Official 2023 Wizards OFFSEASON Thread

[WallToWall]

The jazz have a bazillion picks from trading their two best players. We have Jordan freaking Peele. Not comparable situations. We need to build a talent base first.

I was looking forward to watching a young developing team, but if we roll out Peele and Kuzma as our two highest usage guys, I'll see you all later in the rebuild.

Poole is a decent player who got derailed by work drama.

Workplace violence is a thing! It will certainly affect how you behave. What would you do if your co-worker punched you in the face? Would you want to come back to work? What if your boss said that you will work with the puncher, and you should behave like the punch never happened? In no uncertain terms, Poole's performance with the Warriors was affected by that punch. Yeah, Poole needs a new start and I expect to see better performance and attitude from him here.

[payitforward]

Where was Baldwin ranked as a 4 star? He was a consensus 5 star and top 10 ranked player....

Correct.
Just a typing error on my part -- sorry!

The 2030 1st is also top 20 protected with little to no chance of conveying....

Oh Nat......
Neither your nor I have any idea what the Warriors' record will be 7 seasons from now.
A top 20 protected pick has a .33 chance of conveying.

GS fans claim that Rollins is not a NBA caliber player.

& who would know better than they?
Surely not the Warriors Front Office -- they must be really stupid, huh? After all, they gave Rollins a 2-year guaranteed contract.

That trade essentially amounts to taking on a bad player with a bad contract in exchange for Rollins and a future 2nd round pick.

Poole is definitely overpaid. OTOH, we do have to pay somebody.

Right now, with Coulibaly we are at $122.3m for 16 guaranteed contracts. Assuming that Vutkevic does come over this season, as he has said he wants to do (& I'm sure the Wiz would like it), & that he costs us, say, $1.5m, we'll be under $124m for 17 guys -- i.e. 2 over the regular roster limit. Obviously, we'll have to make some more roster moves, huh?

Really doesn't look like Poole's $$ will pose any kind of problem.

[NatP4]

You just used the reaction from GS fans regarding the Baldwin trade to try and make a point in another thread. Seems inconsistent.

Yes, we have to pay someone, and once we take on enough money, we can no longer take back large contracts with assets attached. Bad trades are bad regardless. Why not simply re-sign Porzingis?

[doclinkin]

The jazz have a bazillion picks from trading their two best players. We have Jordan freaking Peele. Not comparable situations. We need to build a talent base first.

I was looking forward to watching a young developing team, but if we roll out Peele and Kuzma as our two highest usage guys, I'll see you all later in the rebuild.

Poole is a decent player who got derailed by work drama.

Workplace violence is a thing! It will certainly affect how you behave. What would you do if your co-worker punched you in the face? Would you want to come back to work? What if your boss said that you will work with the puncher, and you should behave like the punch never happened? In no uncertain terms, Poole's performance with the Warriors was affected by that punch. Yeah, Poole needs a new start and I expect to see better performance and attitude from him here.

Especially notable was that Poole was slacking on defense this year. On a team where Draymond is the defensive captain. Kerr tried to keep them separate for a large chunk of the year, but the team doesn't play well on defense with Dray out, so Kerr was forced to play the two together. Poole was on strike from committing to defense, because why should he have to play with that loudmouth and do what he wants him to do? Blame Poole for immaturity, but how mature is it to punch a coworker? The team was more pissed that the video leaked than they were at Draymond for the assault.

Its got to be a relief for Poole not to have to deal with team sanctioned thuggery.

[Rafael122]

Kuzma’s free agency is so interesting because if the rumors turn out to be true, Detroits putting an offer sheet out there for Cam Johnson which ties them up for like 2-3 days.

Doubt the Spurs go the Kuzma route, it just doesn’t make sense.

Houston allegedly has identified like 6-7 guys before they even get to Kuzma.

I still think it’s going to be Sacramento but his role changes significantly because Sabonis and Fox are the primary ball handlers.

[mhd]

Kuzma’s free agency is so interesting because if the rumors turn out to be true, Detroits putting an offer sheet out there for Cam Johnson which ties them up for like 2-3 days.

Doubt the Spurs go the Kuzma route, it just doesn’t make sense.

Houston allegedly has identified like 6-7 guys before they even get to Kuzma.

I still think it’s going to be Sacramento but his role changes significantly because Sabonis and Fox are the primary ball handlers.

If it is not Sac, and the above is true, then it has to be a S&T then.

[gambitx777]

The jazz have a bazillion picks from trading their two best players. We have Jordan freaking Peele. Not comparable situations. We need to build a talent base first.

I was looking forward to watching a young developing team, but if we roll out Peele and Kuzma as our two highest usage guys, I'll see you all later in the rebuild.

Poole is a decent player who got derailed by work drama.

Workplace violence is a thing! It will certainly affect how you behave. What would you do if your co-worker punched you in the face? Would you want to come back to work? What if your boss said that you will work with the puncher, and you should behave like the punch never happened? In no uncertain terms, Poole's performance with the Warriors was affected by that punch. Yeah, Poole needs a new start and I expect to see better performance and attitude from him here.

I wasn't talking ****. I meant that in a legit meaning that he is a solid player that legit got **** up by a coworker and it effected hi ls performance negatively. This isn't a Ben Simmons situation. This man got assaulted and instead of the other guy getting fired he got told well deal with it he's more important than you and that's **** up.

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[gambitx777]

Signing Kuzma makes zero sense to me.

1. He cuts into the minutes of Deni, Kispert, Bilal, ect.
2. He cuts into the offensive reps the aforementioned will get in games.
3. He's about to be 28.
4. Having him on the team probably wins us a couple more games than if we don't have him.

He's the antithesis of a rebuild. It would be a shocking mistake for us to sign him, in my opinion.

Kuz is a great guy, but he is simply not a good NBA player.

In his very best year (his last with the Lakers) he wasn't even an average NBA forward. The following year, his first with us, he was almost but not quite as good as that.

This last season, '22-23, Kyle Kuzma was absolutely awful. Yet, basketball media types keep wanting to describe it as "a breakout season."

Why? For the usual reason -- Kuz's points per game went up. As if that was a meaningful measure of anything whatever when viewed on its own (i.e. without reference to how many more shots he took & what his FG & FT%s were).

Whether NBA GMs will buy this line we don't yet know. FA signings don't start until 4 days from now.

In any case, this...

It's a chance (for us) to sign him to a value contract and trade him for value when he was gonna walk for nothing....

...is clearly false, while this...

It's the second to last chance to get something if value out of the John wall trade other than a couple seconds....

is both false & irrelevant.

If we are able to arrange a sign and trade deal that gets us something, great. If not, better to let him walk than fool oneself into thinking that the trade that wasn't possible now will somehow be possible later.

Piff I am not talking about a sign and trade. I am talking about no one wanting to give kuz 30 mill so he comes back and takes 20 or some from us for a 1 plus 1 or a 2+1 and then we trade him at the deadline for value.

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[joshuacf]

Signing Kuzma makes zero sense to me.

1. He cuts into the minutes of Deni, Kispert, Bilal, ect.
2. He cuts into the offensive reps the aforementioned will get in games.
3. He's about to be 28.
4. Having him on the team probably wins us a couple more games than if we don't have him.

He's the antithesis of a rebuild. It would be a shocking mistake for us to sign him, in my opinion.

Kuz is a great guy, but he is simply not a good NBA player.

In his very best year (his last with the Lakers) he wasn't even an average NBA forward. The following year, his first with us, he was almost but not quite as good as that.

This last season, '22-23, Kyle Kuzma was absolutely awful. Yet, basketball media types keep wanting to describe it as "a breakout season."

Why? For the usual reason -- Kuz's points per game went up. As if that was a meaningful measure of anything whatever when viewed on its own (i.e. without reference to how many more shots he took & what his FG & FT%s were).

Whether NBA GMs will buy this line we don't yet know. FA signings don't start until 4 days from now.

In any case, this...

It's a chance (for us) to sign him to a value contract and trade him for value when he was gonna walk for nothing....

...is clearly false, while this...

It's the second to last chance to get something if value out of the John wall trade other than a couple seconds....

is both false & irrelevant.

If we are able to arrange a sign and trade deal that gets us something, great. If not, better to let him walk than fool oneself into thinking that the trade that wasn't possible now will somehow be possible later.

Piff I am not talking about a sign and trade. I am talking about no one wanting to give kuz 30 mill so he comes back and takes 20 or some from us for a 1 plus 1 or a 2+1 and then we trade him at the deadline for value.

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Whatever minimal assets we could hypothetically get back for Kuzma in a hypothetical sign then trade at the deadline are not worth having to play Kuzma for 38 minutes a night and giving him huge usage from now until February. Those are reps and minutes that need to be going to Bilal, Deni, Kispert, JD, PBJ, and Rollins.

Also, there is no guarantee we'd get anything back at all. What if he gets hurt? What if he plays badly?

Seems like a lot of risk for minimal reward, with the added negative of stifling the development of the young guys.

[Frichuela]

Kuz is a great guy, but he is simply not a good NBA player.

In his very best year (his last with the Lakers) he wasn't even an average NBA forward. The following year, his first with us, he was almost but not quite as good as that.

This last season, '22-23, Kyle Kuzma was absolutely awful. Yet, basketball media types keep wanting to describe it as "a breakout season."

Why? For the usual reason -- Kuz's points per game went up. As if that was a meaningful measure of anything whatever when viewed on its own (i.e. without reference to how many more shots he took & what his FG & FT%s were).

Whether NBA GMs will buy this line we don't yet know. FA signings don't start until 4 days from now.

In any case, this...

...is clearly false, while this...
is both false & irrelevant.

If we are able to arrange a sign and trade deal that gets us something, great. If not, better to let him walk than fool oneself into thinking that the trade that wasn't possible now will somehow be possible later.

Piff I am not talking about a sign and trade. I am talking about no one wanting to give kuz 30 mill so he comes back and takes 20 or some from us for a 1 plus 1 or a 2+1 and then we trade him at the deadline for value.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using RealGM mobile app

Whatever minimal assets we could hypothetically get back for Kuzma in a hypothetical sign then trade at the deadline are not worth having to play Kuzma for 38 minutes a night and giving him huge usage from now until February. Those are reps and minutes that need to be going to Bilal, Deni, Kispert, JD, PBJ, and Rollins.

Also, there is no guarantee we'd get anything back at all. What if he gets hurt? What if he plays badly?

Seems like a lot of risk for minimal reward, with the added negative of stifling the development of the young guys.

Agreed. The previous FO was foolish not to trade Kuzma at the Feb deadline. Let’s hope Winger & Dawkins do the right thing, i.e S&T or letting him go.

[payitforward]

You just used the reaction from GS fans regarding the Baldwin trade to try and make a point in another thread. Seems inconsistent.

Yes, we have to pay someone, and once we take on enough money, we can no longer take back large contracts with assets attached. Bad trades are bad regardless. Why not simply re-sign Porzingis?

I responded to a post, by an obviously thoughtful Warriors fan, which described what he liked & didn't like about PBJ.

Plus, the point I made was about "the Baldwin trade," as you say -- not about Baldwin. I have no idea whether he'll pan out -- how could I know that?

Ditto Rollins. I didn't mean to make any statement about Rollins -- I have no idea whether he'll be a player or not. If anything "no" is more likely than "yes." But that's true of most young prospects.

I just don't think there's any conclusion to draw right now. & certainly not from the reaction of Wizards fans! That's why I pointed out that the GS Front Office gave him 2 guaranteed years.

OTOH, I'm happy to repeat that the trade of Beal -- considering the totality of it (including Poole becoming a Wizard) -- was absolutely fantastic!

[closg00]

We haven't filled-out our SL roster yet....
https://hoopshype.com/lists/2023-summer-league-rosters-whos-playing-where-this-year/

Not seeing Todd on the Phoenix SL roster either

[payitforward]

Signing Kuzma makes zero sense to me.

1. He cuts into the minutes of Deni, Kispert, Bilal, ect.
2. He cuts into the offensive reps the aforementioned will get in games.
3. He's about to be 28.
4. Having him on the team probably wins us a couple more games than if we don't have him.

He's the antithesis of a rebuild. It would be a shocking mistake for us to sign him, in my opinion.

Kuz is a great guy, but he is simply not a good NBA player.

In his very best year (his last with the Lakers) he wasn't even an average NBA forward. The following year, his first with us, he was almost but not quite as good as that.

This last season, '22-23, Kyle Kuzma was absolutely awful. Yet, basketball media types keep wanting to describe it as "a breakout season."

Why? For the usual reason -- Kuz's points per game went up. As if that was a meaningful measure of anything whatever when viewed on its own (i.e. without reference to how many more shots he took & what his FG & FT%s were).

Whether NBA GMs will buy this line we don't yet know. FA signings don't start until 4 days from now.

In any case, this...

It's a chance (for us) to sign him to a value contract and trade him for value when he was gonna walk for nothing....

...is clearly false, while this...

It's the second to last chance to get something if value out of the John wall trade other than a couple seconds....

is both false & irrelevant.

If we are able to arrange a sign and trade deal that gets us something, great. If not, better to let him walk than fool oneself into thinking that the trade that wasn't possible now will somehow be possible later.

Piff I am not talking about a sign and trade. I am talking about no one wanting to give kuz 30 mill so he comes back and takes 20 or some from us for a 1 plus 1 or a 2+1 and then we trade him at the deadline for value.

1. I wouldn't give him $20m.
2. In any case, why would we give him more than any other team will give him?
3. If we sign him for more than another team is willing to give him, why will some team take on that salary? & give assets for it? No one will.

[closg00]

Read on Twitter

[Lucky Once]

We haven't filled-out our SL roster yet....
https://hoopshype.com/lists/2023-summer-league-rosters-whos-playing-where-this-year/

Not seeing Todd on the Phoenix SL roster either

Has there been any discussion about bringing Yannick Nzosa over for SL? As far as I can tell he only played in one game for ACB this season so it would be nice to see if there is anything there.

[NatP4]

I guess he had a season ending injury in the one game he played. No idea where the rehab is at.

[gambitx777]

I guess he had a season ending injury in the one game he played. No idea where the rehab is at.

Yeah he blew his knee out in the first game of the season I think right ?

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[NatP4]

I guess he had a season ending injury in the one game he played. No idea where the rehab is at.

Yeah he blew his knee out in the first game of the season I think right ?

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I think so? It's so difficult to find any news on him. The guy shot 30 something percent as a C in the previous year, I'm not sure we even want him on the summer league team. I know you liked the upside, but WTF happened in 2021 lol

[Frichuela]

I guess he had a season ending injury in the one game he played. No idea where the rehab is at.

Yeah he blew his knee out in the first game of the season I think right ?

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I think so? It's so difficult to find any news on him. The guy shot 30 something percent as a C in the previous year, I'm not sure we even want him on the summer league team. I know you liked the upside, but WTF happened in 2021 lol

Tommy and his awful scouting department is what happened

[payitforward]

Once Coulabily & Vutcetera are signed we will have 17 guaranteed regular-roster salaries. The limit is 15.
OTOH, our salary load is actually too low! We are at @$115.7m, of which $6.8m is Gallinari whom they mean to buy out.

The minimum is $122.4m.
So... there must be more to come!

I couldn't have predicted anything these guys have done so far.
I feel like I'm at a fireworks show!

What do you think is coming?

Trade one or more point guards in return for an expiring salary another team wants to get rid of (plus draft capital of course!)?
Cut a couple of cheap veterans & sign an expensive-ish, young-ish FA...?
Or...?