The Official Washington Wizards Thread

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

The big man tax will probably get him double what he's actually worth. Some GM or coach will see the size and athleticism and talk themselves into a bad contract

The Jim McIlvaine Tax

There was good talent in that draft, just not a Shaq, Ewing, Olajuwan, James type player. I think Shane Battier was considered the best all around guy. Nobody knew Gasol would be as good as he is, but he didn't play this well until he went to the Lakers. I think there is some good talent in this draft, just nothing to go "wow, he'll turn our fortunes around" type player

The thing with Gasol too was that foreign players were still considered iffy at best at that point. Dirk had just started blowing up and before that the top international guys were the Schrempfs, Smits, Sabonis, Petrovics and Kukocs. Solid to very good players but not really franchise guys (though Petrovic might have become that if he hadn't of died and I think Sabonis would've been a top ten center of all time if he had gotten here before he lost his knees.) The Euro's especially were still considered soft too. I always heard that Jordan took Kwame over Gasol because he ****ing hated Kukoc.


Oh and my hesitation with NY isn't about the money really. It's about giving another long term deal to a guy who didn't really show up until he got into his contract year. But, as I've said before, I really don't get the same vibe from NY that I ALWAYS got from Blatche.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

Gasol was in that draft as well

there will be some good talent in this draft as well, we just have to pick the right one

Richard Jefferson, Jason Richardson, Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas were also in that draft.

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

Richard Jefferson, Jason Richardson, Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas were also in that draft.

Parker was another Euro. And if the best a draft has to offer is Richardson and Jefferson then eh. Gilbert just came out too early to get an accurate read on him.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

Oh and my hesitation with NY isn't about the money really. It's about giving another long term deal to a guy who didn't really show up until he got into his contract year.

Personally, I don't think of NY as someone who is just playing well in a contract year. I think of him as a young guy who is finally getting consistent minutes.

[No Excuses]

I think this upcoming draft will be fine enough for us to land a promising front court player. None of the guys are really franchise changes but all of them have a skill set this team badly needs.

Ultimately, the move that puts this team over the top will have to come through trade or FA, as is the case for most championship teams. The model of drafting a whole lot of young players and letting them grow together to the point they become championship caliber isn't possible in the NBA. Even Ted has admitted to this.

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

Personally, I don't think of NY as someone who is just playing well in a contract year. I think of him as a young guy who is finally getting consistent minutes.

I definitely can see that. And if Blatche never happened I'd probably not feel any anxiety over the issue.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

Parker was another Euro. And if the best a draft has to offer is Richardson and Jefferson then eh. Gilbert just came out too early to get an accurate read on him.

Personally, I think this draft is going to be just like 2001.

I (and many scouts agree) think that Sullinger is going to be solid/good but not great.

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

One of the top Euro's will be the best player to come out of this draft. But I don't think anyone has an idea which one it'll be and the other's will probably bust.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

One of the top Euro's will be the best player to come out of this draft. But I don't think anyone has an idea which one it'll be and the other's will probably bust.

Let's pray that EG hits a home run.

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

Safe pick with a Sullinger or a high risk/high reward pick like a Kanter?

[stevemcqueen1]

Personally, I think this draft is going to be just like 2001.

I (and many scouts agree) think that Sullinger is going to be solid/good but not great.

Everyone felt the same way about Kevin Love though. They are slightly different players, but they've got a similar mental makeup. I like how Sullinger always wins. He's not the most exciting player on the court, but the dude always comes through and his teams have never been bad before.

Kevin Love was a better passer coming out of college. He was also probably a better long range shooter (although I can't remember for sure if Love had quality 3 point range in college). But I think Sullinger is physically stronger and longer-armed than Love and I have a hard time believing Love was as polished in the post as Sullinger is at a similar age.

I never expected Love to be special but he's a key cog to build a really good team around. That what Sullinger is for me. Plus he's a good element to add to the locker room--especially when we sign DeMarcus Cousins in four years .

What do you all think about Kawhi Leonard? I wish I could get a chance to watch him today but I don't know if it's in the cards. I basically haven't seen anything of him so far. The game starts at 7:15 on CBS if anyone is interested. I'd be glad to hear other people's impressions of him.

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 01:17 PM ----------

One of the top Euro's will be the best player to come out of this draft. But I don't think anyone has an idea which one it'll be and the other's will probably bust.

Yeah some of the Euros are good but all of them have a finesse label attached. If its going to be anyone, it'll be that kid who is only 18, Valanciunas or whatever his name is.

I like Kanter the best as far as the foreign players go. I don't know what his situation is like in Turkey or if it's as competitive as the Euroleagues are. But he's got a skillset that definitely works in the NBA. Maybe he won't be a star, but if he stays healthy and can adjust to America, I doubt he'll have many problems being a very productive starter.

I think the best player in the class will be Kyrie Irving when all is said and done. He's a good pure PG without serious weaknesses and those guys have really thrived in the NBA the past several years. In three years or so they'll be comparing him to Chris Paul.

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 01:21 PM ----------

Safe pick with a Sullinger or a high risk/high reward pick like a Kanter?

Sullinger over Kanter for me. Best case scenario for each, who do you prefer: Kevin Love (Sullinger) or Al Horford (Kanter)? I'd be happy with either. So the ceilings aren't that different but if a health label gets attached to Kanter, the floors definitely are.

---------- Post added March-24th-2011 at 01:24 PM ----------

Although... Kanter does give you minutes at center whereas I'd be worried about that kind of a situation for Sullinger. They're both 1992 birthdays so they've each still got an assload of upside left.

I wish we could get them both. I really hope we can make a move for another lottery pick like Cleveland did.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

What do you all think about Kawhi Leonard? I wish I could get a chance to watch him today but I don't know if it's in the cards. I basically haven't seen anything of him so far. The game starts at 7:15 on CBS if anyone is interested. I'd be glad to hear other people's impressions of him.

I'm a big Leonard fan. He's about 6-7 and very athletic. He can get to basket and has a decent midrange jump shout.

He might be a someone to look at with our second 1st rd pick.

[Warhead36]

I don't know about Barnes, he seems like the type that will never really live up to all that talent.

[DCchillin89]

My draft:

1; Derrick Williams (don't know why anyone hasn't mentioned him yet. Dude is a STUD) Sullenger/Barnes/Jones

2. Either Morris Twin/ Preferably Marcus. (Ernie did quite well to get this pick)

I'd be a happpy man

---------- Post added March-25th-2011 at 09:22 AM ----------

I dunno if you guys have insider:

Here is the who should each rookie study:

John Wall: Chris Paul

Wall has physical gifts that Paul could only dream of -- he's faster, taller and longer. Imagine Paul, the world's best point guard, in Wall's body. Frightening. Which is why the Wizards rook needs to study Paul, who is the master of the "slow is better" dribble game.

Nobody reads the game like Paul, who goes fast only when the moment calls for it, as opposed to Wall, who plays at the same supersonic speed most of the game, which gets him into trouble frequently. Wall has "world's best point guard" talent, but he'll need to play a lot more like CP3 to get there.

Jordan Crawford: Jason Terry
Crawford has been unleashed in Washington and is proving to be a scorer we should follow. I don't expect him to be the team's long-term answer as the starting 2, but a sixth-man role with the green light to score is a good bet.

He also has some passing talent, although he doesn't often employ it. Over time, he'll have to, and that's where Terry fits in. The 2008-09 Sixth Man of the Year balances the act of scoring, passing and leading off the bench better than anyone else, and everyone likes playing with him. Even when he has to shoot a lot, his teammates know he's making the best reads available. He's a very cerebral player who handles the ball extremely well.

Crawford is longer than Terry and should be tough to guard off the dribble, but knowing who and when to attack is key

If Crawford can be our sixth man Terry-esque scorer, Nick Young is expendable and Ernie looks a lot smarter for getting him and a pick.

I'm really starting to like the direction of this team: Wall, Crawford, Seraphim, Booker, Two first rounders this year.

[JustAfan47]

Living in AZ I've seen plenty of U of A games. Dude is a baller and with lastnights win over duke!!. Man it would be so sweet if he were to become a Wiz!!!!.