Missing piece

[monkforhall]

Love the season the Wizards are having, but we all know that they still aren't ready to be an elite team. Who can they get to take that step. Wilcox looked awesome out there last night. He is the kind of player i'd love to see us get.

Remember when the Pistons picked up Rasheed Wallace, and all of a sudden they went from good to elite? What can the Wizards do to make that kind of jump. IMO i don't see anything with Songaila. Is there anyone on a non contending team that people would like to see the Wiz make a run at?

[LiveStrongSkins]

Giving up anything on this team isnt going to be the answer. The answer is patience. The answer is the development of your foreign players as well as your young guys and drafting well. What has San Antonio ever given up? If a Wallace type player falls in our lap then thats great but its unlikely. I personally think this roster is more than enough as far as starters, we just need a stronger bench. That's something that hopefully in the future a healthy Songalia, Blatche, Pecherov, Vermeenko can give us.

[XxSpearheadxX]

What is an elite team? Just the 2 teams in the championship, or what?

Sheesh, I wasn't planning on winning a championship for at least 2 years. Patience people.

[arenasisgod]

The culture in the NBA these days is to avoid making drastic trades midseason (save the Iverson deal, and that was made after he demanded a deal and stopped playing until it was obliged). Teams horde their bigs, telling fans that they are "developing" saving four years of accountability. And since bigs are so valuable, they rarely are offered for less than a combination of expiring contracts, rookie talent (usually in the form of, yes, big men), and draft picks. Wonder why Isiah has had such a rough tenure? Its because he gave away all of those assets for a big (Eddie Curry). Trading midseason is proving to be too tough on the future of the franchise to consider.

Now with Wilcox, he got most of his twenty points in the fourth quarter after the wiz went up 18 and were coasting. He had a couple of nice slams, but he is clearly a "gimme my 20 and 10" stat guy who was a malcontent on a good team and a compiler on a lottery team. He played so tough to get that new deal with Seattle, and they finally obliged, not they reap the rewards of another lazy big (They have written the book on signing lame bigs).

Please stop proposing midseason wiz trades. They are the best team in the east without any of these pieces that they "so desperately need" according to talking heads.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Booth and Jamison for Duncan. Check the trade machine. It works.

[XxSpearheadxX]

Plus whats with the hating on Songaila, he hasn't even had a cup of cofee in a Wiz uni, he's a good player give him a chance.

[Kevin101]

Keep Booth, hes a monster. Trade Jamibum away :)

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Keep Booth, hes a monster. Trade Jamibum away :)
Well the Spurs, as someone pointed out a few weeks ago, are absolutely in love with Booth so he's gotta go. Jamison is just the contract filler.

[The End]

Jamison is "just" the team captain who averages almost 20 and 10 season after season. And you want to trade him away and kill the chemistry of this team? Also, give Songalia more than 2 games before you rag on him. Wait until he is healthy enough to even play 20 minutes.

[twenty-eight]

the wiz are NOT going to make a major move...EG already said so

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

For those of you unable to detect sarcasm and bull****, my posts in this thread reek with both.

[monkforhall]

What is an elite team? Just the 2 teams in the championship, or what?

Sheesh, I wasn't planning on winning a championship for at least 2 years. Patience people.

I think every Wizard fan has patience, but I am excited now. 1st place in the East! When was the last time that happened. Plus I wasn't proposing a trade, I was asking what people thought we should do in order to get to that next step. If it's just developing the players we already have, then i'm not against that. Not making a move is a move in sorts. But I do think we need to find a big man, somewhere.

[thelarkascend1ng]

i have a feeling we'll get there, but give it time. we are very close. we can't remove the pieces we have, i don't think.

[GOSKINS_08]

If Blatche plays like he did last night, Blatche may be the missing piece.

[monkforhall]

If Blatche plays like he did last night, Blatche may be the missing piece.

I sure hope so. San Antonia built around a big, Miami, and the Lakers during there recent championships, have been around a big guy. We have to have it. I definitely don't want to get rid of our core.

[skinfan2k]

I sure hope so. San Antonia built around a big, Miami, and the Lakers during there recent championships, have been around a big guy. We have to have it. I definitely don't want to get rid of our core.

are you comparing blatche to all-american Tim Duncan and O'neal?

[DoGood28]

The Wizards are in fantastic shape. We are seriously competing in the East this year. We should ride this season out even if it means a second or third round exit. Add the pieces in the offseason and make a HUGE push for it all in the next year or two. DC is no longer the cellar dweller that struggled to attract free agent like the Orioles. Good players WANT to come here now. Especially considering the wide open nature of the Eastern Conference. But I'm not ready to concede this season though.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

are you comparing blatche to all-american Tim Duncan and O'neal?
Blatche is on the all-universe team baby. You haven't heard of that team? Well I've never heard of the NBA all-american team either.

[skinfan2k]

Blatche is on the all-universe team baby. You haven't heard of that team? Well I've never heard of the NBA all-american team either.

well tim ducan was an all-american when coming out of college and the spurs decided to get him despite already having duncan..

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

well tim ducan was an all-american when coming out of college and the spurs decided to get him despite already having duncan..
I didn't know they had two Duncans.

[Diablo23]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[skinfan2k]

I didn't know they had two Duncans.

u know what i meant, david robinson

[monkforhall]

are you comparing blatche to all-american Tim Duncan and O'neal?

Yeah that's it. I didn't compare anything, just that championship teams have often have big men. I don't think we will ever be comparing Blatche with any dominate big guys. Just trying to talk a little basketball, am excited about the wizards.

[skinfan2k]

Yeah that's it. I didn't compare anything, just that championship teams have often have big men. I don't think we will ever be comparing Blatche with any dominate big guys. Just trying to talk a little basketball, am excited about the wizards.

no doubt youre right.. i just thought u are comparing him to big man like duncan, robinson and oneal

[Tailgate King]

We are good with what we got...we can win the east with these boys. Gil is only 25 too. It will be hard to beat Dallas or Phx this year but hey I think we are going all the way to the big game this year.

[monkforhall]

whatever happens this is going to be a fun year. At least with Jamison being out we can develop some of these other guys. Would like to see Jarvis get his jumper going. And if we can pick up someone nasty in the middle that would be great. I want to know what the plan is for the Wiz moving foward. With the team we have now, we have a playoff team every year, which is awesome, but I don't see us beating any of the top 6 Western conference teams.

[SantanaClaus89]

Don't blow up the team chemistry

[Chachie]

Giving up anything on this team isnt going to be the answer. The answer is patience. The answer is the development of your foreign players as well as your young guys and drafting well. What has San Antonio ever given up? If a Wallace type player falls in our lap then thats great but its unlikely. I personally think this roster is more than enough as far as starters, we just need a stronger bench. That's something that hopefully in the future a healthy Songalia, Blatche, Pecherov, Vermeenko can give us.


This post pretty much said it all for me. The part I underlined is probably obvious to all of us and the rest is so true.
Of course we'd take a Garnett or a Gasol if it came our way but until then we have a good thing with a nice upside. Let Ernie Grunfeld be the GM. I'm willing to bet he's doing a far better job than any of us would in his place.

[RonArtest15]

I fully expect AJ to finish his career here in DC....in due time, when he loses his starting gig, I think he could be a huge asset off of the bench as a 6th or 7th man. He is a selfless star, and those qualities are rare in today's NBA. If i am not mistaken, he has a 6th man award under his belt when he played in Dallas. Yeah, his contract is enticing, but so is continuity. That is what the wizards have with the big 3. When Butler and Arenas are in their late 20's, I am sure that there will be an upgrade at the 4 spot. Whether it is Blatche, Pecker, or going another route, I think EG has a big plan...whatever the plan is, it would be for certain to keep Jamison on board. I know for a fact that Abe loves Jamison, and we all know how Abe feels about guys who have high character and are loyal to the franchise. If anything, we could trade picks, contract rights, other players, etc...but back to my original thought, I don't think Jamison is going anywhere...he is a leader, and I think he is the glue that holds this team together in certain situations....His unorthodox style will serve him well in the latter stages of his career.....he already is effective with his "old man" game, and obviously his lack of athleticism hasn't hurt him in averaging close to 20/10 in his career with the Wiz....I hope he is here for a while...

[Chachie]

I know for a fact that Abe loves Jamison, and we all know how Abe feels about guys who have high character and are loyal to the franchise. If anything, we could trade picks, contract rights, other players, etc...but back to my original thought, I don't think Jamison is going anywhere...he is a leader, and I think he is the glue that holds this team together in certain situations....His unorthodox style will serve him well in the latter stages of his career.....he already is effective with his "old man" game, and obviously his lack of athleticism hasn't hurt him in averaging close to 20/10 in his career with the Wiz....I hope he is here for a while...

Me too, Ron.

[twenty-eight]

Ive said it a million times and I'll say it again. Having Jamison earn 8-10 mil a year would be a steal....I think he'll want to stay after this contract is up

[twenty-eight]

well tim ducan was an all-american when coming out of college and the spurs decided to get him despite already having duncan..


:laugh::laugh:

Post of the Year

[monkforhall]

This post pretty much said it all for me. The part I underlined is probably obvious to all of us and the rest is so true.
Of course we'd take a Garnett or a Gasol if it came our way but until then we have a good thing with a nice upside. Let Ernie Grunfeld be the GM. I'm willing to bet he's doing a far better job than any of us would in his place.

I'd probably bet that Ernie is doing a better job then some Redskin fanatics would do. He's also doing a lot better then anyone we've had in a long time.

I'll be happy with whatever EG's plan is. I still IMO don't think Haywood is what we need, but he is doing better. I'd love to see Jarvis full fulfill his potential, he shows flashes.

[XxSpearheadxX]

no doubt youre right.. i just thought u are comparing him to big man like duncan, robinson and oneal

No fair to compare Duncan to Blatche, Duncan was 23 when he got to the NBA, thats 3 years from now for Blatche.

Andray is a kid who just turned 20, missed his first year because of a near fatal gunshot and had only played 3 years of organized B-Ball before that, including all rec-leagues and AAU - Blatche is pure blacktop, but he's smart.

Blatche is a young Rasheed Wallace without the headcase part. If I had to choose a player to compare him too.

[desioreo87]

The missing piece of this team is a solid big man. Haywood is too inconsistent to be that guy and hes not a presence on the inside. We need a 10/10 guy (pnts/rebs) to plug into that lane so as to sure up the center position on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. My pick would be Aaron Gray from Pittsburgh. That guy is a solid center who will prolyl be a mid to late 2nd round pick.

However if Haywood steps it up and is able to bring a solid effort every night like he has the past two nights than I think we can take the championship. However we absolutely need Haywood to be at 10-12 points per game and at least 10 rebounds per game or else we will suffer against the best teams in the league since they all have a strong inside game.

[XxSpearheadxX]

Not for nuthin, but the woodman has been pretty close to 10 and 10 and 2 since he's been starting, maybe a little under, but at least enough to not be labeled inconsistent, he's been playing well.

[Mr. Grundle]

I think with Haywood, Thomas, Blatche, Songaila, Pecher, and VV, it's possible we could be set with big bodies for a while...depending on how they develop. Sure, none of these guys are a Shaq or Duncan, but who is? How else are we gonna get that rare dominant C to build a franchise around unless we have the #1 overall pick? Luckily, we're too good a team to have a shot at the #1 overall pick, so we can't. Shaq, Duncan, Yao, Oden...these guys come around like once every 5 years and you have to be lucky to hit that lottery ball when that year rolls around. We were unlucky that when we hit that lottery ball as it ended up being one of the worst draft classes in history and we ended up with Kwame.

I'd like to see us draft the best pure scorer we can to take Hayes spot. I guarantee Hayes will not make it in this league, he just doesn't have "it". A scorer off the bench would be sweet, and if there is any piece we need I think that is it.

[Chachie]

The missing piece of this team is a solid big man. Haywood is too inconsistent to be that guy and hes not a presence on the inside...

However if Haywood steps it up and is able to bring a solid effort every night like he has the past two nights than I think we can take the championship. However we absolutely need Haywood to be at 10-12 points per game and at least 10 rebounds per game or else we will suffer against the best teams in the league since they all have a strong inside game.


Have you seen any games this season?

[desioreo87]

Have you seen any games this season?

Hell yea and thats exactly why i posted what I said. Haywood can't stand up to any of the big teams in the league. If has even half the production he had two nights ago against Seattle then we should be set. We need haywood to be in the 10-15 point range and at least in the 10 rebound range or we aren't gonna be able to compete with the top teams. Lets see how the big guys play against Duncan tonight.

[monkforhall]

Hell yea and thats exactly why i posted what I said. Haywood can't stand up to any of the big teams in the league. If has even half the production he had two nights ago against Seattle then we should be set. We need haywood to be in the 10-15 point range and at least in the 10 rebound range or we aren't gonna be able to compete with the top teams. Lets see how the big guys play against Duncan tonight.

I agee with you. Haywood can't play against the big boys.

What happened to Jarvis? He had a good jump shot in college. First round freaking pick. He looks like he has lost his confidence. We need to add some depth, were always one injury away from disaster.

[Chachie]

Hell yea and thats exactly why i posted what I said. Haywood can't stand up to any of the big teams in the league. If has even half the production he had two nights ago against Seattle then we should be set. We need haywood to be in the 10-15 point range and at least in the 10 rebound range or we aren't gonna be able to compete with the top teams. Lets see how the big guys play against Duncan tonight.

Well the whole team played poorly vs. the Spurs so that's a wash. I just don't think any player is going to have a good game every night and Brendan has come a lot farther than you're giving him credit for. He'll never be Kareem Abdul Jabbar but has been awesome this season.