Future of the Wizards

[NAHSTE]

Good read from Zach Lowe on how this historically #trash franchise can ensure it becomes less #trash moving forward. Personally, I think they still gonna be #trash but this is a fascinating look at the possibilitehs.

http://grantland.com/features/the-washington-school-of-witchcraft-and-wizardry/

[Argath]

Good read.

I hope the Wizards don't blow their entire cap on bringing back Gortat and Ariza, I'd rather see stop gaps until the Summer of Durant

[Slateman]

Maybe Gortat, but Ariza seems like the kind of player that will start to fade soon. I think they're obligated to sign Gortat simply because they're giving up a first round pick for him.

I'm more interested to know if Otto Porter Jr is going to do anything or if he's another Ernie bust.

[Argath]

Maybe Gortat, but Ariza seems like the kind of player that will start to fade soon. I think they're obligated to sign Gortat simply because they're giving up a first round pick for him.

I'm more interested to know if Otto Porter Jr is going to do anything or if he's another Ernie bust.

Don't agree with that. Wizards management were up front from Day 1 about that trade, they wanted to make the playoffs this year. Solely so they can justify raising ticket prices next year (this is the last year of the price freeze from when Ted took over the team). They accomplished that. Let's not cripple our cap for the next 4 years and miss out on a bunch of high potential FAs for Gortat.

If they can bring him on for less than $5-6 million a year, I would 100% be behind it, but I think at this point with how he's playing that's near impossible. Not to mention Gortat supposedly isn't fond of DC to begin with (due to the pot holes in the city of all reasons )

[Point Blank]

They need to work on their bench.

[Sportsbuck]

This has been true ever since he came into the league, but if Wall works on his jumper, he can be deadly. He'll never be a sharpshooter, but he needs to be able to keep defenders honest. He looks very uncomfortable when he's not attacking the paint.

I'm also still pissed at the Horncats for picking MKG over Beal two years ago. I wanted Beal badly.

[Slateman]

Don't agree with that. Wizards management were up front from Day 1 about that trade, they wanted to make the playoffs this year. Solely so they can justify raising ticket prices next year (this is the last year of the price freeze from when Ted took over the team). They accomplished that. Let's not cripple our cap for the next 4 years and miss out on a bunch of high potential FAs for Gortat.

If they can bring him on for less than $5-6 million a year, I would 100% be behind it, but I think at this point with how he's playing that's near impossible. Not to mention Gortat supposedly isn't fond of DC to begin with (due to the pot holes in the city of all reasons )

Didn't think Gortat would play as well as he did. I don't see how he comes back for so little. But he does seem to like the team.

It's not a real good idea to hope for players that will hit free agency in the future. Who's to say that they won't sign extensions? I'd love for Durant to come to DC, but OKC isn't going to let him just walk.

This has been true ever since he came into the league, but if Wall works on his jumper, he can be deadly. He'll never be a sharpshooter, but he needs to be able to keep defenders honest. He looks very uncomfortable when he's not attacking the paint.

I'm also still pissed at the Horncats for picking MKG over Beal two years ago. I wanted Beal badly.

Wall did work on his jumper. It's about as good as it's going to get.

[Guest]

Don't agree with that. Wizards management were up front from Day 1 about that trade, they wanted to make the playoffs this year. Solely so they can justify raising ticket prices next year (this is the last year of the price freeze from when Ted took over the team). They accomplished that. Let's not cripple our cap for the next 4 years and miss out on a bunch of high potential FAs for Gortat.

If they can bring him on for less than $5-6 million a year, I would 100% be behind it, but I think at this point with how he's playing that's near impossible. Not to mention Gortat supposedly isn't fond of DC to begin with (due to the pot holes in the city of all reasons )

Question for you then. Would you let some of the key support talent walk away and not replace them (or replace them with lower cost/lower talent payers) and chance not making the playoffs next season? I'm always torn on that question when looking at similar teams, no matter which sport we are talking about.

[Argath]

Didn't think Gortat would play as well as he did. I don't see how he comes back for so little. But he does seem to like the team.

It's not a real good idea to hope for players that will hit free agency in the future. Who's to say that they won't sign extensions? I'd love for Durant to come to DC, but OKC isn't going to let him just walk.

Both players are ~30 and are not getting any better. This team isn't good enough to win a championship right now, it needs to improve. I think we can definitely get younger talent with more potential through FA especially with the Wall/Beal combo in the back court. I'd rather not settle for round 1 or 2 flameouts in the playoffs every year ie Atlanta Hawks ( nahste)

Question for you then. Would you let some of the key support talent walk away and not replace them (or replace them with lower cost/lower talent payers) and chance not making the playoffs next season? I'm always torn on that question when looking at similar teams, no matter which sport we are talking about.

I would. As stated above both Gortat and Ariza are as good as they're going to get. We all know they're not good enough to win the championship as is and they're more than a key bench player away from doing so which in itself would be hard to do if we bring these guys back at $10 million/year.


Let's also not forget we've already resigned Martell Webster for another 4 years and just drafted Otto Porter. The money that would go to Ariza would be better spent on depth, specifically in the post.

[Slateman]

Both players are ~30 and are not getting any better. This team isn't good enough to win a championship right now, it needs to improve. I think we can definitely get younger talent with more potential through FA especially with the Wall/Beal combo in the back court. I'd rather not settle for round 1 or 2 flameouts in the playoffs every year ie Atlanta Hawks ( nahste)




I would. As stated above both Gortat and Ariza are as good as they're going to get. We all know they're not good enough to win the championship as is and they're more than a key bench player away from doing so which in itself would be hard to do if we bring these guys back at $10 million/year.


Let's also not forget we've already resigned Martell Webster for another 4 years and just drafted Otto Porter. The money that would go to Ariza would be better spent on depth, specifically in the post.

But who is they can bring in? There aren't a lot of free agents that fit on this team and still keep it relatively young. Gortat leaves, you need a center. Spend big money on Greg Monroe or Chris Bosh? Move Nene to center and get another power forward?

Or is the goal for Teddy to raise prices, have another terrible season, get a lottery pick, and go all in for Kevin Durant with a monster contract?

[NAHSTE]

I'd rather not settle for round 1 or 2 flameouts in the playoffs every year ie Atlanta Hawks ( nahste) .

LOL at "settle" as if the Wiz have done so much better. Maybe you should try to qualify for the playoffs more than once before you start setting loftier goals, ya bish.

[Pitty]

Argath acting like Otto Porter will ever contribute meaningful minutes in the NBA.

[Argath]

But who is they can bring in? There aren't a lot of free agents that fit on this team and still keep it relatively young. Gortat leaves, you need a center. Spend big money on Greg Monroe or Chris Bosh? Move Nene to center and get another power forward?

Or is the goal for Teddy to raise prices, have another terrible season, get a lottery pick, and go all in for Kevin Durant with a monster contract?

They need to keep the cap flexibility for when these guys do become Free Agents though.

Greg Monroe this year. Kevin Love next year. Kevin Durant the year after. The chances of getting any of these guys may be slim, but they should easily be able to obtain guys of equal caliber to Ariza/Gortat while keeping the flexibility to go after those All-Star level players.

Just looking at the list:

2014:

Luol Deng
Greg Monroe
Chandler Parsons
Evan Turner
Pau Gasol
Zack Randolph
Chris Bosh



2015:

Al Jefferson
Carlos Boozer
Tristan Thompson
Anderson Varejao
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Randolph
Omer Asik
Roy Hibbert
Luis Scola
Deandre Jordan
Kevin Love
David West
Tyson Chandler
LaMarcus Aldridge
Kawhi Leonard
Enes Kanter


All of these guys are scheduled to hit FA this year or next and are just as good if not better than Ariza/Gortat. Obviously not all of these guys are going to actually become free agents, but surely the Wizards can at the least bring in a few of the lower tier as stop gaps on the cheap until they either lure a bigger name in through FA or luck out in the draft. I just don't want this team to get complacent with first and second round exits every year.


As I stated earlier, I would be all over bringing these guys back for $5-6 mill a year, but I don't want to see the Wizards put themselves in cap hell just to keep them.

[Argath]

LOL at "settle" as if the Wiz have done so much better. Maybe you should try to qualify for the playoffs more than once before you start setting loftier goals, ya bish.

The team currently as is would be a round 1 or 2 flameout every year

That was the point of that comment

[NAHSTE]

The team currently as is would be a round 1 or 2 flameout every year

That was the point of that comment

Which would be an improvement for such a historically terrible franchise. Enjoy harboring delusions that Durant is coming in two years, though. I'm sure the Knicks fans among us can give you some tips.