The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[stevemcqueen1]

I just read the grantland article. That guy isn't a professional writer, he's a little too meandering and there is too much inside joke tone. Of his suggestions, I think he's kind of missing the point on most of them.

He's right about Blatche. Blatche needs to be traded. Not for just anything because he does have value as a 6'11 270 pound big that can run and shoot. Some idiot will trade for him just like someone did for Kwame Brown. Maybe the return won't be as good as that trade's, but we'll get something from him.

But he's way off on the course the rebuild needs to take. His goals of trying to win as few games as possible contradicts the courses of action he suggests. I think Leonsis is actually spot on and I understand his methodology. Young players will make mistakes but they will learn in the process. But the team will also get hammered by short sighted public perception in the process as well.

I think keeping Rashard was absolutely the right decision in all accounts. Are we trying to get to the playoffs and make a run right now? No. That's all amnestying him would have been good for. Instead we've got his massive contract coming off the books next season when we'll be more competitive and able to start thinking about wooing free agents. We keep the amnesty trump card in our pockets for the future. And we didn't have to go searching for some nobody SF body to throw out on the floor while we're terrible.

He's also wrong about Flip IMO. Flip's failure to develop the young talent we do have is becoming a problem. The system doesn't suit the players and they're lack of success seems like it's hurting their confidence. The potential harm done to our existing core outweighs the benefits of self inflicted tanking from keeping Flip. The lottery system is dirty anyway, you can't rely on tanking. You all know we'll finish with the best or second best chance for the first pick in the lottery and still end up picking sixth.

The Wizards were a .500 team at home last season oddly enough. If you're paying to attend the games, there's probably close to a 50% chance you'll see a win, which isn't that bad. Even still, if you're paying to attend the games, you should go in expecting to lose, and if you want to get something out of your money, enjoy watching the young guys play hard and look for signs of progress in them.

That's the only way to keep sane watching a terrible team slog through a rebuild--closely manage your expectations. This guy hasn't quite figured that out.

---------- Post added January-13th-2012 at 11:38 AM ----------

D.C. is like a somewhat more polite version of Philly or New York in terms of the fan base. We're not totally classless and childish like they are, although we can come close at times. But our fan base will turn on a player who is lazy and/or underachieving in our view and rip him mercilessly until his confidence is destroyed and he rues the day he ever put on our uniform. That was Blatche's problem. He didn't give enough of a **** to try hard and earned the hatred of the fan base last season. Then he responded terribly to the criticism by getting childish and lashing out at the fan base in retaliation. Well, and he's not good. The trifecta to end up on the **** list.

[Destino]

Blatche is no where near as hated as Haynesworth. I think the people that do hate him hate him with an irrational passion so the ceiling of hatred is high. The number of fans that hate him though doesn't compare as Haynesworth was as close to universally hated as an athlete has ever been in DC IMO. The thing that stops Blatche from reaching this level is that unlike Haynesworth he does contribute and he doesn't have nearly as much drama in the media. Haynesworth was a constant never ending media story that seemed to get worse when you thought it couldn't.

I was sure the redskins didn't need Haynesworth as he wasn't playing much to begin with. I watched the Wizards play the Bulls without Blatche and they scored 64 points. I don't think anyone would argue that Blatche would have won that game had he played, but we simply don't have the offensive weapons to say he's a complete liability at this point. His contract is too long but his per year isn't something stunning. Haynesworth on the other hand was the 100 million dollar man that didn't want to do anything.

[Gator Bait]

]Can someone explain to me how Rashard's contract can come off the books for next season? As far as I can tell next year is the expiring year of his deal and I can't find any information on whether he's got any options in the deal.

There is an option on his contract where he is cut and paid 10 million rather than the 20+ he is paid if he is on the roster. Kind of like an already pre-bargained buy out clause. He will still count 10 million against our cap, but he will be off the roster and wont account for the 20+ he would be owed otherwise.

---------- Post added January-13th-2012 at 01:32 PM ----------

In terms of passionate hatred within the fanbase, Blatche easily eclipses Deion and is running neck and neck with Fat Al.

Blatche isn't even close to Albert! Personally he isn't close to Deion either....I know some actually liked Deion while he was here (I hated him). I also think Stevenson is higher on the list, but that is debatable.

[Rocky21]

I just read the grantland article. That guy isn't a professional writer, he's a little too meandering and there is too much inside joke tone. Of his suggestions, I think he's kind of missing the point on most of them.

House is a fan just like us. I think he's a lawyer. He isn't a professional writer.

It was more of a funny piece than an actual How To on fixing the Wizards.

[10]

[StillUnknown]

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/p...ht-howard-land

The Wizards, according to NBA front-office sources, are shopping forward Andray Blatche -- again. But Washington is said to be realistic (translation: pessimistic) about its chances of moving Blatche, who began the season with four years and nearly $30 million remaining on his contract.

[No Excuses]

Buy out Lewis at the end of the season since his contract reduces by 50% and then amnesty Blatche.

Blatche is apparently out for a while because of the shoulder injury. Vesely will be getting the back up PF minutes. Only problem is that it now forces us to play Seraphin who is going to get destroyed on a nightly basis.

[Skin'emAlive]

There is an option on his contract where he is cut and paid 10 million rather than the 20+ he is paid if he is on the roster. Kind of like an already pre-bargained buy out clause. He will still count 10 million against our cap, but he will be off the roster and wont account for the 20+ he would be owed otherwise.

---------- Post added January-13th-2012 at 01:32 PM ----------



Blatche isn't even close to Albert! Personally he isn't close to Deion either....I know some actually liked Deion while he was here (I hated him). I also think Stevenson is higher on the list, but that is debatable.

I dont now man, i really liked stevenson. Actually i think everyone did until he forgot how to shoot that one season. He is the best lebron defender in the game. It was fun watching him go up against lebron. And people didnt hate deion that much. He still came to play. People hated the fact that he was on out team. The idea of him being on the team rubbed everyone the wrong way. Albert is the only player that comes close to me. Him and Micheal Ruffin. God i hated him. But that was just because he sucked, and that overtime basketball toss against the raptors. haha.

[grhqofb5]

I have another idea. Think about this-- what happens if a player just decides to leave a team and go do something else. Does the team still take the cap hit?

Here's what I propose. (1) We need to find something that Andray Blatche really, really, really likes. Something he can't live without. (2) We need to buy as much of this thing as possilbe, like a few $$$million$$$ worth. (3) We need to go to Australia and find a decently large piece of land and buy it (~10 acres). (4) We need to take this special thing that Andray loves so much and put it all over the land, some out in the open, some underground or hidden, (5) We need to tell Andray about this awesome place where all this stuff is located, and (5) We need to get him a plane ticket to the nearest airport, and hire a chauffer service to pick him up at the airport, take him to the land, and leave him there. Then we need to blow up the airport, to be safe.

I bet there's a good 70-80% we won't see him again, and we'll have some extra cap room next year.

[NotSoSuper]

McGee needs to learn how to pass

[Fight4RGIII]

12 points in the first 4 min??????????????????????????????? INSANE

---------- Post added January-13th-2012 at 07:25 PM ----------

Just put a little more on your shot, Wall. It is short EVERY time you fadeaway.

[Skin'emAlive]

McGee just had a pretty bad quarter. Hes gotta pick it up.

[NotSoSuper]

Jesus McGee sucks at the line

[StillUnknown]

Rashard Lewis is shooting about 20% from the 3pt line this season.

There is literally no reason to give him anything more than mop up minutes.

[Skin'emAlive]

Jesus McGee sucks at the line

Yea it looks like the fans are getting hin his head. And by fans, i mean the 5-6 guys standing behind the basket. Hes got the yips today.