Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 21, 2009 at 10:24 AM

another player putting his name into the hat on draft night

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 21, 2009 at 10:30 PM

SportzWiz, thanks for keeping the blog alive during the off-season. Since Tap is gone, I’m going to contribute and if TomM sees my post I’m sure he’ll fire back. Hopefully, the regulars will join in.

There is a lot of criticism about Young and Blatche. I’m sure that the criticism is grounded in the anticipation that since both have enormous talent, they should contribute more.

Please consider – Blatche was on a double-double run as a starter when he got injured. When he returned Tapscott limited his playing time. Young had a few back-to-back 20+ games and then Tapscott implemented his stupid 7 game rotation nonsense.

Both Young and Blatche were forced to try to succeed in an offense that was designed for a back-door-cut team which is not the appropriate offense for either player. Nick is best one-on-one; Andray is best with the ball facing the basket. The Tapscott offense offered little opportunity for either player to succeed.

If Saunders can get Nick isolated against his defender, Slick could average 20+. If Saunders can get the ball to Blatche and allow him to face the basket, ‘Dray will be a double-double player.

I would like to see this next year:
Gilbert – Critt, ?
Nick – McGuire, DeShawn
CB- Draft pick, ?
AJ – AB, Darius
Brendan – McGee, ?

James – gone
Pech – gone
Etan – gone
Dixon – gone

I know that we have some guaranteed contracts, but maybe we can get rid of some players if they were packaged with a high draft pick.

Come on blogers, jump in!

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:06 AM

Hiya Gabbo. Very nice to see you after your brief hiatus. The very two players you mention “SAID” they were going to work out with Gilbert this off season. If they do that it tells me they have developed a desire to make it to the next level. If not.. It was just for tv. Here is in hoping for the former. If Nick and Andray commit themselves to the game and the Wizards….ok Wow. We already know what we are going to get from the rest of the “key” players.

They say Flip Saunders (although, as usual, the Wizards are tight lipped till the end) has an offensive play book the size of the Encyclapedia Brittanica and knows how to use it. We also need defense, but, how nice will it be to have a coach that at least knows one end of the floor? You “semi” mention the Princeton offense kinda sorta in your post. Did YOU ever really see it being run past the first pass or two? Enough said LOL.

Dixon is automatically gone. James, Etan, and Pesh are going to cost us our 1st pick. I’m waiting LOL. You never know. Even though luck has never been the Wizards strong suit we still have the chance to get Griffin. Past Griffin… Trade

Comment from datonypony
Time April 22, 2009 at 5:09 AM

I think that even if we do get Griffin, I would still trade him, frankly, because we don’t need him to be competing for minutes in the PF spot when we already have a gazillion people there. And, I expect next year our team to be a playoff chasing team, therefore, we need immediate producers, and trading griffin a’long with some of Pech, Etan, James, Dixon for a good SG or SF will be a much better option.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time April 22, 2009 at 6:42 AM

Good Morning,

I’m not really paying attention to criticism of anyone on this team, at this point. We have a new beginning, with viable NBA players. If a players doesn’t fit into our new coach’s system, they don’t fit, period….trade them. The key to this whole project is that we now have a SYSTEM that can be put into place, whereas IMO the personnel were succeeding, due to their personal “God-given” skills.

A double-double, single-single, whatever the case, is not an issue. I would rather someone have 8 points, six rebounds and 5 charges taken and win a championship, than have a 20-10 person and keep looking forward to a “next-year”. Hopefully, this will be an era of “know your role”!!!!

LOL….I just looked at the original topic. I guess I should mention a game-boy some where in my dialogue….lol….

Peace

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:20 AM

Welcome back, Getabig — I was thinking about you this morning while walking the dogs and hoping you’d return to the fray.

Your thesis is that Nick and Andray were held back by bad coaching. In that case, assuming (as I do) that both of them will be here next year, we’ll get to see whether you are right about either or both of them.

Andray played about the same minutes this year as last, and overall he was a little down in production but fairly consistent w/ last year.

Nick improved from his rookie year — mostly in cutting out mistakes, negative stats, but still he got better. If Flip makes him continue his defensive effort, then other improvements will mean all the more.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:31 AM

datonypony — no one who gets to draft Blake Griffin is likely to trade him! We only have an 18% shot, but if we get him we’ll be keeping him.

If we *don’t* get him, then I’m w/ Getabig — trade the pick and (hopefully) 2 undesirable players for a desirable player and a lower pick.

IMO, absolutely anyone on the team can be traded — it depends on the deal. But, in particular, were I GM I’d have to be looking at lowering the looming salary structure, wch limits flexibility.

Because of that, I’d probably want to trade one of the two “all star forwards”, and I’d certainly like to get rid of DeShawn. I’m not too concerned about Etan, Mike and Pech — they’re gone after the coming season anyway, and *somebody* has to sit at the end of the bench.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:41 AM

datonypony,

If you get a player like Blake Griffin you don’t trade him because you have a stock pile at that position. You trade some of the stock pile. Blake Griffin could beat out AB, Darius, Pech, and Etan. IMO a good GM would trade AB’s low budget contract and Etan’s expiring contract for a SG or SF.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:46 AM

millie mill — the problem w/ that idea lies in our committed salaries over the coming years. Check them out here.

We still have to re-sign Brendan and Dominic (who will get *many offers* and a big raise), as well as Caron pretty soon. The only source of relief are the expiring salaries of Mike and Etan. If we trade either of those guys for players w/ longer-term salaries, we only complicate our situation.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 22, 2009 at 8:34 AM

Tom,

I understand the need for cap space in the future. I know that the NBA’s salary cap might not be as high next season as it was last season.
But I do say if we get a shot at Blake Griffin it will ease the pain of the salary cap because we will be winning games, selling tickets and Wizards product.
I don’t know for sure but I do believe we get a portion of the tickets sales of teams we visit. So if they sell out because we have stars like Gil, Butler, Jamison and Griffin we get more money.
I do understand the need for keeping Etan and James because of there contracts are amounting to about 13 mil, but if the Wizards feel they can make a real push for the championship come the trade deadline both those expiring contracts will be traded for what ever we need.
I know we need Haywood (last year proved that). He will get a raise, small raise but he will get one. I like Dominic but don’t think he will get many minutes under the new coach with everyone healthy unless he can prove that he can hit an open jumper.
2011
Haywood -7-8 million
D-Mac-2-3 million (if he can hit that open jumper 4 million)

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 22, 2009 at 8:57 AM

great to see the blog blowing back up!

Gabbo, I will be holding it down all summer and I hope you’ll stick with us (and the rest of you of course!) through the whole summer which includes the lottery, draft workouts, summer league, pickup games, the whole works!

Comment from millie mill
Time April 22, 2009 at 9:04 AM

Wizards, Saunders Make It Official

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/21/AR2009042104004.html

Comment from dcbutler357
Time April 22, 2009 at 9:40 AM

Sportwiz,

Gabbo didn’t go anywhere, he was right here with the rest of us

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 9:59 AM

It’s hard to predict salaries in the current economy — obviously, there’ll be pressure downwards. The days of journeymen like Mike getting $6m/year are gone for a while.

So there’s no predicting what FA offers will come Brendan’s way. But, I doubt $7-8m will keep him. Take a look at Samuel Dalembert’s salary w/ the Sixers.

My guess is McGuire will get a 3 year deal at @ $3m/year — like the deal Carl Landry got w/ Houston.

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 10:24 AM

millie mill> I agree with on that point:
1) we can’t trade Griffin, we would be crazy doing it(does it ever happen so far for a 1st pick to be traded the same year!?)

2)If we get him (Griffin) we can make the LAST trade who gonna make this team a championship caliber and dont care about the future because we gonna sale (tickets, wiz products…).

At that point we would just need a veteran SG who can hit the 3 and defend, I was thinking about Mike Miller or former wizard Rip.

In the trade include: AB (no more time to wait for him to mature morever if we get Griffin and anyway we have to separate him from NY)+Stevenson+one of the two expiring contracts (I would rather land James, bring A.Carter via free agency and keep more cap space in Thomas for next year!), here would be the roster:

ARENAS Carter/Critt
MILLER Young
BUTLER McGuire
GRIFFIN Jamison/Songaila
HAWHOOD McGee

Inactive: Thomas/Pecherov

Comment from millie mill
Time April 22, 2009 at 12:09 PM

Tom, you’re right it’s hard to predict FA salaries. When comparing Haywood to Dalembert, Dalembert is younger than Haywood. Haywood will be 32 when his contract expires. I don’t know how old Dalembert was when he got his deal.

Now, Ben Wallace got a big contract at 32. I don’t see that happening for Haywood. So, if I would guess I would say 7-8 million will keep him.

Comment from millie mill
Time April 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM

Hopfully in two years McGee can develop into that starting center we want him to be.

Comment from dmac
Time April 22, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Hey my fellow bloggers I am back in the saddle. Been quite busy the last 2 months. Just planted a church that I am pastoring in Silver Spring. So I have not had any time to blog lately.
It is good to have a healthy Gilbert back in the saddle. Today we just got a new coach in Flip Saunders. I think it was a good move.
Now I hope things work out with the lottery ball for us.
I definitely would like to see us get Blake G. but even if we do we may have to make some moves to be able to sign him. After Blake I like Rubio, Thabeet and Harden in that order.
There are also rumors Michael Redd may become available.
Hopefully and prayerfully we stay healthy we can make a run at Cleveland next year.
Tom has Abe offered you a job yet?

Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time April 22, 2009 at 12:47 PM

Hello Sportzwiz and all of my fellow bloggers

Gabbo-I totally agree with you the above post, and I am excited about what next year’s team will look like. I am sure that our scorers and role players will be put in the best position to succeed. I am really curious who we will bring in to help coach the defense. And if any of the currenct coaching staff will be retained?

Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:01 PM

Hey Sportzwiz-I understand Caron sprung for lunch today?

Comment from neal
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:11 PM

I agree Millie. Our best chance of getting a 2 for 1 trade (so that we will have roster spots for both our draft picks) is to trade one of our productive PF’s (Jamison, Blatche, Songaila) along with one of the expiring contracts (James, Pecherov, Thomas).

jeffmalone, I hope Ayers and Hopla are allowed to stay on. Apparently, Grunfeld sorta pushed them on Jordan so they may stay.

It was good to read in the Post how well Saunders’s teams have done defensively. We should improve on both ends.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Good grief, we’re tired of waiting for a 22 year-old with 3+ years of professional basketball experience to mature?!

Comment from tyrone20000
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Blatche is not that good…He is too slow but he does make a nice pass here and there…He can shoot but I hate that slow a– pump fake…He was given significant minutes but was not reliable…After that break out game he went right back in the toilet…He was a huge part of that 19 win team…That is why this team looked like an NBA squad when Haywood returned…That is my take and I am stickin to it

Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Blatche is a keeper, sorry guys he is still very young and has improved in each year (IMO). I am not ready to get rid of him, even if we had the top pick. He just needs to build on this year, and the coaching staff will help bring the best out of him and play him at his natural position.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:31 PM

I would still love to see Zo brought in to coach the big guys.

Comment from tyrone20000
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:31 PM

Please don’t trade Arenas, Haywood, Songalia, Butler, Mcguire, Critt, Young, Jamison,Stevenson, and I hope Dixon comes back too.

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:40 PM

getabigboyoffense> AB still young I agree, but since last year and this year I saw no improvement and no impact from him, however, I saw some from Young and a lot from McGuire.
As tyrone200000 said he is not reliable and he stucks between the 3/4 position with not enough quickness to play the 3 and not enough power and willingness to go to the contact as a real PF do!
Better to put him in package this offseason.

Comment from gbkdc
Time April 22, 2009 at 1:56 PM

GABBO, I saw you on the Post’s blog today. I agree with you about ZO!! That would be amazing.

Comment from neal
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Blatche is a journeyman player. No need to trade him, nor is there a need to turn down a good offer. We’re all just disappointed he didn’t turn out to be more. He may still improve. He looked a little bigger this year to me. I suspect he still is not in as good condition as he could be, and I expect he will still gain more weight/muscle. He’ll only make $3M next year.

Yes, I would love for our bigs (such as Blatche) to absorb some of Mourning’s attitude and commitment.

Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Anybody from GTOWN, LOL. ZO, Coach Thompson, Ewing anybody…..

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:18 PM

edry09,

Blatche was 9th on the team in minutes played and yet he was 5th in points per game, 5th in rebounds per game and 6th in field goal percentage. I like those numbers especially from a jump-shot oriented team.

During the 2008-09 season Andray exceeded every statistical category for his career. He improved his Field Goal%, 3 point shot%, Free throw% , Offensive rebound%, Defensive rebound%, Assists Per Game, Steals per game, Blocked shot per game, and Points per game. I would call that improvement.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:22 PM

jeffmalone that is correct, caron’s truly just a very classy guy. It was an unexpected treat that the whole organization enjoyed.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:22 PM

neal’s comment about AB’s salary is important. AB is going into the 3rd year of a 5 year contract ($15M). He’s very inexpensive, and he will only get better.

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:33 PM

getabigboyoffense,

Less games played, less FG%, less blocks, less offensive rebounds, more TO…in a opportunistic season for him due to numerous injuries…this is not improvement for me! However, I agree he is cheap with great potential; that’s the reason why I said trade him (especially if we get Griffin) he can be very attractive.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time April 22, 2009 at 2:44 PM

edry09, AB played in 71 games this year. He too was injured.

This year vs career numbers: his FG% improved from .464 to .471; blocked shots per game from 0.9 to 1.0; offensive rebounds per game 5.3 vs career 4.3; but, yep, you are right, he had a higher turnover percentage.

Blatche has yet to have a coach who can teach a big man how to play. Both EJ and Tap played little man basketball and let the outside shooters run the game. Hopefully, Saunders will provide some leadership and instruction.

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM

Yeah maybe you’re right, he didn’t get so far the right coach but I was making the comparison with last numbers not career ones. Anyway, if we get Griffin how would you manage Jamison, AB, Songaila and Griffin at PF position!?
Rather trade one of them and AB would be the most easier, that’s my thought!

Comment from datonypony
Time April 22, 2009 at 4:02 PM

But my point is, will Jamison be satisfied to play as a Sixth man again? I’m sure he’s stated he doesn’t like it even though he was won sixth man of they year award before.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time April 22, 2009 at 4:10 PM

This past year’s stats can not be used as a true measuring stick for players that were not playing in their natural position. If players were not playing in their natural position, that should be a plus for next year, if they are asked to do it again.

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 4:11 PM

datonypony,

I would put him on the bench as a luxurious 6th man and if he is a real professional as he pretends to be, he would accept that role.
In another hand it would be benefic to get him and nick coming from the bench to score 25-30 a night!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:17 PM

Blatche’s productivity was slightly down this year, Getabig — facts are facts. Here’s an excel file on most of our players. I included Andray’s previous season for comparison.

All the same, the difference is small — and if you want to blame it on the coach and having to play multiple positions, that’s fine. Maybe he’ll be better next year.

But, one way or the other, there is no particular reason to think Andray Blatche will be a big time player — unless he can play the 3, for which he does have a lot of skills. His biggest problem is lack of range on his jumper. If he hit the 3, he’d be a better candidate to play SF. He can handle the ball and pass.

Still, he is perfectly good value at his current price — and in a way that’s why he’s a good trade candidate. You can’t easily trade guys who aren’t good value. The other GMs are smart too.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:31 PM

Most important point — you don’t build a better team by getting the better performance out of your players. You build a better team by getting better players! We’re all fans, but don’t lets get blinded by the fact.

Let me remind you: we won 19 games this year. Do you really think that 2 players — Arenas and Haywood — would have made a 30 game difference in wins? Come on. We are *not* a good team.

As Mike Lee pointed out in the Post yesterday, the last time we won 19 games we had 5 different players the following year (including MJ). If we don’t make significant changes, it’ll be because our salary structure has hamstrung us (especially in the current economy).

The following players on our roster are *below average* NBA players (some way below average) in productivity per minute on the floor: Juan Dixon, Mike James, Nick Young, Oleksiy Pecherov, DeShawn Stevenson, Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas, Andray Blatche, and Javaris Crittenton (who gets a pass because of inexperience).

The following players are average NBA players or better (some way better): Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, Dominic McGuire and JaVale McGee.

Comment from tyrone20000
Time April 22, 2009 at 7:44 PM

Everyone seem to belittle Songalia, I believe his pro attitude, excellent defensive positioning (even though he does not have the quickness), steady shooting, and just his fight is exactly what we need in a power foward to win a championship. Jamison would be excellent coming off the bench like datonypony suggested and a great change up.

Throw away the stats on Blatche (good or bad) he lacks a lot of something that ballers recognize.

McGuire on the other hand, will continue to get better…

Comment from edry09
Time April 22, 2009 at 8:25 PM

Tom,

I think Songaila is by far an average NBA role player, he can play D, he shots the ball well, great guy, play hard every night…and Young has a great potential just teach him and hope he matures in order to be a professional (serious, focused, consistent, reliable…).

But I agree with you, with the actual roster the Wiz are *not* a so good NBA team…following guys are those we should build around: Arenas, Butler, McGee, McGuire, Hawyood, Young, Jamison, Songaila and Crittenton.
Hopefully we can bring in a good SG.

However, for the moment we just have to wait till the lottery day, then we will be able to speculate about trade scenarios.