Washington Wizards

Okay I'm certainly not in the camp in support of drafting Otto Porter, but I realize that he is likely the pick going forward. With that said, drafting him would create a potentially interesting situation at the SF position. Some have argued that at that point, let Webster walk and spend that MLE on a combo guard, or trade Ariza away, but I actually started thinking about another scenario, what if we kept all 3? This might not be ideal, but what about the idea of using Trevor Ariza and/or Martell Webster as a backup 2? I'm not necessarily able to pull up the advanced stats for when these two played the 2 or when they were on the court at the same time, but it seems to me, that they have the skill set to compliment each other and bolster our bench going forward with a combination of solid defense and 3 point shooting. With Ariza, you can still match him up against the best offensive player on the opposing team's bench. You could also have a small lineup where you could actually put Porter, Ariza and Webster in the same lineup to space the floor. No matter what, you could have some interesting combinations, which may have better results than simply getting rid of and trying to replace Ariza and Webster. With that said, if anyone has any advanced stats on how Ariza or Webster played the 2 offensively and defensively, I think that would help this discussion. Other than that, what are your thoughts on the possibility of having all 3 and using Ariza/Webster as the 2 off the bench with the other playing the 3? Okay I'm certainly not in the camp in support of drafting Otto Porter, but I realize that he is likely the pick going forward. With that said, drafting him would create a potentially interesting situation at the SF position. Some have argued that at that point, let Webster walk and spend that MLE on a combo guard, or trade Ariza away, but I actually started thinking about another scenario, what if we kept all 3? This might not be ideal, but what about the idea of using Trevor Ariza and/or Martell Webster as a backup 2? I'm not necessarily able to pull up the advanced stats for when these two played the 2 or when they were on the court at the same time, but it seems to me, that they have the skill set to compliment each other and bolster our bench going forward with a combination of solid defense and 3 point shooting. With Ariza, you can still match him up against the best offensive player on the opposing team's bench. You could also have a small lineup where you could actually put Porter, Ariza and Webster in the same lineup to space the floor. No matter what, you could have some interesting combinations, which may have better results than simply getting rid of and trying to replace Ariza and Webster. With that said, if anyone has any advanced stats on how Ariza or Webster played the 2 offensively and defensively, I think that would help this discussion. Other than that, what are your thoughts on the possibility of having all 3 and using Ariza/Webster as the 2 off the bench with the other playing the 3?

In principal most of us, including me, are against trading the pick. Heck, I personally didn't feel much for trading it for 'veteran depth' at #8. I think we all still have a sour taste in our mouth's because of our trade for Miller and Foye in 2009. Moreover, we didn't land #8, we have landed #3. Porter is by far the community consensus as to whom to pick at #3. He can spread the floor, handle/create and looks to become a good defender in the NBA. He has no big holes in his game whatsoever and at 19 yrs many recon he already is the most NBA ready player in this draft He would be a perfect fit and the majority of us are really exited about a Wall, Beal, Porter core for years to come. However, what if Porter is not there anymore? What if Cleveland takes him #1? It's not likely, but they are really high on Porter in terms of fit with Irving, Waiters and Thompson. What if Orlando takes him rr what if they deal the #2 to Cleveland and they take Otto at #2? Are the players then left on the board, really worth drafting at #3 at all for us? Providing Noel and Porter are gone, lets look at the other possible candidates: McLemore is redundant with Beal and I don't feel like he is a better prospect than Brad at this point in time. The same goes for Burke and, to an even larger extend, McCollum with regards to Wall. Then there is Len of course, who seems very polished but severely undersized and I think he can't become a 3 in the NBA. I just wonder if he'll pan out against bigger, stronger and equally or more polished NBA bigman.That brings us to players who surely aren't worth taking in the top 3 like Zeller, Shabazz or heck, it's Ernie after all, Saric. All players we have more or less discussed about at #8 and are more for long term depth than actual core contributors imho. Of course we won't really know if Porter is off the board until we are up to pick, but given the above consideration a trade scenario should be included in Ernie's strategy preparation imho. I don't advocate making a trade befóre the draft under any circumstance, which unfortunately is typical for Ernie and how he missed out on Rubio and Curry in 2009 and almost lost Beal in 2012. He also showed his cards early with Vesely for whom of course there was no competition anyway. So, are there any trades worth thinking about? Yes there are, but not many: Nene + #3 for Love + #9 Of course this trade depends on how Kevin feels about the Wolves these days but if he does want to leave, a top three pick and a near all star center might be the best Flip can do to save some grace. The trade works financially. Losing Nene is not a concern to me because he was always going to be a bridge player to help mature our youngsters, not a long term core piece and Love is. Furthermore, we would have picked around #9 in the first place anyway. Like I said above, there are some prospects that would still be available for depth or we could trade it for (good) veteran depth if we package it with young players, second rounders and/or future picks.The main reason of course is Kevin Love. He is an All Star, still relatively young and a core of Wall, Beal, Love would contend for the playoffs immediately as well as for years to come. Especially if we manage to re-sign Okafor, Ariza and Webster at reasonable prices. Depending on the development of Wall and Beal as well as the quality of the rest of the supporting cast going forward (cap management!) we might even be a title contender one day.That said, Kevin Love is a top 3 PF, maybe even the best PF in the league and he spreads the floor for Wall. Other than Love I don't really see another possible available player in his tier that fits so well with Wall. Cousins is mentioned a lot and I really like him but he isn't in Kevin's tier yet and due to his considerable downsides might never get there or will but forever be an inconsistant enigma due to his immaturity/anger problems. Derrick Williams is an interesting opt

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Shabazz Muhammad is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports (Even though the Washington Wizards received the third overall pick in last nights NBA Draft Lottery, I think it’s safe to say that they’ll explore all  of their options. With that said, UCLA’s enigma, Shabazz Muhammad, is one of the most intriguing prospects in this years NBA Draft. I contacted Jeff Poirier of Go Joe Bruin, who has covered the UCLA Bruins for quite some time, in order to get his take on the possible situation.) I have to start with this: Shabazz Muhammad was viewed as a basketball prodigy out of Bishop Gorman High School, but his reputation took a serious hit once he reached the collegiate level. He’s been accused of lying about his age, allowing his father to control his basketball career, but most importantly, he had a tendency to act like a diva once he stepped on the basketball floor. How will his attitude affect his stock in this year’s draft, if at all? Should a team like Washington, who has dealt with plenty of knuckleheads in the past, take a chance on Muhammad? The rumors swirling about Muhammad’s attitude will definitely affect his draft appeal, but he’s still a highly sought after option. He had a few moments that drew ire at UCLA, most notably steering clear of a Bruins pig-pile after a teammate (and not him) sank a game-winning buzzer beater. Ultimately though, Shabazz is a stone cold gamer who will be an asset to whatever team takes him. Washington would be getting a lights-out shooter with an unrelenting competitive edge. The millions he’ll be making will likely iron out any personality issues he may have, so I think he is worth the chance. What are some common misconceptions people have about Shabazz Muhammad? He’s been criticized about having a scorers mentality, but not contributing much on the defensive side of the floor. Even though Muhammad averaged under 1 assist per game, some think his lackluster year at UCLA was a reflection upon the program and basketball system, rather than Muhammad’s style of play. Is he as selfish as people tend to think? Is he the type of player who will eventually develop his defense once he enters the next stage of his career? Having attended every UCLA home game last season, I can attest to the fact that Shabazz is not a defensive player. He was often beat by a less athletic opponent with more hustle, which doesn’t bode well for him guarding the best-of-the-best in the NBA. With that said, there’s no telling what could happen once he gets to the league. The pressure of living up to his contract could drive him to develop his defense, and he is athletic enough to be a good shot blocker. Offensively, there’s no question that his intention is to score whenever he gets the ball. Whether it’s a catch-and-shoot or drive to the rim, Muhammad isn’t going to pass very often. Some call that selfishness, but I just think it’s how his game works. He has a consistent outside stroke, and he is most valuable putting the ball in the bucket. Is Shabazz Muhammad worth the investment? Should a lottery bound team, like the Wizards, take a chance on Muhammad, even though they are entering the latter half of their rebuilding process? My answer here is “it depends.” If the Wizards are in need of an ice-cold perimeter shooter, than Shabazz is certainly worth the investment. He can pour it on from long range, and should only get better as he refines his attack. However, if they’re looking for a well-rounded player who will contribute at both ends of the floor, Shabazz is not the solution. Where do you see Muhammad being taken in this year’s draft? Will he eventually renter the top 5 pick discussion, or will his affected image ultimately lower his stock? Some mock drafts still have Muhammad in the Top 10, and I think that’s where he will end up. It’s possible he c

You'll recall CSN Washington's report earlier this week that Bradley Beal had yet to be cleared to return to baskeball-related activities despite being seven weeks removed from being shut down with a stress injury in his left fibula. J Michael asked Beal himself about his status at the draft lottery yesterday, and this was Beal's answer. "I still haven't been cleared," Beal told CSN after he represented the Wizards at the draft lottery and secured the No. 3 overall pick for the June 27 draft. "It's been six weeks since I've done any basketball-related activities. In the next couple weeks or so I'm going to get another X-Ray and see if the fracture actually started closing and see if can get back out there. Until then I'm still rehabbing, lifting weights and refraining from any basketball activity." The word "fracture" freaked me out upon reading the article. However, a Wizards spokesman told Bullets Forever that, much like John Wall did last December, Beal misspoke and did not mean to indicate that the bone was actually broken. Michael Lee asked Beal a similar question and put in "[stress reaction]" in the quote used in today's story. Semantics aside, the injury itself will likely take over two months to heal, so it's serious enough. Wall's "stress injury" in his knee ended up sidelining him for over three months. Standard aches and bruises don't take this long to heel, so whatever one wants to call it, the effect is the same. While it is the offseason, I'd feel much more comfortable if Beal was healed enough to be cleared soon.

I know I am going to get skewered for this and I understand why to some degree, but in a weak draft like this the three pick is really more like a 5-7 in an average year. Ernie is not a great drafter, and we could really get some talent for this pick so i say we should trade it. utah is a team looking to move up and they definitely have some great pieces. If the Jazz offered a package like Favors, Burks/ Hayward/14 pick I would do it. If the Kings offered Cousins and Patterson for the 3 pick and Singleton/Vesely/Booker I would absolutely do it. I am not Mike Wise. I understand that the Wizards have much more than this year, and that yeah we want to make the playoffs now, but 2015-2020 is the most important block. I don't want to trade the pick for veterans. I am a huge fan, however, of trading draft pick for established YOUNG players with high ceilings. I find them to be more of a sure thing than draft picks. Just imagine if last year, we took Orlando up on their offer of Harden for Beal. Beal is good, but Harden- he is a legit superstar. Nobody in their right mind takes Beal over Harden and thats not a knock on Beal. I would also trade the pick to a bad team like Charlotte or Orlando for a 2014 first rounder. That is a much better, deeper draft and who knows maybe we get Wiggins. If Orlando offered a 2014 1st rounder and Tobias Harris for our 2014 and 2013 1st rounders I would do it. If Charlotte offered the same deal with MKG instead of Harris I would have to say yes. Ultimately we are not going to trade the pick and I agree with that. I think that the only way we trade the pick is if someone overpays for it and all the above scenarios are indeed overpaying for a three pick in a weak draft class. But, if someone decides to overwhelm us and give up young players for the pick? Then do it. The point of the fan post was not to say trade the pick but to say do not out rule trading the pick, keep all options open. I am sure Porter, Oladipo, Muhammed or even Noel would be great for us. A top 3 pick usually works out and I expect it to with us. I am edited about the future of our Wall/ Beal/ 3 pick core trio, but I' be more excited about Wall/ Beal/ Cousins trio with Patterson I know I am going to get skewered for this and I understand why to some degree, but in a weak draft like this the three pick is really more like a 5-7 in an average year. Ernie is not a great drafter, and we could really get some talent for this pick so i say we should trade it. utah is a team looking to move up and they definitely have some great pieces. If the Jazz offered a package like Favors, Burks/ Hayward/14 pick I would do it. If the Kings offered Cousins and Patterson for the 3 pick and Singleton/Vesely/Booker I would absolutely do it. I am not Mike Wise. I understand that the Wizards have much more than this year, and that yeah we want to make the playoffs now, but 2015-2020 is the most important block. I don't want to trade the pick for veterans. I am a huge fan, however, of trading draft pick for established YOUNG players with high ceilings. I find them to be more of a sure thing than draft picks. Just imagine if last year, we took Orlando up on their offer of Harden for Beal. Beal is good, but Harden- he is a legit superstar. Nobody in their right mind takes Beal over Harden and thats not a knock on Beal. I would also trade the pick to a bad team like Charlotte or Orlando for a 2014 first rounder. That is a much better, deeper draft and who knows maybe we get Wiggins. If Orlando offered a 2014 1st rounder and Tobias Harris for our 2014 and 2013 1st rounders I would do it. If Charlotte offered the same deal with MKG instead of Harris I would have to say yes. Ultimately we are not going to trade the pick and I agree with that. I think that the only way we trade the pick is if someone overpays for it and all the above scenarios are indeed overpaying for a three pick in a weak draft class. But, if someone decides to overwhelm us and giv

Bradley Beal doesn’t wear his copper-colored tie too often, but felt that representing the Wizards in Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery was one occasion that warranted him to put it on display once more. The tie is special to him, … Continue reading →

The NBA Draft lottery is done, which means it's time for mock draft season! Everyone knows and nobody knows! Speculation! Rumors! (These exclamation marks are genuine. I really am excited on some level to figure this all out). Thanks to SBNation.com's handy table, we know that five of the seven prominent Internet mocks have the Wizards taking Georgetown forward Otto Porter. The other two feature UNLV's Anthony Bennett. Here are the explanations: SBNation.com (Otto Porter): Porter is a safe pick -- a local kid who fills an instant need on your roster. At the same time, that leaves you with a frontcourt of the future of Nene (30) and Emeka Okafor (30). If you have three top-three picks on your roster, it seems reasonable to make at least one of them a big man. Draft Express (Anthony Bennett): The Wizards ranked last in offensive efficiency last season and depth at the guard positions is another area the team might look to address. Anthony Bennett might be the most talented prospect on the board regardless of position, and also fills a major need as a shooting four that can play alongside both Emeka Okafor and Nene. He looks like a good fit here considering Washington's struggles offensively. NBA.com (Otto Porter): The Wizards get a very good outcome. Porter is a position need and coming off a season as the Big East Player of the Year that moved the versatile small forward into the top five. ESPN/Chad Ford (Otto Porter): The Wizards need help at the small forward position and Porter, who played his college ball in Washington, appears to be the perfect fit. With two super backcourt scorers such as John Wall and Bradley Beal, having a forward who's a facilitator like Porter feels just right. The other player to watch carefully for the Wizards is Anthony Bennett. Sources say the Wizards also are very high on Bennett and could opt for his potent offensive game to expand their options at power forward. Sports illustrated (Otto Porter): Here's where things get fun. The Wizards need a small forward, and GM Ernie Grunfeld got a good look at the Hoyas' Porter all season long. Porter is a versatile forward with an excellent mid-range game. But UNLV's Anthony Bennett -- who is unable to work out for teams because of a shoulder surgery -- has monstrous potential at either forward spot. Pencil in Porter, a more traditional small forward, for now, but don't expect it to be an easy call. CBS Sports (Anthony Bennett): He's injured with a shoulder injury, but he's got far higher upside than Otto Porter. Bennett is a combo forward from Canada who can score both inside and out and can form with John Wall and Bradley Beal. NBADraft.net: The Jan Vesely experiement has not worked out leaving the door open to add local guy Otto Porter. Another local product Alex Len is a possibility. Porter made a very impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore seasons, showing no difficulty in becoming the leader of the team and winning Big East Player of the Year. Otto is about as low risk as it gets in this draft, however his ceiling isn't as great as some of the other top prospects. He's a relentless defender and a pro athlete, but it's unlikely that he will ever be an elite level scorer. He's very thin, but weight/strength shouldn't be an issue at the 3 position. He showed the ability to knock down key shots throughout his short college career. Despite a less than picture perfect jumpshot, he gets results. Porter's consistency and potential makes him a likely top 5 pick in this year's draft. And now, it's time for you guys to speak. Let's assume Nerlens Noel won't be available with the No. 3 pick. Who is your ideal draftee? Poll Who is your top choice for the Washington Wizards with the No. 3 pick (outside of Nerlens Noel)? Otto Porter Ben McLemore Anthony Bennett Victor Oladipo Alex Len Shabazz Muhammad

First post here guys so bear with me...... If McLemore is available at #2, I'd trade #3 and Beal for Orlando's #2 and their 2014 #1. I do this for two reasons: 1. In this draft I think that only two of the top five prospects has the proper size/skill match for an NBA position from day 1. And those two are McLemore (6'5 SG) and Porter (6'8 SF). 2. Out of those two, only one of them has elite NBA athleticism, and that's McLemore. When drafting in the top 5 you have to grab a player with elite athleticism. Beal, for as good as he played this year, is a very small NBA SG at 6'3. That hurts the Wiz on defense. If we add McLemore, that gives the Wiz a nightmare backcourt matchup on both ends of the floor. Arguably the most athletic backcourt in the league, and by all accounts McLemore jumpshot is as good as Beal's. Beal played well enough during his rookie campaing to make this deal realistic. The 2014 draft is supposed to be much stronger than this one and would give the Wiz the opportunity to add a big man with Orlando's sure to be lottery pick next year. Orlando does it because they can draft Trey Burke at #3 and add Beal. Overnight they've solidified their backcourt for years to come. First post here guys so bear with me...... If McLemore is available at #2, I'd trade #3 and Beal for Orlando's #2 and their 2014 #1. I do this for two reasons: 1. In this draft I think that only two of the top five prospects has the proper size/skill match for an NBA position from day 1. And those two are McLemore (6'5 SG) and Porter (6'8 SF). 2. Out of those two, only one of them has elite NBA athleticism, and that's McLemore. When drafting in the top 5 you have to grab a player with elite athleticism. Beal, for as good as he played this year, is a very small NBA SG at 6'3. That hurts the Wiz on defense. If we add McLemore, that gives the Wiz a nightmare backcourt matchup on both ends of the floor. Arguably the most athletic backcourt in the league, and by all accounts McLemore jumpshot is as good as Beal's. Beal played well enough during his rookie campaing to make this deal realistic. The 2014 draft is supposed to be much stronger than this one and would give the Wiz the opportunity to add a big man with Orlando's sure to be lottery pick next year. Orlando does it because they can draft Trey Burke at #3 and add Beal. Overnight they've solidified their backcourt for years to come.

In his latest column, the Washington Post's Mike Wise tries to make the case that the Wizards should trade the number 3 pick in the 2013 draft. Sure, the Wiz could land Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo, Wise reasons, but neither player is a sure bet to contribute significantly to a playoff run for Washington next season. For this reason, Wise suggests the Wiz should trade the pick for an "established veteran." I'm not opposed to trading the pick if we can get a player who can help the Wizards become a title contender, but I don't know who they could legitimately trade the pick for that could actually do that. My bigger problem with Wise's column is that he argues against acquiring an asset that can make the team better in the future in order to get a veteran who can help them make the playoffs now. "Postseason or bust," Wise writes, clarifying that this veteran should help the team reach the second round for the first time since 2005. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reaching the second round, but only because it's necessary to stop on the way to the Conference Finals then the NBA Finals. Having the second round as a goal is idiotic. Sure, I'd much rather see the Wiz make the playoffs than land in the lottery year after year, but the ultimate goal is to take a crack at a championship, and any move that doesn't aim for that as a goal is a bad move in my book. In his latest column, the Washington Post's Mike Wise tries to make the case that the Wizards should trade the number 3 pick in the 2013 draft. Sure, the Wiz could land Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo, Wise reasons, but neither player is a sure bet to contribute significantly to a playoff run for Washington next season. For this reason, Wise suggests the Wiz should trade the pick for an "established veteran." I'm not opposed to trading the pick if we can get a player who can help the Wizards become a title contender, but I don't know who they could legitimately trade the pick for that could actually do that. My bigger problem with Wise's column is that he argues against acquiring an asset that can make the team better in the future in order to get a veteran who can help them make the playoffs now. "Postseason or bust," Wise writes, clarifying that this veteran should help the team reach the second round for the first time since 2005. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reaching the second round, but only because it's necessary to stop on the way to the Conference Finals then the NBA Finals. Having the second round as a goal is idiotic. Sure, I'd much rather see the Wiz make the playoffs than land in the lottery year after year, but the ultimate goal is to take a crack at a championship, and any move that doesn't aim for that as a goal is a bad move in my book.

Emperor Ernie Grunfeld, more formally known as Washington’s Team President of Basketball Operations, discusses the ever-evolving process, which is more NeverEnding Story (the movie) and less Law & Order (an episode). Grunfeld also reveals that the Cleveland Cavaliers actually won twice. After winning the first pick, Cleveland also won the third pick, so they had to re-draw and Washington’s combination came up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcvktpKoJu8 Here is a secret of the NBA Draft Lottery, which, by revealing, will result in me being sequestered, along with the ping pong ball machine, for the next calendar year with only a representative from Ernst & Young for company. My general assumption was that the NBA took a commercial break before announcing the top three picks to build drama for the audience watching at home. This is true and effective to a large degree, but the real reason they take that commercial break is so that the assembled media hoard can descend three flights of stairs, run across the street under the escort of New York’s finest, and get cordoned off in the basement of the studio in which the show is taking place. It was there, surrounded by machinery lifts, cameras that have been put out to pasture, and around 100 sweating reporters, that I learned that the Wizards had won the third pick in the lottery. You are then escorted into a freight elevator and unleashed upon the stage where you push your way to your interviewee of choice. You see the weirdest sights on the draft floor, such as Flip Saunders having an extremely candid and friendly talk with Ernie Grunfeld, Damian Lillard looking for every possible escape route, and the spawn of Dan Gilbert lapping up the attention. (Other members of the Gilbert brood looked visibly annoyed that their youngest sibling has become the human horseshoe and the only thing worth talking about on draft night.) [image via Sean Fagan]I’m not sure sure if of this means anything, other than the way in which I saw the future of the Washington Wizards swing in the most surreal way possible: stuck in a basement with other men sweating through their suits. I thought about the Truth About It.net Viewing Party that was going on at the same time in D.C. and wished for a second that I was there drinking with my colleagues, rather than working through a scuffle only to have Ernie Grunfeld duck and dodge my questions. Reading through the day-after assessments, it seems that many scribes are high on the prospect of drafting Otto Porter and keeping the young Georgetown product in D.C. for the next several years. However, I couldn’t help but think back to my discussion with Bradley Beal earlier in the night about Martell Webster and Beal’s opinion that the Wizards had to resign him, not only for his basketball prowess, but also for Webster’s leadership. The takeaway from the draft is that this particular selection has put the Wizards in a situation that is going to make someone unhappy at the end of the day. If they draft Porter, they make the Georgetown faithful happy, but alienate those fans (and possibly players) who have come to love the contributions of Webster. Reach for another player, perhaps a must-needed, next generation big man, and you risk incurring the wrath of another Jan Vesely and getting the #SoWizards tag added to another acquisition in the legacy. Trade the pick and everyone over the age of 20 gets flashbacks to the ill-fated trade for Mike Miller and Randy Foye. The more I think about it, the more this particular draft position is a lose-lose for the Wizards, because someone at the end of the day is going to have the Randy Wittman Face, i.e., #WittmanFace. Or maybe that’s just the basement dust talking. ————->> Real Deal Beal? [What the world wants to know: will Bradley Beal ever wear that neck-tie again?] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvvBfAvsDPM {videos via Sean Fagan}