DAVE’S BLOG: 2007 NBA DRAFT
6:00 PM: Hey gang Dave Johnson here in the Wizards draft room. It’s quiet now..only one in the row save for internet gurus Eric Hernandez and Will Fan. There is a big projection screen tuned to ESPN in front of a U shaped table and another projection screen showing the draft order for both rounds of this draft.
There is a real sense of anticipation. Team President Ernie Grunfeld has said if the Wizards keep the 16th pick overall that he is not expecting a player who will come in and have an immediate impact. When he was asked this week about the pick, he noted that there are no secrets and that you could take a look at the various mock drafts and come up with probably six to seven realistic possibilities.
There is also lots of talk on the Oden vs. Durant front. It has already been reported that the Trail Blazers have talked to Oden’s people but the team has denied that…just have to wait and see But here in this quite room it should get busy as the Wizards try to sort out what they want to do with their picks. They are excited about last year’s first round pick Oleksiy Pecherov–who is working oiut and getting ready for his rookie year—hope to be excited again.
6:35PM: Closer and closer to the start of the ESPN broadcast. Still quiet in the Wizards draft room..the guys who will be forced to make the decisions are in the building just not here in the draft room. Watching all this talk just makes me more anxious for this to actually start. Again we are in a position where it is too hard to predict.
6:55PM: Alright I am ready. Let’s just start thins thing. There is a little more activity here in the Draft room which is a board room located close to the Wizards locker room. Trainer Eric Waters and strength coach Drew Cleary just breezed by. No players here tonight although we were just talking about Gilbert being back from his Tahiti vacation. A big board rating all the players in the draft was just delivered!!! A sign we are getting close.
7:ooPM: Alright show time.. the ESPN pre game show. Still relatively quiet in the draft room. Ernie Grunfled and his staf have yet to arrive . You know just reading stuff about the draft history. Saw that Darius Songaila was the 50th pick overall in 2002…a night of possibilities…now the coaches are here.
7:15PM: Ernie Grunfeld is here along with the basketball operations staff so we are settling in for the long night and yeah like you might expect there is buzz about what other teams might do since it will have such an impact on us
7:20PM: Getting closer. Draft room has filled up. Atmosphere is relaxed. Board that rates the players is now in position.
7:33PM: Portland is on the clock..still a relaxed atmoshere as the plot will thicken later
7:42PM: Kevin Durant goes to number two as there is talk of that Ray Allen deal. Again all hands on deck here in the draft room but very much hurry up and wait
7:46PM So Al Horford goes to Atlanta and now the draft really begins. Horford to Atlanta was the feeling in this Wizards draft room. About 25 people in the room. President Ernie Grunfeld and the entire coahcing staff is here.
7:58PM: First deal of the night as we expect Jeff Green to end up in Seattle. For the Wizards still too early. You get a sense Grunfeld and compnay are just waiting to see how things develop A tremendous amount of work goes into the draft inlcluding workouts with 43 players—so they are ready for anything….did check the phones..important they work to contact New York.
8:07PM: Oleksiy Pecherov just stopped by the draft room after a work out on the practice floor across the hall. Ernie Grunfeld grabbed him and said “I have to feed the young guy”. Not yet cruch time for us…
8:14PM: Silence in the draft room as we all watched the Gilbert Arenas LIVE 08 commerical.Up to the 8th pick this is the point where it starts to relate to the Wizards but still impossible to predict.
8:29PM: Seven picks away and we get the comic relief of another Gil NBA LIVE 08 commercial.
8:39PM: With Acie Law going to Atlanta at number 11 Wizards options are probably coming more into focus
8:46PM Philadelphia’s first pick of the first round is done…more activity here in the Draft room with three picks to go before showtime.–another Gil commerical to enjoy–but this time the focus is on our pick. basketball ops staff busy on the phones
8:59PM: The phones have been busier..with just a pick to needles to say Wizards are closing in on their guy.
9:05PM: We are on the clock and Ernie was just on the phone. Positive feeling in the room.
9:15PM: It is Nick Young from Southern Cal. Wizards Assistant Director of Player Personnel Tim Connelly tells me that Young reminds him of Richard Hamilton. He has a great mid-range game..very athletic..very competitive. The Wizards worked him out and he was higher than 16 on their board. Several mock drafts had Young going before 16. On the subject of the Wizards need for a big man they did address that in last year’s draft with Oleksiy Pecherov.
9:30PM: Pecherov is still in the room soaking up this NBA Draft. Again he has been here in Washington with a Gilbert Arenas like work ethic. As I mentioned before in some ways he is a part of this draft class and with knowlede of his ability I think that impacted how the Wizards approached this draft. Young was a player the Wizards had their fingers crossed on. A sense of optimism did buid in their room right around the 11th pick as the team probably had a sense they could get one of the players high on the list
9:53PM: A great mood here in the Draft room. Eddie Jordan just finished talking to Nick Young on the phone and he was all smiles. I think the good feeling comes from getting a player they wanted–liked when they worked him out–but didn’t think they would be able to get. Young can give the Wizards a scoring lift off the bench. With the first pick down– and a guy they wanted– a reason to celebrate–but the business of the draft goes on as they work the draft board and prepare for number 47
10:20PM: Having a blast blogging. Ernie and company getting set for the second round and the quicker clock–two minutes. I know I am repeating myself but in talking to Ernie he is really pleased becasue in Nick Young they were able to draft a player they wanted but didn’t expect to be there at 16. Ernie told me that when Philadelphia selected Thaddeus Young at 12, the Wizards received about six or seven phone calls to trade their pick since at that point Julian Wright, Al Thornton and Nick Young were all still available.
10:29PM: Wizards went in this draft with confidence in the development of Pecherov and Blache both players have been here tonight. Ernie told me that if he had the tenth pick he would have selected Spencer Hawes but he was never going to fall to 16.
11:03PM: Waiting on the second pick and we get word that Nick Young will wear number one. I think there more people analyze this pick they will like it. I am excited about the aspect that he has the ability to create his own shot from what we are told and the three years in college gives him valubale experience.
11:05PM: Oleksiy Pecherov is still here in the draft room–we know that becasue he just cheered with the Philadelphia’s selection of Krylo Fesenko from Ukraine.
11:10PM: Always nice when you have something someone else wants. I can tell you there were several phone calls about our pick when it became clear that Nick Young was one of the possibilities with that pick.
11:35PM Seond round pick Fresno State Forward Dominic McGuire….Checking in with the Wizards Milt Newton–who tells me… that McGuire is very versatile…great defender..5th in the nation in blocked shots..handles ball very well..unselfish passer. coaches just checked out..high fives.. group seems pleased.
11:44PM: Hey gang that is going to do it for me.. this was fun and i hope we can do this some more.. and if you want to get a hold of me just drop me an e-mail at wizards@washsports.com……
thanks again
dave johnson
Posted: June 28th, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Wizards4Life it’s great to have you with us. We have the big screen on as well..just waiting for the big wigs to show up…calm before the storm..but bit is intriguing becasue if we have the pick what other team do will also have an impact.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 5:59 PM
I gotta wait til 7 to get espn (yeah in Switzerland we only get to see BBall from 7 til 1am for ya which is the night for us!) can’t wait for this draft to begin!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:05 PM
LilGil glad you could jump on board. I am hoping to be in Switzerland next year for Euro 2008…Again it should be an interesting night..I think anything is possible.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:06 PM
Just got home.. and haven’t read about any moves yet.
Amare to Bobcats being discussed though.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:06 PM
thanks for the welcome and i would love to see the frenzy flying around in that room… i know that’s got to be an intense scene! i hope some one drops a good one to us and that’s one of the main reasons i want to watch because there are so many options and ? marks as to who is going were and when.
P.S. everyone seen the Gil Live 08 commercials i have see 2 so far
Comment from BulletsFanFromBirth78
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:13 PM
Packing up at work, will be home and set up in front of my ESPN HD in 20. Looking forward to some contests!! Get your fingers ready for some typing Dave
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:13 PM
WizDom glad to have you too….if any deals have been done they won’t be announced until after the draft starts—that’s aleague rule—so we are really in hurry up and wait mode
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:17 PM
I say we draft Marco Belinelli …
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:19 PM
WizDom..I have no isnside info but I have seen Marco Belinelli connected with us in one mock draft….I know we do extensive European scouting
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:21 PM
BulletsFanFromBirth78 a big greeting…and I hope to burn up the fingers and please excuse the typos tonight
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:22 PM
Perhaps we’re trying to get Jose Calderon.. since I’ve heard Toronto is trying to trade Calderon to pair Belinelli with fellow countryman Bargnani.
Comment from arden1006
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:25 PM
DJ, I didn’t know you were a soccer fan… Switzerland 2008 sounds like fun… I am so excited for this draft… I feel a trade deal happening for the wiz
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:27 PM
WizDom that’s why this night is going to be exciting….tema execs are smat never to tip their hand. I remember the 2004 draft night we didn’t know the Jamison trade was coming
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:29 PM
Thank’s for the welcome, I’m glad there’re people out here. About Amare I really don’t feel like Phoenix would be open for a trade, I mean you never know but would it be worth it for ‘em… Btw, glad to hear a lil word on soccer DJ 
Everybody’s getting crazy here about the Euro, it’s gonna be great.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:29 PM
arden1006..yeah I love soccer too. I do DC United’s TV and did the World Cup for XM radio in Germany last year..and a trade would not surprise me either
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:30 PM
aznzero thanks for joining the party.. i have not heard anything on the Amare front
Comment from arden1006
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:33 PM
I was thinking about the same thing… the 2004 trade for Jamison, was totally unexpected… that’s why I don’t pay much attention to the rumors… the real ones are never talked around before they happen…
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:34 PM
arden1006 you are so right often stuff heard before the draft is just smoke
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:36 PM
So, Dave, just you Eric and Will there?..
Gonna be a long night.. did they cater for you guys?
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:36 PM
The fact is that you never know, teams say they never spoke but they wouldn’t tell you if they had… I feel like you I just don’t listen, unexpected things happen, we just have to wait a little.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:39 PM
wonder what we a lookin for ? i know what we need but i am not shure who EG wants at 16 like C/F or 2Gard
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:41 PM
Yeah as we spoke about it you can’t get anything from EG, I really hope we go for 2 guards you know, we got forwards and I’d be more interested to look on free agency for a center.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:42 PM
Eric, are you guys in DC or in NY?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:42 PM
Wizards4LIfe..if we keep the pick I think it is hard to predict becasue Ernie’s comment has been that the 16th pick probably won’t be a player who will be ready to step in…so if they have the pick they will also be looking at the future..as I said the board thast rates the players is in the room though I can’t talk about it…and it is still turned around anyway..
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:43 PM
Nara we are here in a board room at Verizon Center
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:44 PM
LilGil good point and keep in mind we are about to have last year’s pick Pecherov
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:44 PM
i agree with you on that we need a center asap but we need one that will hit the floor and produce this year…. that 2 Gard spot is deep and that’s going to be interesting
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:45 PM
WizDom thanks for thinking of us..we have food.. again we are in draft room with the coaches and execs..so we can snag their food
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:45 PM
I heard Comcast is going to show the Summer League games.. is that true? We can get a look at Pecherov this summer then.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:47 PM
what’s the point of ray allen going to boston? Is two identical players on same thing necessarily a great trade? Eh. Boston’s messed up beyond belief.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:49 PM
WizDom CSN is going to air the Summer League games so yeah that will be fun
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:50 PM
Nara I have not heard that the Allen thing is done..again we are in the hurry up and wait mode
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:52 PM
I feel a blockbuster deal soon.. Garnett is going to leave Minnesota tonight!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 6:55 PM
WizDom..yeah the rumors are certainly flying around..sometimes smoke is just smoke and sometimes when there is smoke…there is fire
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:00 PM
Hey Dave, would you agree that a dominant center is a big need for the
Wizards? I would love to see Hawes come to DC
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:07 PM
hey, where do we find the trivia question??
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:10 PM
Here we go!… Portland selects…….. Kwa….. I mean… Greg Oden
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:11 PM
Haha you’ll have to wait til MJ has to choose for Charlotte to get the next Kwame 
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:11 PM
lmao now that was funny^^^
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:14 PM
what a shock it was Greg Oden
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:14 PM
anbody surprised?
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:14 PM
My god, I can’t believe they took Greg, but they said they didn’t speak with him or his guys lol
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:15 PM
i didn’t think so..Wizards just crossed him off the board..hey you have to be complete and thorough
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:16 PM
Darn.. I thought he was going to drop to 16.. he was my sleeper pick for the Wiz!
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:16 PM
Naaaaaaaa come on, we gotta wait for Kevin Durant, he the sleeper this year ^^
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:18 PM
if only that were true but I am anxious for this draft to reach about the 10th pick…could get interesting in this room..for now pretty relaxed…
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:18 PM
that’s not sleep that hibernation
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:19 PM
Wow.. Seattle sends away Ray Allen
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:19 PM
great one
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:19 PM
boston’s soooooooo messed up. I don’t know what they’re thinking.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:20 PM
Boston’s still crying about not getting the first pick anyway…
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:20 PM
what do you guys think of that trade?
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:20 PM
poor boston fans.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:22 PM
I think Boston is getting deeper into the ground…
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:23 PM
PF but i dont think he will lead the NBA in scoring with Gil and Kobe around
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:25 PM
Lets go Wiz!!!!
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:27 PM
This is why I can’t pull for the hawks even after 4 years living here. Watch, the hawks will be the first team in nba history to have 14 forwards on their team(with joe johnson).
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Go Wizards!!!
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:29 PM
I think the Wizards should draft a C
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:30 PM
that mock draft below is dead on so far
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:30 PM
I like the Al Horford pick. They can get a PG later (and trade Sheldon Williams)
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:32 PM
So here comes the part will Boston might pick Jeff Green for Seattle if we are to believe the reports
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:32 PM
wats up with the player i think from spain we drafted like two years ago? are we gonna try to bring him over?
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:33 PM
We can’t, he has a huge buyout and we can’t pay a lot, due to NBA rules… Perhaps next year.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:34 PM
aznzero, you mean Navarro? He has a large buyout from his current team.. and looks like he’s not coming over anytime soon.
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:35 PM
Hey guys! Hope everyone is having fun. The second trivia question is online.
Comment from sixthman
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:37 PM
Question: What is worst than Ray Allen going to Boston? Answer: The Wizards not moving their feet on the Garnett/Stoudemire deal. If Stoudemire can go to Charlotte, then he can come to Washington. SPEND SOME MONEY!!!
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:40 PM
Its not about money.. Charlotte has a much higher pick,
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:42 PM
WizDom you are right about Navarro. He is a very good player with Barcelona but they way an international transfer works..we are only allowed to pay 500,000 of a buyout and the player has to pay the rest
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:44 PM
sixthman Charllote does have more to deal with a higher pick. We were able to do the Jamison deal back in 2004 becasue we had a high pick the Mavericks wanted. Draft day deals are not about money
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:44 PM
Again kudos to Jeff Green on getting drafted. so high..from Northwestern High School and Georgetown
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:51 PM
keep your fingers crossed but we might get a legit post player with hawes if he falls past 10
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:52 PM
Ha.. one of Gil’s commercials
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:57 PM
Nara interesting point about Hawes..in most mock draft he is going between 9-12..Jay Bilas really high on Charlotte’s pick of Brandon Wright
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 7:59 PM
I wonder if Chicago will pick Hawes or Noah
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:01 PM
I want to move up and take Joakim Noah… If Chicago takes Hawes instead.
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:02 PM
Dang.
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:03 PM
-> anzero :
Navarro wants to come play, but has a huge buyout that the Wiz are not allowed to pay.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:04 PM
aznero….inot sure if Nvarro wants to come but there is a buyout of his contract that would make it cost prohibitive for him ..by league rules we can only pay $500,000 and he would have to pay several million
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:05 PM
doclinkin i know the Wizards were very high on Noah but just out of our reach
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:05 PM
The BobCats seem to want every possible Tarheel in the league.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:06 PM
i was thinking the same thing doc. It seems like to jordan, tar heel history is like the biggest thing in basketball or something
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:07 PM
so wats up with haywood? we should trade him for a young big man
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:08 PM
I dont see how Noah helps Chicago. He’s a taller Tyrus Thomas and Ben Wallace. All energy guys with no outside shot.
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:09 PM
Navarro has been quoted in Spanish papers saying he has done everything he can for Barcelona and hopes that they will reward his loyalty by reducing his buyout. But see, in europe you don’t get a lottery pick if you play poorly, instead they fire the coach etc. They have no incentive for letting him go.
Worst of all? The same franchise has offered big dollars to euro phenom guard Rudy Fernandez. Which would tend to discourage anyone taking him int he first round… but if he falls to the 2nd then a team can offer him more dollars actually. I see him landing with the Spurs. Though he’d be a nice fit here.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:10 PM
stupid sacramento.
Comment from elysia
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:11 PM
ooo i love this…. cant wait for pick 16. even the commercials are great
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:13 PM
Ok, we’re thru 10 picks and it’s more or less as expected — no surprises.
There are a lot of picks to go through before we see who drops to us; still on the block and unpicked: acie law, thornton, nick young, stuckey, crittenton. if those 5 guys are taken w/ the next 5 picks we get julian wright. I think atlanta will take either law or crittenton w/ #11. then we get nervous.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:15 PM
good call tom mandel
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:18 PM
Now I want to trade up for Rod Stuckey. But that won’t happen either.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:18 PM
that’s a hot uniform
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:19 PM
that was a funky pick by the bulls dont know what they need low post players with big bin down there
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:19 PM
New Orleans will take Nick Young. ATL is actually drafting intelligently, crazy…
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:20 PM
eh, ben wallace is getting old anyway but I hope chicago screws themselves up a bit though. hate chicago.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:21 PM
I don’t think Noah will bring chi what they need right now…He’s a pretty good player but I don’t think chicago needed that kind of guy…
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:22 PM
You heard it here first the Wiz will draft Italy’s Marco Belinelli
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:23 PM
doclinkin interesting about Stuckey…DraftExpress ‘ mock draft has us taking Stuckey..stuckey was not a plyer the Wizards worked out..but works outs are a small part of the equation
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:24 PM
babsforlife we have you on the record
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:24 PM
# aznzero Says: so wats up with haywood? we should trade him for a young big man
Haywood is actually a deceptively useful player. The DraftExpress database shows him to have one of the largest wingspan’s and standing reach of all players drafted since 1999. This translates into his ability to force a higher % of misses per minute than anybody aside from Mutombo– without fouling. These misses convert directly to Caron and Tawn’s rebound statistics, even if Big ‘Wood doesn’t get the credit. It doesn’t show up well in the box score, except in the Win/Loss column. EG won’t let him go cheaply, if at all.
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:25 PM
I don’t think the $$$ works out for Haywood…i think a 5 million plus contract
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:28 PM
Law and Thaddeus Young (first surprise) gone.
Word is that detroit promised Stuckey. If either NO or the clippers taking crittenton, and they well might because they *need* a point guard, then we get one of nick young, al thornton or julian wright.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:29 PM
Pretty cool…Oleksiy Pecheroiv has joined us in the Draft room
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:29 PM
Al Thronton is the only exception to go before Marco
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:31 PM
tommandel..good trio you mentioned..down to two
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:32 PM
FYI…
Don’t miss out on exciting Washington Wizards action. Act now to reserve the best seat locations for the 2007-08 season. Deposits are now being accepted for full and partial season plans. For more information, call the Wizards Sales Office at (202) 661-5050. Representatives will be available on draft night until 9:30 to assist you.
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:32 PM
Stuckey will end up in Detroit. But if not, I’d love it of he landed here. Workout or no. He’s just got the uptempo offguard attack that we’ve missed since Larry Hughes stepped out. Talk about ‘Pure Energy’ you couldn’t pick a guy to pressure with the ball, either him or Gil would just take off running.
BTW Dave. Let me take this aside to say I really like your style on the radio. I even turn the sound off the TV to listen instead. We miss Scott Jackson on the postgame and halftime, but, just so you know you’re appreciated.
Wow, JWright to N’awlins. I thought they needed more outside gunnery. Uh Oh. I think Nick Young might land here. Hmmn. I dunno if I like that. I’d almost rather trade down and get a couple picks.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:32 PM
i guess we’re getting thornton or nick young
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:33 PM
Julian Wright is gone to NO. If the clippers take Crittenton, and Detroit does have a promise, then we get al thornton. That’s a steal! But… it ain’t happened yet. Keep your hat on, kids.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:35 PM
doclinkin…thank you for the kind words—-i know i am lucky to do what i do. again I appreciate it….like the team i will try do even better next year
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM
Pecherov!!! Throw a jersey on that man! And, nothing personal, but we need to draft a high-upside american sleeper (no more foreign buyouts, Ernie) to give give him a run in training camp. Marc Gasol is too big. Sean Williams or Jason Smith? Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie!!!!
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM
shooooot
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM
fuuuuuuuudge
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM
so close
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:36 PM
i guess nick young
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:37 PM
Be glad Al Thornton is gone!! Too old. Not enough upside. 3 years older than Darko!
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:38 PM
Are we looking at PGs?? If so JAVARIS!!!!!!
PS. STUPID clippers
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:38 PM
I think Nick Young too.
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:40 PM
now who do we take??? Man I wanted Thornton!!
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:40 PM
Why does everyone here seem to want a ‘3′? For goodness sake lets roll the dice with a ‘5′.
Ernie is good enough to get a ‘3′ off the street. ‘5’s are so much harder to come by.
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:40 PM
young I guess- he’ll be alright
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:40 PM
one of the too and i dont know what we are lookin for because EG did not say a word he could be lookin at anyone
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:41 PM
Thornton ~ Jamison… I’d rather take a talented offguard. I don’t hate that. We’re deep in tweener Bigs.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:41 PM
Thornton is gone. Right now, Jason Smith is the best players on the board are Jared Dudley, Morris Almond and Jason Smith. I’ll be bummed if we pick the over-rated Nick Young.
Take a look at the numbers: http://www.wagesofwins.com/DraftProspects2007.html. If you want to find Young, you have to look *way* down the list. Puh-lease let it be one of the 3 and not Young.
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:41 PM
DJ- I have said for years that the Wizards need an inside game- Haywood has improved, but I am still not sold on him- don’t even get me started on Thomas(and trust me, I am a HUGE Cuse fan)
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:42 PM
Dave, any chance you could nudge Mr. Grunfeld over there and ask him who he’s thinking? The suspense is killing me.
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:42 PM
It looks like we’re staring down the barrel of Javaris Crittendon or Nick Young.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:43 PM
lol
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:43 PM
Nick Young is ours!!!
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:43 PM
I hope Young- I know he is overrated, but I think he will be alright
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:43 PM
Here we go!! Lets go Jason Smith. Lets go Sean Williams! Ernie, get us a ‘5′!!!
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:44 PM
I really thought that Wright was going to slip down to us
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:44 PM
Come on EG 
you know you can trust us
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:44 PM
Marco Belinelli ?
Comment from arden1006
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:44 PM
DJ you probably already know what’s cooking… come on man tell us something… the anticipation is killing me…
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:45 PM
Why get a ‘3′ when we can re-sign Jarvis? No ‘3′, please!
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:45 PM
I’d love Marco or Morris on a trade down.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:45 PM
We are about to find out..they have made the call
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:45 PM
TELLL MEE SOMETHING!!!!!!! 3 Minutes are too long!
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:46 PM
you heard didn’t you
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:46 PM
can’t hurt to tell us now
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:46 PM
DJ- what do you think we should do about the lack of a dominant big man??
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:47 PM
tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell us tell uss ell us tell us tell us tell us
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:47 PM
gang I am with Tim Connelly and he is about to fill us in on our pick
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:47 PM
SMith or Marco
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:47 PM
tim is the assistant director of player personnel
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:47 PM
here we go……..
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
so gang the pick is Nick Young of USC
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
NICK YOUNG I KNEW
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
nice
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
Its Young!!! Yeah!
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
i like the pick
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
i dont like that but its all good that hat is nice
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM
applause in the room…tim says he remined him of richard hamilton.. great mid range game..very athletic 6″7″..38 inch vertcial leap
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
DJ- you like the Young pick??
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
I don’t get it. Why is he an upgrade over Jarvis Hayes? We needed a 5.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
very competitive according tim……nick was higher on the wizards board than 16
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
THANK YOU STEPHEN A. I keep saying we need help in the front courtg!!!
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
Stephen A. Smith is taking us to the woodshed. Why oh why did we not get a ‘5′??
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:50 PM
iNick Young worked out with the Wizards and he wnated to be here…..
Comment from kg
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:50 PM
I was praying for this..YEAAAAAA GO Nickkkk
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:51 PM
I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT ALL NIGHT- WE NEED HUGE HELP UP FRONT!!!!!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:51 PM
Oleksiy Pecherov was listening to ESPN
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:51 PM
Well… naturally, it’s Young that we got.
Ernie knows more than Tom, so I must be wrong.
*No* defense, says Jay Bilas
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:51 PM
Ernie will work his magic and get a big man to DC, trust him.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:51 PM
I love this team, but I am so disappointed. We needed a 5.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:52 PM
okay.. I hope Pech heard that clearly..
Lets see if that motivates him
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:52 PM
see, THAT trade is made with some sense. Unlike the boston celtics front office’s moves
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:52 PM
I HOPE- I AM TIRED OF SEEING THEM GET KILLED INSIDE
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:52 PM
On the pick I can tell you the team is pleased..and again on help inside the Wizards did address that with last year’s pick Pecherov who is here now and ready to play
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:53 PM
By The Way- has anyone else noticed that the Wiz really need to get better at foul shots??
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:53 PM
Now Zach Randolph is gone too…
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:53 PM
TM yeah unless we get DS back i think this is a bad move but with DS that is that fire power off the bench that Gil asked for
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:53 PM
Our pick is so irrelevant that they have moved on to talking about the Knicks.
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:54 PM
Can Randolph and Curry co-exist?
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:55 PM
yeh, we need DS back
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:55 PM
i trust ernie. but is nick a guard or a forward? espn says hes a guard but hes like 6′7″. it will be interesting to see him get in the rotation. i guess stephen A hasn’t heard about our man Pech
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:55 PM
I would love to see Juan Dixon back- I was really upset when they let him go
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:55 PM
I AM SORRY BUT PERCH IS FREAKING TERRIBLE!!!!
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:56 PM
Nick Young is a SG.
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:56 PM
I AM A HUGE WIZ FAN- BUT I GET SO SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING NO BIG MEN!!! THEY DRAFT ALL OF THESE FOREIGNERS WHO ARE TERRIBLE
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:56 PM
DJ, i guess it’s hard to see what Pech can do inside…havent seen him play, but from what i’ve read I do believe he can be a presense down low…thoughts?
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:57 PM
We still have to keep DS, Young the step up from the bench guy, keep DS!!
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:58 PM
HAHA ANDRAY!?!?
pLEASE
Comment from caribbeanskillz
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:58 PM
Why no Center…??? I can’t really see the point of another Guard/Foward… Well, Except the “scorer off the bench” point from Gil…
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:58 PM
Why in the world did they not try to get Randolph? That guy is a force inside
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:58 PM
Um.. as nice as juan dixon was when he was on, he was a shorter version of what jarvis hayes brought this year.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:58 PM
texman trying to start fights up in here
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:59 PM
no no
I just get frustrated with the team
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:59 PM
We match any offers for Blatche and then re-sign DeShawn at a reasonable salary… How about Jarvis?..
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 8:59 PM
everyone in the world can tell you the wizards need help inside- but the team does not do a thing about it
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:00 PM
whatever we could’ve offered wouldn’t have been better than what the knicks gave the blazers. unless we broke our core and i don’t think randolph is worth breaking our core for
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:00 PM
Well I think we can let Jarvis go, honestly…
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:00 PM
I thought Jason Smith would have fit in well with the Warriors
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:00 PM
so who would you have drafted tex?
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:01 PM
drop JH like a hot rock
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:01 PM
there was noone else left to draft, i like the young pick- i am just syaing I never hear them going after a big man
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:02 PM
i think if spencer hawes was left on the board, i’d bet we would’ve taken him in a second
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:02 PM
I think we have to remember Pecherov In some ways you can count him in this draft as well becasue this will be his rookie year. My sense is that Young–a player they didn’t think would be availabe–was too good to pass up. and as for trades i know the phones have been ringing in here–don’t know if they have been trades..but as always with trades..it’s easier for us to make them than for gms
Comment from texman182
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:02 PM
that is who i wanted from the start
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:03 PM
It’s only starting, we got a 2nd pick,we got the free agency, it’s gonna come, EG knows what he does.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:03 PM
plus we went after darius last summer. he’s a good big man.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:03 PM
Well you certainly don’t need Jarvis now that you have drafted this kid. I think it’s a shame to draft this kid because now you have to take some playing time away from Caron or get rid of Jarvis or DeShawn.
Doesn’t Gilbert always say that Deshawn is the 3rd best shooter behind him and Mason? And Jarvis would be 4th. So this kid better be the second coming.
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:03 PM
Who did you want instead Tex? There were no banger big men left (except Sean Williams) and J.Smith, McRoberts, etc are no better than Blatch, Pech, D.Song
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:04 PM
all good points.. and i think the wizards liked Hawes but again he just never was going to fall to 16…. in fact he did not work out with the Wizards–a sign the team knew they didn’t have a chance.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:04 PM
we’ll be fine as long as we don’t have injury tsunami like this season, dont worry tex.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:05 PM
Deshawn is our D thats why we keep DS and tell JH to go kick rocks
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:06 PM
where’s javaris going to go?!!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:06 PM
i can tell you the team is happy about this pick…a real sense of optimism started to build in this room right around the 11th pick.. i think they had a feel the draft was going in a direction they wanted
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:06 PM
DJ since you mentioned we might not move Haywood, has Ernie’s phone been ringing about Etan? How about Etan, Nick Young and a 2008 second rounder for the rights to Derrick Coleman?
I’m only just barely kidding.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:06 PM
Yeah definitly, right now he’s the better defender out there… Btw I still think we gotta learn on how to play with injuries you know, guys have to step up, next season’ll be quiet interesting.
Comment from Dthefan
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:08 PM
Hate the pick. I like Golden State’s choice.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:09 PM
YES HE DOSE
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Hell yeah he wanna be traded, I don’t think he’s planning on ever wearing a wizard uniform while EJ is here…
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:10 PM
I bet you that Eran, Nick Young and a 2008 second rounder would get you Sam Dalembert from Philly. DJ, what is Billy King’s number?
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:10 PM
so why would EG keep a player who doesnt wanna be here? sad cuz i really like haywood.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:13 PM
gilbert likes brendan and if brendan stays its cuse gill wanted him too
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:14 PM
I feel like the draft got messed up with the Philadephia T.Young pick. LA doesnt need Critteron, Miami doesn’t need J.Smith, etc
Comment from doclinkin
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Haywood just wants to play. He likes the team. If EJ swaps Big Poet for something decent he’ll be fine. I like Etan, but Haywood is better. Either way Haywood doesn’t have a choice.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:14 PM
i am not sure i mentioned we might not move Haywood but I know we won’t give him away..as you all know the draft is only a part of the summer..starting july 1 we have free agents on our roster to address..and on these trades..i am sure it is the case in draft rooms all over the nba… phone rings–an option is presented—but it doesn’t go anywhere…
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:15 PM
he has not planed on it i think he is trying to package him with some thing or one and get him out for another big man
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Brendan and Nick Young to Atlanta for Shelden Williams. Done and Done. Get the other Billy on the phone and see if Atlanta’s 36 different owners will sign off on the trade…
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Come on, did you see the last games of the season?? I like(d) Haywood ok, but he can’t stay here anymore, he simply doesn’t feel part of the team, he asked to be traded!
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Stop trying to trade nick young hes staying!!!!!!
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:17 PM
yeah he is not that good and its not just ET he dont like EJ who is the coach so take your pick we get rid of everyone that Haywood dont like or bump haywood sounds like a easy choice
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:18 PM
we need pj brown
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:19 PM
whats our next pick?
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:19 PM
i think gil wants him to stay so they can goof off. lol but yea i like brenden. but i wouldnt keep a player who really doesnt wanna play in our city.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:19 PM
for shelden williams??? really?? I didn’t think he was that good but eh
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:20 PM
47 i think is our next pick which hopefully we take strawberry
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:21 PM
2nd round is the place to get specialty players like defensive specialists, hustle players, rebounders, outside shooters, etc. I think this might be a good place to pick up a physical hustling big or a defensive specialist like strawberry
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:22 PM
I hope we take him if he goes that far…
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Sorry DJ, did not mean to misquote you on not moving Haywood. I got you mixed up with doclinkin at 8:24.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:26 PM
By the way, I hate Duke as much as the next guy, but Shelden Williams’ production-per-minute is really good. And he’s going to get less minutes with Atlanta’s log-jam at ‘4′.
Although he is undersized, so I could see us not wanting to trade legit beefy size (either of our big guys) for him. Still, it would be a mistake for us to keep them both.
In any case, we need a ‘4′, and what better trading partner than Atlanta? They are deep and young at ‘4′ and Ernie can rob them blind….:-)
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:27 PM
back on gang..had to step away.. eddie jordan was just talking to young on the phone…big smile..young in his workout says he wanted to play with gilbert has his wish..bottom line look at needs big men ..scoring off the bench.. young address the scoring issue
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:27 PM
Im Pretty sure the wiz will take strawberry at the 47th pick unless big baby falls all the way down
I mean they did work him out and they liked what they saw so hopefully hes around for us at 47
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:28 PM
we need a 5 not a 4 we got alot of 4s our self
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:28 PM
what do we need then azn ??
hard to get a decent guy in low post at pick 47 and i doubt we can make a trade
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:29 PM
We already got 4, OP, Dray, Tawn come on it’s not what’s missing in DC, 5 or a guard!
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:29 PM
not a good move by the knicks
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:29 PM
nice DJ i take it we are keeping DS then if he is the bench guy
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:30 PM
watch, Grunfeld’s gonna find a carlos boozer at 47. just watch.
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:31 PM
What Centers or PF/C will be available at 47?
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:31 PM
lol We need to find a PJ Brown
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:32 PM
Aaron Gray 7′2″ out of Pittsburgh Not a Bad pick if hes around that deep
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Yes, we have a lot of ‘4’s. Just not good ones. Heh. Okay, you want a ‘5′?
Haywood, sign-and-trade Jarvis and 2008 second rounder to Denver for Marcus Camby. Though something tells me our side of the salary equation is too heavy there. But jarvis might take a little less to go play in Denver.
Having Etan as a beefy backup to a often injured Camby is perfect. With Etan, Pech, Blatche and Calvin Boothe all rotating through the post as well. You can win with that…
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Gray is a Stiff! Big body but not much else.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:34 PM
GoWiz07,
Anything is better than Brendan Haywood
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:34 PM
Marc Gasol…he has good genes
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:35 PM
i’m pretty sure denver’s gm will laugh his butt off if Ernie called about that trade.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Hey, people are selling picks??? Abe needs to get out there and buy us a pick!!
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:35 PM
AJ is not a good player ? people are starting to wonder around crazy
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:36 PM
Phx always sells their pick. That is so annoying.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:36 PM
Okay, this is Kiki Vandeweghe we are talking about in Denver. This man drafted Nene and Tshkistishvili in the same draft. I’m telling you he has Brendan and Jarvis written all over him.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:36 PM
wizards4life..i think we would like to keep ds…and to gowiz07 as for availble centers i am going to ask around here at the end of the firts round
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:37 PM
How much does a pick go for? We should trade a pick overseas to buyout Juan Carlos’s contract
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:37 PM
sell our pick*
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:37 PM
i actually would like camby to come here. his long arms, blocking and defensive skills would def help us out
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:40 PM
Yeah, we keep DS
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:41 PM
Thanks Dave
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Kyle Visser, has improved every year at Wake, could bring a bench presense in, for the 5. Their aren’t many pure 5’s in the league besides Tim D, Shaq, and Yao
Comment from GoWiz07
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:45 PM
I like Visser, Babs. How tall is he?
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:45 PM
6′11, we need a 7′3 guy
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:46 PM
we did have a 7′ 4″ lump. Peter John Ramos. Anyone remember his useless butt?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:47 PM
Another thing they like about Nick Young is his abillity to create his own shot..
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Visser is way to weak
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:49 PM
Create his own shot …….. Something Jarvis couldnt do
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:49 PM
hey my longer comments won’t get posted. anyone else having similar problems?
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:49 PM
who do you suggest balla?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Just chatting with President Ernie Grunfeld.. he says that when the Sixers selected Thaddeus Young..the Wizards did receive about six or seven calls about their pick since at that point Thornton, Wright and Young were still on the board
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:51 PM
Okay here is one man’s suggested shopping list of 4’s and 5’s for Ernie. It’s also a list of easy to fleece GMs.
Camby (Den-Kiki)
Dalembert (Phi-one of the Billys, I forget which)
Any of Atlanta’s 4’s (ATL – The other Billy)
Chris Wilcox (Sea) soak them while they are delirious
Elton Brand (Lac) No, probably not but see if Elgin Baylor is asleep at the wheel again
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:51 PM
I suggest Gray but i doubt he will be there so Strawberry seems to be the probable
Comment from buckfitches
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:52 PM
Hey DJ:
What did the room say when Stephen A went on his rant? What was their initial response? Do they Like Josh McRoberts?
Comment from wizfan4u
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:54 PM
I am happy with Young, however what happens if DS gets a deal that Wash cannot match? What if Blatche does the same? What if Young doesn’t step up? I remember when we were happy we got Hayes 10th and now we want him out.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:55 PM
Ernie and company starting to get ready for the second round…clock is quicker–two minutes..Ernie also tells me that Pecherov is having a GREAT summer and he is excited about Blache who by the way has been here tonight. On the subject of a big man–there was no one available at 16 they wanted….If we were picking 10th we would have been interested in Hawes..but again I think it is important to conisder Pecherov as part of this draft class
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:55 PM
McRoberts is Trash
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:56 PM
Given Strawberry’s knee issues if he gets to us, isn’t he just as likely to go undrafted? Then we could get him in here to work out as an undrafted free agent.
Given who’s drafting behind us shouldn’t we just let Strawberry slip and take a flyer on a big man? We need to swing for the fences at this point.
Comment from babsforlife
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:56 PM
take the best player available right?
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:56 PM
What if Young doesn’t step up?
He will
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:58 PM
malharden,
There really is no decent bigman we are way to late in the draft…..
Best chance the wizards have in a bigman is gonna be after JULY 1st
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 9:58 PM
Or through trade
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:00 PM
OK, we could buy the next pick and take Tiago Splitter
I really want to buy season tix to this team I am just afraid we can’t get any better without a big man. I don’t want to shell out the big bucks to watch us rearrange the deck chairs at the 2-3 spots every year.
Comment from wizfan4u
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Thats right guys after July1. Haywood wants OUT!
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:01 PM
i heard popovich say he’s trading tim duncan! we should trade him for brendan haywood and useless-javarro! haha… sigh… i want tim duncan….
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:02 PM
mal…..
Tiago isnt a deffensive big man hes just like Yi a scorer NO D
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Just the reverse, balla, according to the ESPN commentators. Good defender.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:03 PM
shoot, if i lived in dc and had the money, i’d buy the season tickets in a heart beat. You can even go in during the day to check out which seats you want in person by trying out some seats. I called the ticketing office just for the fun of it and found that out.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:04 PM
No D i still state it hes has NO D
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Big Guys left on ESPN’s draft board:
Glen Davis PF 6-9 290 21 LSU
Nick Fazekas PF 6-11 225 22 Nevada
Marc Gasol C 7-0 265 22 Spain
Aaron Gray C 7-2 271 22 Pittsburgh
Kyrylo Fesenko PF 7-1 270 20 Ukraine
Kyle Visser C 6-11 244 21 Wake Forest
Stanko Barac C 7-1 235 20 Bosnia
Jermareo Davidson PF 6-11 230 22 Alabama
Darryl Watkins C 6-11 260 22 Syracuse
James Hughes C 6-11 209 23 Northern Illinois
Mirza Begic C 7-3 225 21 Slovenia
If Ernie drafts the Bosnian kid I swear I will make a “We Want Some Stanko” sign and bring it to the Phone Booth every night!!
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:15 PM
Marc Gasol is Pau’s brother.
Okay, and now Philly has both Dalembert and Jason Smith. Go! GO! Go Ernie. Call now before Billy King sobers up….
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:16 PM
yeah his brother or cuz i think
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:21 PM
Nick Young was just on the phone here in the Press Room – looks like we’ve got TWO LA Valley boys in DC now!
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:22 PM
wow….40% of the league not from first round. That’s amazing.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:22 PM
The locker room is already quiet animated, what now ^^?
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:24 PM
Phillie gets Jason Smith. We will be seeing that kid a zillion times a season.
We missed Thornton by a hair; too bad. Nick Young plays no defense and looks too skinny to me. He ranks low on the win score list. And… he sounded goofy on TV.
I’m pretty disappointed, but hey… what do I know really? I wonder whether we could have traded our 16 to Phoenix for their 24 and 29 then taken Morris Almond and Alando Tucker. Lets watch their careers in comparison to Nick Young.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:25 PM
Stephen A is A Stupid retard Wright isnt gonna be as good as richardson Great move by bobcats
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:25 PM
puhahahaha michael jordan’s trying hard to push another franchise down the drain!!!
Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:26 PM
I am ready to hear DJ Strawberry for the Wiz. Tons of scoring in the back court but no D.
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:26 PM
jason richardson’s pretty darn good but if you could trade him to get chris bosh, you would, wouldn’t you? I think they’re expecting the same out of wright.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:26 PM
And we already found a name for what MJ’s doing, Kwamisation
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:31 PM
sorry gang been slow on replies..been running around the arena.. i think somebody asked about any response to a Stephen A rant… the room has enjoyed the ESPN broadcast….and this is romm that is just real pleased with who they picked.. again there was not a big man at 16 they were interested in
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:31 PM
ARGH!!! I really thought we were going to have Fazekas slip to us but I did not want to jinx it!
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:32 PM
We can definitely get one of the ‘name’ big guys though. I just jinxed it. I don’t care…
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Yikes, I really did jinx it. 3 big men in a row.
Comment from buckfitches
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Chad Ford [ESPN] likes NY for the Wiz. He thinks he will thrive in the offense and was a “Good Value” at this pick.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Portland is going to be awesome next year.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:43 PM
5 big men drafted in a row and counting (pounding head on coffee table).
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Lets all pray Aaron Gray last 7 more picks
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:44 PM
are you kidding? portland isn’t going to be awesome. Like half their team is going to be rookies and 2nd year players. Theyre going no where unless greg oden becomes shaq
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Waiting on 47..loose atmospher in the draft room. again lots of confidence over the Young pick. Gotta love Pecherov.. he has been here all night since his work out and just cheered when Philadelphia selected Krylo Fesenko
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:49 PM
I hope Pecherov was cheering because he thinks he can own Fesenko in the post. DJ, you have us so curious about this guy that I’ll definitely look at the summer league box scores every morning….
Stanko just went too. So much for us “gettin’ some Stanko” next year.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:52 PM
Aaron gray is still there but we might take tuareen green hes good fill us on the info of who we are looking for at 47 DJ!@!@!@
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:53 PM
There was consideration last year to having Pecherov play here but they let him get one more year under his belt in Europe. Ernie is really fired up about him
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:54 PM
what happened to all the strawberry fans that were here earlier???
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:55 PM
DJ who are we looking at now in the draft
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:57 PM
wow wow wow wow… MJ’s just killing franchises. I’ll laugh so hard if JRichardson keeps chucking 3s and Wright becomes a Chris Bosh. GO WRIGHT!!! haha
Comment from buckfitches
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Hey DJ:
What is the status of Vladimir Veremeenko?
Comment from buckfitches
Time June 28, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Is Veremeenko still on the roster?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:00 PM
balla4lfe90 ..it is interesting that aaron gray is still leff…some thiough he would make the firts round late
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:00 PM
Does anyone get the feeling that the blazers are aiming for 21 as their average player age? BTW, why havent they traded the one player they REALLY need to get rid of? Darius miles.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:01 PM
we still have the right to Veremeenko ..i am not aware of plans to bring him over this..year an advanatge to draft a european player or players like we did last year..is that you can let them develop in europe–it doesn’t cost you anything… and you keep the rights to them
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:01 PM
Do the wizards seem interested in him at all? DJ???
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:02 PM
Im talking about Aaron Gray
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:03 PM
We have got to be down to Gray or Gasol. Once they get drafted it’s time to go to bed.
Who would we cut if we draft Strawberry? We can only dress 12 people. We need Mason’s shooting.
Gil. Caron. DS. Nick Young. Blatche (definitely). Songaila. Antwan. Etan. Brendan (or whoever we get for him). Ruffin. That’s 10.
Then Jarvis, Mason, Booth, Mike Hall and Donnell Taylor compete for 2 spots. And we want to add Strawberry to that? Is Strawberry better than Donnell Taylor or Mike Hall? Why?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:04 PM
yes i think gray is a possible…again some thought he would be late first round
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:05 PM
We draft Marc, then Pau would want to come here to play with his brother..
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Okay I did a little reading I guess you can carry up to 14, but you only get to dress 12 every night.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:06 PM
We are up!!!!
Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:06 PM
Jarvis gone, mason gone, booth gone, taylor gone.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Booth is not gone
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:07 PM
it looks like it will be dominic mcguire..6 8 forward from fresno state…exteremly long and athletic wing player..excels as rebounder and shot blocker
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Good grief. Another 3.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:10 PM
eghh that will do i guess doubt he sees playing time anyway im off too bed
Comment from buckfitches
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Thanks DJ for the DM scoop!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Checking in with the Wizards Milt Newton–who tells me… that McGuire is very versatile…great defender..5th in the nation in blocked shots..handles ball very well..unselfish plasser.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:11 PM
they skipped us?
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:11 PM
We might as well just have sold the pick. Get some more cash to pay Gilbert.
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:12 PM
And there goes Marc Gasol. Yes, we are insane.
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:13 PM
lets hope gray and strawberry dont get drafted
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Positives: McGuire is a rangy wing player with excellent length and athleticism. Versatile. Can play several positions on the floor. Great shot-blocker. Good ballhandler and playmaker for someone his size. Good rebounder and defender.
Negatives: Seriously needs to add strength. He looks like he has the frame to put on more weight, but struggles both defensively and finishing around the basket because of his lack of strength. He lacks a consistent perimeter shot and appears to have no real range from the three-point line. Lacks aggressiveness on the offensive end at times. Scouts say he has some off-court red flags.
Greeeat.
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:14 PM
malharden : Great defender but struggles defensively?
Comment from Nara
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:15 PM
wth???!! stupid espn. We get absolutely no love from TV land… zero respect… how can you skip over a pick during commercial and not even mention it when you come back??
Comment from balla4lfe90
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:15 PM
at least we made a good first round pick
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:16 PM
haha i feel ya Nara. i swear they hate the wiz or something. cuz we always get the shortest highlights on ESPN
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Yeah as you say, what the heck is that… damn tv.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:17 PM
i think mcguire is a defensive pick…. again known as rebounder and shot blocker
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Shoots under 30% from college 3 point line. .586% from free throw line last year.
Yes he got a lot of boards and blocks, but he was playing in what is no better than a mid-major.
I hate to be negative, but I am beyond disappointed. I understand they didn’t want the big men available at 16 but there is just no reason not to go for Gray or Gasol, unless Pech’s confidence is really that fragile.
More rearranging the deck chairs at the 2-3 spots.
I’m going to bed. No season tix this year. Maybe next.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:19 PM
well i am outa here hope all the people here tonight come back alot so we can have more 300+ comment post
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Hey gang that is going to do it for me.. this was fun and i hope we can do this some more.. and if you want to get a hold of me just drop me an e-mail at wizards@washsports.com……
thanks again
dave johnson
Comment from malharden
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:20 PM
By the way, the strengths/weaknesses stuff above is quoted right from ESPN insider. It does seem to conflict.
Fair use copyright considerations apply. Nobody sue me.
Comment from LilGil
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Bye guys, great discussion, cool night, see ya soon
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Thanks Dave!
Comment from aznzero
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:23 PM
haha thanks dave!!! cant wait to here ya when the games arent on tv.
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Hey guys – thanks again for coming out. I’m here in the Draft Room now and Ernie & Co. are going over plans for possible free agent invites for Summer League (mid July in Vegas). Two picks left…will DJ get taken or may he end up in a Wiz Summer League uni?
Comment from WizDom
Time June 28, 2007 at 11:47 PM
Oh well.. no DJ, good night guys!
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 29, 2007 at 8:25 AM
My guy in 2 was Stephane Lasme, whom we missed by one pick (and might not have taken anyway) — he is off to Golden State, a team that had an *excellent* night tonight. They needed a quick, athletic big and got one from Michael Jordan. They also got Belinelli, who looks like a starting 2 to me.
The crew was obviously very high on Nick Young. I imagine they’d have taken Julian Wright or Thornton over him, but it’s still good to get someone we think dropped to us.
Now… get Visser for summer league and lets go to work.
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Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 28, 2007 at 5:52 PM
just tuned into ESPN on my big screen lets see what happens!