Our Projected Depth Chart

[Ruzious]

It's hard to believe Ariza is just 26. It seems like he's been in the NBA for at least a decade. Unfortunately, he's been a terribly inefficient scorer since leaving Kobeville - still a heckuvan athlete and dynamic defender but... ya gotta find a reason to expect him to be more efficient after 3 bad seasons.

[Dat2U]

John Wall is disappointed that he hasn’t been able to help the Wizards reach the playoffs in his first two years, but he is encouraged by the late-season rally, believing that the team is a few more veterans away — either at small forward, shooting guard or point guard — from contending for the postseason.

Interesting that he named the positions where veteran help is needed. It seems like a criticism of Mack if you ask me. He might also be criticizing Martin or Mason.

I don't think Wall is criticizing anyone but the front office. Nothing personal about wanting to be surrounded with better talent.

[fishercob]

So as of today, the Wizards have 6 guys who play primarily at the 4 or 5:

Nene, Okafor, Seraphin, Booker, Vesely, Blatche

Okafor has averaged 32 mpg for his career; over his last 3 seasons he's averaged about 30 mpg. I can't see him playing less than 28 mpg.

Nene has averaged a little under 30 mpg for his career and a shade under that for his last two seasons. I can't see him playing less than 28 mpg.

Seraphin averaged 20 mpg last year, but I assume significantly higher post-trade.

Booker has averaged 20 mpg over his two seasons; 25 mpg last year.

Vesely got 19 mpg last year.

Blatche was put on the shelf last year; I think he's the sixth big right now. This trade seems to have painted the Wiz into a corner with Blatche b/c with such a minutes crunch, the option of getting him in shape and shining him up to trade for something (anything -- an expiring, a better fitting overpaid guy) seem to be gone. So maybe that was never really an option and they have decided to amnesty him now (silver lining!)

Back to minutes, then. COuld it look like this:

C: Oke (28) Seraphin 20
PF: Nene (28) Vesely/Booker fight for the other 20?

Still strikes me as really tight, but I can't see Nene or Oak getting much less than 28 mpg. So you have your young guys that you're developing in a 3-way fight for the other 40 minutes. It may work itself out to the extent that there are bound to be injuries, but we could very well see one of the top 5 moved before the season.

[Ruzious]

Playing devil's advocate, Nene and Okafor are bound to have nagging injuries for large chunks of games, Blatche will likely never play here again, and it wouldn't be a shocker if either Booker or Vesely are traded. It's probably still a good idea to re-sign the better Singleton - who certainly showed he belongs in the NBA - for more PF depth.

[LyricalRico]

Back to minutes, then. COuld it look like this:

C: Oke (28) Seraphin 20
PF: Nene (28) Vesely/Booker fight for the other 20?

Still strikes me as really tight, but I can't see Nene or Oak getting much less than 28 mpg. So you have your young guys that you're developing in a 3-way fight for the other 40 minutes. It may work itself out to the extent that there are bound to be injuries, but we could very well see one of the top 5 moved before the season.

Seems reasonable, although I think the center minutes could be split more evenly. I also think that, if the team is in the hunt for a playoff spot, we would see Nene's minutes more in the 32-36 range.

[fishercob]

It's hard to believe Ariza is just 26. It seems like he's been in the NBA for at least a decade. Unfortunately, he's been a terribly inefficient scorer since leaving Kobeville - still a heckuvan athlete and dynamic defender but... ya gotta find a reason to expect him to be more efficient after 3 bad seasons.

In fairness, he turns 27 next week...

[Ruzious]

It's hard to believe Ariza is just 26. It seems like he's been in the NBA for at least a decade. Unfortunately, he's been a terribly inefficient scorer since leaving Kobeville - still a heckuvan athlete and dynamic defender but... ya gotta find a reason to expect him to be more efficient after 3 bad seasons.

In fairness, he turns 27 next week...

In fairness, you responded to a post from May 9th.

[mohammed10]

In fairness, he turns 27 next week...

Doesn't matter - he's horrible at any age

[hands11]

Vet PG was next on my list but I'm not sure it is going to happen just yet. They have other things to work out. And Dray still takes a slot until moved.

I wouldn't be upset if Mack wasn't brought back and they added a vet PG, but I don't think they will to cut him so soon. It would be nice to have a slot open. It will depend on how much they want to keep players like Martin around this year.

James Singleton isnt getting a starting or probably even a prime back up slot anywhere that I can see so he has a decision to make. Does he want to be in the NBA and a part of this team or not. He would be a nice vet to bring back.

Mason is clearly on the list also

I think they wait on adding a vet PG until after the Beal gains some more experience and they figure out a few things like Dray, how long Okafor will be here, and what they want do with Crawford and maybe C Singleton. So this is an interim roster with lots of young players still that still needs evaluated before they start trimming it. I think they try to keep things somewhat flexible for now. They brought in 3 new faces so at this point I think they will add with vet familiar faces.

PG Wall, Mack
SG Crawford, Beal, Mason
SF Ariza, Singleton, James Singleton
PF Nene, Booker, Vesely
C Okafor, Seraphin, Dray

That 14 right there. 1 slot open. I could see different players inactive at different times depending on need. Crawford can back up at some PG so eventually as Beal shows he is ready, they can make Mack inactive unless he shows a lot more then he did last year. James, Mason or Dray can get made inactive until then.

Mo is moving into the front office. He is coaching the summer team.

So eventually I could see it leading to this.

PG Wall, Crawford
SG Beal, Mason
SF Ariza, Singleton, James Singleton
PF Nene, Booker, Vesely
C Okafor, Seraphin, Dray

Inactive. Mack and Martin if they sign all 15. Obviously Crawford could play some 2 as well.

Randy has his work cut out figuring out who will start and who will play.

[FAH1223]

Wittman came out and said Seraphin will have a chance to win the starting job with Okafor. He said there will be competition all over the roster.

[Rafael122]

Wittman came out and said Seraphin will have a chance to win the starting job with Okafor. He said there will be competition all over the roster.

LOL, ok.

[FAH1223]

Wittman came out and said Seraphin will have a chance to win the starting job with Okafor. He said there will be competition all over the roster.

LOL, ok.

Against**

I just listened to radio this morning. So you know, I picked that up.

[Rafael122]

Wittman came out and said Seraphin will have a chance to win the starting job with Okafor. He said there will be competition all over the roster.

LOL, ok.

Against**

I just listened to radio this morning. So you know, I picked that up.

No I was laughing at the comment that there will be competition. I'm sure Mack will be competing with Wall for the starting point spot.

Wittman at this point probably has an idea of what his starting 5 will be. I get why he said it, but he's not fooling anyone.

[FAH1223]

you think he'd give Keveen the short end of the stick if he outplays Okafor?

[sfam]

you think he'd give Keveen the short end of the stick if he outplays Okafor?

Outside of our SG position, its pretty clear who our starters are. Seraphin is not going to be starting. His best bet - one that's almost certainly to come to fruition is that he starts when (not if) either Nene or Okafor gets injured for a stretch. Meaning he should be starting for at least a month or two for the year.

[Rafael122]

you think he'd give Keveen the short end of the stick if he outplays Okafor?

$14 million bench player. Not happening. But Kev will be OK. Hell get his 25 minutes a game. Depth is a good thing, Nene and Okafor probably will play 32 minutes each, max.

[sfam]

Would still love to see us amnesty Blatche and take a flyer on another potential SF like a Jeff Green. Or even a vet pg with real playoff experience - someone like a Jason Terry. Problem is, I'm not sure the Terrys and Billups of the world would have any interest coming to the Wiz.

[nate33]

you think he'd give Keveen the short end of the stick if he outplays Okafor?

$14 million bench player. Not happening. But Kev will be OK. Hell get his 25 minutes a game. Depth is a good thing, Nene and Okafor probably will play 32 minutes each, max.

I'm not too worried about contracts influencing minutes. Wittman has demonstrated that he runs a meritocracy. He started Singleton ahead of Lewis. He banished Blatche from the building.

If Seraphin outplays Okafor, I think he'll be fine starting Seraphin. Also, it's not like Okafor was a long term free agency signing. He's not part of the long term plan. He's a stopgap player.

[pancakes3]

What if Blatche just comes in and balls the **** out on everyone? Not for an entire season but for a few games? Enough to pull the old bait/switch on the more easily swayed?

[Bickerstaff]

In fairness, he turns 27 next week...

Doesn't matter - he's horrible at any age

No, he's not. He's actually pretty good. Not sure what you're talking about.