The Official Washington Basketball Thread: Wizards, Mystics etc

[CRobi21]

I like Dinwiddie as a player. But those injuries are concerning, especially for 25mil a year. And I love Harrell's energy and bulldog mentality. Not sure who is left out there but maybe sign a serviceable veteran PG and keep Kuzma and Harrell.

 

Don't know if he's ready for the starting 5, but Deni as a point forward intrigues me. Loved his playmaking ability last year when he wasn't stuck waiting for corner 3s.

 

 

Kispert's headband game is still strong.

Edited August 1, 2021 by CRobi21

[Hersh]

The Wiz simply do not have a plan. It's like after trading Westbrook, Shep was incapable of adjusting the draft strategy to focus on getting a PG/SG.

[Going Commando]

Oh I think Dinwiddie is the plan.  We just don't think it's a good one.

 

I'm watching his highlights and he's a good offensive player.  Tall, good footwork, skilled finisher with either hand plus he's strong playing through contact.  First step is decent and he's got a big stride to maneuver around you. He's also good at changing paces.  Definitely not shy about taking off the dribble threes, which is why his percentage from deep sucks.  Shot mechanics look variable, and none of his highlights seemed to come from off the ball.  Definitely more of a scorer than passer as a PG, but he is creative and can legitimately break down half court defenses off the dribble.  Seems pretty good in transition too.

 

He's admittedly a good player and would be the second best player on our team next season.  But the cost is too high.  And another thing I notice is that he's an awkward lander.  He comes down hard and unsteady with his weight over his knees on a lot of his jumps.  Looks like he's got bad biomechanics, and with two ACL injuries in his history, I don't think his knee issues are just flukes.  I could see them following him on his next contract for sure.

 

Trading Kuzma and Harrell for him and giving up a big contract feels an awful lot like the classic mistake of trading big and young and healthy for small and older and injured.

[justice98]

4 hours ago, Hersh said:

The Wiz simply do not have a plan. It's like after trading Westbrook, Shep was incapable of adjusting the draft strategy to focus on getting a PG/SG.

 

I think it's a little premature to say they don't have a plan, merely because they didn't do something at the draft.  Free agency hasn't even started yet.  The option for more wheeling and dealing is still very much in play.  Because it's not blatantly obvious to the fan doesn't mean they don't have a plan.  We just don't know what it is. 

 

Personally, I don't think Shep is overly concerned about next season.  They're not contenders no matter what they woulda done.  He'll put something together to probably be as good as they were last season, but whatever he's thinking seems longer term.  Current state of contracts, they're gonna clear $80-90 mil off the books in 2 years and have only 2-3 players who will be under contract (Bertans, Rui on a team option, and maybe Kuzma on a player option).  If they can get Beal to stay, they'll have room to get 2 stars in here if that's what they wanna try and do. Or even if they part with Beal, that's another route to re-stock assets.  They gave themselves options, after the cap jail they were just in.

 

Edit: I guess Kispert and whatever the future draft picks will be in that under contract scenario, assuming they keep the picks.  It's still not a lot though.

Edited August 1, 2021 by justice98

[TradeTheBeal!]

 

[Renegade7]

Thank God, save us from ourselves.

[Going Commando]

2 for 20 per is a way better deal.  I think he holds out for more.

 

Why would the Thunder sign him though?  They are trying to tank and they have a better combo guard in Gilgeous-Alexander.

[Going Commando]

2 minutes ago, Renegade7 said:

Thank God, save us from ourselves.

 2 years 20 per is a whole different animal than 5 for 25.  2 years means the money comes off in Beal's last walk year.

 

I read this from John Hollinger: https://theathletic.com/2713807/2021/08/02/2021-nba-free-agency-point-guard-rankings-by-bord-chris-paul-kyle-lowry-top-a-deep-field/?source=dailyemail

 

Quote

If you’re looking for a point guard, you chose the right year. As many as 10 starting-caliber point guards could be available in free agency, depending on options, including one surefire Hall of Famer, two recent All-Stars and a former MVP. The market has quality at almost every level too, with several quality backups also hitting free agency this summer.

 

So Chris Paul is a free agent.  He would be the perfect player for us to get, but I have no idea how you create the cap space to do it.

[Commander -JB-]

The problem is nobody will ever sign with the Wizards.  You either get drafted here or traded here.  Nobody aside from Gilbert Arenas would ever choose to be here over somewhere else.  Unless the Wiz absolutely overpay.

 

Even if the Wiz had the $ to sign Chris Paul why would he sign here?  He just played in the NBA Finals.  

Edited August 2, 2021 by -JB-

[Going Commando]

FWIW, Hollinger projects Dinwiddie's value at 3 years for 40 million total.  That feels like what he should get in a rational market, but Dinwiddie's is out of whack if OKC is going 2 for 40 and he was gunning for 5 for 125 lol.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

 

[Going Commando]

What about Alex Caruso?  Great defensive player and the Lakers don't need him any more.  Probably a MLE contract at the absolute best, so we don't need cap space for him.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

 

[Ball Security]

4 minutes ago, BRAVEONAWARPATH said:

 

Trading for Brogdon intrigues me.  I really like his game.

[Going Commando]

Lol Brave beat me to the punch on Caruso.

 

I have always liked Brogdon.  2 years left on his deal and he is a high quality offensive player.  Weak defender though, and he's going to take assets to get.  I guess it would have to depend on what Indy was asking for in return.

That Lakers take about three teaming a S&T for Caruso makes no sense unless we're not looking to use the MLE on Caruso.  The full MLE is the absolute most Caruso would be able to get in a deep PG market.  He's a back up and a hustle player/defensive specialist with a limited offensive game.

[abdcskins]

I'd rather have Brogdon over Dinwiddie or Caruso.

[CRobi21]

Caruso is a 2 isn't he? Good backup for Beal, and a great defender. Still need that PG1.

 

Could we afford Brogdon & Caruso? That would make for a damn solid roster.

Edited August 2, 2021 by CRobi21

[Renegade7]

Got my eye on Lonzo Ball.

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/why-lonzo-ball-would-be-good-option-wizards-point-guard

[method man]

Lonzo doesn't penetrate well so that is going to limit his range of assist opportunities. However, he has developed a shot and is a good defender. He also continues to improve.

 

He is probably my favorite of the bunch

[Going Commando]

1 hour ago, CRobi21 said:

Caruso is a 2 isn't he? Good backup for Beal, and a great defender. Still need that PG1.

 

Could we afford Brogdon & Caruso? That would make for a damn solid roster.

 

We'll have to trade for Brogdon.  He's under contract for two more years, so we'd have to match salaries to get him, meaning he wouldn't increase the net cap of our roster.  Just have to be willing to give up assets for him.

 

We can afford Caruso unless he commands more than the MLE for some reason.  That would price him out of our reach.

 

We're currently over the cap by about 4 million, but have about 20 million until we hit the luxury tax I think.  That gives us the ability to use the MLE and BAE without hitting the tax.  That trade exception we got from the Westbrook deal would probably put us over if we used our other two exceptions, so we'd have to shed some salary to use all three tools.

[Hersh]

Any trade for Brogdon would likely have to include multiple firsts to go along with matching salaries. They aren’t gonna dump him for nothing. 

[Ball Security]

15 minutes ago, Hersh said:

Any trade for Brogdon would likely have to include multiple firsts to go along with matching salaries. They aren’t gonna dump him for nothing. 

I was surprised to see him in the trade rumors.  They are going to do some movement with Turner and perhaps others.  So who knows how’ll that shake out with them. If we have to give up multiple firsts, I’d rather see what it’d take to get Fox out Sacramento.

[method man]

With Cleveland getting Rubio, I wonder what it would take to pry Garland, who was showing signs last year. Sexton is on the block but I want no part of him

[Destino]

I can’t recall Sexton on a basketball court.  Im sure I’ve seen him play but I have no memory of it.  His numbers suggest he scores it well enough, but he doesn’t seem to do much of anything else.  I can’t really say what I think of him.

 

My problem with Lonzo is that he’s a Jack of all trades.  He can shoot, but not off the bounce.  He’s a spot up shooter that needs plenty of room.  He can generate assists, but can’t penetrate to create opportunities.  He can defend, but isn’t a stopper.  He can score, but not in iso situations.  
 

Guys that eat up a huge chunk of the cap have to have some elite skill.  Some ability to impose their will.  Lonzo doesn’t seem to have that.  Maybe he’ll develop something but, to me anyway, it isn’t obvious what that will be.  
 

 

[method man]

55 minutes ago, Destino said:

I can’t recall Sexton on a basketball court.  Im sure I’ve seen him play but I have no memory of it.  His numbers suggest he scores it well enough, but he doesn’t seem to do much of anything else.  I can’t really say what I think of him.

 

My problem with Lonzo is that he’s a Jack of all trades.  He can shoot, but not off the bounce.  He’s a spot up shooter that needs plenty of room.  He can generate assists, but can’t penetrate to create opportunities.  He can defend, but isn’t a stopper.  He can score, but not in iso situations.  
 

Guys that eat up a huge chunk of the cap have to have some elite skill.  Some ability to impose their will.  Lonzo doesn’t seem to have that.  Maybe he’ll develop something but, to me anyway, it isn’t obvious what that will be.  
 

 

 

I hear you. Lonzo is an average to slightly above average starter that isn't an all star. The hope is that he is young enough and has shown improvement over his career thus far (couldn't shoot coming into the league and is now a solid 3 point shooter for example).

 

I really do think the best option is to trade for a PG with a team that has a glut (Fox and Garland being examples). If Charlotte signs Lonzo, then Rozier should be obtainable (he has one year left on his inflated deal).