Wizards looking at Hayes and Gaines, eh?

[Zen-like Todd]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20030626-122159-5916r.htm


and


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33176-2003Jun25.html


I must admit, I've come around significantly on Jarvis Hayes as of late. Athletic, high-flying scorers are always a sexier pick, but we have a bunch of those on the roster. We don't have consistent outside shooters, and you HAVE to have those in order to complement your low post game. Fine, perhaps he's a bit limited in certain areas. If Kwame develops the way I think he will, and draws double teams in the post, we absolutely have to have guys on the roster who can drain the three when Kwame kicks it to the baseline or the top of the key.

Gaines I'd heard some mutterings about lately, which is interesting, because you didnt hear anything right after his workouts. He's kinda combo-guardish, and 6-6, so he doesnt fit everyone's expectations of the pure PG that we'd prefer, and some were apparently questioning his defense. But who knows. Whateva.

[Skeletor The Invincible]

What if Kwame doesn't develop?


I'm not hopeful.

[Zen-like Todd]

I'm absolutely confident that he will develop, and rather quickly too. I just watched the ESPN outside the lines episode on him. Very interesting. Collins and MJ were obviously d!ckheads who didnt spend the time developing him that they should have. And they asked several highly respected basketball coaches/GMs what they thought, and they all said he was on track, doing fine, very talented, not a lot of basketball skills coming into the league, needed to learn those (of course it would help to have a decent coach). Among these guys were John Thompson, and Jerry West. Jerry West in particular I paid attention to, because towards the end of the season, and even right before the trading deadline, there were rumors that West really liked Kwame and wanted to trade for him. Boston front office officials have said some very positive things about him as well.

I could go on, but I have a very good feeling. As soon as he was drafted, I said give him 3 years. By the end of the third season, he should be just coming into his own. I have faith. They just need to stick him on the court for 30+ minutes a night and let him grow.

My bold and optimistic prediction for next year... 16 ppg, 8 rebounds (8.5 maybe), and 2 blocks). :D

[earl]

kwame will be a stud. i foresee ben wallace +15ppg. as for hayes or gaines, i would love to have either of them. i think hayes gives us that outside shooting, but gaines allows us to more flexible. if we draft gaines he could play the sg and help at pg. and we could draft a pg in the second. (mo williams). but if we draft gaines and a pg isn't the bpa in the second then we could draft another position, and gaines would still be an upgrade at point. all in all i want gaines. imho he has always been the perfect choice for the wiz, but he wasn't projected as a top 10 prospect. now that his stock is up i think the wiz could and should pick him at 10.