Washington Wizards Blog

Comment from truthaboutit
Time May 15, 2009 at 9:03 AM

damn.

can’t they rent a small car, throw Muresan in the back, and roll up to the lottery old fashioned road trip style?

you could even make a documentary out of it … and it’d sell.

help off-set some of the “spending” the Wizards are “supposed” to do this summer

and if they want a silly blogger like me to come along for the ride…well, I’d be down

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 15, 2009 at 9:07 AM

awww….. maybe next year? (except — no lottery next year!)

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM

From what I hear if we are in the lottery again next season Abe is thinking of selling the Wizards and buying an aamco transmission franchise?

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 15, 2009 at 10:09 AM

Congratulations Truth. Very cool having you involved with the Post article! Very enjoyable reading.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM

Throwing muresan in any car is no small feat, I was in a van (not a mini van but an old fashion van) last year with him at a community event. The guys legs don’t end.

He’s honestly the largest man (and nicest) i will or have ever seen.

When he makes a 7 foot 265 lb Brendan Haywood look small that’s saying something.

Agreed with grifon, good write up in the Post truth.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM

SportzWiz that kind of reminds me of those funny Bullets ads back in the 80s that had Manute Bol and Muggsy Bogues side by side. I’ve still got that poster around here somewhere

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM

I think it’s good the Wizards are letting Saunders have some say in the roster this summer, but I also think Jamison, Butler, and Arenas should have some say in where our team is going as well (assuming Abe and Grunfeld don’t plan on trading them anytime soon). I mean if you think about it, once Jamison retires in a few years (and assuming they resign with us and/or we don’t trade them), Arenas and Butler will be running the show. Hopefully the Wizards make wise decisions for the draft and don’t pick a player like Kwame Brown for our lottery pick or trade for some terrible player lol.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 15, 2009 at 12:14 PM

Yeap, we have those pictures here as well, there was one of them in the game program this year

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 15, 2009 at 12:39 PM

great stuff

Comment from neal
Time May 15, 2009 at 2:41 PM

I just don’t see him in an Aamco franchise. But what do I know?

I’m against giving the players a say in personnel decisions. Asking their opinion is OK, but no leverage.

My prediction: We will pick 3rd.

Comment from gbkdc
Time May 15, 2009 at 7:10 PM

Hey, Wiz bloggers. I wanted to share my fashion blogging debut with you, as my post is directly relevant to the Wiz! Hope you enjoy it:

http://dcgoodwillfashions.blogspot.com/2009/05/guest-blogger-neon-are-you-serious.html

And Truth, I agree, loved your post in the Post!

Tom, sorry you didn’t get picked.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 15, 2009 at 7:45 PM

I’m sure the players don’t have any say in our pick! And I don’t know what makes you think that Flip has any say either for that matter. Just because he is going to the lottery?

As to where we’ll pick — at least we have a more than 50% chance of picking 3d or better.

Comment from datonypony
Time May 15, 2009 at 7:50 PM

I like Hasheem Thabeet more than rubio, however, the wizards have so damn many centers power forwards etc, so annoying. I guess wizards could make some good rotations but then with 3 centers, Haywood, Javale, Thabeet the minutes are gonna be pretty damn low.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 15, 2009 at 7:52 PM

I hate the lottery system, by the way. It seems utterly unfair that we have such a substantial chance of winding up with the 5th pick.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:24 AM

Go Wiz!! Get that number one pick

Comment from truthaboutit
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:26 AM

thanks for the props guys

remember: do whatever you can to invoke good karma this weekend

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 16, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I saw on ESPN.com a couple days ago there was an article that said “Wizards to trade lottery pick and players to land Stoudamire?” What would would y’all think of having Amare Stoudamire on our team. I’ve also seen a couple articles lately that say the Wizards can’t do anything with a big 3 so they need a big 4…..do y’all necessarily agree with that? I mean sure those 3 players rarely ever play together because they experience so many injuries, but do we really need a 4th guy to be taking all the minutes? If you look at some of the teams that have been to the Finals in the past few years like San Antonio, Dallas, and Miami; they have made it with a 2-3 all star starting lineup in their roster with a solid veteran bench……then you got teams like the Lakers and Boston that have a big 4, and they made it to the finals last year……so my question for this draft is do we really need to get a 4th all star type player or do we just get some solid veterans and pray that our big 3 are completely healthy next season?

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 16, 2009 at 5:24 PM

I would love to have Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh. I think you always try to increase the talent on your team. Big 4… heck I’d love to have a big 15. The real question is do we have anything Phoenix or Toronto wants? If either of them are looking to take on expiring contracts they came to the right place. I’m assuming we won’t deal the top pick if we are lucky enough to get it. Would they be interested in picks 2 thru 5 and a high second rounder? And if they are do we get any picks back? (I like Rubio too, but, there seem to be a few better than good pg’s in this one). Ok maybe 3 thru 5

It’s great fun sitting back thinking what if. I love this time of year. You just never know what’s going to happen.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 5:59 PM

Bosh is a very good player, but not quite as good as he is given credit for being. Stoudamire, otoh, is a stud.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 6:06 PM

Our “big three” isn’t as productive as SA’s crew in their prime — or now, for that matter. And we have a bench of pretty unproductive players, not SA’s bench.

The current roster, all healthy, would be in the bottom half of the E. conference playoffs, and maybe would struggle to make it there given the improvements in the East over the last couple of years.

The Wizards need substantial changes, but we keep hearing the EG “we can compete with anybody when we’re healthy” mantra.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 7:14 PM

Ok, here’s a trade idea with Minnesota — no one will like it, but it would make us a much better team. Assume for a moment that we get the 2d pick, and MN gets the 7th pick:

We give them pick 2, Mike James, Darius Songaila, and Nick Young. They give us pick 6, Mike Miller and Kevin Love. They aren’t keeping Miller past this year anyway, and James too is expiring. If they thought Nick had “potential” they might go for it.

W/ the 7th pick, we would take Stephen Curry.

We gain a roster spot; Miller is an *excellent* player, but if he doesn’t work out we let his $10m salary slip away at season’s end. Kevin Love is a rebounding machine who will play 10 plus solid years in the league. Curry may or may not work out, but i think he will.

What do you think?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 7:44 PM

We had 8 very unproductive players last year — more than half our roster! I got rid of 3 in the proposed trade above. A fourth, Juan Dixon, won’t be back. A fifth, Etan Thomas, would be hard to deal because of his trade kicker. He’s expiring, so he isn’t a long term problem.

That leaves Stevenson, Pecherov and Blatche to dispose of somehow. I have no idea who would want DeShawn or Pech, but someone might be interested in Andray. A guy I like a lot is Anthony Randolph, picked 10th last year by Golden State. I think Nellie isn’t high on him for some reason. Don’t know how we’d work a deal for him, to tell the truth, or how it would fit into the need to lower our roster count while upping our talent level. He’s very productive, however.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 7:50 PM

Nellie does want to dump Jamal Crawford, who is not a very good player, despite his reputation.

Maybe he’d eat Etan’s expiring contract, along w/ Pech and Blatche, for Crawford and Randolph? But, I’d be very reluctant to take on the long-term money Jamal is owed.

Comment from edry09
Time May 16, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Tom – I definitely like your idea of bringing Mike Miller, I think he is THE MAN we need to play the 2. He is a good ball handler, can hit the 3, pass the ball and defend…that exactly what the wiz need for that position and this move makes sense for voth sides.

Let’s be honest, if you were the Raptors or the Suns would you let your superstar go for a project, a 30 and a useless expiring contract!? I don’t think so!

However, I would not let NY walk away, he has a great potential, just let him one more year (with our new coach) to prove his value!
Trade AB instead.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM

The trade w/ Minnesota doesn’t work with Andray substituted for Nick — at least I don’t think it does.

By the way, just because I suggest trading someone, it doesn’t mean that I don’t *like* the player; it just thinks I prefer the guy we’d trade for.

However, I have to say, I doubt Minnesota would make such a trade — or that Ernie has it in mind. As you can see, I only want to keep our starting five plus JaVale and Javaris. I doubt Ernie feels that way!

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:42 PM

I like the Minnesota trade idea, but, I don’t think they would go for it. I like the idea of Mike Miller and Kevin Love. Unless Minnesota really had their eye on Thabeet I don’t think they would give up those two unless we gave them our pick, James, Blatche, and Thomas. They don’t need guards but may need some size. That would of course be better for us as well. Tom… Blair would be there at 7 too probably.

Edry09 the suns were shopping Amare last season and at the very end decided to hang onto him. It’s not that much of a stretch to think they may consider it again. If they are I propose the same thing I proposed with the T-Wolves. Swapping Nick young or Songaila for Thomas would be ok with me too if we were able to get Amare.

The big if in all of this is how the other GM’s percieve Andre.

I hope all this is mute and Mr. Griffin comes to Washington.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:49 PM

Blatche and Young’s salaies are about 1 mil apart with Andray making more. It would be very close in any trade scenario using either of them.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 16, 2009 at 9:51 PM

Miller and Love are around 12 mil combined.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM

Make that 13 million, Grifonracing. Whether Mn would make that trade seems like it’d depend mostly on how high they are on Love and whether they (or any NBA GM) think Nick has “potential.”

If they’re not high on Love, they might think “Love and Songaila — not that much difference.” If they don’t plan to retain Miller, the higher pick might make up for the $3m less expiring salary. If they are high on Nick, they may think “we get Young and a higher draft pick… might be a good deal.”

Lots of “if” stuff there, huh? It won’t happen, alas.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 17, 2009 at 2:42 AM

You never know Tom. I’m guessing they would rather have Blatche. If Nick is who they covet…. Wonderful lol. We could save a million and truly beef up our front court.

I’ll have to admit though…. I’m a little more partial to making the impossible dream a reality. Miller and Love are the sensible way to go. I’ve never been known as sensible lol. We have a real shot at Amare! That would be Edry09’s 4th and would make a us a serious contender.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 17, 2009 at 2:51 AM

That is as long as the Phoenix deal included their draft picks for ours. Too many trade possibilities left to rule out still getting a Stephen Curry or DeJuan Blair.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 17, 2009 at 3:07 AM

All that being said… Here Blake.. come here. We will show you love for years

Comment from wiz123
Time May 17, 2009 at 8:10 AM

since we are proposing trades, here’s what i think. with the rumor that bosh is not extending his contract in toronto, we could make a move for him.

if we dont land the top pick/blake, i would offer toronto one of our forwards(jamison or butler), our pick along with one of our young guns (blatche, young). we get bosh and their 1st round pick.

i assume toronto would prefer butler,young and our pick. with that to make the salaries match, stevenson is thrown in. so we get rid of a bad contract and cleared up roster space.

toronto addresses their need of a shooting guard, with the draft they could pick thabeet to cover the void at center and butler at the 3. this also allows bargnani to play in his best position.

as for us, we get bosh. jamison becomes our sixth man. we start dmac at the 3. we pick the best available SG or start critenton with gilbert basically playing the 2.

what do you guys think?

Comment from wiz123
Time May 17, 2009 at 8:31 AM

with our second round pick, we could potentially land danny green as our back up for the 3.

so this is how our roster would look like:

C: Haywood, McGee, Thomas
Pf: Bosh, Jamison, Blatche, Songaila, Pecherov
Sf: Dmac, Green
SG: Gilbert, toronto’s 1st round pick
PG: Critenton, James

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 17, 2009 at 10:52 AM

I think Grunfeld has too much appreciation for Butler, Jamison, and Arenas to let them go just yet…I mean heck he was lucky enough to make trades to get Jamison and Butler…….also I have read several sources that have said that if Bosh is going anywhere, he would be going to Dallas

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 17, 2009 at 1:20 PM

It’s a business; what difference does it make whether you have “appreciation” for someone? If you can benefit the team with a trade, you make the trade.

That said, I think Bosh is a bit over-rated by some people. How much does it matter, though, given that he is a FA. We don’t have any $$ for FA pickups, though we could do a sign and trade for him I guess.

Comment from M2
Time May 17, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Essentially you’d like to trade Butler for Bosh?
Not interested thank you…

Comment from wiz123
Time May 17, 2009 at 2:36 PM

ideally, i’d like to trade jamison for bosh but it is unlikely that toronto would do so. As tom said a thousand times, we cannot give others crap and expect gold in return.

basically, it’s not that i would like to trade butler for bosh, it’s just that i would trade down and at the same time get someone with the ability to score down under.

Also, hoopsworld indicated that bosh is under contract for the next season but has player option for the 10-11 season. As such, if the trade doesn’t work out, we will not be tied down with a huge contract and bosh would be an excellant trade bait for the next season.

regardless, lets hope we land the top pick and no such action is necessary. =D

Comment from edry09
Time May 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM

Don’t like the idea of trading Butler and Young, the 3 and the 2 are two position where we are short handed so it makes more sense to trade Jamison.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 17, 2009 at 2:42 PM

But with how much money Grunfeld and Abe have put into our big 3, I just don’t see how they could trade one of those 3 away……It’s not about whether they are well liked or not, it’s about what they bring to the table for the franchise, how they will impact the team in the future, and how much they make……although drafting Kwame Brown 1st a few years ago was a stupid mistake, when the Wizards recognized he wasn’t worth it we traded him away…..right now I think the Wizards organization sees a lot of potential in our big 3 (at least for a couple years), and that’s why I don’t think they will be traded

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 17, 2009 at 3:24 PM

@ Tom M:

What do you mean you hate the current lottery system? Are you saying it because of the Wiz’s current situation? Listen, everyone on this blog wants the #1 pick because it is a foregone conclusion that the pick will go to a player head and shoulders above the rest of his draft class. But, dismissing the NBA’s lottery system can potentially ruin the sport. Let me explain.

Professional basketball, unlike the other 3 major U.S. sports, can have its fortunes hinge on just 1 player (i.e., LeBron, MJ, Wilt). Armed with this information, teams can purposefully tank consecutive seasons and get multiple “once in a lifetime player not named Kwame Brown” if there is no lottery system, ala the NFL (where the worst team, by record, gets the first pick). Imagine a team with both LeBron and Dwight Howad (2003 & 2004 #1s) – chances are good that championships will be coming soon for this team.

NBA front offices can take advantage of the system and purposely lose every game with the intention of getting a LeBron – if they know a LeBron is available for the draft next year. This type of collusion will ruin pro basketball because no one can assume ever again the system will run on good faith.

So, for now, the lottery is a good system to make sure teams don’t lose on purpose. This preserves the integrity of being competitive.

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM

During the last several offseasons and preseasons, Grunfeld kept talking about having options. There are no guarantees that even if the Wiz win the lottery, the team

(a) will select Blake Griffin [presumably]
(b) will select a player far earlier in the draft than expected [Oakland Raiders are notorius for doing this during their annual draft circus]
(c) will trade the #1 pick on draft night [highly unusual but it was done before in 1993 with CWebb and Penny]
(d) will trade the # 1 pick before the draft night for other assets (e.g., players, present/future picks, or money)
(e) will package the # 1 pick for a mega blockbuster trade deal to shake up the powers in the NBA

As long as the team tries to fill a need with whatever pick we have, I can’t complain even if that player turns out to be a bust. Teams can do only so much when gauging how a player is or how he will turn out. Ultimately, the player himself must care enough to want to be good and help out the team that pays him.

Comment from neal
Time May 17, 2009 at 3:33 PM

gbkdc, I couldn’t understand your blogging site. Couldn’t pull up ur profile and couldn’t post a blog. Are you selling a line of clothes?

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 17, 2009 at 3:43 PM

If “Home Is Where The Heart Is”, then I hate all these false rumors with players wanting to go back to the cities or towns where they grew up.

The whole Bosh to Dallas is exactly that – he grew up in Texas.

Knowing a bit about Caron’s personality, do you think he’ll want to go to Canada? Also, the team would have to be going loco to get rid of one of their two co-captains. Lastly, the Wiz is the only team that actually wanted Caron Butler; neither the Heat nor Lakers wanted any part of Caron. Caron knows it and he’s worked hard to make sure teams that passed on him made a big mistake. One more thing – Caron has shown, at least to me, that he’s no longer afraid to take the big shot at the end of the game. This is big because Gil isn’t the only focus now at the end of games.

Comment from dmac
Time May 17, 2009 at 8:33 PM

wizfusion I really enjoyed reading your blogs that u done today especially at 3:30.
For me I love the idea that what could possibly happen in the lottery and the draft could create a new beginning of good fortune for our franchise.
Hopefully that is with us keeping the big three together and adding the top pick or the best player that can help us now and into the future.
If it is a blockbuster trade all I can think is it is time for D.C. to have some playoff excitement like the teams who have played and are still playing in the NBA playoffs as I blog.
So whether it is Blake Griffin, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Love/Mike Miller etc. I just want to witness one of the greatest turnaround seasons a team could have for next season.

Comment from gbkdc
Time May 18, 2009 at 11:37 AM

Neal, that is strange. No, not selling anything. I am just a fashion blogger and I write about trends. One recent trend is neon, so I added DeShawn’s 80’s birthday party to my blog post. But I am brand new to this particular blog, so that is why there is no profile yet. And I do work part time for a store that is about to close, so I won’t bother talking about it. The economy is killing small businesses. Too bad.