The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[stevemcqueen1]

I believe I just heard Doug Gottlieb say he thinks Kyle Anderson is a better NBA prospect than Shabazz.

His reason? Kyle Anderson is about 6'9 and can play any position 1-4 and he makes guys better--true. And Shabazz is a "6'5 3 and there aren't really top guys like that in the NBA." C'mon man. James Harden.

Anderson looks like a really intriguing talent though. Power point forward that has a decent outside shot and nice handles. But he's not better than Shabazz. Too slow to be an elite guy IMO. Shabazz has some quicks plus Shabazz is a born scorer with immediately translatable scoring tools.

Nice finish through contact from Shabazz. Since he came into the game he's been a big spark for UCLA. He caught and shoot a beautiful three. Gottlieb said the free throw line extended threes are one of Shabazz's favorite spots. That's a difficult shot and I would love to have a shooter who can knock down threes in that region. Beal in the corner, Shabazz from there. The nice thing about that part of the floor if you can shoot that three is you also have a ton of room to but the ball on the court and drive the lane unlike the corner.

[Destino]

I'd like the Wizards to have a more stable line up and compact rotation next season.

PG: Wall / Crawford / Temple
SG: Beal / Crawford
- Temple kept as a stopper/situational player not regularly receiving minutes. Goodbye Mack and Price.

SF: Webster / Ariza
Webster should be resigned IMO he's solid and hates losing. Ariza is the best we have otherwise now that Singleton apparently failed badly. If we draft Shabazz I would NOT start him because it would be unfair to the team but Ariza would need to be moved.

PF: Nene / ???
Center: Okafor / Seraphin
I'm done with Booker and Seraphin doesn't seem to do well when his feet have to move much. This is a problem because Nene is never going to flirt with 40 minutes. Zeller would be good here as part if a big man rotation where he could play both 4 and 5. Okafor has been better than expected recently and unless another veteran option comes along I'd like him here in case Zeller or Len show up. He can start while they get their feet wet and his expiring deal will be big around the trade dealing next season.

I'd hang on to Vesely as well as another situational player. His length and athleticism allow him to come in as a stop gap at the 3, 4, or 5. Versatility is big this deep on the depth hart.

[stevemcqueen1]

I'd like the Wizards to have a more stable line up and compact rotation next season.

PG: Wall / Crawford / Temple
SG: Beal / Crawford
- Temple kept as a stopper/situational player not regularly receiving minutes. Goodbye Mack and Price.

SF: Webster / Ariza
Webster should be resigned IMO he's solid and hates losing. Ariza is the best we have otherwise now that Singleton apparently failed badly. If we draft Shabazz I would NOT start him because it would be unfair to the team but Ariza would need to be moved.

PF: Nene / ???
Center: Okafor / Seraphin
I'm done with Booker and Seraphin doesn't seem to do well when his feet have to move much. This is a problem because Nene is never going to flirt with 40 minutes. Zeller would be good here as part if a big man rotation where he could play both 4 and 5. Okafor has been better than expected recently and unless another veteran option comes along I'd like him here in case Zeller or Len show up. He can start while they get their feet wet and his expiring deal will be big around the trade dealing next season.

I'd hang on to Vesely as well as another situational player. His length and athleticism allow him to come in as a stop gap at the 3, 4, or 5. Versatility is big this deep on the depth hart.

Of all the players on the fence, Martell seems like the one who most likely won't be back. It's a shame, he's earned it so far. But its the nature of his contract situation. Ariza has an option that I don't see him passing over.

To keep Ariza on the bench as the perimeter stopper (where I think he's best suited), we'd have to keep Martell or hopefully draft Shabazz. I would hope Shabazz would be ready to start as a rookie. If not, he'd be a great second line scorer while Ariza would probably start to bring defense and a kick out option for Wall.

Another reason we'd need him is, by getting rid of Price and becoming very reliant on Jordan, we're pretty thin at guard. We would need Shabazz's ability to play some SG for stretches. Especially if he was coming off the second line. Jordan + Shabazz + Seraphin would be POTENT. Play Ves at the 4 for size and defense and then Temple as the perimeter stopper/PG when you want to work Jordan off the ball.

I agree that Booker and Singleton need to be dealt. I'd probably do it for cap relief of some sort. If you draft Shabazz and keep Martell, then yeah, Ariza should be dealt.

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Because Oak's deal is up after next season, you've got to keep Ves IMO unless you can move him in a solid deal that hopefully brings back a big. Or if we draft a good big then you get flexibility to with Ves. Otherwise, we need Ves's ability to play the 4 and 5 off the bench.

Oak should definitely be kept until next year's trade deadline IMO. At that point, we have a difficult choice to make if we didn't get a big man in the draft. Do we let his contract expire and take the 14 mil in cap space? Do we try and extend him (meaning we just couldn't get any kind of C to replace him). Or do we deal him?

Dealing Oak means Seraphin better be ready to start at C. I've felt his face up game and spotty rebounding made him a little more of a 4 like Nene.

I think both Nerlens and Zeller are definitely NBA 5s. They just need to add the strength to play the position but its their natural fit. If you get them and keep Ves, you can let Oak leave or deal him for a perimeter player.

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Net-net, for just next year, our best result is getting Nerlens or Zeller in the draft, extending Price and Temple, extending Martell, dealing Singleton and Booker, and probably extending Cartier.

You need two guys to ride the bench as the 11th and 12th man but that are good enough to come in and contribute in the event of injuries. For me that would either be Price or Temple & then Cartier:

First line for the first half of the season:
1 - Wall
2 - Beal
3 - Martell
4 - Nene
5 - Okafor

Second Line for the first half of the season:
1 - Price or Temple
2 - Crawford
3 - Ariza
4 - Seraphin
5 - Nerlens/Zeller

Then after Oak and possibly Ariza are dealt:

1 - Wall / Price / Temple
2 - Beal / Crawford
3 - Martell / Cartier
4 - Nene / Ves
5 - Seraphin / Nerlens or Zeller

But long term, I still believe BPA is the best option for a team in the draft and I still believe Shabazz would be the BPA whenever we pick. Post Oak / Ariza deals:

1 - Wall / Price / Temple
2 - Beal / Crawford
3 - Martell / Shabazz
4 - Nene / Ves
5 - Seraphin / X

That's a really thin front court. We'd have to go all out for Cousins IMO.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 06:08 PM ----------

Shabazz has done very little in the second half. Been on the bench a lot and hasn't gotten many shots within the flow of the offense.

[stevemcqueen1]

My ideal armchair GM scenario is to deal Emeka, the draft pick, and some other pieces for Cousins and I guess Garcia or some other contract to balance the trade.

Then you can extend Martell and you've got a good starting five and the depth is pretty well set. Depending on what you gave up in the Cousins trade that is.

Maybe you keep Ves, Seraphin, and Crawford. Nene, Cousins, Seraphin, Ves is a nice four man deep front court IMO. Crawford as the sixth man. And as Des suggested, Ariza or Temple as a perimeter stopper off the bench. A 9 man rotation.

And on top of that, I'd maybe move some pieces to get back into the draft around pick 14 or so to pick up a rookie contract. If the draft played out like DX projects, I'd move into the middle of the first for James Michael McAdoo. I like his game and think he'd be a good fit for the team, coming in off the bench at one of the forward spots. Upside to start eventually.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 09:29 PM ----------

Dear God Kentucky Auburn is 6 - 6 after 9 minutes.

Nerlens has all 4 of Kentucky's 6 points. Already has 5 boards and 3 blocks. He's a defensive force.

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

This would be a statement win. To beat the red-hot, everyones-favorite Clippers. 4-1 since Wall's return. Would be a BIG win.

[Destino]

This would be a statement win. To beat the red-hot, everyones-favorite Clippers. 4-1 since Wall's return. Would be a BIG win.

It would but we have no business being on the same floor with these guys. The Clippers are strong in every way a team can be. Interestingly enough I wouldn't be surprised if its a close game. Wizards are playing well lately.

[SiCkSoULjA]

Whitman waited way way too ****ing long too call a time out. The Clippers Bench is a bunch of douches do they got too dance and jump up and down after every play.

[Destino]

Whitman waited way way too ****ing long too call a time out. The Clippers Bench is a bunch of douches do they got too dance and jump up and down after every play.

Yeah the Clippers bench is well known for being ridiculous.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 11:33 PM ----------

Blake is being a *****, as usual, and they warned Nene and Blake. No one but Blake did anything. Blake is so much easier to like when you don't watch Clippers games.

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

Whitman waited way way too ****ing long too call a time out. The Clippers Bench is a bunch of douches do they got too dance and jump up and down after every play.

Similar to why I hate Blake Griffin. Check out my posts from his draft. I wanted him here, badly. Just knew he would be a star. So his "rookie" year, i made sure to go to the one Clippers game here in DC. And left hating him. ALL game long he was doing douchey stuff, chief among them bitching to the ref like he was a 10 year vet with three rings. **** him.

---------- Post added January-20th-2013 at 12:37 AM ----------

Definitely doesn't feel like we're only down 7

[Destino]

Wall had as many points (9) and attempts (8) as Beal, Crawford, and Price combined in the first half. That's not going to work. Clippers really shut down passing lanes well.

[StillUnknown]

Blake Griffin is a *****

[Destino]

Blake is getting every call now. Ridiculous.

[StillUnknown]

I hope someone elbows him for real next time, intentionally

[mmzznnxx]

Not even Caron Butler can stop me from hating the Clippers with douches like Matt Barnes and especially Blake Griffin on that team.

I loved that shot by Seraphin, and even more, after making it, he looked angry. He knows the Wiz are on the bad end of some questionable calls.

[Destino]

This game is close despite the refs that have done everything short of put on Clipper warm ups.