Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 3:32 PM

great trade for us. period.
its simple. we lost nothing and got two good players in return.
now we need some big men.
i dont think well be able to get one with our 2nd round pick since this draft is not very deep
so we should probably throw that pick in a trade with some of our guards and get a decent veteran big man who can defend… since i doubt well need anymore scoring

Comment from jonski
Time June 24, 2009 at 3:55 PM

dont like it at all.losing songila a developing player and a key to success isn’t good at all
everytime he’s in he brought stron numbers and just was a BEAST in the lane… to guys coming from a quite team aren’t gonna give u that energy or anything close to that!
trading pecherov was worth it…ethan mayb but songila AND then the draft pick not smart

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:17 PM

hey im new on here and i like to share my opinion of this trade, i read that the wizards were trying to grap the number 18 pick from the wolves did everyone forget the wolves also have the 28th pick i would’ve tried to get the 28th pick packaged that with the 32th pick and maybe juan dixon or mike james or both because we have platera “if i spelled that wrong my bad” a lot of gaurds and talk to the teams that have picks 17-23 and see if we could get that pick and a solid big man, remember everybody is trying to get better in the east and every eastern confrence team is dissapointed with their season including the magic this move puts us maybe i the 4-6 spot in the east but our goal is winning a title i think ernie is a good GM but his in “love” with his young players given up the number 5 pick is great i just think we could of gotten more for it. GO wizards i’m a fan for life hopefully we can get that trophy.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:21 PM

I think I’ll create another login ID titled getabigboyhaircut for Miller. Maybe Slick can talk him into a mohawk.

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM

lol yea he definitely needs a haircut.

Comment from neal
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM

Good to hear Foye is known for good D.

I loved Songaila. He was our best shooter and he kept opposing PF’s in their place (away from the basket). Thomas played well when he was healthy (which wasn’t very often). But you have to give something to give something. I’m anxious for the season to start, but we still may see another trade before then.

Comment from neal
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Tomorrow night I’ll be around the bar at 7. I’ll be wearing a blue blazer and white shirt, like the picture. I hope to meet several of you guys.

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:36 PM

sry if im talking to much im just a regular guy who never been to a wizards game but i love the wizards, that my team so is that redskins GO Skins! a little side comment lol anyways i just checked our roster and i see that they put up foye and millers pictures but i couldn’t find juan dixons i don’t know what happend i don’t think he was part of the deal anyways again im off topic don’t get me wrong, I think were are moving in a positive direction, were absolutely a playoff team im just a little disappointed with not getting at least he 28th pick in the deal that would of made for a better deal packaging 28th and 32th in moving back up the trade ad getting a good solid big man that can do the dirty work down low so in that sense im agreeing with stevensonbyebye lol thats a great name by the way i too aren’t sold on stevenson sry your a good player but i don’t see how he can help us get over the hump anyways hopefully ernie can find a way get a big man in here packing mike james and juan dixon with the pick would helpp tremendously especially if the report about a month or so ago are true in the wizards tryin to sign stephon marbury p.s. JaVale Mgee

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM

sry i pressed the submit button my bad i was going to say please JaVale McGee & Andray Blatche who i’ve always thought was a good play sry about you getting car jacked its D.C. what can i tell you anyways please guys get in that wieght room and a lot we need you guys to step up big next year especially with darias gone play time is over while hope u guys enjoyed me talking lol and to all the haters out their the wiz kids are knocking and if nobody answers your things might get stolen its a metaphor i promise this is it for now hope you guys publish my thoughts on the site while till next time be safe and do what makes you happy

Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM

Grunfeld on the Trade

Comment from WIZFANa0
Time June 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM

this was a ok trade i would rather get curry or evans but over all it was a much needed trade millers a very good shooter even tho he had a season low last year he still shot better then our shooters with like 38% and foye could flat out play good shooter and could get to the basket so good pick up for us let see what they do this year i still hope with pick up another post player right now we have a lot of guards lol

Comment from neal
Time June 24, 2009 at 5:25 PM

Thewiz87, Juan Dixon is no longer a Wizard. His contract ended with last year. He is a free agent.

Comment from JayP
Time June 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM

hey jonski i dont know wat u mean Foye averaged more pnt than etan pech and darius put together this year and although i like darius im not mad at this trade it makes our team much better…ps deshawn should have been in that trade other than darius..

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 7:08 PM

thanks Neal i was wondering because his name is still on our written roster below the pictures anyways i think we def need to package the number 32th pick and mike james and c if we can pick up a decent big man cuz if you look at our roster right now we have only big men Brandon Haywood and JaVale McGee and Blatche i guess but Blatche to me even dough 6-11 doesn’t play big doesn’t have the body and same as McGee all three need to develop physically Brandon right now is the strongest also McGee & Blatche need to develop a 15-17 foot jumper so that they can help us spread out the defense, all i’m saying is that the roster that i c as of today isn’t a championship contender maybe at best a five seat in the playoff but like Ernie been saying were all about winning now the wizards have needed a big man for years now its mind boggling we haven’t found one sry i still don’t know y we didn’t at least get the 28th pick can you please find that out for me i highly appreciate it thanks, thewiz87

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 24, 2009 at 7:11 PM

“platera” = “plethora” (but good for you for trying the word! — and “metaphor” too! — give us some more of that good stuff!)

Miller right away makes us a better team. Foye sort of reminds me of DeShawn. Not quite as big. He is generally regarded around the league as not having worked out too well. But he’s still young and probably better as an off guard than as a point. We’ll see.

There’s a reason we wouldn’t have had much interest in pick 28. It’s only 4 slots higher than the pick we have, not likely to be any talent difference, but when you take a guy in round 1, you have to guarantee his salary for a few years. If you get him in round 2, no guarantees. So 32 is really, in my mind, more valuable than 28.

I would have loved to have 18, however — Dejuan Blair may be available at that pick, and he is one of my sleeper favorites.

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 7:34 PM

Yes miller and Foye are great players no doubt in my we improved our roster and in terms of DeShawn i still don’t believe we can win with him but i hope he can prove me wrong my thing about getting the number 28 isn’t to select a rookie players its to try to package with the 32 pick and possibly mike James a a team maybe like the hornets who have the # 21 and Hilton Armstrong who in a long body or to the blazers who have a plethora of picks in the draft thanks tom lol like giving us their # 24 and one of their big men i hope Ernie isn’t done that’s all I’m saying, thanks from addressing a few of my concerns tom i read that your a poet that awesome same here i recently published a book “Journey’s through the collapsing mind” well ittyl be safe

Comment from thewiz87
Time June 24, 2009 at 8:12 PM

the wizards as of right i don’t think have the right personal to complete in the east i don’t see this team beating Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando in a seven game series and i heard Ernie say the picks are already budgeted in so if we have enough money to pay the 5th pick we def have enough to play the 28th even, I’m saying the more picks you inquire the best deal you can pull of in a possible trade. Portland has the best change of making their team better cuz they have more picks they can work with. also if were playing on picking up Marbury that’s another guard i don’t know which big men are unrestricted free agencies but Ernie might want to focus on signing one need a reliable big man down low to spread the D. from this teams right now i’d like the Wizards to try to pull of a trade dealing Stevenson, Mike James, & Blatche i don’t think they can help us get to the next level WE NEED A BIG MAN this off season if we doesn’t get one our changes are slim in the East, other than that were fine like i said were moving in the right direction but Ernie still has work to do! can you find out also when free agency starts and what big men are available this move take some suspense away from tomorrow’s draft , i knew we were going to trade the fifth pick but i didn’t expect us to move out of the first round completely.

Comment from AUNDRA
Time June 24, 2009 at 8:44 PM

I REALLY LIKE THIS TRADE BECAUSE WE HAD TO STAY UNDER THE SALARY CAP FOR ONE. SECONDLY WE HAVE EXPLOSIVE YOUNG PLAYER NOT EVEN IN HIS PRIME THUS ONCE HE GETS WITH ZERO HERO HE WILL BE HIS PRODIGY. THIRDLY WE FINALLY HAVE THE CORNERS COVERED WITH MILLER AND HIS SUPER ACCURATE SHOOTING!FINALLY WE DID OUR SPRING CLEANING A LITTLE LATE AND THATS ALWAYS A GOOD THING!FANS YOU WILL EVENTUALLY SEE THIS IS A STEAL !

Comment from nickman
Time June 24, 2009 at 8:54 PM

In terms of the draft at the 32nd pick i think we should go with 1. Cunningham 2. Derrick Brown (poor man’s David West on the rise) 3. Brockman rebounding machine.

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 8:57 PM

yea this trade is a steal. anyone who doesnt think so obviously does not know much about the nba.
im pretty sure grunfeld has some more trades in his mind. i doubt hell just let the team play with so few big men on the roster.
honestly blatche is the most talented big man we have, in my opinion. he can dribble, shoot, post up, drive to the hoop. i think if he works on his game and hit the gym to beef up hell be a very versatile and reliable big man.
same goes with mcgee. i think his biggest problem is his foot work. i noticed from last years games his feet sometimes get out of control and he needs to develop some post moves and since he seems to like shooting jumpers he should work on mid range shots too. all in all i dont think we need to trade any of our big men for other bigs. we just need to trade stevenson, james, and crittenton for a big man. and hopefully pick up a big guy who can defend a little with the 32nd pick. maybe we could get either… taj gibson, dante cunningham, dajuan summers, jeff pendergraph, or josh heytvelt

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:02 PM

nickman — I like Brockman too! But, I think Derrick Brown will be gone.

stevensonbyebye — (that’s a funny handle, btw!) — pendergraph and heytvelt will likely be available.

Has anyone seen Ahmad Nivins play?

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:07 PM

haha no idea who that is but it seems like there really arent many choices for big men in the 2nd round.

Comment from gbkdc
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:15 PM

I want BIRDMAN. ERNIE, go get him!

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:17 PM

wow birdman would be amazing… i dunno if we could afford him though…

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:27 PM

jeff pendergraph looks like he has great length and very nice ups for his height

6 10
7 1 wing span
35 inch vertical

taj gibson has a beast wingspan tho
7 4… wow

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 24, 2009 at 9:38 PM

We seem to have an all-new class of bloggers here, which is great! Join the party.

Draftexpress has yet another new mock draft up, and this time they have Chase Budinger falling into round 2, and we take him. Yet another wing player, so you have to wonder about that….

All the point guards w/ upside are projected to be gone by 32, w/ 12 of them (!!) picked in round 1 — 12 of 30; that’d have to be a record.

The role-player big men they project to be falling — Derrick Brown, Nivins, Pendergraph, Brockman all available if we want one of them.

Doesn’t mean anything any more what anyone is projecting — I’m just a little obsessed!

Comment from ChenierFan
Time June 24, 2009 at 10:08 PM

I think our new blogger, Stevensonbyebye, is really onto something with his (?) comments on Javalle. There are many centers who can make up their lack of bulk with better footwork and positioning. I think the new coaching regime will do wonders for Javalle and Andray.

With this latest trade, Andray’s and Javalle’s minutes go up, Deshawn’s, Butler’s, Javaris’ and Dominic’s go down.

I expect Miller to be in at the end of games because he hits big shots.

Once again – well done Ernie!

Comment from Rick
Time June 24, 2009 at 10:56 PM

I don’t think butler has to worry about his minutes, at all. stevenson, critendon, and mcguire on the other hand…

does seem like another trade is coming for either us, minnesota or both. otherwise, why make this trade 2 nights before the draft? In any case, I can’t see Ernie going into this season with all the back-court bodies and only 4 front-court players (if you can count jamison as a front court player).

Comment from JayP
Time June 24, 2009 at 11:02 PM

hey even though i feel bad for Crittenton we should trade him to the nets along with our 2nd rnd pick for either Yi Jianlian or sean Williams to add depth to our front court..
or that same trade to the Sixers for Marreese Speights.
any thoughts

Comment from wiz123
Time June 24, 2009 at 11:23 PM

JayP – i would love to get marreese speights. but no way the sixers would do it….not when they have just trade reggie evans off….what’s more…eddie jordan might stop them from trading with the wizards for firing him. lol…

love the idea though…..

oh yeah, whats everyone’s thought on rasho nesterovic as an insurance policy??

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 24, 2009 at 11:45 PM

yi jianlian plays more like a SF i think hes too soft
sean williams i guess maybe since hes a good blocker
nesterovic wouldnt be too bad.
i think we need
any big man
who can guard centers and do the dirty work off the bench

Comment from wizards_fusion
Time June 24, 2009 at 11:55 PM

**The Washington Wizards 2009-2010 team motto is “Character”; “Committment”; “Connection”.**

Just want to share for those that don’t know.

And for those that are still thinking about Jamison being traded. It is not happening. He’s the only player on the team banners and logos and mottos.

- -
Why would the Wiz trade away a player that supposedly can still play some defense (Stevenson) when they are borderline non-existent on defense after the trade?

Wouldn’t it make more sense for Grunfeld to trade an offensive type player (Foye or Young) for a defensive minder player?

It seems like people are already banking on the 2nd round pick as being a frontcourt banger. I have two problems with this thinking: (a) Grunfeld likes offensive players, no matter what draft round, and (b) the second rounder may not pan out because his contract is not guaranteed.

In order for me to jump on the “Wizards contender” wagon, I need to see the team make a concerted effort to get guys on both sides of the ball. At the moment, the Wizards are an awesome video game team capable of scoring 140 points per game with marginal effort. At the same time, this team is capable of giving up 135 points per game, no matter the schemes Flip is going to institute. The end result is that the Wizards have surpassed the Golden State Warriors as being the scoring machine in the league.

The Wizards will be an exciting basketball team to watch with all the newly added scoring threats. As far as being a true contender if the roster remains unchanged befor the season starts … I have to quote Lee Corso concerning my sentiment

“Not so fast, my friend!”

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:16 AM

My take on the value of some of the Wiz Players:ri

Crittendon: No value- hasn’t done anything
Stevenson- Great Value- Can shoot the 3 and play both guard positions- and an AWESOME low contract
Young- Great Value- 2 years left of control for a team and big upside.
McGuire- Great Value- started a bunch of games in the second half and low contract dollars.
Blatch- Great Value- Awesome contract. Big guy that still has potential (although growing impatient waiting).
Javale McGee- Untouchable- Massive Upside and 3 years left of control
Brendan Haywood- Awesome value because of an awesome contract for a starting center (his agent was horrible for having him sign this deal).
Mike James- will most likely be traded at the trade deadline because of his expiring contract.

Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:18 AM

The reason you trade Jamison for lets say “Amare Stoudemire” is because of his age. You don’t know when his body will just “naturally” slow down. It would suck if it was this year with all the years left on his contract.

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:33 AM

i dont know whats going to happen but im with the BirdMan people we need to get that boy he is a beast i dont think its posible but Tom did we make some Cap space with the trade and how much do you think it would cost us to go after him i know you have takin a look if its worth looking into

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:35 AM

P.S. welcome all new Blogers glad to have you and keep posting we need some new faces around here

Comment from WIZFANa0
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:47 AM

we was in a good spot in the east with the trade but LBJ just got shaq

Comment from WIZFANa0
Time June 25, 2009 at 12:59 AM

the deal just went down suns get weak players but saved millions lol

Comment from stevensonbyebye
Time June 25, 2009 at 1:25 AM

i just think stevenson cant shoot.
his shooting form is just not that great.
he leans left and fades when he shoots and his release isnt the prettiest.

from 6/25 wash post article

A person familiar with the trade discussions said that the Wizards had hoped to include guard DeShawn Stevenson in the deal, but the Timberwolves requested Songaila instead. Stevenson is still recovering from back surgery in March.

i wouldve preferred songaila staying and stevenson leaving.

Comment from M2
Time June 25, 2009 at 1:40 AM

Agree!

& you are also correct about his shot. It’s ugly, a mess & inconsistent… He had one fluke of a year two seasons ago because of the attention Gil, Caron & Jamison were getting when they were healthy. He was left open a lot because of his reputation as a poor 3 point shooter & he made teams pay. But that was a fluke birthday gift of a season for DSS. He proceeded to disappear in the play-offs that same season when Gil & Butler were out & Jamison was left all alone to play 1 on 5 basketball the entire series with Cleveland. I believe DSS went 1/17 from the 3 point line that series & shot under 20% from the field. It was his opportunity to step up & he didn’t. He’s a proven 4th fiddle at best & doesn’t lock down on D nearly as well as his reputation claims.

Screw DSS!

Comment from dmac
Time June 25, 2009 at 6:39 AM

Well we have Shaq headed to Cleveland to be Lebron’s bodyguard.
Another reason we need a backup Center or PF. I think
ZaZa Pachulia would be a good choice.
Anybody agree?

Comment from dcbutler357
Time June 25, 2009 at 6:42 AM

Good Morning,

No ESPN Zone for me. After the MUCH NEEDED trade, I didn’t tell my students class was cancelled, so I’m not going to make it. There will surely be more chances….ENJOY

Comment from dcbutler357
Time June 25, 2009 at 6:44 AM

My other question is what is cleveland going to do with two slow centers….lol….We will need another big man, and we could REALLY dominate if Blatche or McGee could play with Haywood during some stretches…..i.e. a la Gasol/Bynum…

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 7:21 AM

Shaq is 37yo so he isnt as dominate as he once was and there is no guarantee he will play a whole season. In the past 4 years (2005/2006 to 2008/2009 he has only averaged 58 games a season.

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 7:34 AM

What is everyone’s take on DaJuan Summers? Anyone think he would be a good fit for the Wizards?

Comment from dcbutler357
Time June 25, 2009 at 7:43 AM

Hmmmmm, Georgetown fell apart towards the end of the season (maybe because Doc Rivers son left them without a point guard…), but summers did “ok” from what I saw….the wiz have a deep team this year and may be able to take on a project player, but we have about four of those already…IMO trade for another proven big-man

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 8:00 AM

How about taking a chance on one of these players instead if possible?

Tyrus Thomas
Brandan Wright
Antonio McDyess

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2009 at 8:09 AM

In Round 2, I like to to try finding a guy with really high overall numbers in a tough NCAA conference, and especially to find a guy with at least one proven skill. I think, for example, that Wayne Ellington and Danny Green, off NC’s championship team, will be available. Not that we need another wing player, but these are guys with the right kind of qualities. I don’t think you would pass on Ellington lightly.

People have been impressed with LSU’s Marcus Thornton as well, and his numbers are very good. Ditto Jermaine Taylor. All these guys worked out for us, btw.

Another possibility is that one of the zillion point guards drops to us. We might well grab Nick Calathes, who will be in Greece for the next year or so, if he drops to us — although he will likely be taken by the Lakers at 29.

If we do take a big guy, I’m not that enamored of Summers. I think I might grab Brockman, however — just off his rebounding numbers and the consistent reports that he has an impact on any game he’s in.

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 8:18 AM

How about if we traded the Lakers either James or Stevenson for their 29th pick since they are looking to just get rid of it? Then we would package the 29th pick, 32nd pick and either James or Stevenson for a veteran big man.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2009 at 8:26 AM

I wish, wish, wish that Terrence Williams would fall to us — but… no way!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2009 at 9:06 AM

What makes you think they’re “looking to just get rid of” the 29th pick? And, why would they want Stevenson?

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 9:26 AM

The have 3 picks tonight.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/06/24/lakers.pick.ap/index.html

Comment from eri_2
Time June 25, 2009 at 9:38 AM

NBA.com says one of their needs is 3 point shooting so I thought it wouldnt hurt to put it out there to them that the Wizards will trade either one for the 29th pick.

Mike James 630-1,667(.378 for his career)
DeShawn Stevenson 320-927(.345 for his career) I do know he isnt that good of a shooter but on a team like the Lakers he might help them with there 3 point shooting.

Comment from M2
Time June 25, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Let me get this straight… James or Stevenson will HELP? LA from the 3 point line?

The Lakers worst 3 point shooters are still better than James & Stevenson…

Comment from M2
Time June 25, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Old School

I can’t help but notice that the impending draft has brought quite a crop of new and intelligent, high basketball IQ folks to the blog…

Wow

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2009 at 3:38 PM

What he said!

(When I tried to post the above 3 words, the server told me my comment was “too short” — and here I thought it was profound! )

Comment from Babakism
Time June 25, 2009 at 3:59 PM

I think Zaza is a good backup but better suited for a team that plays good defense already. I don’t know if we would be able to sign birdman but he wuld be perfect for us because he would instantly improve our D and at the same time keep our entire roster full of athletes that can run the floor. right now we have alot of guys who can outrun their matchup dow the court on any given night. But I still would rather us trade for Dajuan Blair. It still boggles my mind that he went 8 for 9 from the field in Pitts tourny loss. How can you have a big man go 8-9 and not give him the ball more.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 25, 2009 at 5:44 PM

Guys — we aren’t going to sign *anyone* except maybe our round 2 pick or a round 2 pick from last year that is an FA.

First off, we can’t — we’re over the cap. Secondly, we are also over the Luxury Tax limit, so any $$ we pay are *doubled.*

If we acquire another player it will be via a trade. Figure out whom you want to trade, add up their salaries, and find a big guy with about the same contract, then figure out if it’s someone whose team wants to trade him at all.