Washington Wizards Blog

Comment from Reuben
Time June 25, 2008 at 7:10 AM

I will not be able to blog tomorrow because I will be at the draft.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:19 AM

Dave let me say be the first to say it is great to have you back!!!! And I think we were all pretty excited at this point for the draft and then you come along and make it so we can’t even sit still!!!! I can’t wait for tomorrow night!

Reuben, get a one day rental blackberry .

Comment from wizardsfan2008
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:27 AM

It looks like Miami may consider trading their #2 pick. I think this may be a good opportunity to package Gilbert and the #18 pick to Miami for their #2 and chose Beasley. We know the Wiz can win without Gilbert. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Gilbert fan, but with his injuries and opting out of his contract, let’s get something for him before he leaves for free. We should also consider upgrading the Center position, even though Brendan did well this year. Elton Brand would be a good fit. If we did this, the Wiz would be a force in the East!! Think about it Ernie.

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:45 AM

Dave, grab some of those scribbles after the draft. It would be interesting to hear what a team is offering in that moment.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:17 AM

Reuben — can you post here from your cell phone??????

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:20 AM

ive definitely started doing that from the blackberry way too much

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:34 AM

Reuben — i know someone in DC named reuben, whose mom was a teacher…

blackberry, eh? you can take pix and send them too!!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:35 AM

SportsWiz — any more workouts today?

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:50 AM

The wizards will be bringing in Darrell Arthur and Novica Velickovic from Serbia today.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM

A last minute look at Arthur… good. Look forward to the videos.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:35 AM

By the way, washingtonwizards.com just posted a nice article on Phil Chenier’s draft story. He was in the first draft where underclassmen could be selected. click here.

Comment from John50
Time June 25, 2008 at 11:56 AM

DJ Almost Back!!!!

Shout out everyone!!!

Dont have any favs but we’ll see what Ernie Does… (I think we need another center tho…Coff Coff)

Bridge,-I tried the LemonCokeAid and it is great!!!! I have to think alittle about the veggie burger- Sounds Good tho…

Have a fun draft Everyone…Cant wait till next Season

Ready to Rule!!!!!!!!

J50

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2008 at 11:56 AM

Welcome back Dave!
If I was Houson or San Antonio I would be trying to find a way to sign and trade for Antwan Jamison. They both could use a stud player to help them move up to challenge the Lakers (especially with Bynum coming back). Can you imagine putting Antwan with McGrady and the big Chinese. Wow!
Ernie is a master of making trades that the public has no clew of what he is doing.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time June 25, 2008 at 12:25 PM

Here is another crazy trade:

Wiz trade: Songaila(TE), Stevenson(TE), Daniels, 47th pick, memphis pick

Warriors trade: Steven Jackson, 14th pick

*TE-trade exception (GS has a 10 million dollar trade exception)

14th pick: Brandon Rush
18th pick: Mario Chalmers (if he falls which i think he will)

Arenas/Chalmers
Young/Rush
Butler/Jackson/Dmac
Jamison/Blatche/Pecherov
Haywood/Thomas

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 12:37 PM

Sorry folks, no vids today. Arthur’s back stiffened up towards the end and with two guys the workout was cut very quickly. I got the interviews on video but thats all.

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time June 25, 2008 at 1:18 PM

So, who actually pays for these workouts, in terms of travel expenses? The Wiz or the prospect? These workouts are like job interviews to me, so I think the Wiz pays for them. But please correct me if I’m wrong.

Neal – you were only right about 56.6% a quarter of the time during Year 1 and improved your free throws to LeBron levels this year. You lost some points this time for not knowing who the better ball player is – Justin Timberlake or Master P.

All – the Green Turtle is at the corner of Verizon Center. However, due to drinking age laws and such, maybe it’s better to debate elsewhere.

Lastly, our foes down in Miami hold the key on how the draft will progress. How quaint! Nothing beats live television zooming onto young men’s faces and seeing their horrific expressions when their draft stock sinks. It’s like watching the NFL Draft with Brady Quinn and his agent Tom Condon. I don’t want to see Beasley go stone-cold if he’s denied the # 2 overall selection.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 1:20 PM

wiz_fusion the Wiz pay which is a recent change in NBA policy.

Comment from Rook
Time June 25, 2008 at 1:50 PM

Another consideration for the Wizards on which player/position to pick:

Etan Thomas’ contract runs out after 2010. Meaning that during the 2009/2010 season, he becomes extremely valuable as an “expiring contract”. Ernie Grunfeld has been trying to move Etan for the last two years… It’s an almost foregone conclusion that EG will be able to move Etan Thomas through a trade in 2009/2010.

Assuming that Brendan Haywood continues to be the starting Center on the team, (and considering that he’s only 28, it’s only natural to assume that) – The Wizards will need to draft someone in the near term to fill the Backup Center role in the 2009/2010 season ( next season !!!)…

This year’s draft is laden with good, young Center prospects; especially in the mid-late 1st round. (Robin Lopez, Roy Hibbert, Alexis Ajinca, JaVale McGee, DeVon Hardin, etc…). The 2009 Draft is woefully short on good Centers; especially in the mid-late 1st round (where the Wizards will most likely pick)..

So the question is:

Do you try to draft a Center this year, to groom him to be Haywood’s backup?

OR

Hope, somehow, you can trade Etan’s expiring contract for another Center…
(forgetting that the Wizards may also have other needs that could be filled nicely with a Trade).

OR

Hope that by some miracle you can draft a Center in the 2009 draft that can contribute right away as a Rookie. (Keeping in mind that there are only 3 Centers listed in the entire 1st Round of the 2009 Draft, and all are lottery picks)

OR

Play Pecherov as the backup to Haywood.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:10 PM

QUESTION!QUESTION!

How can the Memphis Grizzlies offer their first round pick (#5) to Miami when the Wizards own their first rounder next year conditionally? I think the NBA still has the rule where no team can trade consecutive first round picks.
If someone knows if there is a loophole to this rule I would appreciate it.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Good catch, palomo! Hope you’re right; it’d be nice to have some leverage re: memphis.

No videos, huh? “Stiffened up,” huh? Sounds like a conspiracy, or a trade or something

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:48 PM

Arthur has kidney problems, and played with a hairline fracture last year…I PASS
I just watched that draft special on ESPN

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:50 PM

Me too, he’s not a guy I want.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:50 PM

Actually the problem is with two guys the practice ends earlier. And where they usually let us in for the final two drills they didn’t have those drills today.

Arthur actually said his back was fine they just stopped. Also we are just going to go with posting quotes. If you havent noticed the page has slowed down to load recently because of all the vidoes.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 2:50 PM

good question jmpalomo. Give me some time and let me see what I can find out.

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:01 PM

I bet Memphis can pick the player for Miami and then trade him. Thats how trades are done on draft day in the NBA anyway.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:10 PM

another trade….

Wiz trade: Songaila, Daniels, Pecherov(TE), 47th pick, memphis pick,VV
SEA trades: Earl Watson, Mouhamed Sene, 24th pick

18th- JJ Hickson
24th- Nicolas Batum

Arenas/Watson
Stevenson/Young
Butler/Batum(24)/McGuire
Jamison/Blatche/Hickson(18th)
Haywood/Thomas/Sene(Inactive)

Watson is a little younger than daniels and a good defender and shooter. Batum has a clean bill of health and will slide to 24. Hickson unless he is taken before will be there and really impressed. He could be our jason maxiell. We get more depth at SF and Keep our depth at PF. And we have a center on the inactive list in Sene, so if thomas goes down we have someone to step in. Watson’s contract runs out in 2010, and Sene’s next year.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:29 PM

Good call jheiser.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:31 PM

Wizbulletman wouold drive the average GM crazy with these crazy trade combinations, but you might get a yes every now and then.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:38 PM

jheiser, they probably would not be able to make that trade until recently signed players are allowed to be trade. David Stern would sniff that one out.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time June 25, 2008 at 3:48 PM

Thank you, SportzWiz, that is my goal…haha

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 25, 2008 at 4:05 PM

This is not a way around a rule. In the NBA you can’t trade a pick on draft day until all the picks involved in the trade have been used. Thats why its so odd in the moment, reporters have to be on top of it saying that “this is the player was picked by X to be included in the deal for Y”. Technically, the Boston Celtics drafted Jeff Green, The Sixers drafted Daquean Cook etc. Then those trades go through, after the player is drafted but before he signs a contract. Thats how the NBA chooses to operate.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2008 at 4:11 PM

That makes sense.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2008 at 4:17 PM

I guess the bottom line is that Memphis cannot trade the #5 pick before the draft. Once they make the pick then that draft pick meets their obligation concerning next year. I also guess the only leverage the Wiz have is that Memphis cannot trade any of their next 3 or 4 years of #1 picks because of contingencies attached to them belonging to the Wizards.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 4:40 PM

Chad Ford listed all first-round prospects and possible destinations. According to him here is who is on our board

Darrell Arthur
Roy Hibbert
Marreesse Speights
J.J. Hickson
Javale McGee

I dont think he’s too far off personally.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 4:43 PM

Well, with the draft tomorrow how about a quick game… I’m going to list off most of the big guys that will be right around #18 and I want your order of how you would take them with 1 being the highest and 10 the lowest.

Arthur
Hibbert
Speights
Hickson
McGee
Ajinca
Greene
Koufos
R. Lopez
J. Thompson

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 25, 2008 at 5:21 PM

i think Hibberts high on the list but i hate that the guy did not try out for us.. peoples stupid agents

Comment from nickman
Time June 25, 2008 at 5:39 PM

Hibbert
Speights
Hickson
Ajinca
Arthur
McGee
R. Lopez
J. Thompson
Koufos
Batum

Comment from nickman
Time June 25, 2008 at 5:45 PM

I really want Brandon Rush, cuz he seems like he is NBA ready

Comment from nickman
Time June 25, 2008 at 5:47 PM

trade up i think he will be available at 13

Comment from Tiago
Time June 25, 2008 at 6:01 PM

Novica Velickovic is not ready for NBA, has potential, can shoot from 3…but he’s worst than Pecherov or Veremeenko.

Comment from doclinkin
Time June 25, 2008 at 6:20 PM

I’m amped. Eager. Straining at the gates.

Though I’ve been careful to damper the heat of enthusiasm, here. Seems to me Ernie’s been carefully giving the message to fans: ‘Don’t get too excited, we’ll try to trade this pick unless the right guy falls’.

Truth is, hey most of the best pure talent here is freshmen. Untested, untried. And players like this you tend to develop for their next contract, either you re-sign ‘em after paying to train them, or you develop ‘em for the next guy. That’s underscored by the fact that Ernie reminds us we can only have 4 guys on the roster in summer league, and Dray is willing to run with our three ‘07-’08 rooks. So your young pups get even less run getting ready for big league pro life. Unless their agent lets them run without a signed contract, dubious and unlikely.

I suspect Eddie would prefer to select proven commodities like Big Hibba and Chalmers etc. I’d be good with any of them:

–Hibbert is an efficient passer with proven success in the offense, no learning curve and can score in the paint has a powerful work ethic to improve and the BEST bar none resources to fall back on and develop his post play (the G-town alumni Big brotherhood)

–Chalmers has the two skills that are instant fits in any team: defense and a 3pt shot. Plus he’s a fairly mistake-free passer, with big time clutch resume and experience playign with NBA-quality talent. Hey he can help DMac score a bit by running the alley-oop effectively, ditto Nick Young, as if he needs any help scoring.

–Brandon Rush, who despite recovering from a knee injury has shown big time defense and a nice outside shot, plus the bonafide NBA athleticism that Mr & Mrs Rush passed on to all of their kiddies. Again resources that are instant fits for any NBA squad.

Problem is, mock drafts aside I suspect these guys to be off the board by 18. And behind them there’s a ton of un-finished raw prospects who excite me less.

On the raw talent types I’d lean more towards NiCOla BaTOOOM than the others, for the simple fact that all else being equal we have a greater need for a SF than the other positions. And he both passes and plays defense, should fit well as a roleplayer until he develops confidence to own up to his startling athleticism. I’m less excited about the local kid (6′9″ SF) Donte Greene, mostly because of his dedication to the 3pt shot beyond sense and reason.

But Mareese Speights has the muscle we lack in the front court, even if he sometimes gets a bit too finesse. I wonder about his conditioning and dedication.

Fact is I bet we’d get more quick production out of a trade down and late 1st or round 2 picks. There’s a group of pure ballers who lack the flash and genetics of the higher rated guys but who have proven track record against the toughest competition. And less risk in your ‘raw potential’ picks, since you can get more crafty with the contracts.

If I’m guessing, I suspect for his part EG would prefer to finagle a trade for a proven player, and maybe drop a frontcourt contract to get us breathing room under the luxury tax to pick up a free agent– and not be stuck again, unable to do more than rent Mike Wilks for 10 days.

Either way there’s opportunities here that should be interesting depending how the first half of the draft pans out. Somebody will slip. I always give opposing GM’s too much of the benefit of the doubt, but if they were any better they wouldn’t be in the lottery now would they? Except a few things: Riley is rarely in front of us in the draft (and when he is he takes Caron instead of that darn Jared Jeffries); Atlanta has new management; ditto New York (though Zeke always drafted well). Memphis and Minnesota are our best hopes.

Either way, I’m ansty like a kid with new sneakers on the first day of school. Even if I shouldn’t be.

-doc.

Comment from doclinkin
Time June 25, 2008 at 6:57 PM

My entry in the ‘Rank them Biggies’ contest:

>>>SportzWiz Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 4:43 PM

Well, with the draft tomorrow how about a quick game… I’m going to list off most of the big guys that will be right around #18 and I want your order of how you would take them with 1 being the highest and 10 the lowest.>>>

1. Hibbert. Underrated even by homers. He would be a great fit to this offense, a near perfect cure for the ’small ball’ considering EJ borrowed concepts for our front court play directly from the GTown run in the NCAA’s last year. We drop in the bench players and get bigger and more efficient on offense. Whatever his play on another team he’d be an ideal fit here and would get better.

2. Trade down (for a player/picks) and if you still go big take:

– Hendrix. This year’s Paul Millsap. Underrated but he schooled every big who played against him. Not a great fit for our offense but Eddie played Ruffin for crynoutloud. Imagine if Ruffin could score and still gave the hustle and defense. That’s Hendrix.

– Hickson. Throwback strong power forward.

– DJ White. Whispers say Detroit offered him a guarantee if he came out past draft. Solid body long arms, plays defense all over the court, can challenge and recover. If he’s good enough for Detroit’s defense that oughtta be good enough for you.

–maybe Joey Dorsey. Okay, not a fit for the team, terrible FT% too– but big, tough, defensive game-changer. A definite change of pace for our PFs.

–Ajinca, Ibaka (sp?), Ante Tomic, Omer Asik, whatever Euro Ernie has scouted and thinks is good.

3. Speights. He wants to play as a face-up finesse big even if he’s got the bulk of a banger. But in this offense that’s a fit, plus he’s got the flex and size to fall back on.

4. Koufos. Face up game fits the Team style. But I’m not enthused.

5. R. Lopez. Bulk, banger. A back-up to Brendan in the same mode. Less of a change of pace. But big.

6. McGee. Seems like he should have been better. Ditto DeAndre Jordan.

7. Greene (SF, not a big)

8. Arthur. Skinny, foul-happy, poor rebounder, offensive ‘black hole’ according to his teammates. He’ll score in the NBA but can he defend? Not my favorite pick.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 7:03 PM

Bigs:

1. Hibbert
2. Spieghts
3. Hickson
4. Arthur
5. Ajiinca
6. Koufos
7. Greene
8. R. Lopez
9. McGee
10. Dorsey — Only b/c he’s a reach here. He’s ranked in the 2nd Round.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 7:10 PM

Well, I think this is the better year for us to get a big. There’s a lot of guys that can come in and play right away ( Hibbert, Speights, Hickson ). If you look at next years prospects, there’s like 3 bigs, they’re thought of as like lottery picks. After that there is a major drop-off. Try the Arenas experiment on more year, if doesnt work try and figure outa away to trade him and someone else for a Top 10 Pick. If we can do that then we can our two 1st Round Picks, and draft a Russel Westbrook type of PG. One thats Defensive-Minded, but can score when asked to, and can pass like Chris Paul or J-Kidd. Im in dream land right now.

I remember last year I said we should trade Arenas and our 1st Rounder for this year for Chris Paul. Man that would have been a deal. How many of you still think im crazy. Lots of you guys said I was out of my mind. LOL.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 7:24 PM

Couple of PG for Next Year — Rated of DraftExpress.com –

1. Ricky Rubio PG — International
2. Brandon Jennings — Oak Hill Academy
3. Tyreke Evans — American Christion School
4. Ty Lawson — North Carolina
5. Darren Collison — UCLA
6. Nick Calathes — Florida
7. Greiveis Vazquez — Maryland
8. Lester Hudson — Tennesse Martin
9. Nando De Colo — International
10. Rodrique Beabous — International

This draft will be really PG heavy. Its all about who you think is better and who you pick. all these ones that I mentioned above are projected as 1st Rounders in 2009. 10 out of the 30 Picks are PG. It’s a pretty good shot you get a good PG.

Comment from Bridge
Time June 25, 2008 at 7:25 PM

DJ you tha man! Only “tha man” can make an entrance before his actual big entrance…

Like Reuben, I will be unable to blog tomorrow, but unlike Reuben I’ll just be at a draft party. Man, I wish I were going to the ACTUAL draft!

Thanks John50 – glad you like it!

Wiz_fusion – maybe if I decide to go to the Wiz home opener, I’d swing by the Green Turtle…

The draft is almost here people! I hope that y’all able to sleep tonight with all that excitement taking place inside -

Comment from Bridge
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:12 PM

I could’ve been on this song y’all LOL!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YOO0SuW4nGs

Ok, I’m done for the night -

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:33 PM

“Sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher that the Pacers and the Raptors have agreed to a deal that, pending physicals, would send Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.” — Click Here –

If Jermaine O’Neal can be exchanged for 2 players, one being a good player and the other a decent, THEN Gilbert Arenas must have Top 10 Value especially if we trade him for a draft pick, and a sucky player.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:36 PM

Btw — If the Pacers trade O’Neal then they may be looking at a Center with the 17th Pick. They may get Roy Hibbert or Speights before we are able to.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time June 25, 2008 at 8:47 PM

by this point tomorrow night i think the wizards will have drafted their first round pick, provided they dont trade it away before hand? oh yeah i just want 2 say dave johnson: your an awesome necessity to this blog for the washington wizards! to think that on D.C. sports blog out of the 403 people that voted u only got a 92% approval rating!! i wanna meet the other 8% and ask them what their problems r! lol but yeah its gonna be great to have u during the draft tomorrow night…

Comment from ChenierFan
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:04 PM

Two comments:

1)At the 10:35 post by SportsWiz there is an article about Phil Chenier being an NBA “hardship” draft pick back in 1971 in the separate draft they held at the time for underclassman. As a piece of trivia, Phil was the very first NBA underclassman draft pick and was drafted ahead of Julius Erving.

2) I don’t expect Grunfeld to make any trades tomorrow. I think he wants to give this team another year to see what it can do if they could just stay healthy. But we’ll see. I think the Wiz’s biggest need is a speedy, pressure the ball, penetrating guard.

Comment from wizfan and the kid
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:05 PM

Speights

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:16 PM

I have *no* interest in Arthur; he will never start in the league. My bigs:

Speights — people don’t doubt his work ethic, they doubt his IQ. Otherwise, he has top-5 potential. I’d take a chance.

Hibbert — at least you know you are going to get a guy who will play many years in the league. I don’t read anything at all into his not having worked out for us.

Other than those two, I’d prefer to trade down and take Richard Hendrix or Joey Dorsey, who both produced at a high level in big-time programs.

Speaking of trades, rumor is that Portland is acquiring #27 (to take Batum or Ajinca, I bet!). I don’t get it. They have 3 picks already, and they have the youngest team in the league. How is that going to work?

Comment from Rook
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:27 PM

I’m already done with this year’s draft….

We need to find some way of getting the #1 or #2 pick next year and take Ricky Rubio. This kid is gonna be a star. DraftNet.net compares him to Walt Frazier/Steve Nash – - – I think he looks more like a pass happy Pete Maravich … doing things with the ball that just haven’t been done before.

One look at this Youtube video, and you’ll see that he’s something special:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvnKmfAe-Bg&feature=related

DraftNet says “He has the same sense of timing that Larry Bird had.” DraftExpress compares him to Steve Nash …. (Except Rubio can play defense).

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2008 at 9:41 PM

DraftExpress says: “At #18, it looks like the Wizards are trying to decide between JaVale McGee and Darrell Arthur. It appears like both players will be there.”

Oh, God — someone take both those players before us, please!

I’m just hoping that clever Ernie has fanned smoke into the air, as either of these guys would turn out to be a mistake.

Somebody put me out of my misery, please.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:06 PM

I think you are underrating both players by a lot tom. Arthur is seen as a top 10 pick by many analysts and I keep hearing how much people hate mcgee because he hasn’t been the best in workouts. As ernie said in his presser yesterday, guys can only show so much in 45 minutes. If they take someone obviously they have seen something in the game film that entices them. And before the workouts started McGee was seen as a 12-15 pick.

Comment from neal
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:08 PM

I like that trade, Wizardsfan2008. Sign and trade Arenas plus #18 for the #2. We would also get back players equal in salary to Arenas’s from Miami.

I think there’s a good chance you’re right, Chenierfan. EG wants another year of “steady as she goes”. It wouldn’t be my choice but he didn’t ask me.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM

Tom — I was wondering how good is Kyle Lowry. I know he is a speedy, penetrating gaurd like the one CheneirFan said we need. But is he a good defender. If he is I would strongly consider this trade –

Wiz — Memphis

Wiz Get:

- Kyle Lowry/Mike Conley (Our Choice)
- 28th Pick (Get Joey Dorsey — He’s a Defensive-Minded/Shot-Blocker/Rebounder PF)

Memphis Get:

- 18th Pick
- Andray Blatche
- 47th Pick (Only if they ask for it)

We get the PG and the Big. Andray Blatche still has great value so lets trade him while we can get something for him. Plus his salary is low, and he is only 21. So the Grizzlies will be interested b/c of they’re mssing piece at PF.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM

NOOOOOO — Not JaVale McGee. He is horid. I wouldnt mind Darrel Artur he is compared to McDyess. But i’d rather trade the pick and get Lowry/Conley.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 25, 2008 at 10:30 PM

how many of you have seen McGee play, not highlights but play a game??

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 26, 2008 at 12:56 AM

SporzWiz– I havent. But he doesnt hustle, osnt a great rebounder, extremely weak physically, and he is an ATROCIOUS defnder. I would rather have us take Joey Dorsey that high rather than him.

Btw. — Have any of you guys seen this article before – Click Here — It talks about the best player that have been taken at 18 before. One of them was David West who currently plays with the Hornets and another was Joe Dumars who played with the Pistons.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 6:14 AM

SportsWiz — have you seen Javale McGee play? If so, what did you see — good and bad?

One thing I’ll say for him is that he comes from good basketball stock. His dad was chosen in the 2d round of the nba draft in ‘85, and his mom was a big time college player and a (WNBA?) coach.

It goes without saying that there are waves of opinion that build on themselves — guys go up and down like a boat bobbing on the high seas. But, what doesn’t change is numbers: how did the kid produce? When you look at Michael Beasley’s numbers, you see someone head and shoulders above any other big in the draft. That *production* is why he is worth drafting at the top, not because of media, waves of opinion, or even “potential.”

Right behind Beasley in numbers is Kevin Love; he too will go near the top of the draft — because he has *produced*, which is what the numbers reflect. Next to those 2 guys is… Marreese Speights. His numbers, not his *potential* of which he also has plenty, rate him right behind Beasley and Love.

Then there is Javale McGee; his numbers — i.e. his *actual production* — rate him near the bottom of the draft class of bigs. But… he can jump out of the gym! Like a mascot on a trampoline. I know — lets draft a mascot on a trampoline, what do you say?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 6:25 AM

As to Darrell Arthur, on the other hand, sometimes I think GMs get too close, too detailed, can’t see the forest for the trees. All I know about DA is that his teammates didn’t like playing with him because he was a black hole on offense.

Oh, and one other thing — his numbers. They aren’t very good. They’re in the bottom 25% of PF prospects. I’d much rather pick Hickson. And rather than Hickson, I’d prefer to trade down, get something for doing it, and pick Richard Hendrix or Joey Dorsey.

In the ‘06 draft, at #47, we took Vladimir Vereemenko who plays somewhere on the other side of the earth. With the next pick, Leon Powe was taken. He was boring, he played all 4 years in college, he was undersized — how good could he possibly be? Well, Leon played 20 minutes/game for the NBA champs last year.

Oh, btw, one other thing — Leon Powe’s college *numbers* were excellent! He can’t jump out of the gym, but he can sure play basketball.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 6:54 AM

I said McGee’s numbers put him at the bottom of the centers — that’s not true, he is right in the middle of the pack, which is pretty good for a kid as young as he is.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 26, 2008 at 7:09 AM

Loooking at Javale’s numbers which is what everyone wants to talk about, his biggest flaw was his assist/to ratio.

People say he’s not strong, well draft express’s article talks about how he is transforming his body.

Wiz-skins said he’s not a good rebounder, well he out rebounded Hibbert this year.

Wiz-skins said he’s not a good defender, he has the 2nd best blocks per 40 minutes out of all players in the draft. Now I know there’s a lot more to defense than blocked shots but the guy can protect the rim.

I’m not going to tell you he’s a finished product. But several of you are calling out a player you have never actually seen play!!! To me that’s just funny.

And something I am big into (others will say it doesnt matter) is seeing a player’s numbers in the biggest games. Does the player step up against either the best competition he plays or in his teams biggest games.

Well McGee’s team didn’t play many big games so lets look at the top competition he faced. Nevada played UNC, California and UNLV out of conference

UNLV – 20 pts, 13 rebounds, 66 fg%, 2 ass, 4 turn, 1 block
California – 19 points, 9 rebounds, 50%, 1 ass, 2 turn, 6 blocks
UNC – 14 points, 7 rebounds, 50%, 1 ass, 2 turn, 4 blocks.

Not bad against the best competition he faced.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time June 26, 2008 at 7:53 AM

I agree completely with you SportzWiz about McGee.
He is raw but has HUGE upside and potential and i think we can afford to draft him and see him develop because of our full roster.
I think part of his potential, mainly do the freakish 7′ 6″ wingspan he has, is his ability to block shots easily. Also he has to jump like 6 inches to dunks…that is length. I think assuming he doesnt hustle and being weak is a stupid assumption. He is supposedly puting on some muscle and improving physically. He also runs the floor well for a 7 footer. He CAN rebound, so if you say he is not a good rebounder, might as well say hibber is a bad rebounder too as SportzWiz said.
I like what i see in his big game production too, and if you havent seen his two highlights on youtube go check em out.

*At first when draft talk started McGee was one of the guys I wanted, but then his stock tumbled and I went with everyone and said stay away from him, but now I right back at the beginning.

Comment from neal
Time June 26, 2008 at 7:56 AM

Nice to know Veeremenko wants to play in the NBA. He hasn’t been successful in a 2nd rate Russian league. Why not try the NBA?

Please, Ernie, no more tall skinny European forwards that shoot from outside.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 26, 2008 at 7:57 AM

ESPN Mock Draft 7.0 — They have us selecting Darrel Arthur, they also have the guy Im really likeing, Mario Chalmers being selected right before us at 17 by the Pacers.

DraftExpress Mock Draft — I really dislike this one, they have us selecting JaVale McGee. NOT my favorite choice as I have mad known before.

SportzWiz — Even you had Arthur, Hibbert, Speights, and Hickson rated higher than McGee on your Top 10 Big Men selections. What makes you think we shoulod take him when Roy Hibber, Darrel Arthur, Marresse Spieghts, and JJ Hickson are all likely to be on the board?

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:03 AM

If we are going to get JaVale McGee, we might as well trade down and just get Kyle Weaver so that he can defend, rebound, and steal.

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:23 AM

I don’t think its Arthur. Chad Ford has him there too but he’s on autopilot with several of those picks. Everyone is connecting the dots between Arthur and Jamison, not seeing that Arthur didn’t actually rebound like Jamison. We saw Walter Sharpe twice, he outproduced Arthur in many areas (Points, blocks, rebounds, assists, steals, FTAs, PER, ) even when adjusted for pace.

As for McGee, I could accept that pick as a development type. Not that I’m content with the Wizards track record of developing these guys but at least Ernie would be staying consistent by choosing an athletic multi-skilled player. McGee is a legit 7′0 and has all the measurables except strength. He’s probably never going to be a 5, so be it.

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:27 AM

JHeiser — Shapre probably didnt have star players playing beside him like Arthur did, he had Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers. Sharpe also did play agasint as high level of competition as Arthur.

Comment from Rook
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:37 AM

McGee is a project….

Someone said that the Wizards don’t need any more young players…

I DISAGREE with that statement… What the Wizards don’t need are any more young “projects”… And they definately don’t need any more young “projects” with a poor work ethic.

Draft the best available player that can come in right away and produce. A player that played more than just ONE year of College. That player should be known as a tremendous worker… (not necessarily a “tremendous ath-a-lete”).

BTW SportzWiz, McGee is real high on my “bust” list… right up there with DeAndre Jordan and Anthony Randolph. (and any other Freshmen touted as being a “freakish athlete” with “tremendous upside”; but has not proven anything in College for more than a year).

When scouts can’t say anything good about a player’s SKILLS (footwork, post moves, passing, shooting, defensive ability) or his INTANGIBLES (hustle, work ethic, experience, Basketball IQ, leadership) – - – but instead can only talk about his PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES (athleticism, size, frame, ability to run the floor, wingspan, quickness) and his “upside”; then he’s high on my BUST list.

Another way of looking at it –

Say the Wizards have a rash of injuries THIS YEAR, just after training camp – and Haywood, Pecherov, Blatche and Thomas are all injured and cannot play Center. Just for arguments sake, let’s say the first three regular season games are against Cleveland (Ilgauskas), Orlando (Howard), and Minnesota (Al Jefferson).

Who do you want starting Center for the Wizards? I’ll give you 4 choices:

Roy Hibbert
Robin Lopez
JaVale McGee
DeAndre Jordan

Keep in mind, the player you select will have had only this year’s training camp to get ready…. (Summer League roster is already set)…

Comment from Big Dogg
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:52 AM

I can’t wait to see what we do tonight. I’m not worried about anything because in Ernie I trust.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 26, 2008 at 8:55 AM

My hope for the Wiz today:

Trade up for DJ Augustine or Brook Lopez.
A true point guard and a true Center.
It looks like Lopez is moving back up in the draft after it looked like he was going to about #9 where the wiz could have traded up.

Comment from Rook
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:02 AM

By the way – no less an expert than Larry Bird likes Hibbert… and said so in an interview after Hibbert’s work out. Especially pointing out Hibbert’s supposed “weakness” against the Pick and Roll was dispelled by what they saw in the workout:

“Though he has identified point guard and post players as the roster’s biggest need, Bird said he will draft the best player available regardless of position. Rush apparently has been climbing draft boards around the league thanks to a series of impressive workouts, as has the 7-2 Hibbert, who appears to be a Bird favorite.

“He can play for us right now,” Bird said of the Georgetown center. “He’s skilled, he’s big. He doesn’t have the quickness that the other kids had but as far as knowing how to play, I thought he dominated that workout (with McGee and Jordan). He’s lost some weight and he’s moving quicker. Our concern was if you blitz the pick-and-roll can he get back? He proved to us that he could. He’s a very dedicated worker and a very fine young man so he’s obviously somebody we’ve got to look at.”"

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:03 AM

That wasn’t my order, that was just me listing them .

Rook, So you want me to assume four big men get hurt and cant play? Well I would say it doesnt really matter we would be in a lot of trouble with any of those guys. You dont always draft the most ready player. I’m not saying you always draft a project, obviously there is some type of midpoint between potential and what they can do right away.

Again I’m not knocking Hibbert or Lopez or anyone. I’m just saying I dont think you can label oen guy a bust and one guy a sure thing. Because to me none of these guys are sure things.

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:04 AM

If its just this year then we should trade the pick for a veteran because all of those kids will be over-matched.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:09 AM

So your saying McGee isn’t a hardworker? After he shedded 10 pounds of fat and put on 10 lbs of muscle to get to 5.7% body fat? That sounds like a hard worker to me.

Comment from Jheiser3
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:19 AM

People tend to get equated with experts when they agree with you and only then. If Larry Bird is an expert, why can’t his team make the playoffs in the LEast? Why did he pick David Harrison instead of Varajeo? Fred Jones instead of Tayshaun? Alexander Johnson 2 picks ahead of Mlisap and Leon Powe?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:34 AM

There’s no need to ding McGee as a person; he may be a great kid and a very hard worker. He may also turn out to be an excellent NBA player. If the Wizards choose him, I’ll hope for the best.

None of this is personal; it’s just about who the best draft choice is. Javale is *a project.* There might be better choices out there.

As to McGee’s performance vs. good competition — he played in 7 games against teams on Ken Pomeroy’s “Top 100″ list. Against those teams he did *much* worse than his overall numbers on the season. As to his outrebounding Hibbert — not if you adjust for pace. But, the Indiana/Toronto trade tells me Hibbert will be gone at 17.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:36 AM

Jh3 — good points; then again, we picked VV ahead of Leon Powe. Does that make Ernie less of an expert too?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:44 AM

SportsWiz — It’d be great to be able to see the games of every player on the board. I haven’t seen Javale play, and I’m not sure you have either I asked and didn’t get an answer.

But I don’t think that’s the point. At issue here is *methodology* in the draft. I believe in drafting *assets,* drafting for the expected value of the asset you pick. I don’t believe in drafting a guy because his *upside* might make him a super-star and transform your team.

Since there’s some emotion around Javale, lets take a guy we definitely aren’t drafting — DeAndre Jordan. He is a freakish athlete, everyone will admit. But, there is *no way* to know whether he’ll be great or he’ll be out of the league in 3 years or he’ll turn into a marginal big. Why is there no way? Because there is very little *data* to work with, and what data there is you can easily ignore by saying “well we all know he’s raw.”

If you compare him to Hibbert, there *is* data for Hibbert. If you look at Speights, again there’s data — and the data is incredibly positive. He is still a risk, nearly every pick is a risk, and he is a bigger risk than say Hibbert. But, if you pick the guy you can at least drive the choice by his production so far.

So… not personal, methodological.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 26, 2008 at 9:54 AM

Btw — this is not just about the Wizards. Joe Alexander *shot* up the draft boards when DraftExpress showed a photo of him head-butting the rim — wow, a freakish athlete.

Last I looked, you got no points in the NBA for head-butting the rim. If he is worthy of a #8 pick in the draft, how come he didn’t particularly produce in college? If he is going to be great in the NBA, where the competition level is *much* higher, why wasn’t he dominant 6 months ago? He may turn out to be a good NBA player — again, it’s *not* personal — but he may also be a marginal player.

You could do the same analysis for Mayo and Gordon — esp. the latter.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 26, 2008 at 10:02 AM

14 points 7 rebounds and 3 blocks per game is the only data I have.

But I think stats can only tell you so much, I think your method is obviously much different than most gm’s with yours being much more new school vs their old school and to some extent both ways are correct.

I havent seen McGee play, but I do know that if Ernie Grunfeld sees something out of him I take his word over your stats method. And if he thinks that guy is the right guy for this team who am I to tell him that McGee is a bust without ever having seen him play.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 26, 2008 at 10:02 AM

Lets ocntinue this topic on the draft day board .

Comment from WashingtonnotgnihsaW
Time June 26, 2008 at 10:06 AM

any other trade rumors that are possible for tonight? Wizards or for other teams?

Also, thoughts on Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors?

Comment from dmac
Time June 26, 2008 at 11:02 AM

SportzWiz here are my picks:

Hibbert- more NBA ready, princeton o, no baggage, good for BH
Speights- possible all star and AJ’s heir to the PF
Hickson- big body, space eater, offensive rebounds, Moses Malone clone?
Thompson- good size at C/PF, good potential, should fit in well with BH & ET
Koufos- offense will compliment lack of from BH and ET
Ajinca- good size and those long arms, intriguing
Lopez- rebounds and blocked shots
Arthur- tweener with health issues
Greene- we will live and die by his jump shot

Comment from dmac
Time June 26, 2008 at 11:04 AM

O forgot McGee maybe there was a good reason why I forgot

Comment from mex
Time June 26, 2008 at 5:43 PM

how come nobody has mention that DeAndre Jordan could be on the board i remeber chad ford had him at 10 on the first 3 mock drafts. if we trade and get the 25th pick we should get CDR or nick batum

Comment from mex
Time June 26, 2008 at 5:47 PM

donte green is a baller too

Comment from Bridge
Time August 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM

lol