Comment from jhough813
Time July 9, 2008 at 11:12 AM

I really hope we can re-sign Roger, although I’m worried he’s been getting some better offers from other teams. Other than loyalty and comfort in D.C., there’s probably no reasonable way he should come back. We can’t really offer him any significant role as our guards are already scrapping for minutes as it is. I’d like to see maybe a smaller second team though with AD running the point, Roger at shooting, NY at small, and Blatche and Songaila as the bigs. Just a thought.

Comment from dmac
Time July 9, 2008 at 11:33 AM

There is a good article today on HOOPSWORLD entitled: Are the Wiz Better?

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:17 PM

back to one of the posts in the previous topic:
Thank you Rook for the MLE explanation. I knew that only teams over the cap could use the MLE but I didnt know we can only use the MLE if we are over the cap and not sign up to the tax, but are you sure about that? So that basically destroys all my ideas…lol. We could still get a little bit under the cap with the trade i proposed but it woul be like 2 million which, isnt gonna land iggy, smith, or anyone good.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:18 PM

I dont want RMJ to resign…i wanna see NY get his minutes to develop into the 15-20 ppg scorer off the bench.

Comment from dopeboyfresh
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:22 PM

ok, i know that the wizards could be good with gil and caron at full strength, but, still, they need to make some more moves…. Philly and Miami are going to be hungry next year and i don’t know if a healthy wiz team is enough anymore…..

Boston, Detroit,Orlando,Cleveland,Toronto,Philly, Atlanta.and Miami, are all possible playoff contenders, so if the wizards don’t get some more depth we might not make it next year………..

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Less not get hasty with the love to Philly. Yes they have Brand a bonafide baller. but he is coming off an achilles injury. Sixers are not an up and coming team by any stretch. Dalembert and Miller came down the stretch strong but where were they 3 quarters of the season. They better resigned AI or they will be back in the lottery sweepstakes. On paper we do see several teams getting better. But we can only guess right now. With the Wizards we know right now we are 4th or 5th seed in the east. The wiz are banking on their young talent to make major strides this summer. I heard Caron state that he is going to be on these youngins this summer especially Nick and Andray. We will have to wait and see!!

Comment from Reuben
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:40 PM

Sportzwiz what is our salary right now including signing Gil

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:41 PM

i think it’s around 68, but the gil contract hasn’t been signed and the antawn #’s havent been released. If you figure 11 for twan in his first year and 15 for gil and 1 for mcgee your talking 68 million.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:42 PM

ok this is really crazy and somewhat funny, but im just mad the wiz arnt doin anything right now and i saw that the pistons, are considering trading for tracy mcgrady.

So, i did the best i could but a trade to get tracy mcgrady:

wiz trade: Daniels, Thomas, Songaila, Stevenson, Pecherov(bonzi wells TE), 09 1st, 2010 1st, memphis pick

rockets trade: McGrady, Hayes

Abe goes over the tax and gets matt barnes With the MLE and say Earl boykins with the LLE

Arenas/Boykins
McGrady/Young
Butler/McGuire/Calathes*
Jamison/Blatche/Hayes
Haywood/McGee

I dont even know if you can use the full MLE going over the tax, or the LLE, but this is just to entertain. We would also only have 11 players. Heck sign Pat Calathes to the league minimum.*

Comment from dopeboyfresh
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:44 PM

is there a way the wiz can trade a couple of the rookies for a veteran piece like josh smith or someone who would give them depth?

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:50 PM

wow i forgot to add barnes in the lineup, he would backup butler.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:54 PM

wow, we put up 161 million dollars re-sign two all-stars and we are mad because the wizards are sitting aroudn doing nothing. Very interesting.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:55 PM

dopeboyfresh, very unlikely, salaries dont match. And again your talking about a 22 year old future all-star, you gotta find matching deals.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Isn’t Jamison first year salary suppose to be 9.9m or 10m and it escalates each year. Kind of like Gil’s

Comment from dopeboyfresh
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:57 PM

sports wiz, you make a good point, but i think wbm0 was just saying that that might not be enough to contend this year with all the other east teams………….

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 12:57 PM

it can only escalate so much per year, thats why my guess is around 11 but thats why we dont know at this point.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:02 PM

We’re at about 43 w/ Dom and JM. If Antawn and Gil are 11 and 15, then we have $2m to work with.

If Gil’s contract is 111, and it’s a straight 8% (of year 1) annual raise, then his first year figure has to be 15.4. If Twan is 50 for 4 years, w/ the same raise restrictions, then he has to start at 11.15. I must be missing something, because that really gives us little room to maneuver. Probably not even enough to re-sign Roger.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:05 PM

i think everyone is overreacting to what is going on in the east right now. There has not been any cornerstone players traded this year like Garnett was last year. Their isn’t anybody on the market that is that type of player to get nervous about. Everyone is fighting to be middle of the pack. Why should we trade or sign someone if they are not a cornerstone to a franchise. Those guys get locked up long term ala Garnett, Kobe, Howard, James, Duncan, and now Paul. We have to build from within and I think we are doing that. Lets look at the young guys this year and see if they make major strides. Mason is now gone so nick will have no excuse about playing time so he can develop.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:07 PM

SportsWiz — definitely, spending $161 on 2 players is amazing. Weird, really. These are some funny numbers to be playing ball! The question is whether it’ll work, however, not whether we are ‘doing something.’

I’m nervous about Gil’s contract, and it’s not hard to understand why: 1) we did as well last year w/o him as the year before w/ him, 2) we gave him all that loot coming off an injury which he didn’t recover right from last year, and 3) his deal restricts what we can do *for years*. How could you not be nervous? It might work out fine, but it’s nervous-making.

Comment from Point Guard
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:09 PM

I agree SportzWiz. Everyone is acting like the Arenas, and Jamison signings are insignificant. Simply downplaying it, as if we were guaranteed to have those guys back. Those guys hit the open market and were fair game for every team. We could literally be sitting here without Arenas, or Jamison, then we would be in some real trouble. 161 millions is alot of money. It dosen’t sound like the Wizards are sitting around doing nothing, to me.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:10 PM

“Mason is now gone” — ? what’s that about?

“nick will have no excuse about playing time” — ? what excuse did he have last year? You got to *earn* minutes, and he didn’t do it. He got way more than he earned, because Gil was out.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:14 PM

Let Ernie do his thing. We have a solid foundation that he formed with twan, caron, and Gil. We have professional vet such as songaila, and ad. We have a defensive specialists that can knock down 3 pointers in Dsteve. We have young talent on the roster with blatche, young, pech, mcgee, mcguire. We asked Ernie to get some more size and he went out and drafted the steal of the draft “the big secret” Mcgee. What more can Ernie do in his situation no one is out there that can put us over the top right now.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:17 PM

Multiple people have said the wizards aren’t being active. I just dont get that.

I think there is a concern on Gil, but there aren’t many players on gils level in the league.

I think Caron made a big jump last year as did Haywood and I think that reflected in the win/loss column and there is also more size with Etan back this year.

Realize the Wiz took the cavs to six without a healthy gil or etan. Cleveland was a healthy Daniel Gibson away from probably knocking off boston.

I kmow thats too many ifs for some people but this team won 44 games and just added one of the best scoring points in the league and a backup center just by getting healthy.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:17 PM

Yes Mason is gone. He is looking for more of a role and playing time. and we wont be able to give it to him. And we wont have the money either he is looking for the full Mid level

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:24 PM

43 games — but who’s counting?

If Gil and Etan come all the way back, we should be a better team, no doubt.

As to Mason, he’s not getting any MLE offers! And he’s not getting any guarantees of more role and time. If we don’t re-sign him, we’ll need to add somebody; otherwise we have 13 players, one of whom is a 19 year old who is very unlikely to play any significant minutes.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Mason will receive an offer more than the Zards will be willing to pay he had a career year he has 8 teams looking at him. And of course he is going to have an expanded role to whatever team he signs with compared with the Zards. We are stacked in the backcourt and if you had a 1st rounder on your bench that showed flashes of being a difference maker in the nba. You want him to get every chance to seize it.

Comment from Point Guard
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:38 PM

RDOT51, I dont think you could have said it better. There really is some overreacting going on. The only superstar player to come to the east so far has been Elton Brand, and I’m still not sure if that makes the sixers better than us. And now because Toronto traded for Jermaine O’neals loaded contract, and Miami, Charlotte, and Chicago, added some rookies, that makes them a more superior team than us. I don’t think so. We’re returning 3 all stars, with a nice supporting cast around them. We will make the playoffs, the only question is where we will be seeded.

Comment from wizbulletman0
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:47 PM

Hey would anyone like the idea of Lee or Crawford in a trade with NY?
I made one that gets us both. BTW they are on the trade block.

Wiz trade: Blatche, Stevenson, Daniels, 09 1st, memphis pick
NY trades: Lee, Crawford, Robinson

Why?
Donnie Walsh, would love daniels as their PG. He would really benefit that team. He gets a good defender in Stevenson, who also can score and a young PF that could IMO flourish in what D’antoni likes to do. They also get an extra 1st. potentially 2 1sts

We get Crawford, who next to Arenas could explode and help us tremedously. Robinson, could be a decent backup to arenas. And Lee could be that F of the bench that gives us instant energy every night, something he proved. Blatche didnt show up every night and would be an upgrade. Plus Lee and Robinson have expiring contracts…

Arenas/Robinson
Crawford/Young
Butler/McGuire
Jamison/Lee/Songaila/Pecherov
Haywood/Thomas/McGee

we have young guards but i bring up the boston analogy with them having rondo as their lone PG. He was in his second year.
Thoughts….

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:48 PM

I can’t wait to see the Zards in Summer league… It will be interesting to check out Blatche to see if he consistently puts up big numbers. Because last year he led the team in scoring but he would have 1 big game and then he would disappear or be marginal in the next 2 games. Kind of showed an outlook of what he was last season.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:51 PM

wizbulletman0,
i like your idea if the numbers match up. But I have mixed emotions about letting Andray go.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:53 PM

my bad 43 . Again make sure you stop by the blog on Friday afternoon we’ll put up whatever video and quotes we can get.

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM

downplaying maybe lol but we did not gain anything, we just got what we could have losts. hey me n tom called it last season saying at our best we were only a 4th or 5th seed u all laughed, and look what happened. all im going to say is we will see. if the wizards dont sign any players we will be the same oh my bad…. we will fall off. fighting for the 6th-8th spot or less. orlando, boston, philly (with brand and andre ig. signed), cleveland and detroit (with their current rosters) are all better than us right now. in that lists philly is the only team who may not necessarily be better only time will tell that. just sign another key player and i will shut my mouth. for the last 4 years now we’ve been cheering almost the exact same roster. (give or take deshawn, songaila, young) but oooh big difference. okay now that i read this i sound like a wiz hater……. so im through! lol im not a backstabber….. thats love for my team to get better. i want to wave my hand in front of my face at the bar “saying i cant feel my face” while in the finals. i wanna yell caronomo. or do tha souljah boi courtside. so pardon me for being so critical

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 2:17 PM

We all want the quick fix that is just the society we live in. We would be critical of Ernie and the franchise whatever they did… Would I have liked to see this wiz do something in free agency ? yes.. But what is out there? Should we not sign gilbert? We would be crazy not to sign him… there is no one in free agency that is on gilbert’s level. Should we have not signed the Professional “Jamison”? Maybe, Maybe not but then again could we have made a run at Elton but if he didnt sign here would Jamison come back after knowing he was our second choice? Its hard thats why Ernie makes the big bucks.

Comment from neal
Time July 9, 2008 at 2:21 PM

OK, we have 11 players under contract for $51,810,917. That presumes the $9.9M for Jamison reported by the Post and the minimum for a second year player (McGuire) of $711,517. Then we add what the Post reported Arenas’s first year salary is ($14.5M) and the league mandated salary for McGee ($1,160,200) and we are at $67,471,117 for 13 players. I don’t think the Post would have reported those figures w/o good information. This means Arenas will get less than an 8% annual raise.

The luxury tax ceiling is $71.15M. So we have $3,678,883 left. That should be enough for Mason, but maybe teams will bid him up higher than what EG thinks he’s worth. I like everything about Mason except that I would like for him to go after rebounds and loose balls with more enthusiasm. He keeps his cool even in those circumstances.

If the bidding gets too high for Mason, I remember liking what I saw of Jennaro Pargo. He’s a SG isn’t he?

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 2:48 PM

neal, he’s an undersized two that can play the point, kinda like roger

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 9, 2008 at 3:10 PM

Nobody is thinking about chemistry. At least that is one thing that we have when fully healthy.

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 9, 2008 at 3:17 PM

I know i might catch some heat for this but i’m fine with the squad that we have. When healthy we have 3 all stars. I know some of these other teams look good on paper but they have to play against us just like yall are looking at it as us against them. Those teams are gonna have to deal with us and IF we are a healthy squad for most of the season, we are dangerous. Hopefully the bench develops as we expect them to and i will roll with this squad til the wheels fall off.

Comment from Point Guard
Time July 9, 2008 at 3:33 PM

Big Dogg, I couldn’t agree more, with what you just said. I totally believe in our current roster. I’ve been saying this all along. Lets keep this team together, and stay healthy. When healthy we can compete with the best of the best. We’ve proven that much. I definitely agree with you.

Comment from RDOT51
Time July 9, 2008 at 3:44 PM

This is going to be a big year for this team… If the Zards are a 5th seed for another year I can see the team being dismantled. Kind of what happen to Indiana a few years back

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 3:56 PM

the truth of the matter is, we could sign pretty much anyone we wanted……sure we would go over the luxury tax, but i mean should abe pollin really be concerned about losing like 7 million dollars???? i mean come on the man bascially owns DCs entertainment!!!! thats what makes me sick about the nba sometimes, or professional sports leagues in general…….an owner has the ability to get big named players for their team, pay a little to get them, have the ability to build a contender around that, but dont because the owners dont want to spend the money……..i mean come on thats crazy!! to survive in the NBA teams sometimes need to “spend a little to make a little” right?

Comment from Rook
Time July 9, 2008 at 4:34 PM

Sportswiz – you said “11 for twan in his first year”

but it was reported that Antawn’s contract had a first year cap amount less than $10 Million… Can you explain further?

And, not to be too picky, but the rookie scale contract for the 2008-09 pick #18 is $1,160,200
http://www.nbpa.com/cba_exhibits/exhibitB.php

Comment from Rook
Time July 9, 2008 at 4:40 PM

BTW – for those trying to calculate salaries for Arenas and Jamison…. max raises are 10.5% of the first year of the contract…

SO:

Assuming a first year of $14.7 Million:
Year 1 $14.7
Year 2 $16.2 (year 1 plus $1.47 Million raise)
Year 3 $17.8
Year 4 $19.3
Year 5 $20.9
Year 6 $22.4
Total $111.4

Assuming a first year of $11 Million:
Year 1 $11.0
Year 2 $12.2 (Year 1 plus 1.1 Million raise)
Year 3 $13.3
Year 4 $14.5
Total $50.9

Comment from SportzWiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 5:06 PM

Guys im throwing out basic #’s and giving an estimate. Again the #’s haven’t been reported so im giving an idea, but the teams right now are not giving an exact amount.

Comment from Rook
Time July 9, 2008 at 5:18 PM

I agree with the “roll with this roster” sentiment posted by Big Dogg and Point Guard.

After this season is over, Ernie can evaluate the greatest need, and use his bargaining chips (expiring contracts, draft picks, etc…) to fill that need through a trade; and make a serious run at a Championship.

Remember, the 2009-10 season will be full of teams wanting to “dump” salaries in exchange for expiring contracts…. The Wizards could pick up a very good player in the $10 – $14 Million contract range… (Andrei Kirilenko, Nick Collison are a couple of guys that come to mind that fall in that range…)

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 5:37 PM

ya’ll are missing my point…. ok we signed gil and twan and pretty much kept the big 3. well add another key piece and im rolling with it too

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM

As I’ve said on this blog about a zillion times (and don’t mind repeating, being who I am), nba basketball is competition and entertainment — both things.

We have a good, and also an entertaining team. We are above average. We do *not* have a championship roster. Do you know how to tell whether a team has a championship roster? Look and see whether their roster has won a championship (or at least played in the finals, or at least played in the conference finals). That’s not us.

If we bring back the same team, we’ll have the same team — hey, that’s obvious, right?

I *like* our team; I’m fine w/ that. They compete, they play with passion. We have some stars, we have some kids, we have a good coach who is also a good person. It’s all good.

I’m not a ‘hater’ if I say that we aren’t winning the ring w/ this team — I’m a realist. Still a fan, tho….

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM

what does everybody think of Earl Boykins?? I havent heard anyone say anything about him…..Sure he lacks size, but he would bring alot of intensity off the bench and is a pretty consistent shooter……I think he would be great backing up Daniels and Arenas…..If Stevenson got tired we could even bring Boykins and put him at the one and put arenas at the 2?

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:04 PM

Carlos Arroyo could do the same as well, but he’s bigger than Boykins, plays better defense and is a better passer….Only problem is I think he is looking to make more than what Boykins is.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:06 PM

Rook’s perspective is a wise one. We’ll have much more flexibility next off season than we do this off season.

Etan’s contract, which has been something of a boat anchor, will become attractive. Antonio may be ready to move on, and his contract will be expiring too. We should have a much better idea of how good Nick, Dom and Pech are.

In the meantime, we’re going to field a competitive, entertaining team that will fight to make the playoffs and will fight in the playoffs.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:08 PM

We might also look at Carlos Delfino. And at Quintin whatsisname (ross?)

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:09 PM

Tom I totally agree with you. I mean we don’t have any “true” veteran players on our roster; meaning players who have actually played in the 2nd round of the playoffs and up on a consistent basis…….I mean we don’t even have 1 player who has played past the 2nd round of the playoffs…..we need a player who is in his final years of his career but who has done alot, meaning been on a championship/finals team, been a competitor, a mentor, etc.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:11 PM

yes carlos delfino would be good, he’s played on the pistons when they were in their prime, and he was only starting out…..quinton ross is gonna be a good player, but is gonna need 1 or 2 more years to develop his defensive and playmaking game

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:15 PM

I agree with Tom with the we don’t have a championship team yet. We can easily challenge anybody in the east right now with the team that we have, when fully healthy but we are missing a piece to our puzzle. But just because other teams make big moves doesn’t mean we have to panic and try to get somebody just because. Ernie is a smart dude. I’m sure he knows what can put us over the top but that “piece” probably isn’t available yet. but when it is, i’m sure he’ll make a move. I remember how much noise was made when the knicks got Z-Bo to go along with Eddie Curry. Yea, i know, it’s the Knicks. But when that happened, everybody was buzzin. And look what happened, NOTHING! Let’s see what happens to these squads who make these moves and see how we match up on the court and not on paper. We did beat Boston 3 times with a depleted team. And remember yall, we haven’t been this good in a loooooooong time. Enjoy this moment. We are relevant in the NBA now.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:20 PM

Tom I agree with you that we will have several options next off season, but with our high salaries right now i still think it will be difficult for us to lure in a big named player next season……plus you also need to think of it in the free agents perspective: I mean if the Wizards only do but so well this coming season, big named free agents will more likely wanna sign with a 1/2/3/4 playoff seed team than a 5/6/7/8 playoff seed team if possible right? i mean if a big named player joins a 1-4 playoff seed team they have a wayy better chance in becoming a championship contender than a 5-8 seed, or even a team that didnt make the playoffs……..the only exception ive found to this is with the celtics, but they brought in 2 big named players, and did a bunch of other stuff

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:23 PM

Dogg — that’s a *great point.* Lets enjoy our team for how good it really is, and not worry about how good it may not be.

We do need that 14th guy, tho — I don’t know whether we can land Delfino, but I think I’d rather have him than Roger. Who else do you guys like?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:25 PM

I don’t think I agree w/ that, wizfan4life. Expiring contracts let us make trades. And for that matter free agents often want to come to a team where they make a difference.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Ivan is saying that Roger will likely sign elsewhere, and that we’re looking for a veteran backup for Caron rather than a 2. Makes sense.

He mentions Matt Barnes and says he is a good defender. I don’t really know his game at all. Who else would you guys like in that role?

Comment from Point Guard
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:34 PM

One thing you notice about all these teams that play in the finals, is that they all always have their star players healthy. When was the last time the wizards went into the playoffs with the entire big 3 healthy? Uh, that would be 2 seasons ago, and they were 2 Lebron travels, in the final seconds froms advancing in that series. So we were playing with huge pieces of the team sitting on the sidelines the last 2 postseasons, and we were actually still expected to win it all? And now it’s being presumed this is not a championship roster? for what? because we did not win while playing hurt in the playoffs? I’m not saying this is, or is not a championship roster, but I dont think there is sufficient proof to say they aren’t capable of winning it all. Lets play a healthy postseason before determining that. Injuries have hurt us, at the most important time of the season.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time July 9, 2008 at 6:36 PM

Tom I can’t really think of many options for the Wizards right now after this coming season because Etan Thomas will be the only expiring contract we will have I think we will just have to wait until the 2010 offseason to look at getting a big named player; that offseason I think has players that the Wizards could benefit more from than this offeason or the 2009 offseason; especially at center and at shooting guard.

Comment from tyrone20000
Time July 9, 2008 at 7:14 PM

Point Guard, thank you for putting that out there! People forget how close we were and to ball it up and throw it away would be crazy…Matt Barnes, Delfino, Childress, or K Brown would be A okay…

Comment from wiz-skins07
Time July 9, 2008 at 7:14 PM

Roger Mason has agreed to terms with San Antonio — Click Here — This really sucks —

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 7:28 PM

i know i like stevenson but that position is not that big of a need where as a position just being filled. here is one for ya tom. every championship team had a gunner. bulls had craig hodges, steve kerr, celts have eddie house, danny ainge. since orlando just drafted courtney lee and bogans did a terrific job for them that free’s up jj redick. we dont need him to come in and make plays, just make shots. and since we want to stay cheap sign maurice evans. for a defensive specialists there is always keyon dooling. and our big fantasy josh childress. carlos arroyo can bring a spark. salim stoudamire can light it up. sasha vujacic and michael finley. i think we simply need a back up 3 and a 3 point specialist.

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 9, 2008 at 7:30 PM

oh yea and matt barnes is a decent defender he likes to go after steals and loose balls and always plays the passing lanes. his on ball d has to improve. besides that he runs the floor and can occasionally hit a 3. free throw percentage is not all that great

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 9, 2008 at 9:26 PM

Hey Gee Wiz, i was just tellin my boy that the other day. We should sign JJ Redick. And nobody hates Duke more than me but he can flat out shoot tha rock. And we don’t need him to do much, just hit open shots and that he can do. And you have a ver valid point PG. i was talking to a group of NBA fans the other day and I asked them to name any team in the league who can lose their best player (Gil) for the season, an all star (Caron) for 30-40 games, a center (Etan) who gets major minutes, Their back up point guard (AD) for several games, etc. I think yall see where i’m going. And win more games than the previous year. They couldn’t name one. I only asked for one. Can anyone on here give me one? And i know, Gil is not better than say Kobe but i said the team’s best player went down for the season, plus lost another all star. We had a very good year IMO due to what we had to deal with. I can’t wait for the season to start. I just hope we can stay healthy for most of the year and I really think we will be the talk of the league.

Comment from neal
Time July 9, 2008 at 9:38 PM

Mason is leaving. Rats!

Tom, are you going to keep track of him this year to see who wins our wager?

Rook, contract EXTENSIONS can have up to 10.5% raises. Otherwise, contracts are limited to 8% annual raises. I think Arenas’s contract is a new one, not an extension.

Comment from nickman
Time July 9, 2008 at 10:32 PM

Now what?

Comment from bassguy4
Time July 9, 2008 at 11:25 PM

Well guys according to Washington Post the Wizards the Wizards signed Utah Jazz restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an offer sheet for a two-year, partially guaranteed deal yesterday. The Jazz have a week to match the offer. RMj was signed to a two year 7.3 million dollar deal.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 10, 2008 at 7:04 AM

First off, congratulations to Roger. He is an example of the success hard work and professionalism can bring you in this league. I’m very happy for him, and I hope the rest of you feel the same way. Here’s hoping he flourishes in San Antonio.

We need an athletic, defensive-minded 3 to give Caron some more rest. I don’t know the first thing about Matt Barnes, but if he fits the bill that’s great. I also hope that Dom has spent the last 3 months working *hard* on his defense and shooting.

The East is changing, and change is good. I’m really looking forward to Summer League and seeing our guys.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 10, 2008 at 7:05 AM

neal — remind me of our wager and, yes, I’ll keep track.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 10, 2008 at 7:17 AM

Why I like Pat Calathes — he played 6 1/2 minutes last night: made his only shot, made both his free throws, got 2 rebounds and had 2 assists. I know this is irrelevant to anyone but me, but I think this undrafted, 6’10″ wing player is going to have a good NBA career.

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 10, 2008 at 8:40 AM

thanks big dogg. the only thing about reddick is that everyone knows he can shoot. so he doesn’t get open shots. and there is no other way for him to score, he doesn’t take u off tha dribble or post. he needs to add another piece to his game cause when he comes in opposing teams know to stay close. Tom u talk about Calathes alot he must be good but when i hear 6’10 wing player i think of blatche so im kinda iffy on that. i like jj but we need to find that perfect wing back up player and then go from there. im happy for roger, he bounced around this league and nobody gave him a shot, he almost gave up basketball but i know it feels good to be wanted so im proud of him. just dont think san antonio thought this one through. roger is not a point gaurd he is a 2 gaurd. the already have ginobli, finley(free agent), brent barry. so i dunno about that

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 10, 2008 at 9:40 AM

Finley will probably retire, and Phoenix is supposedly going to sign Barry. I can’t imagine Reddick ever earning minutes in this league. He is too lacking in athleticism.

Calathes and Blatche aren’t similar — but, it doesn’t really matter; we’d never be the ones to wind up with that kid, at least not this year. I’m just pretty sure we’ll be hearing his name in the league for a while. His brother’s name too, of course, starting next year.

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 10, 2008 at 9:47 AM

Do yall think that utah will match the offer we gave to Dee Brown? I’ve been reading a lot about how Philly is trying to find a way to resign not only the pother AI but also Lou Williams after the big Elton Brand deal. I would love to see Lou Williams in a Wizards uniform. It would be like having a younger, better Larry Hughes. But i think he’ll be too expensive.

Comment from Big Dogg
Time July 10, 2008 at 9:49 AM

What to we do with our share of the luxury tax money that we get from the other teams? Does that go into salaries or can that help us sign other players? How does that work?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 10, 2008 at 10:27 AM

Utah won’t match.

The money the Wizards get from luxury tax doesn’t change our cap limit so it doesn’t change our ability to sign players. It goes in the till, of course, so it contributes to what the franchise spends on all its costs — of which player salaries is by far the biggest single item!

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 10, 2008 at 2:17 PM

utah definitely wont match dee brown they never played the guy, most of u didnt know if he was in the league last year. hopefully he can give us a lift he is also in the reddick boat because he just cant seem to find his niche in the nba. more than likely we are going after barnes ivan and the crew wouldn’t report such things unless they were confident it was going to happen. the question is….. with dee brown and possibly matt barnes at the healm, do you all think that will be enough to get the wizards to the promise land?????????? well let me be the first. with the additions of matt and dee our shooting just got a hell of alot better. we finally will fill a need at the 3, if matt plays the good defense we expect of him then we will be a force, were talking at least 2nd-3rd round but finals im not to positive about….. but if completely healthy the entire season and posts season….. we only have to worry about cleveland, boston, and maybe orlando

Comment from gee wiz
Time July 10, 2008 at 5:39 PM

actually dee played over seas last year so it doesn’t even matter what utah does