The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[Samuels]

Harden as our number one scoring option is a bit depressing though. I don't really want to cap out at mediocre.

He is a way more talented then Beal ever will be. Even in college he was basically the same guy but put up more points because he was the #1 option. If you look at it realistically if your expecting a #1 scoring option out of this draft your gonna be disappointed. I think Barnes is one of the few who could be a 20ppg scorer but still not a number 1 option. Harden will average 20ppg easily if he is the #1 option.

[Fight4RGIII]

I am so effing pumped for this draft tmr, not only for the Wizards, but for the NBA in general.

[stevemcqueen1]

He is a way more talented then Beal ever will be. Even in college he was basically the same guy but put up more points because he was the #1 option. If you look at it realistically if your expecting a #1 scoring option out of this draft your gonna be disappointed. I think Barnes is one of the few who could be a 20ppg scorer but still not a number 1 option. Harden will average 20ppg easily if he is the #1 option.

If Harden is way more talented than Beal, then why on Earth would the Thunder be willing to deal Harden to get Beal? Like someone else said, they were three wins away from a championship. If Harden is that good, let Ibaka walk and pay to keep him.

[Fight4RGIII]

Either scenarios will make me happy

Beal/Jeff Taylor or Quincey Miller

or

MKG/Jenkins or D Lamb

[WALL-LE]

I would pull the trigger on the harden deal. i don't think Beal will be better than harden and harden is still crazy young.

[Destino]

If Harden is way more talented than Beal, then why on Earth would the Thunder be willing to deal Harden to get Beal? Like someone else said, they were three wins away from a championship. If Harden is that good, let Ibaka walk and pay to keep him.

Money. They can't afford to keep a third scoring option at a high price. Beal can be Harden for the next 4 years for half the price. They can't win letting their bigs walk and having nothing but shooters. They'd be like the poor mans Miami Heat.

It makes sense for them to trade Harden because Ibaka will be far cheaper to resign due to his lousy numbers, he's still developing. The league will pay Harden.

I'd pull the trigger in the Harden deal because Beal isn't as good IMO. I don't think Harden is a superstar but he's closer than a underachiever in college. Plus he has no questions in terms of creating his own shot, he can do so from anywhere on the court and the wizards lack that. Beal can't.

[nuposse87]

If Wall could actually develop a J he would be damn near close to a Westbrook clone. Now ask yourself, is a capped out team with Westbrook+Harden really going to contend in the east? This is all of course based on the notion wall will actually hit shots (I don't think he'll ever be as as good as Westbrook offensively). Even if Beal is 3/4ths the player Harden is, I'd rather have him at that salary, to help us contend and hopefully attract a REAL gamechanger in two years when contracts need to be addressed as Emeka will be coming off the books. Stand pat, take beal if given the chance or MKG and call it a successful draft. Trade Booker+32nd+C. Singleton for Houston's 12th pick and Take Ross. Dear **** I hate twitter rumors.

[stevemcqueen1]

If Harden is truly special you don't trade him to replace him with a lesser version of him just to keep Serge Ibaka.

Am I missing something with Ibaka? Or do a number of guys like him come into the league almost every single draft? What's the difference between Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo or Larry Sanders or JaVale McGee or DeAndre Jordan or any other athletic shot blocker who brings little else to the table?

You can win with three All Stars. Ibaka is the worst and most easily replaceable member of their "Big 4." The only way you keep him over Harden is if you don't think Harden is that special. Or you think Beal is as good/potentially better.

[nuposse87]

Ibaka is a glorified role player. While he is an excellent shot blocker you can tell he doesn't rotate well or rebound all that great given his physical attributes. If I'm OKC i'd trade Ibaka before I trade harden. As bad as harden was in the finals, Ibaka was worse.

[Mr Awesome]

Anyone going to that draft party tomorrow? I thought it looked kinda cool...will probably head there after work for a drink or two....check out the cheerleaders, etc. Not too excited about our potential pick though.

[Skins199021]

Do people Understand that Durant and Westbrook are on the team? They really just want the rest of their players to be defensive guys hence Ibaka over Harden. Plus they would be getting Beal to replace him and is cheaper which is good for a team like the Thunder. Not that hard to comprehend

[nuposse87]

Do people Understand that Durant and Westbrook are on the team? They really just want the rest of their players to be defensive guys hence Ibaka over Harden. Plus they would be getting Beal to replace him and is cheaper which is good for a team like the Thunder. Not that hard to comprehend

OKC's biggest issue isn't it's wing production, it's low post points. OKC's big three make it easy on themselves in the regular season and pretty much coast to a contender like record but it isn't that easy to jump shoot your way into the playoffs. They'd better off with someone like Zellar IMO, especially if they amnesty Perkins.

[Destino]

People need to wash Big Three out of their heads. That's Miami's thing and you'd better have amazing players on both sides of the court if you're to attempt it with the luxury tax. Teams need TWO stars, a system that fits (read: coach), and good role players. The thunder do not want a big three and Harden isn't on the level of Wade or Bosh. They aren't going to cash strap themselves to become the poor mans Miami.

It's worth noting that if Harden comes to DC, this may quickly cease to be Walls team. Think he could handle that?

[stevemcqueen1]

People need to wash Big Three out of their heads. That's Miami's thing and you'd better have amazing players on both sides of the court if you're to attempt it with the luxury tax. Teams need TWO stars, a system that fits (read: coach), and good role players. The thunder do not want a big three and Harden isn't on the level of Wade or Bosh. They aren't going to cash strap themselves to become the poor mans Miami.

It's worth noting that if Harden comes to DC, this may quickly cease to be Walls team. Think he could handle that?

And Boston's. And San Antonio'. Teams of legit 3 all star construction win.

If Harden isn't at least on Bosh's level, then he's not worth a top 3 pick.

If the choice for them is between Harden and Ibaka, why is it even close? Ibaka is not special. Supposedly Harden is. Strapping yourself to keep Ibaka seems like the foolish move. Especially if it means letting a 6th man of the year walk. The Thunder are trying to build like San Antonio, and that is not what San Antonio would do. The only way you let Harden go is to replace him with a potential All Star big. Perkins and Ibaka are the weak links in their group.

[Skin'emAlive]

I would be ok with trading the pick for Harden. He would fill an immediate need. Just hope he can work on his game going to the right if that is the case.