically anything of value at this point. Anything that gets us out the remaining 3 year commitment. We need guys that can reliably play. Nene is going to be day-to-day for the rest of his career and that might be his best case scenario.

You may be right. I hope you're wrong. We don't know yet.

Are these injuries of the sort that can be completely repaired with rest and rehab this summer? If so, we may be okay. But if this is just who Nene is from here on out, then we're sorta screwed.

[Ruzious]

I can't see an ideal situation where Nene is here next year. The wheels have begun coming off IMO. I was a huge proponent of trading him when he was playing well. I'm afraid his value has dipped already considering his questionable availability now.

I'd deal Nene for basically anything of value at this point. Anything that gets us out the remaining 3 year commitment. We need guys that can reliably play. Nene is going to be day-to-day for the rest of his career and that might be his best case scenario.

It sounds like your stating it as a fact. Do you have some concrete info on that?

[nate33]

I can't see an ideal situation where Nene is here next year. The wheels have begun coming off IMO. I was a huge proponent of trading him when he was playing well. I'm afraid his value has dipped already considering his questionable availability now.

I'd deal Nene for basically anything of value at this point. Anything that gets us out the remaining 3 year commitment. We need guys that can reliably play. Nene is going to be day-to-day for the rest of his career and that might be his best case scenario.

You may be right. I hope you're wrong. We don't know yet.

Are these injuries of the sort that can be completely repaired with rest and rehab this summer? If so, we may be okay. But if this is just who Nene is from here on out, then we're sorta screwed.

I think this further supports your idea of going after Ilyasova. Move Nene to a super-sub role where his minute-load will be diminished. And even when he misses games here and there, it won't decimate the rotation. Ilyasova and Okafor would just increase from 32 to 36 minutes, and Seraphin would pick up the Nene slack.

[hands11]

I can't see an ideal situation where Nene is here next year. The wheels have begun coming off IMO. I was a huge proponent of trading him when he was playing well. I'm afraid his value has dipped already considering his questionable availability now.

I'd deal Nene for basically anything of value at this point. Anything that gets us out the remaining 3 year commitment. We need guys that can reliably play. Nene is going to be day-to-day for the rest of his career and that might be his best case scenario.

Can you give us the winning lottery ticket numbers also ?

Come on Dat. You don't know that.

Just curious. What was your position on Wall? Amputation or full recovery not missing a day due to the knee after he returned ?

Okafor ?
Webster ?

Sure Nene is getting older and that means he will eventually wear down. But what he has can be healed with rest just like what Wall had could get healed with rest. Wall rested. Nene didn't.

Now we just have to wait and see what actually happens.

[FAH1223]

If Im trading Nene, I need a big back that can defend the pick and roll, get boards and go to work in the post while being healthy.

In other words, I'd like a healthy young Nene who gets more boards and is a little more selfish.

[AFM]

Okafor Plans To Be With Wizards Next Season
Apr 01, 2013 6:20 PM EDT


Emeka Okafor plans to return to the Washington Wizards for the 2013-14 season.

Okafor is due to make $14.48 million and has a player-option with the ability to terminate the deal and hit the free agent market.

He won't command anywhere near that in the open market, but contends that his reasons go beyond money.

"My plan is to be here next year," Okafor said. "My mind-set is to be here next year. I just think that this team has a lot of potential. If we had everybody healthy, it would be a different around here. We'd be playing for (playoff) position."

Via J. Michael/CSN Washington