Washington Wizards 2012-2013 Season Thread - Thanks for a great year!

[Methodical Management]

Honestly, if Phoenix is game for it I'd take their #1 next season if Porter's off the board.  That would give them #3 AND #5 this year to get their fans excited.  We put their #1 next year in our back pocket, bring Martell Webster back, and see if we can get into the playoffs if the core stays healthy.  Seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

This seems like the best scenario stock up for next years draft

Honestly i believe next year we will be at the bottom of the lottery the suns are guaranteed to suck regardless of who they choose and i believe will have a high chance to win the lottery

If nerlens is on the board i would hate passing him up tho

On the other hands i dont trust tweener bigs like i dont like international players i wouldnt go to high on them in the draft

The nice problem with this year's draft is that even if Cleveland tries to screw us and takes Porter, that just means we'll have either McLemore or Noel still on the board.  

The "draft for need" camp would argue against McLemore.  I believe in going best available.  Portland passed on Michael Jordan because they already had Clyde Drexler.  Nobody believes McLemore will be anything close to Michael Jordan, but he arguably has the most star potential of anybody at the top of this draft.  

We've been burned for overvaluing Beal before with the rumored Harden trade.  If you have two star caliber shooting guards on your roster, you can parlay that into whatever position you want via trade.  There's no reason to pick a mediocre 4 over a GOOD 2 just because that's what the draft gives you.  99% of players in this league can be acquired for the right price.  You don't HAVE to get your future starting 3 or 5 through the draft, but the draft can certainly provide you with the asset that you'll eventually utilize to acquire that starting 3 or 5.  

If Cleveland takes Porter and Orlando takes Noel, the Wizards need to either trade the pick for something GREAT or just use it on McLemore.  Personally - and granted I haven't watched him play that much - I don't want Bennett to be part of the Wizards' thought process.  If history's any indication, he won't pan out.  We don't need to waste a top three pick on the next Brandon Bass.  

 

[victor page]

Bennett's the type that can get a GM fired tho. He could be Brandon Bass...or he can make everyone look stupid and end up being a more explosive Paul Millsap.

 

[hypebeast5]

^ Really does that Wiz Cav hate run that deep that we even entertain the thought that they will take porter just to spite us

I know there arent any good feelings between both franchises but i highly doubt they do that

Just like you stated teams should draft talent regardless of team need and hate for another franchise

If the cavs go anyone but Mclemore i will be shocked and im including Nerlens Noel

At least the draft is almost here hopefully ernie doesnt call the shots on this

 

[hypebeast5]

Bennett's the type that can get a GM fired tho. He could be Brandon Bass...or he can make everyone look stupid and end up being a more explosive Paul Millsap.

Imo neither of those players are that appealing even if he is a more explosive version of millsap

Is he a good rebounder?

 

[victor page]

Imo neither of those players are that appealing even if he is a more explosive version of millsap

Is he a good rebounder?

I'd take Paul Millsap over any 4 on the roster right now.

So if he ends up being an advance version of him I'll take that. Paul Millsap is pretty good. Favors/Kanter ate into his minutes last season but he put up 17 & 9 in 11-12. Bennett ceiling is higher than Paul's because his offensive repertoire is a bit more dynamic.

Neither are necessarily elite on the glass.

 

[jking0821]

Bennett's the type that can get a GM fired tho. He could be Brandon Bass...or he can make everyone look stupid and end up being a more explosive Paul Millsap.

Imo neither of those players are that appealing even if he is a more explosive version of millsap

Is he a good rebounder?

I admittedly know very little about Bennett but i do hear some good things. Dude is 6foot8 but has a 7'1 wingspan

Noel has powerful upside, but the Bennett is one of the most dynamic offensive players in this draft class. He's strong enough to back his man down, also displaying the range to shoot the three-ball and the athleticism to take his man to the basket.

Would be nice to have a big man that can spread the floor a bit and work the post. But i haven't seen him play enough to really make my own opinion. I like Nerlens i just don't know if he is really that good. I think he can be a defensive help early but his offensive game needs a lot of improvement. I know it was a freak accident but at his height and his weight i feel like he could be a health risk. (so could Bennett i know)

If it were me though id probably take Nerlens for the higher upside regardless but man i hope we can just land Otto some how

 

[jjs07]

Bennett has injury concerns of his own, and he seems like a classic tweener.  Do I like him over Len?  Yes, because I think he has the potential to be more than just six fouls and four points.  I don't see him as rotation-ready, though.  While those who've seen him more are better qualified to speak to his chances, I could easily see him struggling the way Thomas Robinson did.  The NBA power forward position is no joke.  A guy like Nene can hold his ground down there.  Can Bennett?  Yeah, he's a stretch forward - but he's a 6'7" stretch forward, who's only stuck at the four because he lacks the foot speed to cover NBA small forwards.

I really need to be sold on Bennett.  

Beal's an undersized 2.  Throw Bennett out there and that's a very small team, especially since Okafor may or may not be back in 2014-2015 and you have to make a decision on Seraphin next summer, too.   

I'd weigh trade options heavily before taking that gamble.  You know there are teams out there who'd be very interested in moving up.  


Honestly, if Phoenix is game for it I'd take their #1 next season if Porter's off the board.  That would give them #3 AND #5 this year to get their fans excited.  We put their #1 next year in our back pocket, bring Martell Webster back, and see if we can get into the playoffs if the core stays healthy.  Seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened.  


As risky prospects in this draft go, I'd rather have Noel or McLemore than Bennett.  I know people automatically exclude McLemore from consideration since we already have Beal - but you can never have too much shooting and nothing says that one of those guys can't be your sixth man of the future.  Let 'em compete.

Dallas would have to be pretty hard up to take two second rounders for a late lottery pick.  More likely, they'll be asking for someone else's #1 next year (likely a playoff team) and maybe a second rounder in addition, depending on the draft range.  I think they'll get it.  

We won't get it for two second rounders unless we're willing to take back salary to help Dallas make a run at Paul or Howard. 


A two for one would be more likely in the 20's than in the teens, even though it's a weak draft.  Your best bet is to find a contender late in round one who wants to avoid the guaranteed contract, and even then they're probably not going to want two second rounders for it, as there aren't that many good overseas prospects available this year who they'd want to draft and stash.  

A far more likely scenario, sadly, is that the Wizards will simply sell the surplus #2 to a team like Portland.  No players.  No assets.  Just cash.  That's the type of ownership we're stuck with. 

In regards to the draft, Meth, did you see the mailbag questions posted on BF? Here's one that pertains to the drafting strategy of the Spurs:

Player development appears to be a real weakness of the Wizards organization. Sure, we see significant improvement in players like John Wall and Bradley Beal, but far more often we're disappointed by the development of guys like Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton, Kevin Seraphin, Nick Young, etc. What steps could the team take to improve its player development? What do you see other teams doing that the Wizards are not? How does a team San Antonio turn castoffs and lower draft picks into solid contributors like Danny Green and budding stars like Kawhi Leonard? (Or are they just scouting better than us?)

The San Antonio Spurs have just won the NBA Western Conference this year. They may have an aging core that includes Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, even Tony Parker is now over 30, but at the same time, this franchise just seems to have a very keen eye for getting younger players to contribute effectively including Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, DeJuan Blair and Danny Green. Even Ginobili and Parker were not lottery picks when they were drafted. What do you think the Wizards need to do to have a front office not unlike the Spurs which can consistently find and develop younger players who can contribute in a positive manner?

Going to take these two questions together. Jonathan Tjarks has two really good pieces (here's the second) about this subject on Real GM. Basically: the Spurs:

1. Don't waste picks -- everyone is selected for a purpose.
2. Constantly sift through the so-called "scrap heap" for contributors. No selling of late second-round picks to meet an operating budget. Constant monitoring of the D-League and Europe for undervalued players, rather than stopping their research at guys already in the league.
3. Identify certain kinds of players that they can mold into their style of play.
4. Have a great existing infrastructure in the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili trio that forces those picks to fit into a role while simultaneously giving them a great chance to learn from true pros.
5. Aren't afraid to play youngsters to see how they function. The point Tjarks makes about Gregg Popovich not forcing his GM to acquire a veteran backup point guard when George Hill was struggling as a rookie really hit close to home. The Wizards' youngsters, unless they are Wall or Beal, rarely receive that kind of trust.

The bottom line is the Spurs appear to treat each and every one of their draft picks as assets rather than liabilities through every step of the process. You would never hear the Spurs' GM and coach suggest that they don't want to use all their draft picks, for example.

Rest of Article in Link

If this FO group is serious about turning things around, they can't do things like sell picks for cash. They just can't. Look at the blueprint of the spurs. DON'T WASTE DRAFT PICKS, AND MAKE EVERY PICK COUNT!!!!

 

[pmatic]

Read this dude's timeline.

Vesely is done.

 

[hypebeast5]

Read this dude's timeline.

Vesely is done.

Did this really just happen did he really interview Jan and he said all those things

 

[jking0821]

Read this dude's timeline.

Vesely is done.

Did this really just happen did he really interview Jan and he said all those things

None of it sounds too bad though. He is right about the D-League. For a guy that is used to team based basketball he is better off going overseas to play then the D-League.

I feel bad for him a bit since he is the butt of a lot of jokes ".....at least your team didn't draft Jan Vesely"...and if its true the wiz changed his shooting mechanics 3 times....that sucks...but he just really isn't that good. Maybe sending him back overseas to get some playing time is a good idea see if he can develop over there

 

[jjs07]

None of it sounds too bad though. He is right about the D-League. For a guy that is used to team based basketball he is better off going overseas to play then the D-League.

I feel bad for him a bit since he is the butt of a lot of jokes ".....at least your team didn't draft Jan Vesely"...and if its true the wiz changed his shooting mechanics 3 times....that sucks...but he just really isn't that good. Maybe sending him back overseas to get some playing time is a good idea see if he can develop over there

His problem is confidence. He is NOT too good for the D-league, so he need to spare me of all the talk of going back to Paritzan (sp?) or whatever. He needs to get that through his thick skull.

Wizards are at fault for drafting him, and he is at fault for not being equipped to handle the ups and downs of the NBA.

If we send him overseas, that needs to be the end of the Vesely experiment here in DC. A way for the team to wipe their hands clean of him. This pick was completely botched. Front office has to do better with their scouting and not get guys who crumble under pressure.

It's imperative that we hit a home run with ALL of our picks in a few weeks.

 

[kevin cleveland]

From an outsider's perspective, this seems quite true (retweeted from that same timeline P posted):

@MikePradaSBN: "It almost seems like Wizards drafted Vesely to become a player he's not."

And his point about not wanting to go to the D-League because it's ****** basketball that isn't going to help him improve is probably true, too.

 

[jjs07]

Kev - he was a 3 (in Europe) with no range or handles. He HAD to be a 4 in the NBA.

True, the Wizards shouldn't have drafted him....but he's just not a SF by NBA standards due to his limited skill-set. What he got away with in Europe doesn't fly in the NBA.

I guess the Wizards saw potential in him as a 4, and thus they've asked him to bulk up. He's ridiculously weak. I've never seen a dude 6'11" 230+ constantly get pushed around like he does.

It's a bad situation, but in fairness a lot of teams draft guys based off of a projection that they can flourish in other positions while on the court. The Wizards inability to develop players properly comes into play, but so does Vesely's inability to show that's remotely capable of contributing on a NBA roster. It's not just doing things 4's should be able to do...but it's also the confidence factor in doing routine things such as shooting FTs. I don't know if you saw the quote I posted a while back, but AJ Price alluded to the fact that Vesely hates FTs because all eyes are on him.

The whole situation sucks for everyone. It's best that they divorce themselves of each other and he goes back to Europe.

 

[kevin cleveland]

That free throw fear is crazy to admit.

Has he mostly guarded power forwards here? I always thought he would at least be a really good defender, but I never knew they planned on turning him into a post player. Maybe he should at least be a small forward defensively if he hasn't been.

 

[dirtybuhbuhnew]

Jan is too busy being in LA having fun. Tons of workers come here and focus on work. Your role is based on what your boss(your team) needs you to be. Your job is to be the best at what they ask. He couldn't even do half of that.

 

[hypebeast5]

i feel for Jan Vesley now

 

[dirtybuhbuhnew]

i feel for Jan Vesley now

Hes made millions to sit on the bench. I dont pity the fool

 

[Methodical Management]

Quote:

@MikePradaSBN: "It almost seems like Wizards drafted Vesely to become a player he's not."

Yeah, a basketball player. 

 

[hypebeast5]

Quote:

@MikePradaSBN: "It almost seems like Wizards drafted Vesely to become a player he's not."

Yeah, a basketball player. 

Looking back i didnt know much about him when we drafted him and like someone here said before we drafted him too high and by doing so did him and us a disservice

The aldrige quote you posted saying he has no skill set really points to how thoroughly he was scouted by the wizards

 

[jjs07]

If u want a good laugh, go to the knicks thread. It all started from someone saying "supposedly, John Wall wants to play with melo." LMAOOOOOO

 

[pr0phecy718]

If u want a good laugh, go to the knicks thread. It all started from someone saying "supposedly, John Wall wants to play with melo." LMAOOOOOO

lol not like we started that rumor...

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

Melo doesn't want to play with Melo.

 

[Methodical Management]

If the latest rumors are to be believed, Cleveland's actually considering Alex Len at #1.  I certainly don't understand it, but let's go along with it for the sake of discussion.

Now we would actually have a choice between Porter and McLemore or Porter and Noel.  Would you still prefer Porter in such a scenario?

If u want a good laugh, go to the knicks thread. It all started from someone saying "supposedly, John Wall wants to play with melo." LMAOOOOOO

Every point guard's dream, I'm sure.

 

[hypebeast5]

^ Man i got so hyped on Porter its kinda difficult to approve of drafting someone else

I watched so much game footage and clips of Porter that i became enamored with him and feel like hes the perfect selection

If theres someone available thats better than him i wouldnt be crushed that we chose them but its gonna leave me a bit dissapointed

I just hope we dont draft a player thats all potential and has a suspect skill set *cough* Bennett

 

[victor page]

I don't think there's anyway Noel gets past Orlando. They'd take him for value alone.

Don't think Mclemore's even met with the Wizards. I don't see anyway Porter isn't a Wizard.

And I don't think Bennett has a suspect skill set. He can play...you just have to wonder if his size is going to be an issue at the next level.