Analysis of Washington Wizards Draft (or lacktherof) posted by Chase Hughes

Thursday, June the 25th has officially passed as the Washington Wizards remain in a state that few could have foreseen a week ago.  After months of speculation and a calamitous draft lottery, Wizards fans can relax and look at back at what has happened.  No Blake Griffin, no Ricky Rubio, no 5th overall pick, no 2nd round pick.  It was fun but you kind of wish Ernie Grunfeld could have let us know that all of our mock drafts and trade scenarios would be obsolete.  What’s left of the Wizards roster seems to be an incomplete project… still. 
You have to think that the Wizards’ brass has something else up their sleeve, another maneuver that will balance the Wizards and give its fans the expectations of a great season.  I still think that the team is improved but there seem to still linger significant holes.  One large void to fill down low still remains and it is perplexing why the Wizards didn’t plug it with the “largest” plug in the draft.  I am talking of course about Dejaun Blair.  My friend and I were contemplating the possibility of the big man from Pitt slipping to the second round.  It seemed impossible and then it happened.  He was sitting there, all 270 pounds of him, just waiting for the Wizards to pick him and enable him to thrive in a reserved role on a playoff team.  Apparently, we weren’t the only ones.  The Washington Post covered the draft later in the night, with Michael Lee acknowledging the experts were in on it to:



“When Pitt forward DeJuan Blair was still on the board after the first round, some of us reporters were fascinated by the possibility of the Wizards adding a rugged but undersized offensive rebounding machine. I still cannot believe that dude slipped all the way to San Antonio at No. 37 after he manhandled Thabeet in Big East play.”
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posted by Chase Hughes

Thursday, June the 25th has officially passed as the Washington Wizards remain in a state that few could have foreseen a week ago. After months of speculation and a calamitous draft lottery, Wizards fans can relax and look at back at what has happened. No Blake Griffin, no Ricky Rubio, no 5th overall pick, no 2nd round pick. It was fun but you kind of wish Ernie Grunfeld could have let us know that all of our mock drafts and trade scenarios would be obsolete. What’s left of the Wizards roster seems to be an incomplete project… still.
You have to think that the Wizards’ brass has something else up their sleeve, another maneuver that will balance the Wizards and give its fans the expectations of a great season. I still think that the team is improved but there seem to still linger significant holes. One large void to fill down low still remains and it is perplexing why the Wizards didn’t plug it with the “largest” plug in the draft. I am talking of course about Dejaun Blair. My friend and I were contemplating the possibility of the big man from Pitt slipping to the second round. It seemed impossible and then it happened. He was sitting there, all 270 pounds of him, just waiting for the Wizards to pick him and enable him to thrive in a reserved role on a playoff team. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones. The Washington Post covered the draft later in the night, with Michael Lee acknowledging the experts were in on it to:



“When Pitt forward DeJuan Blair was still on the board after the first round, some of us reporters were fascinated by the possibility of the Wizards adding a rugged but undersized offensive rebounding machine. I still cannot believe that dude slipped all the way to San Antonio at No. 37 after he manhandled Thabeet in Big East play.”


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Washington Wizards make a bold move--is it the right one? posted by john howard

Washington traded away it's 6th pick in the draft along with Darius Songalia, Etan Thomas, and Oleksey Pecherov to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller.  Two years ago the Wizards were an up and coming team.  That changed last year when Gilbert Arenas was injured and out all year.  Brendon Haywood was also out most of the year  With Arenas back, there will be ample fire power.  The roster all of the sudden looks really good.

pg--Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittendon, Mike James

sg--Randy Foye, Mike Miller, DeShaun Stevenson

sf--Caron Butler, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire

pf--Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatch

c--Brendon Haywood, JaVale McGee

Arenas has had 50 point games while Butler and Jamison averaged over 20 points a game last year.  Add to that Foye's 16 he averaged last year and the 3 point bombs that Miller is known for and you have a lot of fire power.  Yound and Blatch averaged 10 points each off the bench last year as did Mike James.  So, the seocnd unit is going to be able to score.  This is going to be a fast tempo fun group.  Will Haywood and McGee be enough inside?  That remains to be seen. The question of "was this a good trade" is yes.  The 5th pick has produced 10 starters in the past 14 years with 5 of them being all-stars.  So, there was almost a 1/3 chance to land an all-star or land a bust.  The team got a young, guaranteed starter who can score along with an experienced sharp shooter.  That is a good move. Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, then Washington?

Washington Wizards Trade 5th Pick, Land Randy Foye and Mike Miller posted by Chase Hughes

It has just been reported by The Washington Post that the Washington Wizards have dealt the 5th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves.  The package includes Etan Thomas, Oleksiy Pecherov, and Darius Songaila.  In return the Wizards receive promising 6'4" guard Randy Foye and former Rookie of the Year Mike Miller.  In a much anticipated move, Washington landed Foye who averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists per game last season.  A good amount of production, certainly more than you would expect out of a rookie if they drafted one.  Mike Miller gives them the outside threat and a career average of 13.9 points per game.  He provides depth at the small forward and shooting guard positions, allowing Dominic McGuire to focus on his role as a defensive stopper.  Marinate on that Wizards fans.Continue reading "Washington Wizards Trade 5th Pick, ..."

Washington Wizards Best Options for Thursday's NBA Draft posted by Chase Hughes

The last week has been quite interesting in that an influx of trade rumors and draft scenarios have flooded the Washington Wizards internet community.  Michael Lee of The Washington Post has reported rumors of trades involving the Wizards’ 5th pick going to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers (gag), and the New York Knicks.  While nothing really seems to be of substance, as www.bulletsforever.com has acknowledged, they are impossible to ignore.  Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Javale McGee are some of the notables that many teams, as many as 14, have expressed interest in.  As we approach the draft, the fans’ opinions seem to be forming an almost consensus for Davidson guard Stephen Curry.  The Washington Post conducted a poll that resulted in nearly half the votes garnered by Southern Conference product.  DraftExpress.com now has the Wizards slotted for Jordan Hill with the 5th selection while both SI.com and ESPN.com are predicting James Harden.  What do the Wizards need?  And should they draft for need or get the best player?  Both possibilities, in my opinion, may indeed overlap.  
I believe the most glaring need for the Washington Wizards is at the guard position.  The Wizards have addressed the frontcourt pretty aggressively in recent years with the draft of McGee, Pecherov, and grooming of Andray Blatche.  What appears to have happened is a negligence of the need for a guard, evident in the acceptance of Roger Mason, Jr.’s departure.  Right now as the roster stands the Wizards possess a superstar in Gilbert Arenas but no significant contributor behind him.  Stevenson could very well be done as the only thing he can do these days is talk trash.  Even at his best he would be most effective coming off the bench.  His occasional 3-point hot streak and solid defensive play would be a nice commodity in a reserved role.  Nick Young is on the verge of being a solid 2 guard but an upgrade is certainly possible given the team’s draft situation.  He might be at the point in his career when a little competition wouldn’t hurt.  Mike Jones might not be a Wizard for long but I believe he could give quality minutes in a reserved role.  He is not good enough to be the back-up point guard any more.  I could see his best-case-scenario being reduced to the role of an Anthony Johnson, not the primary back-up but a solid third option for sporadic minutes.  I like Jarvaris Crittenton a lot, he is around 6’5” with good speed and a nice work ethic.  With the overstock of combo guards in this draft the Wizards may be able to pick a player that would still allow Crit room to develop as a role player.  You have to like his prospects with his size and athleticism, he is just a classic case of a player who entered the pro’s too early, only he has a chance to actually make it in the Association.  

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Washington Wizards and the draft posted by john howard

The Wizards were the second worst team in the NBA this year and will get the 5th and 32nd picks of the draft.  Anawn Jamison and Caron Butler had to carry the load and did what they could.  Without All-star Gilbert Arenas, they struggled.  A healthy Arenas alone could mean a push for the playoffs again.  A couple of bright spots were the emergence of Dominic McGuire and the continuing development of Nick Young. Big man Jordan Hill seems to be the unanimous choice for most draft boards. The 5th pick has produced 5 all-stars and 10 starters in the past 14 drafts.  The 32nd pick offers little hope.  In the same span, there were only 2 bench players.  However, there was one all-star in Rashard Lewis.  Good luck Wizard fans.Continue reading "Washington Wizards and the draft"

Wizards An Eastern Conference Threat? posted by Matt Clark

19-63.  That was Washington's record this past season.  Dead last in the East. Ouch.  But it seemed like just yesterday they were battling with the Cavs in the playoffs year after year.  Gilbert Arenas' knee injury killed them this season.  If he was healthy, they probably would've squeaked into the playoffs.  I think the Wiz are going to come back strong.  Assuming Arenas is still the Arenas we've come to know as one of the best players in the league, the Wizards should be much improved.  Throw in whoever they get with the #5 pick in the draft, and we will definitely see this team back in the playoffs.  Caron Butler is extremely underrated, and Antawn Jamison is still playing at a fairly high level (assuming Cleveland doesn't get him).  A healthy Arenas and that #5 pick should absolutely rejuvenate this franchise.  Javale McGee and Nick Young are nice pieces as well.  I think this team has #4 playoff seed potential next year.  Arenas had better be good next year, with all that money the team gave him. Continue reading "Wizards An Eastern Conference Threat?"

Washington Wizards Work Out Stephen Curry, Johnny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, and Others (Video) posted by Chase Hughes

http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/workouts_090616.html

This link has a photo gallery of several NBA prospects including Johnny Flynn (Syracuse), Brandon Jennings (Italy), Stephen Curry (Davidson), and Brandon Costner (N.C. State).  There is also a video which is great, I wish I could have been there.  Curry is dropping everything and Brandon Jennings looks real nice running point. 
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Sports Illustrated Reports Cavs-Wizards Trade Scenario posted by Chase Hughes

Sports Illustrated has reported a possible trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards involving Antawn Jamison and Mike James.  It was originally brought up by DraftExpress and it would land the Wizards Ben Wallace, who may retire, and Sasha Pavlovic who is under a "non-guaranteed contract for next season."  And what I am assumng is a joke, they said the Wizards may possibly have to surrender the 5th pick.  A deal involving those players in return would make sense financially but the Wizards need to get some value for a player as good and consistent as Antawn Jamison.  If the mindset is win now, Antawn's 20 and 10 production would need to be replaced, and quickly.  I could see this deal if they were bringing in Blake Griffin but acquiring a replacement power forward is just unrealistic at this point.  Also, it would be interesting to see Ben Wallace's opinion on returning to the Wizards.  I am not sure of how his departure went but I know his teamate on the Detriot Pistons, Richard Hamilton, did not enjoy his stay. 
There is no question that Jamison would be a quick-fix for the Cavaliers, he would be a great addition to their current roster.  However, I am not sure that the Washington Wizards will get what they want and need out of Cleveland, a team that is desperate to win immediately.  I don't think that the Cavaliers have anything to offer that would equate the potential value of the 5th overall pick.

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Washington Wizards Possibly Interested in Stephen Curry for 5th Pick posted by Chase Hughes

The Washington Post’s Michael Lee reported yesterday that the Wizards are “possibly leaning toward Davidson point guard Stephen Curry.”  It is now a rumor that the Washington Wizards are intrigued by the scoring phenom whom many teams have expressed interest in, including the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats.  Stephen Curry was originally projected outside the top five, closer to the tenth pick.  If it is true that Ernie Grunfeld is interested then the Wizards may be looking to draft more for need than just going with the best player available.  This assertion contradicts Grunfeld’s statements last month about picking the best player still on the board.  This could also mean that the Wizards are indeed looking to trade back in the draft, possibly around the mid-to-late lottery or even later.  This is a theory fueled by Michael Lee of The Washington Post who reported that the Wizards were working out Louisville’s Terrence Williams today. 
Grunfeld’s rumored interest in Stephen Curry could be for these reasons or just for the simple fact that the player is moving up the draft board.  He is a difficult player to project as far as potential because of a variety of reasons.  For one he is perceived as being too small to play the role of scorer in the NBA.  It is the same weakness that caused big-time college programs to be hesitant about him when he came out of high school.  I saw Curry play his freshman year in Charleston, SC and he was extremely small.  His freshman year he was around 6 feet and maybe 155 pounds.  Since his first year in the NCAA, in which he was second to Kevin Durant in freshman scoring, Curry has grown at least two inches.  He looks older now but still underdeveloped.  His father Dell was listed at 6’5,” 6’6” was decently filled-out later in his professional career.  It is conceivable that Stephen could grow another inch or so and certainly gain muscle after joining an NBA workout program. 
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Wizards send Wolves No. 5 pick, get Foye (AP)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to have one busy draft day. The Timberwolves agreed to trade guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Washington Wizards for the fifth overall draft pick and three players, leaving Minnesota with four first-round choices and plenty of ammunition to do even more wheeling and dealing. [read full article]

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Zierden resigns as Lynx coach; Gillom promoted (AP)

The Minnesota Lynx have promoted Jennifer Gillom to head coach after Don Zierden resigned to join Flip Saunders' staff with the Washington Wizards. Zierden's resignation and Gillom's promotion come just days before the Lynx open the WNBA season at home against Chicago on Saturday. In two seasons as coach, Zierden led the Lynx to a 26-42 regular-season record, including a 16-18 mark in 2008. [read full article]

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