Official Wizards Draft Thread: Version 2.0

[closg00]

A couple things unrelated to the draft.
EG didn't mention VV playing summer league. Does he not count as a roster player since he isn't signed or is it assumed he just won't make it over this summer?
Also, the way he responded to the Boston question surely gave me the impression that we had no shot at KG last year.

Yep, nobody asked about Veremeenko, I guess we have to press Ivan to find out what the deal is. I guess they'll give him a shot to make the team during the Summer.

[newslowsad]

Today's workout vids:

http://www.washingtonwizardsblog.com/20 ... onference/

Quotes:

http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/predraf ... 80624.html

Photos:

http://www.nba.com/wizards/photogallery ... 624_1.html

I love Will Thomas. He's too short, but I love his energy and heart.

[spaceman_E]

By the way, Spiritualized rules (noticed your av).

A wise man, cheers!

[miller31time]

Today's workout vids:

http://www.washingtonwizardsblog.com/20 ... onference/

Quotes:

http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/predraf ... 80624.html

Photos:

http://www.nba.com/wizards/photogallery ... 624_1.html

I love Will Thomas. He's too short, but I love his energy and heart.

In the "quotes" link, they list Donte Greene at 6-11. Other websites have him at 6-9.

Interesting.

[RickRoll_inDC]

Today's workout vids:


I love Will Thomas. He's too short, but I love his energy and heart.

In the "quotes" link, they list Donte Greene at 6-11. Other websites have him at 6-9.

Interesting.

so we'll just say he's 6'10" for good measure

[miller31time]

^^^ Well, the reason I bring it up is because if he really is 6-11, then we can pretty much call him 7ft tall.

How many 7ft small forwards are there in this league? Any, even? Let alone 7ft small forwards with freakish athleticism, a good jumpshot, and enormous potential?

[nate33]

My EG code cipher says that the "leaked" 6-11 measurement is a smokescreen. Clearly, EG has no interest in Donte Greene and is trying to convince other teams to use their pick on him.

[MJG]

Tiny tidbits ...

Portland and Washington talked about moving their picks, but the deal is dead between them.

Washington's No. 18 is available to be had.

[mhd]

Tiny tidbits ...

Portland and Washington talked about moving their picks, but the deal is dead between them.

Washington's No. 18 is available to be had.

I think it would have been AD (A Nate McMillon fav) for Jack+James Jones+McRoberts and a pick swap. I would have certainly done that deal.

[doclinkin]

A couple things that Ernie said that caught my ear were:

1) His theory is BPA.
2) He doesn't think the workouts mean that much.

Enlarging on the second point, EG said that workouts for him are mostly to get to know the player. He wants to sit down and talk to the kid and see how he responds. The thing is - I don't know if that means he's more or less likely to pick somebody he didn't get to talk to during a scheduled workout. Interesting.

Seems to me the presser was essentially setting up the fans for the idea that the Wiz will try to sell off the pick. Don't getcher hopes up.

Blase' as usual, Ernie seemed a bit dismissive of the draft's ability to help the team as it stands now. The best talent in the draft is young puppies, untested, who will require work to get up to speed. We already have depth of youth, and a good balance of vets & prime of life players to offset those rookies. Other teams may be trying to rebuild or need young talent to develop, or are stocked with old vets and need to get younger.

He said _if_ we keep the pick we'll take best player available, regardless of need -- though that's the smart chess move statement to warn Teams drafting lower not to hope the Wiz will let a guy slip just because he doesn't fill a need. That threatens every position, may as well try to trade up or we may even take your guy.

That, and the lack of activity in the Wiz workout sessions suggests that the Wiz have a deal lined up if all goes as they think it will. Sounds to me like the guys they like are sure to go earlier and they didn't have the assets to move up compared to what other teams may be able to offer. Especially since 2/5 of our starters won't be inked by draft day, no way to even tempt a team into giving a cherry deal.

GMEG doesn't want to waste an asset by sitting a player overseas to develop -- where if he does well he might be offered a contract bigger than the salary scale of a 1st round pick. And what's the point of paying a guy to fill a salary cap slot/endanger the lux tax, just to develop him for a couple years before he produces. Makes me curious what GMEG thinks the team need is and what deals he has sketched out in principle, or what odds he's playing on teams drafting later who want that midrange 1st rd pick.

Interesting. I still hope we pick up other picks if we trade out. I have faith Ernie can steal a player later in the draft once the smoke has cleared.

[nate33]

Kyle Weaver looks like an intriguing guy to grab in the 2nd round. He's a 6'-6" long-armed wing with PG skills and excellent perimeter D. He sounds like a guy who could pan out to be a modern day Doug Christie.

[mhd]

I think the pick will be traded. Probably a future 1st kind of deal.

[miller31time]

I think the pick will be traded. Probably a future 1st kind of deal.

Are we really in a position not to get some kind of immediate impact (no matter how small or large)? I feel like, if we trade the pick, it should be in a package that sends out one of our players and brings back a player of greater need.

[rook6980]

I'm not so sure that Portland deal is absolutely dead.

For those who don't already know, Portland wants to either move down, or move out of the draft. The Wizards want to move up and select Brandon Rush...

The deal supposedly involved Antonio Daniels + #18 FOR Jarret Jack + Pieces + #13...

I think the better deal would be to offer the same thing, but replace #18 with next year's #1 + Memphis' #1 from the Navarro trade.... It might not be good enough, but Portland does NOT need any more picks for THIS year.

[Soup's Uncle]

I think the pick will be traded. Probably a future 1st kind of deal.

Are we really in a position not to get some kind of immediate impact (no matter how small or large)? I feel like, if we trade the pick, it should be in a package that sends out one of our players and brings back a player of greater need.

Absolutley. We gotta trade the pick or for a playr or trade up.

[mhd]

I'm not so sure that Portland deal is absolutely dead.

For those who don't already know, Portland wants to either move down, or move out of the draft. The Wizards want to move up and select Brandon Rush...

The deal supposedly involved Antonio Daniels + #18 FOR Jarret Jack + Pieces + #13...

I think the better deal would be to offer the same thing, but replace #18 with next year's #1 + Memphis' #1 from the Navarro trade.... It might not be good enough, but Portland does NOT need any more picks for THIS year.

Only way that deal works is AD+18 for Jack+James Jones+McROberts+13.

I'd do that deal in a second.

[likwitdesi]

Trade up to get Brandon Rush? Ew

[LyricalRico]

I'm not so sure that Portland deal is absolutely dead.

For those who don't already know, Portland wants to either move down, or move out of the draft. The Wizards want to move up and select Brandon Rush...

The deal supposedly involved Antonio Daniels + #18 FOR Jarret Jack + Pieces + #13...

I think the better deal would be to offer the same thing, but replace #18 with next year's #1 + Memphis' #1 from the Navarro trade.... It might not be good enough, but Portland does NOT need any more picks for THIS year.

I also agree that Portland probably doesn't want to add any more young players. But I think the Wiz are also in the same position in that we wouldn't want to have the #13 and the #18. We'd want to structure the deal so that we would be swapping picks (after which I could see Portland selling the #18 for cash).

I think the Blazers absolutely want AD but I'd rather have Blake than Jack (and I'm guessing EG would feel the same way). Not only would we be getting a guy that's more of a PG but that would also make it easier from a cap perspective to match up the numbers.

[mhd]

AD+18 for Blake+McRoberts+13 works in the trade checker. I'd do that deal as well.

[miller31time]

Every mock draft I've seen has Rush going 15th to Phoenix.

But even if he drops to us, he's not a player I have on my radar. I don't see the potential nor do I see the immediate impact he could make.