The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[No Excuses]

I don't believe Ted about not trading the pick. The #3 pick is extremely valuable. A team looking for any kind of prospect will have their choice.

Hypothetically If OKC is offering James Harden, Ernie would be an idiot to turn that down.

[Samuels]

I would want no part of Barnes, because I don't think he has a position.

---------- Post added May-31st-2012 at 02:59 PM ----------



Tim Duncan was a 7-footer who was fundamentally perfect on both ends of the court and a lot more athletic early in his career than you are giving him credit for.

Sullenger is a 6'8 below the rim player. He will figure out ways to score, I think, but a lot of his shots are going to end up in the third row.

---------- Post added May-31st-2012 at 03:04 PM ----------




What are you trading down for? Are the Wizards really in "collect a bunch of young pieces" mode? Does this approach ever work?

Barnes is a proto-typical NBA SF more so then even MKG who is 2" shorter. I like the Barnes comparisons with Glen Rice honestly both have sweet strokes spotting up. Barnes needs work off the dribble but is a better finisher and defender by a mile then Rice was. Barnes is much better earlier on then Rice was he did'nt really develop until his junior year.

If we stuck at # 3 very doubtful then make the pick whoever you like but somebody will wanna move up for Drummond/TRob or MKG. If we can get a good starter + a top 10 pick then i'd do it in a heartbeat. If Portland offered #6+#11 for #3 i'm all over that or even the rights to Batum+#6 thats a easy decision. If GS offers Klay Thompson+#7 i'm all over that.

[Destino]

I would want no part of Barnes, because I don't think he has a position.

Really? I think he's a prototype SF. 6'9 with shoes on that can shoot from anywhere on the court. I don't think he's going to be a star player but he could end up being a good NBA shooter. Think of him as Steve Novack with more athleticism and less 3point accuracy.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Really? I think he's a prototype SF. 6'9 with shoes on that can shoot from anywhere on the court. I don't think he's going to be a star player but he could end up being a good NBA shooter. Think of him as Steve Novack with more athleticism and less 3point accuracy.

I weigh more than him. Who is he going to guard on the Knicks?

---------- Post added May-31st-2012 at 03:47 PM ----------

Hypothetically If OKC is offering James Harden, Ernie would be an idiot to turn that down.

Well, yes, I would trade the pick for Lebron too.

Now, let's get back into reality for a second......

[No Excuses]

Well, yes, I would trade the pick for Lebron too.

Now, let's get back into reality for a second......

Except he's not LeBron so what's your point? What do you think OKC can get for a player they are likely going to lose as an RFA?

I'm convinced some team will throw a max level deal or something close and OKC can't justify investing three salaries that big in guards and scorers. They'll lose Ibaka and basically put out a bunch of crap at PF and C.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

As a UNC fan, I don't know what to think of Barnes. He certainly has the potential to succeed, but there were just times where he looked terrible. I just don't think he's worth the #3 pick.

I guess that's why I'm so sour on Barnes.

Are there any UNC fans upset that Barnes is leaving school? Did anyone actually enjoy his two years there?

He just seems like a skinny, surprisingly unathletic really good shooter who played with absolutely no passion.

[Destino]

I weigh more than him. Who is he going to guard on the Knicks?

Draft sites have him listed at 223. Danny Granger was 225 in pre draft measurements.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Danny Granger was 225 in pre draft measurements.

Granger went 17th, showed an interest in defense and attacking the rim, and is not really the kind of player you want to take 3 overall.

The one saving grace about Granger is that he carries himself like a star even though he isn't really a star. And he plays his balls off. I'm far more lenient on measurables on effort guys and no one has ever doubted Granger's effort. People have been questioning Barnes' effort since high school. If he was 250, it would be one thing but he didn't like physical play in the ACC. I certainly don't seeing him throwing his 220 pounds around in the NBA.

I dunno...do the Wizards really want a less intense Danny Granger with this pick?

---------- Post added May-31st-2012 at 04:11 PM ----------

PS

I really don't like Harrison Barnes. That may not have come across yet.

My number one criteria when it comes to these high lottery picks is really simple: Do they play hard? If they don't, then they better absolutely blow me away with something else.

Sullenger does play hard. I would probably rather take him over Barnes for that reason. But he doesn't really have the skills/body of a top five player. MKG plays his ass off and has the skills to justify the spot. You know that he will attack the rim. You know he will rebound more than a guy his size should. You have to think his shot will improve in time.

Here is something else to consider: Wall and he will love playing together. The Wizards have no finishers. The Wizards have had very few effort guys. If nothing else, Wall will have fun on the fast break with MKG.

The Wizards need to get some joy in Wall's life and do it fast.

This draft is not about building a team or filling slots. This draft is about making Wall care about playing for the Wizards.

[Destino]

Granger went 17th, showed an interest in defense and attacking the rim, and is not really the kind of player you want to take 3 overall.

The one saving grace about Granger is that he carries himself like a star even though he isn't really a star. And he plays his balls off. I'm far more lenient on measurables on effort guys and no one has ever doubted Granger's effort. People have been questioning Barnes' effort since high school. If he was 250, it would be one thing but he didn't like physical play in the ACC. I certainly don't seeing him throwing his 220 pounds around in the NBA.

I dunno...do the Wizards really want a less intense Danny Granger with this pick?

The only way Barnes goes top five is if Jordan takes him 2nd. It wouldn't even be Jordan's worst decision.

edit:
I also am not a Barnes fan.

Wall doesn't need a wing that attacks the rim and can't shoot. In fact that may be the last thing that he needs. He needs bigs that can play the pick and roll with him and bail him out when he fails miserably at staying in front of anyone. He needs wings that can catch and shoot so that his drive and kick results in points.

[stevemcqueen1]

Mike Schmitz video break downs from draft express:
Drummond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xHt...ure=plpp_video

Good stuff in that breakdown.

Also, is that Ratatat playing for background music?

I think it's clear from that video that Drummond is a very long term project. He's a baby. He was supposed to be in high school this year. He still has to learn about spacing and moving around on the floor, understanding where he is, in addition to developing the technical skills required to finish around the basket on the low block. He took 9 jump shots this year? Wow. Also that FT percentage was pathetic.

It'll be a while before Drummond is a good NBA player. That's why, when push comes to shove, I prefer MKG over him. MKG is just as young, but he's already got skills and confidence and awareness and assertiveness. You don't have to project those qualities in him. But that size, speed, strength, and coordination are simply freakish. You can't overstate how special a player he'd be if he actually learns how to play the game.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

But that size, speed, strength, and coordination are simply freakish. You can't overstate how special a player he'd be if he actually learns how to play the game.

Isn't that the thesis of the SI article on Javale McGhee from last month?

[Destino]

Isn't that the thesis of the SI article on Javale McGhee from last month?

If Javale had Drummond's body he'd be a top 3 center right now. Javale has a weak base which allows him to get pushed around and prevent him from doing any pushing. He has to play finesse basketball because his build and balance don't allow him to do otherwise. Drummond might actually be faster and quicker than McGee all while having a much heavier frame. His problem is simply that he's an American 18 year old monster, and those guys tend to have poor skills in the US because until they reach college they don't really need any skills. He's three years away at least.

Think of him as Andrew Bynum.

[Fight4RGIII]

So what is everyone's pre-combine draft board looking like?

1 Beal
2 MKG
3 Robinson
4 Drummond

No one else should be even considered other than these 4. I'm sure we'll get a lot of disagreement here but hey, it's a forum.

[stevemcqueen1]

Honest question, but what's the difference between Jared Sullinger and Sean May? Samuels, EVERYTHING you said about Sullinger was said about May as well. We need a guy who can get up and down the floor and actually play good defense. Sullinger, is another guy who I'd want nothing to do with as far as this roster is concerned. We have some great options at #3, and trading back shouldn't even be considered.

Sully strikes me as more Al Jefferson than Sean May. He's a better athlete than May and looks bigger plus he was a good player and a winner right off. May didn't get good until his final two seasons, and he was just one of the guys on a stacked UNC team, not a star and central personality like Sully was at Ohio State.

Also May was kind of a dirtbag. My sister met him a couple times when she lived in Chapel Hill and did not like him at all. Sully seems like a great kid.

I think Sully is fit to be a great offensive and rebounding big in the NBA. I just think he'll always be a very poor defender because he's slow and can't jump. Players like him tend to work out exactly as they're expected, even if the expectations are kind of low--Boozer, Scola, Millsap, Jefferson, Love. There are a million prior guys just like Sully who've gone on to be fairly successful. Can you win with a team built around a guy like that? No. They're too crappy on defense to be the central figure for a great team. But you can get a very, very good starter and complimentary player out of a guy like that. Pair him with a great front court defender who might not have all of those offensive skills and you've got something. You're just not going to find many bigs that can do it all on both ends, so you've got to try and build a good committee to get it done with.

[Fight4RGIII]

Beal is a lot more explosive and athletic than people give him credit for...