Comment from truthaboutit
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:13 AM

Let’s do this for America!

Comment from kaino80
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Hi Wizard Bloggers,

Fingers crossed we get one of the first two picks.

With our 2nd round pick (assuming Ernie frees up a roster spot), what do you think about taking a PG like Paddy Mills?

Cheers

Kain

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM

My fingers are crossed even while I type. I, like everyone one else want the #1 pick as long as we get into the top three I feel like we won the lottery. I have a feeling if we get the 2nd or 3rd we will use it in a trade to get some one else.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM

I think if a spot is availible Ernie will find a steal in the 2nd round.

Comment from dmac
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:29 AM

My prayer is that we get the top pick. If not no lower than 3. That way if EG does not keep the pick 2 or 3 we can package a deal that will bring us in a vet or vets that takes us to the Eastern Finals next year. If Orlando and Cleveland can do it. We injury free, new coach and new vision can to. Lord we sure can use Blake Griffin or an able veteran player to take us over the top.

Comment from ericw
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:40 AM

I would love to have Black Griffin… then I wouldn’t feel the sting of re-signing Antawn Jamison as badly.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 12:05 PM

In 1993 Orlando had the best record in the lottery and won the #1 pick. They selected Chris Webber and traded the pick to Golden State for Penny Hardaway. Shaq was there good luck charm.

Now Shaq plays for the Suns. Is he still a good luck Charm?? Think if the Suns win the lottery with the #1 pick and draft Blake Griffin. The Wizards get #2 select Ricky Rubio. The Wizards could offer this trade: Caron Butler , Mike James and Ricky Rubio for Amar’e Stoudemire.
I think the Suns would go for it. What do you think??

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 19, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Everybody concentrate on Blake Griffin.

We’ll talk trades tomorrow if we don’t get him!

Comment from vitality08
Time May 19, 2009 at 12:52 PM

I was just reading a knicks message board and it seems everyone on there wants Brandon Jennings. I guess they *know* their chances are too slim for the number 1 pick so they are hoping for someone more reasonable at their position.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 19, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Rumor is they’ve promised Stephen Curry at #8 (i.e. their likely position).

Comment from popcornkid
Time May 19, 2009 at 3:47 PM

BG

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 3:49 PM

BG-23

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Griffin will wear Jordan’s number 23.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 3:53 PM

We can still stash our second round pick. ( just a thought)

Comment from Brickjp
Time May 19, 2009 at 4:06 PM

I’m hoping for either the #1 or #2 pick. Any less and I will be disappointed.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 19, 2009 at 6:41 PM

sportzwiz checking back in, tried to get a photo of flips lucky coin unfortunately he said he was only going to show it off if it turned out to be lucky

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 19, 2009 at 6:42 PM

so hopefully we’ll get to see it tonight!

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 19, 2009 at 6:54 PM

the lottery ball room participants are starting to head up, just an hour away until it begins!

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 7:20 PM

Ooooohhhh Boy!! IM Feeling Lucky!!

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time May 19, 2009 at 7:31 PM

i dont know jack about the draft but at least we will know were we stand on Draft day after tonight

Comment from Phemy
Time May 19, 2009 at 7:48 PM

good evening (morning) everyone!

Let’s get that pick #1!

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 7:57 PM

here we go!!!

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time May 19, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Let go wizards need this soo bad

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:08 PM

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! im so nervous/excited!!!

Comment from Phemy
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so excited

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM

we got 5 omg

Comment from Phemy
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM

OH COME ON

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM

dreams shattered……

Comment from mrreddman
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM

this is BS

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM

for what its worth i hope it goes to OKC

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM

Harrrumph!!

We fell as far as the lottery let us fall. Maybe if the Timberwolves get Griffin, we’ll be able to work a trade like the one I suggested where we get Love and Miller.

Keep your hat on… it’ll be a wild rest of the spring.

Comment from Phemy
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM

trading time…

Comment from FantasticWiz
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM

The Wizards will have the 5th pick in the draft.

Comment from M2
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM

Of course…

Should pick second
Dreaming of moving up to first
Worst we can possibly do is five
We pick fifth

Go Wizards!

Comment from M2
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM

I’m not tripping… At least we won’t end up with Rubio!

Comment from Phemy
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:23 PM

well… don’t even know what to say.

Later guys

Comment from Jgarcia104
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM

Are there any rules prohibiting us from putting the #5 pick on Ebay???

Comment from millie mill
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Oh well!! We still will have a better season next year with a healthy roster. I still like D. Blair

Comment from edry09
Time May 19, 2009 at 8:27 PM

loool this is really bad, we got the wrost scenario!
bad introduction for saunders!

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:11 PM

………….yeah time for trade scenarios again lol!

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:11 PM

Last time flip got the 5th pick he got garnett… Maybe we will find a gem in this draft… Looks doubtful tho. I say go with James Harden, Tyreke Evans or trade it the pick

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:16 PM

The NBA lottery is horrible and the Stern should look into some other way to get the picks for the draft. A team like the clippers doesn’t deserve the 1st pick

Comment from M2
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:30 PM

Tyreke Evans?
No thanks…

Comment from M2
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:30 PM

“The NBA lottery is horrible and the Stern should look into some other way to get the picks for the draft. A team like the clippers doesn’t deserve the 1st pick”

Neither do we…

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:37 PM

Okay. Here we go for 2009-2010:

History will demonstrate that the best thing that resulted from the 2009 NBA draft for the Washington Wizards was that they drew 5th pick and as a result kept their basic team intact.

Coach Saunders has said the existing Wizards team, if healthy, is a contender. I would, not only agree, but go further by saying (again, and contrary to the opinion of my fellow blogger Tom M.) that a healthy Wizards team is a champion. What other team in the NBA has three bona fide All-Stars (and WALDO has fresh legs)? What other team has a young group that has so much experience and talent? What other team has the size and the depth?

We all saw what coach Saunders saw this year…with the key Wizards healthy and playing, we beat what was considered to be the best.

I’m glad that the draft BS is over. Let’s get on to the business of bringing a NBA championship to Washington, DC.

I want to see a basic team of: Arenas, Jamison, Butler, Haywood, Blatche, Young, Stephenson, McGee, McGuire, Songaila, Crittendon. Twelve-fifteen is open to anyone else who can make the team provided we get rid of some contracts. I want to see the Princeton offense in the trash, replaced by a big boy offense. I’ll bet Tom M. 10 pushups that this group, with the right offense, would win the Eastern Conference.

We needed a coach who understood big man basketball in 2008-2009. We had an excellent small man coach in EJ and then the ultimate lottery coach in ET (he was a bust at that also). Now we have a real NBA coach. Now we have a real shot.

Go Wiz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:43 PM

SportsWiz,

Are AB and Slick working out with Waldo?

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:45 PM

Getabigboy… u need to realize that this current wizard’s team will be lucky to make it past the 1st round let alone make the playoffs. We need a vet to come in a contribute, a better sg the deshawn he is no good. The wizards are at least 3 years away from doing any kind of damage in the east. Unless we make a move. Don’t get me wrong our team healthy is good, yet Everyone and their mother knows gil will never be the same thus our team will never make it to the top. We need to see how our core players do next year. I would even say we should deal AJ if we find the right suitors. This is just my opinion, i’m tired of hearing about our team healthy is one of the best in the east, the reality is our team hasn’t been healthy in a few years

Comment from dmac
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:47 PM

Here is my choice at no 5. if we don’t trade. James Harden. ESPN Chad Ford reports harden is working out in LA with Tim Grover. He has lost 15 pounds and is reminding NBA executives of the old school style play of Brandon Roy. They say he is sneaky athletic. They have him at 6 ft. 5 1/2 inches in shoes but with a wingspan of 6 ft. 11 inches. One NBA say’s he is the real deal and can see him with Oklahoma or next to Gilbert in the Wiz backcourt.
Other players I like at 5 are Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Dejuan Blair or Chad Budinger.
The one thing I oppose is trading our no. 5 pick and Caron to LA Clippers for Blake Griffin.

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:50 PM

The best option would be harden, I think he would be an improvement over ds.

pg gil
sg harden
sf butler
pf jamison
c haywood

Not a bad lineup

Comment from edry09
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM

GABBO:

do you really think a wiz healthy team is a champion??
the lakers have what you said previously: 3 all star in kobe, gasol and bynum (all star to come) and some young players with talent and experience in ariza, vujacic, farmar…bynum…however we are far away to compet against them!
this wiz team will go nowhere without change, Flip is a 1st step but we have a lot to do to reach the top!

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:53 PM

Has that Caron and the # 5 for Blake Griffin been rumored or what?

Comment from edry09
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:57 PM

trading butler for griffin is not the solution!

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM

No way is it the solution. What kind of veteran help do u think we need?
Any suggestions or players that may be available?
What does everybody think?

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:00 PM

Nickman, I’ve seen every Wizards game for the past 12 years and I do realize what is required to produce a winner. Injuries are a reality; an injury to a super star like WALDO can be devestating. But he’s back. DeShawn will be back. Blatche will be back. Haywood is back. (who cares about Etan?…get rid of him) This is an NBA championship team.

DeShawn is an excellent 2 guard. His injuries have been extreme and still he continued to try to play. His injuries diminished the level at which he is capable of playing when fit. DeShawn is an excellent player and a really tough competitor. He is a true asset to the Wizards.

I can only hope that EG keeps this team intact. It IS a champion!

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:05 PM

Even if we are healthy what makes u think we have a championship caliber team?
You honestly think we can beat Cleveland or Orlando?

No way, we need a better sg
I just can’t wait for the season to start with a revamped roster. More vets tho. Snag some players who have been in flips offense before

Comment from nickman
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:06 PM

I hope u r right about what u r saying getabigboy… I doubt it tho

Comment from edry09
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:10 PM

in my opinion guys like mike miller, mcdyess or the sheed would be the solution at the 2 and 4.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:13 PM

Again,

Witgh their current experience, if Blatch, Young, MeGee or McGuire were in the 2009 graduating class it would be the GREATEST draft lottery in the history of the NBA (and some of them are younger than, or the same age as this year’s graduates). Everyone would be debating what the draft order should be. If Griffin were even mentioned, he would be 5th, at best. Stop complaining. We have the best choices already under contract. If you don’t think so, PLEASE contact me. I’ll give you a great purchase price on the 14th Street bridge.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:16 PM

Come on folks. Get on board! The Wiz will be the talk of the NBA in 2009-2010!!!!!

Comment from M2
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Gabbo – I like your passion & your take. I agree with you in nearly every area.
We are legitimate when healthy…

But… DSS is NOT an excellent two guard!
No way no how…

& nickman, I don’t even know where to start with you? I hope you’re able to claim youth as an excellent excuse for some of your opinions?
If you are, God bless you… Love your passion as well!

Comment from dmac
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM

There is no rumor about Caron and the number 5 pick for Griffin.
I think the best thing we have going for is Flip Saunders. his expertise should bring the best out of a healthy Wiz team. Hopefully he can get players like Blatche, Young, Crittendon, Javale and Dominic to improve there play.
Far as free agent or possible veteran players that could help us we would have trade some of our guranteed.
Players who I have watched this past season that play very hard every night are Paul Milsap from Utah and Brandon Bass from Dallas. Whether we could either them is another story. I would not have a problem sending Mike James, Andray Blatche and Etan Thomas for Paul Milsap and Kyle Korver.

Comment from edry09
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM

the salary doesnt match for those two!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Getabig — gotta love your spirit. We’ll see what you say about Blake Griffin in a year or so.

In any case we had a less than 1 in 5 chance of getting him, and we didn’t. Between pick #2 and pick #5 there is very little difference unless like doc you have a really high regard for Rubio.

But, no, the “draft stuff” is not behind us — it’s still ahead of us. Followed by a long summer. The last time the Wizards won 19 games, the next season saw pretty much a whole new team.

The idea that the current roster is a championship team, or even a contender — or even a shoe-in to get lets say the 5th or 6th spot — is a dream. We have 1 perennial all star (a guard — guards don’t win titles) and 2 guys who have each made it once.

As to the young-uns — no Nick wouldn’t be a lottery pick if he came out this year, no Andray wouldn’t either. They are young veterans now, and so far neither of them has shown much at all. They had big roles this year, and we won 19 games.

Of last year’s 15 man roster, 5 were in the bottom 10% of the league in productivity (deshawn, juan, nick, darius and mike); another 3 were below nba average (Etan, pech, andray). Gil, Antawn, Caron, Dominic and Brendan are real deal NBA players. JaVale and Javaris are raw talents; you just don’t know how they’ll turn out.

That’s not a championship team; not really all that good a team at all. We need to make changes.

Comment from dmac
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:50 PM

If we could sign Milsap or Bass who are UFA that would give us some toughness down low. We probably would probably not be able to keep our second round pick.
If we keep things the way they are then we could sign our number one pick and a possible second round pick. That means Juan Dixon would not be invited back and Pecherov will spend another season on the injured list.
Next year with James and Thomas off the book we would have close to 14 million off the books.

Comment from dmac
Time May 19, 2009 at 10:56 PM

My error Milsap is a RFA.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:08 PM

The curse of the les boules. We fell as far as we mathematically could.

I know what you guys are saying, but, I really have to agree with Gabbo. We had a coach here that took us to the playoffs consecutively for the first time in years. Still was it the coaching or the players? Imo it was the players. We now have a coach that knows how to design an offense. When Eddie was here did anyone see any resemblence to the Princeton offense? I didn’t. I’d really like to see what Nick can do with an offensive structure. Deshawn has been hurt the last two years. It might be interesting to see what he brings to the team when healthy. Remember he came out of high school and is still fairly young. Gilbert being 90% of his former self might be the key. IF Gilbert shows us what he showed us in the 2 games he played this year I think we are going to have a very exciting team. 20 assists to 2 turnovers gives me goosebumps. A toned down Gilbert may be the biggest improvement the team could make. This upcoming season Gilbert may have matured enough to be able to now make everyone around him a better player. Brendan is back and able to tutor the young Bigs. Imo he is a better big man coach than either Zo or Patrick. Actually I would really be surprised if after his playing days Brendan wasn’t a coach or tv analyst. Great head for the game, and, definately our anchor on both ends. Past a healthy starting 5 of Arenas, Deshawn, Caron, Antawn, and Brendan (which sound very formidable to me when healthy and playing their best) we have young guys like Dominic, JaVale, Javaris, and Nick. If the latter 3 progress as fast as Dominc has the rest of the NBA had better be ready.

Wouldn’t it be funny if under Flip Pecherov turns out to be a 20/10 guy? LOL

Comment from GlingGling
Time May 19, 2009 at 11:35 PM

I’m with Tom, but he sounded a little pessimistic. We’ll see what we pick out of the draft. Blake Griffin was a pipe dream to begin with (yes, 17.8% is a pipe dream, never plan your future around 17.8%).

I’m not even sure deliberating over trades at this point is going to be productive.

As Tom pointed out we have a real deal starting lineup: Gil, Caron, Dom, Antawn, Brendan (and yes that will likely be our starting lineup). What we really need is a solid 6th man and some productive role players. I think DeShawn off the bench can be a good role player as a defense stopper and good for the occasional 3-pointer.

As for that 6th man, we’re gonna probably need to trade for him, but who is gonna want our trash?

Anyone who thinks DeShawn still deserves the starting role over Dom needs to really sit down and look at the numbers. Dom is a better defense player than DeShawn and gives us more length. Although I don’t know the final numbers for Dom’s PPG in the starting role I think it’s comparable to DeShawn. And let’s be straight with the Big Three healthy there is PLENTY of scoring to go around.

If I see DeShawn in the starting lineup I will be very sad for Dom.

Comment from Jason C
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:41 AM

I’m shaking my head in disgust…we do have dead weight to move this off-season though. I’m just glad Flip is coach right now so he can ask for the guys he wants.

Comment from datonypony
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM

Frankly, I just knew that this would happen. 5th. For CRYING OUT LOUD! WIzards have one of the worst luck in the damn entire NBA. 5th. WHat junk are we getting? James Harden?

Comment from datonypony
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM

Also, addressing that 6th man issue, I know that Nick is a horrible player apart from scoring, but can’t we use him as a 6th man? Around 30 minutes and have him as the focal point of attack for the bench players? Isn’t that an option?

Comment from GlingGling
Time May 20, 2009 at 1:06 AM

datonpony, if Nick could be anywhere near as consistent as J.R. Smith I’d say yes, but Nick’s shooting percentage was underwhelming at best last season. I’d rather see Nick packaged. He is shiny enough to have value in the eyes of other teams. As much as I like Andray Blatche I feel the same way about him. He has tremendous upsides but glaring deficits. Those two together with the 5th pick we might be able to get a productive player, but again I don’t really see a lot of teams wanting to pick up our second line.

Comment from datonypony
Time May 20, 2009 at 1:21 AM

I see, ok I take back my previous comments then. I hope wizards keep ahrden/

Comment from datonypony
Time May 20, 2009 at 1:21 AM

Harden*

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 20, 2009 at 2:02 AM

After getting “screwed” as we usually do in such situations it’s time for Ernie to work his magic. You are right Tom… 5th pick should be great fodder for the blog.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time May 20, 2009 at 2:14 AM

We still have some real options. That screwy lottery didn’t diminish our second round pick. And as Tom says the second round is the “gravy” round. If 5 appeals to those who want a good point guard a good trade to free up spots and maybe even cash in on a veteran is still a possibility.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time May 20, 2009 at 6:25 AM

Good Morning,

I’m with dmac, get a solid bigman/workhorse like milsap or bass and we’ll be headed back in the right direction. The coach and the players got us to the playoffs in the past, not one or the other. I say bring in Dajuan Blair for a workout.

Okay, so we didn’t get the first round pick, time to put plan B and C into affect

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 7:11 AM

Millsap isn’t available. Bass I don’t know enough about. But, I do think Dejuan Blair has a chance to be a good player of the same kind. He’s not likely to be a guy we take at 5, however.

We *must* shorten our roster via trades so that we can bring in both our draft picks. Somebody suggested Pech go on the “injured list” — no such thing in the NBA. He counts against our roster unless we trade or cut him (in which case we still have to pay him, and the $$ counts against the luxury tax limit). To shorten the roster, we have to make a 2 for 1, or 3 for 2, kind of trade.

Leaving aside the expiring salaries of Etan and Mike, the guys I’d most like to dispense with are Nick, DeShawn, Andray, Darius & Pech. Sure, DeShawn has been hurt, but signing him was a mistake — guys like him (Devin Brown, etc.) are available at or near NBA minimum. Nick and Andray don’t bring any wins. Darius does everything well except rebound, and he does that so badly that he nets out very ineffective. Pech is a mystery, but it’d be a surprise if he turned out to be much of a player.

Right now, before whatever surfaces in workouts etc., my choice at 5 is Stephen Curry.

Comment from dmac
Time May 20, 2009 at 7:32 AM

Tom, Brandon Bass is a high energy player who hits the boards on both ends. I believe he is about 6 ft.8 245.
He is no slouch offensively either. As a starter or 6th man he would compliment Jamison and Butler. he would be our enforcer.
I like Curry but I don’t think he would be the BPA at 5. I believe Harden is the guy to go with at 5. His talent and high basketball IQ would be a welcome addition.
Curry would have to back Gil up at the point. I believe he has the ability to play the point.
If we trade down to select DeJuan Blair then we would have a cheaper contract to pay out and have an enforcer to play on the frontline. ESPN reports that Blair has lost close to 20 pounds and is much quicker with the lost weight.
Tom I agree with you that the second round should be quite fruitful. So depending on what we do at 5 there could be a Pat Calathes, Dion Christmas, Toney Douglas or Dante Cunningham available.
As you stated the workouts should give a gauge on who would be a good fit for us.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 20, 2009 at 8:00 AM

1 LA Clippers Blake Griffin

2 Memphis Jordan Hill

3 Oklahoma Cty Hasheem Thabeet

4 Sacramento Ricky Rubio

5 Washington Stephen Curry

6 Minnesota Brandon Jennings

7 Golden St. DeMar DeRozan

8 New York James Harden

9 Toronto Earl Clark

10 Milwaukee Gerald Henderson

11 New Jersey Chase Budinger

12 Charlotte Wayne Ellington

13 Indiana Eric Maynor

14 Phoenix Jonny Flynn

My pick for Stephen Curry is simple:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?playerId=19087&draftyear=2009&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnbadraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2fplayer%3fplayerId%3d19087%26draftyear%3d2009

Comment from gbkdc
Time May 20, 2009 at 9:07 AM

Un freaking believable. We are truly cursed. Call the witch doctor, aka traditional healer!

Comment from MarcdL10
Time May 20, 2009 at 9:31 AM

Hmm i know this seems unconventional, but if we can get this done and trade Thomas, James, Blatche and our 5th pick for Amare and their 14th pick I think it would be good of a trade for us and for them i think they need to get younger anyways because of Nash and Shaq.

For the 14th Pick draft DeJuan Blair great hustle player. And for Wizards Second round pick Pick up a Point someone like Sergio Llull, already has overseas experience.

Pg- Arenas
Sg- Stevenson
Sf- Butler
Pf- Stoudemire
C- Haywood

Another 6th man award- Jamison

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 9:40 AM

I only actually saw Harden in one game — the tournament loss. He looked quite lethargic, but obviously you can’t judge a guy on one game.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 9:44 AM

I love Curry — I think he is going to be a big-time NBA player. Other than Griffin, he is my pick for the guy who will flourish most.

But, millie, your list omits Ty Lawson, who looks very likely to be a lottery pick, and Dejuan Blair might sneak into the top 14 as well.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:10 AM

I’m not sold on Ty Lawson. He can play but is undersized for the NBA. Point guards in the NBA can be 6-3 thou 6-5 and just as fast as Lawson. They have Lawson at 6-0 but he looks smaller than that to me. He play a postion that little to no touching is allowed.

Dejuan Blair: I love him short in height, but has long arms and big heart. Only thing is that he plays below the rim, because of that I don’t know if he will ever be as good in the NBA as he was in college.

Comment from millie mill
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:17 AM

Curry: I think any team that pass on him will pay. I think he can be the next Ben Gordon type player with better assist. Plus we need insurance to really back up Gilbert. J. Critt is not the answer to back up Gilbert neither is Mike James.

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:31 AM

Although Stephen Curry (son of legendary 3pt specialist Dell Curry) was a fantastic collegiate scorer and shooter, I have too many reservations with him.

The 5th pick means the drafted player should be a starter with an NBA team in the near future. I don’t see it with Curry because

(a) his collegiate game reminded me of both Adam Morrison and JJ Redick. Just because you were awesome in college doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful in the Association. JJ is getting PT now because he’s finally realized he has to play defense to survive in the NBA no matter how great of a shooter you are. As with AMMO – well, he’s so far deep down the Lakers bench that his teammates don’t even know who he is. And, having a chewing tobacco addiction doesn’t help your image. When NBA defenders pounce on Curry, he’s not going to be as spectacular as what you saw him do in college.

(b) his size reminds me too much of being another Juan Dixon (6-3; 185 lbs). We’ve seen what Juan can do but it is a lack of consistency that prevented Juan to become an everyday starter. Curry is bulkier than Juan, but being less than 200 lbs for a 2-guard these days is just asking for injuries.

(c) his game is one-dimensional. Steph launched a lot of 3s this past season as a Junior at Davidson. A lot as in at least 6 to 7 a game. In the NBA, you’ll be lucky to get off 4 threes per game. In addition, he’s a scorer, so he needs to shoot a lot to get in rhythm. Because of how the Wizards are put together at the moment, Curry can’t be anything but a role-player that comes off the bench and take a couple of open 3s. There is no way Curry can be awesome, like what he did in college, by playing within this type of scenario.

So, if the Wiz are really serious into looking at Curry, Ernie has to find a way to trade down.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:44 AM

The truth of the matter is that Saunders emphasizes defense…..if you look at Piston’s statistics during his time as coach, they were always in the top 5 or 10 for defense, but one of the last for number of offensive possessions per game…..our Wizards team right now thrives on the number of possessions we have, and not so much on defense……..trading our lotto pick or keeping it is the least of our problems right now…..what we really need to focus on is will our current roster work with Saunders’ style of play?

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:45 AM

I’m just saying, if were gonna draft somebody, EG will probably not go with the “best available” scenario, he will find someone who is tough defensively

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:46 AM

It seems like out of the Top 10 draft prospects, 50% of them are PROJECTS. I have to side with Arenas on this – the Wiz don’t need any more PROJECTS.

Here are the PROJECTS, in my opinion:

– Rubio
– Thabeet
– Hill
– DeRozan
– Budinger

As of today, if the Wiz are going to draft someone at the 5th spot, I will have to side with people who say we need a SG/2-Guard and get James Harden. He has the size and maturity to potentially fit; or at least be an understudy to Stevenson (for his first year) and maybe transition himself to be a starter a year later. I don’t think Harden is going to “wow” anyone but being a solid player with few weaknesses is better than having freakish athleticism but with raw skills.

Having said that – If Harden goes to the Kings, my second choice would be DeRozan. Yes, I know he’s a PROJECT, but sometimes you have to pick freaks of nature and try to develope these guys. Plus, DeRozan is 6-6, a nice fit into the SG slot.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Wizards_fusion: I agree with your opinion that we don’t need anymore projects, but I don’t think Thabeet is really a “project”. I mean sure he’s relatively new to the game of basketball (hasn’t played it for as long as some players), but he is probably one of the most athletic players in the draft. He is also one of the most consistant….Any word on whether Thomas will opt out or not? Gosh I hope he opts out….he’s not worth what we pay him!!

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM

…..K so I just looked at the full draft board, and it looks like Minnesota and OKC will straight up own the 1st round of the draft……they also do not have a lot of money dedicated to their players right now, so I think they have the power to do some damage with trades this summer

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:05 AM

just posted another thread, Ernie Grunfeld presser today at 4:30

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:15 AM

You’re wrong about Curry, wizfusion. Every team that played Davidson this year had *nothing* to do but plan for Curry, and he still put up big numbers.

The best (not “only” but best) guide to the numbers a guy will put up in the NBA are his numbers in college. E.g. Paul Millsap was passed over until late in round 2, because he was too short, too this, not enough that, etc. But he led the NCAA in rebounding, and he is a rebounding machine in the league too.

WF4L — only people who are underpaid, not overpaid, opt out of their contracts. On the other hand, Thomas and James can be traded, because those expiring contracts are valuable. But, we’d be taking on longer-term contracts, and I doubt we want to do that given the financial corner we drove ourselves into last off-season.

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:16 AM

My last comment about the draft lottery –

Out of all the teams that could have gotten the 1-2, the two teams that did get it will destroy the careers of whoever they pick.

Clippers – Griffin. This is a no-brainer even if Elton Brand is still with the Clipshow. Because of the clueless Clippers management office and with how the team no longer listens to their coach (why hasn’t Dunleavy been released/fired yet?), Griffin’s advancement will severely be dealt a harsh blow. I saw far too many Clipper games last season and let me say this – unlike the Wiz where Washington was undermanned and under-talented due to injuries, the Clippers would throw in the towel after being down by 15+. This typically happened during the second quarter. The team played with ZERO passion and with no sense of urgency to want to win the game. If million dollar babies on the floor don’t care about anything, then why even play ball? Clipper-nation may have won the jackpot last night, but if nothing improves in 3 years, Blake is going to leave like many good Clipper players in the past.

Grizzlies – Rubio. This is assuming that Darko, Marc Gasol, Haddadi, and Mihm are satisfactorily enough to play Center for Memphis. Let’s see – what happened last time when the team got a Spanish point guard? Hmm … well, the player had to use his own money to buyout his European contract; the player thought playing with countryman P. Gasol was going to be great (it wasn’t as P. Gasol was traded to the Lakers for Carrie Underwood’s bellylint); the player, known as the best player in Europe, struggled in the NBA because he couldn’t play defense nor make the open 3s that he was making overseas with 4 guys draped on him; the player couldn’t speak English well enough for him to communicate with his coach (the coach got fired later); the player, developing depression and bouts of homesickness, quit the NBA for good and went back to Europe to finish his career. All in all – not a positive outlook for young Ricky.

After draft night, I hope Griffin is mature enough to not get wrapped up with the Clippers lunacy and just play basketball. Griffin is either going to be a pre-overpaid Derrick Coleman or a pre-Jack Daniels Vin Baker.

I also hope that Rubio’s sassy haircut will get Memphis more excited about basketball. Rubio could be “Chocolat Espagnol” as a homage to NBA’s retired White Chocolate.

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:29 AM

@ Tom M:

Davidson plays in the Southern Conference. I can’t type without grinning that the Southern Conference is not comparable against other athletic conferences with a larger pool of basketball talent – both from players and from coaches.

In other words, if Curry played in the ACC, for example, there is no way he would put up these types of stats. However, if he did, then we would have a completely different discussion about how good Curry is and how his transition into the NBA would not be as difficult.

Comment from Wizfan4life
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:37 AM

Tom: I understand that players opt out if they are underpaid…..but is there anyway a team can prevent a player from using their player option? Like does the cap limit have a say? and I would think the Wizards would be willing to take in a long term contract if it is a veteran that is worth the risk of a long term contract and one that wont cause problems for us in the future….I seriously think Memphis and/or the Clippers will use their draft picks well, and will do some damage in the years to come…..if you look at their current rosters, they are pretty impressive!

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time May 20, 2009 at 11:41 AM

@W4L:

I’m sorry man, but Thabeet is a project. You can’t say that a player with only 7 years of total basketball experience is not a project, especially at the center position. What hurts Thabeet even more is that he started playing in Tanzania – not the U.S. or some other nation that has a good basketball foundation.

Last year, everyone’s talking about how good Roy Hibbert is going to be for the Wiz. Well, Roy’s been nothing for the Indiana Pacers and he certainly has more polish than Thabeet (probably not athleticism-wise). Heck, even Greg Oden is getting his lumps in the pros and he’s supposed to be the next Bill Russell. So, I have to be careful about putting Thabeet too high on the pedestal.

I told a friend last night that Thabeet will be another Sammy Dalembert – which will probably be accurate in a couple of years. As of right now, Thabeet is Manute Bol with a hot girlfriend.

Comment from RDOT51
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:03 PM

Can someone tell me how Javale McGee is progressing? I think he is key for us to become a contender in the future. If he can gain strength and 20 pounds to his frame without losing his speed and agility, we will be in good shape. You can’t teach 7 feet and this guy can be matchup problems for anyone he faces…

Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:33 PM

Well hello to all my fellow bloggers:

Well it is hard not to be a bit dissapointed about draft night, however looking forward we do have the 5th pick so we have options. I actually hope if we keep the pick, we take Harden I like the fact that he is working with Tim Grow. However I think that we have options if we look to trade the pick as well.

Comment from jhough813
Time May 20, 2009 at 12:42 PM

At first I was thinking that we should deal the #5 pick just to get rid of the awful contracts of Etan and Mike James, but now I’m thinking we should hold onto it. I think we need to absorb the luxury tax penalty for a year so we can have those contracts come off the books the next. As loyal fans through all these years, the Wiz owe us to put together the best team possible and this isn’t going to happen if we trade a draft pick of a potential star player. Yea it sucks we didn’t get a top 3 pick and the talent supposedly drops off significantly after that but why not take a shot? I think Harden or Evans could be great players in this league and both could complement Gil nicely as a starter or come off the bench to add some more scoring punch. I think Harden might be the better fit for our team just because I see Evans more as a Gil type player but I wouldn’t mind him seeing as how I’m still hurting from how he shredded my Terps.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Getting rid of Etan and Mike’s contracts in a trade would just land us with other players making the same amount. Salaries have to match w/in 15% in NBA trades.

Comment from M2
Time May 20, 2009 at 3:02 PM

“@ Tom M:

Davidson plays in the Southern Conference. I can’t type without grinning that the Southern Conference is not comparable against other athletic conferences with a larger pool of basketball talent – both from players and from coaches.

In other words, if Curry played in the ACC, for example, there is no way he would put up these types of stats. However, if he did, then we would have a completely different discussion about how good Curry is and how his transition into the NBA would not be as difficult.”

NO WE WOULD’NT because we’d still be talking about, best case scenario, JJ Red & JJ Red is nowhere near a #5 pick!

Short of Wiz Fusion & GABBO you guys are all nuts & your player evaluations are about as good as the “experts”.
There are NO sure things in this draft class… Griffin included!

Tom, you’re still smoking crack on Curry… But glad to see linkin didn’t get his Rubio hook caught in your mouth though.
NBA guards will gobble Curry up. He’ll be a spot up shooter with limited minutes best suited for a team like Orlando or San An… Lets hope he’s able to knock a few shots down so that he stays in the league a little while… But he won’t get the 25 he takes per game in college.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 20, 2009 at 3:15 PM

Of course there are no sure things, M2. Not in the draft, not in life at all.

Which means, among other things, that we’ll just have to see about Stephen Curry — i.e. your comparison with JJ Redick may be valid or it may not. He doesn’t look the first thing like Redick to me, for example.

As to Blake Griffin — the point is that he is a lock to be picked #1, and pretty much every GM thinks he’s head and shoulders more likely to have an impact than anyone else in this draft. They may be wrong, of course.

Comment from M2
Time May 20, 2009 at 3:26 PM

“He doesn’t look the first thing like Redick to me, for example.”

Really?

Well, they are the same guy. Aside from JJ being a little bigger & stronger at this point in his career, they are the same guy. I don’t know how you can’t see that?

Comment from M2
Time May 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM

But then again, you liked Pech’s upside if I remember correctly?
Another poor evaluation…

Comment from M2
Time May 20, 2009 at 3:33 PM

None of these kids have immediate impact anymore for obvious reasons… Everyone, to a degree, is a “project” & that’s fine, I’ve just always argued here to get everyones mind off of this damn draft like it really matters immediately.
I’m cool with a project. I think Holliday & DeRozen both have a chance down the line. Hell, I even think Rubio has a chance down the line… But drafting these days is speculative.
Twenty years ago Michael Jordan would have hit the game winner his freshman year in the Nat Champ game & declared for the draft… He most likely would have had a very different journey (at least his first handful of seasons would have been different)…
That’s all I’m saying, everyone get your heads out of your asses when trying to assess the talent in this draft & trying to figure who can immediately contribute.
If you think Steph Curry is ready to play a serious role on this Wiz team next season you’re nuts!

Comment from SportzWiz
Time May 20, 2009 at 5:07 PM

Grunfeld Presser

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time May 22, 2009 at 8:24 PM

No, I was *very* critical of the Pecherov selection — and still am. I wanted one of the *several* point guards we passed over (e.g. Rajon Rondo…).

Curry no, but if you think Blake Griffin is “a project” you are very wrong.

Comment from dymonis
Time June 18, 2011 at 4:55 AM

Look at Donatas Montiejunas and Chandler Parsons for the draft. They have size and ball skills for big men.