The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[stevemcqueen1]

Cousins is the most natural replacement for Okafor out there IMO.

Nerlens would be ideal but we're not going to pick high enough. Also, Nerlens would be thrust into a starting role his second year most likely, which isn't ideal.

We're going to take a hit no matter who replaces Okafor most likely. It's going to be hard to get somebody who matches his rebounding and defense. But it shouldn't be too hard to find someone who can upgrade his offense TBH. Cousins certainly would. But I'd be slightly concerned Cousins would play PF and kick Nene inside to C.

Another major problem with a Cousins trade is that replacing either Nene or Okafor with Cousins would basically bring the chemistry level way down and trade a stabilizing element for a destabilizing element.

I think that's a move that would need to happen in an offseason TBH, which means our draft pick will probably continue to depreciate in value. Cousins might just have to come through FA if he's going to come at all.

I think the Nene/Okafor is a highly effective and complimentary front court but a serious injury to either could be very problematic. I think Nene's skill boxing out allows Okafor's rebounding totals to balloon and Oak's defense really compliments Nene's ability to eat up space (though Oak has still been pretty effective when Nene isn't on the floor). As Wall and Beal grow as defenders and if we settle on a good player at SF, the defensive potential of the team is very good.

It makes all the sense in the world to keep Oak moving forward but his contract length and cost and his age are problems. Regardless, I think you keep him until next year's trade deadline at the earliest unless someone makes a really good offer for him. I think you also consider holding onto him through the deadline and either letting the 14-15 million expire off your books or maybe even try and get him back on a shorter term deal. It makes sense to me to let him expire here and use the money to make a bid for Cousins.

---------- Post added January-27th-2013 at 09:25 AM ----------

I'd be fine with Porter. He is a better version of Jeff Green especially defensively and on the boards but i'm not sure he leaves this early don't seem like that type of kid.

I see what you mean. I kind of get that feeling too. Staying a little longer wouldn't be the worst thing for him either because it'd let him get a bit stronger before making the jump.

---------- Post added January-27th-2013 at 09:43 AM ----------

Wanted to throw out there that maybe dealing for an already big name like Cousins or whoever isn't the best choice. Dealing for a lesser name that still has good upside like Enes Kanter or Derrick Favors makes sense to me. Both have looked good in limited action and have lots of upside left. Is Utah going to let Al Jefferson just up and walk away? Seems crazy to me for them to do so. If they keep him long term, do they need both Kanter and Favors? I'd deal for either.

[mboyd784]

Only 9 games behind Boston for the 8th spot! Stranger things have happened.

[stevemcqueen1]

Only 9 games behind Boston for the 8th spot! Stranger things have happened.

True, but with only half the year left, we'll have to keep winning at this clip to catch them most likely. 70% over our last ten games. That's a tall order.

[mboyd784]

True, but with only half the year left, we'll have to keep winning at this clip to catch them most likely. 70% over our last ten games. That's a tall order.

Rondo just tore his ACL. That should eliminate the Celtics. So...only 7 games behind the Sixers!

[stevemcqueen1]

Rondo just tore his ACL. That should eliminate the Celtics. So...only 7 games behind the Sixers!

Man that sucks. The league is so much better with an abundance of good PGs. It sucked when both Wall and Rose were out.

[nuposse87]

Rondo just tore his ACL. That should eliminate the Celtics. So...only 7 games behind the Sixers!

or just another team contending with our lottery balls!

Feel bad for Rondo, **** the celtics though.

---------- Post added January-27th-2013 at 03:39 PM ----------

Rondo just tore his ACL. That should eliminate the Celtics. So...only 7 games behind the Sixers!

or just another team contending with our lottery balls!

Feel bad for Rondo, **** the celtics though.

[Fight4RGIII]

This must be the worst week of Bill Simmons life!

But I do really like Porter in the mid to late lottery. A SF who can play D, grab boards, hit an open 3 at a good rate, have a lot of untapped potenial, and shoots over 50% from the field? Not bad for this team who really lacks a future at the SF position.

[stevemcqueen1]

This must be the worst week of Bill Simmons life!

But I do really like Porter in the mid to late lottery. A SF who can play D, grab boards, hit an open 3 at a good rate, have a lot of untapped potenial, and shoots over 50% from the field? Not bad for this team who really lacks a future at the SF position.

Well put. I agree with everything you said. Let's hope he comes out this year.

[Destino]

Well put. I agree with everything you said. Let's hope he comes out this year.

I saw an outdated scouting video on draft express and he seems like he definitely played below the rim. A 6-8 guy with a 7-1 wingspan that didnt have a single dunk in his scouting video and had athleticism listed as a weakness. I haven't watched to kid play so I have no idea if things have changed this year. His 3 point % certainly did.

[mboyd784]

6 in a row at home. Time for the Payback!



Revenge!

[Renegade7]

Yes, our record says we suck, but I feel we are better then our record suggests. So if we want to be considered a good basketball team, you have to beat the teams you're supposed to be. Especially at home.

Kick. Their. ***.

[Fight4RGIII]

A buddy sent me this about the Wizards and the 2014 Cap space...I need to know how to combat it. I feel like he is assuming A LOT but who knows, maybe he's right.

So how do you have the Wiz having money in 2014?

So just for Nene, Ariza, Okafor, Wall, Beal, Vesely, Sephahin is 53.1 million dollars. The salary cap this year is 58 million. It might go up a little but probably not that much.

That's only 7 players. Lets assume a cap hold for a top 5 pick this year and the 15th pick next year (both of which are optimistic)

The 4th pick is 3.1 and the 15th is 1.4 million. This might also rise along with the salary cap.

so you now have 9 players at

57.6 million and you need 12 players. So lets say they pay the min for three players with zero years experience. That's another 1.5 million dollars.

You are now at 59.1 million dollars and it's a little more since i mostly rounded off without rounding up.

The Wizards are now over the cap and cannot sign any free agents unless they use the veteran exception, which if history is any judge are generally bad deals for the teams that use them. (and if they used one or both then that would screw up their 2015 cap space)

So now we're moving on to 2015

Lets say the renounce all players they can like Vesely, Jordan Crawford, Singleton, Seraphin... meaning they can't keep any of those players.

We'll assume they'll keep Beal

So Wall is now a restricted (and this can be stressed enough since I'm sure you'll say that Wall would leave if the Wiz didn't get decent...again it's RESTRICTED, he can't go anywhere for another 6 years...)

He'll get paid the max around 13.5 which might go up to 14

Wall 14
Nene 13
Beal 4.5
Rookie from 2013 3.7
Rookie from 2014 1.5
Rookie from 2016 1.5

that's aout 38.3 million dollars but you have to have holds for the other 6 players so it would be at least 40 million. This is really assuming the Wiz only get the 4th pick this summer and make the playoffs in 2013/14 and 2014/15 which is extremely optimistic.

now you finally have enough room to offer a player a max deal FA

First, besides the Heat how many teams have really used the magically we have alot of cap money to do anything good with?

You'll have a few good unrestricted free agents in 2015. Love, Gasol, Aldridge, Rondo

Second, You'll also have great cities/teams with huge amounts of cap room in the Summer of 2015

The Lakers could potentially have Dwight and the ability to add 2 max free agents
The Spurs could potentially add three max free agents
The Heat could potentially add three max free agents
The Hornets could potentially add two max free agents
Mavs could potentially sign four max FAs

All four teams would probably be higher on Free agents list than the Wiz would be since they have either the Warm Weather, Big Market, or no State Taxes or a combination of the three.

All five of those franchises are also much better ran than the Wizards, though alot could change in a couple of years.

If anything Wiz fans should be rooting against the Wiz winning games as that is most likely their only chance at competing in the near future.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-bask...012813aaa.html

Otto Porter Jr. Named to BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll


Porter Jr. was named the National Player of the Week by NBC CollegeSports.com.

Porter Jr. helped to lead the Hoyas to a pair of wins over nationally-ranked teams, winning 63-47 at No. 24 Notre Dame last Monday and following that up with a thrilling 53-51 win over then-No.5 Louisville at home on Saturday.

Porter Jr. averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor (12-of-23) and 55.6 percent from three-point land (5-of-9). He scored 19 points, grabbed nine boards and had two assists, two blocks and two steals in the win at Notre Dame and recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Louisville.

[stevemcqueen1]

A buddy sent me this about the Wizards and the 2014 Cap space...I need to know how to combat it. I feel like he is assuming A LOT but who knows, maybe he's right.

Total salary of Wizards going into 2014/2015 (FA summer of 2014) would be about 44.8 million if we pick up every team option available and extend every qualifying offer.

We're not going to want to pick up every option most likely. And the only RFA likely to get a big up front contract is Wall but you never know. Hopefully Seraphin and Crawford will necessitate bigger deals because that'd mean they're good.

Figure you've got two first round picks that'll bring the players to ten. Then you can find some role players using different exceptions. Team will probably be well under the tax level which I'm guessing is going to go up to give teams some relief from the new taxes.

I don't think we're going to have any trouble filling out a solid roster that summer. We've got all of our key guys under control except Okafor and we've pretty much always known Okafor was a two year rental at most.

[Fight4RGIII]

They are just really hot right now from three. Plus, we're turning the ball over way too much. I hope Wall can get back to playing at least 36 minutes at a usual rate soon.