March 10, 2012 Pick-and-Pop: Wizards Deadline Edition
**Pick-and-Pop is a segment in which Bohlin and Willis will both tackle a set of questions, often with naturally differing opinions.
1.) Should the Wizards try to trade JaVale McGee?
Bohlin: Javale- You have to try and gauge the trade market for him. The fact of the matter is he possesses a unique athletic ability that not many other centers have. However, when do you need to see that transition from potential to results? I’m not a Javale McGee guy, I have no problem admitting that. He is also heading into free agency this summer (restricted) and it is quite likely he will command a major pay raise from his rookie contract. Can the Wizards really afford to lock up a player long term that hasn’t shown he can display consistent performance when we’re in the middle of a rebuild? I don’t think we can; just look at how that is currently working out with Andray Blatche. His athletic ability may be off the charts but his basketball IQ is severely lacking (http://deadspin.com/5887925/the-best-and-very-very-worst-of-javale-mcgee-a-video-tribute).
Willis: That video, while hilariously embarrassing, is exactly why I want to keep JaVale. Sure, he’s got the basketball IQ of a space chimp, but he also still has tons of upside. McGee can wow you every play down the court, for good and bad reasons. He has improved every single year he’s been in the league (statistically, and in his understanding of the game), and there’s no reason why he isn’t going to keep up that improvement. After all, he’s still only 24 years old. Centers take awhile, and when we drafted him we knew he would be a project. Well, we’ve already gone to Lowe’s, let’s just finish the job. The reality is that a competent center is very, very hard to come by and we would lament losing him with absolutely 0 backups on the roster. And while JaVale might not be competent, he does average about 3 blocks a game, and, contrary to popular belief, can rebound relatively well. I cite the example of Tyson Chandler, who plays almost exactly like JaVale. For 8 years, he couldn’t find the right fit and was considered “dumb”. Then last year he landed in Dallas and, through shot blocking, rebounding, and finally understanding basketball, became the anchor for a championship defense. JaVale is already better than Tyson, and it’s why we need to keep him.
2.) Should we trade Andray Blatche or Amnesty Clause him at the end of the year?
Bohlin: Personally, I think there is absolutely no trade market for All-Day ‘Dray. His calf injury that kept him out of the lineup for the better part of a month and a half really diminished whatever value he may have had. No one is going to trade for a player that hasn’t been on the court, not to mention his underwhelming performances when he has played. Andray needs to play out this season for the Wizards, and try to have something positive going for him. Blatche clearly needs a change of scenery, as he has fallen so far out of favor in the District that he hears boo birds when he signs autographs. If he doesn’t turn it around in the second half and make himself even somewhat desirable to other franchises so that he can be moved in a deal, the Wizards need to amnesty him. This rebuild cannot move forward and this franchise cannot be built around John Wall if Blatche continues to be a part of this organization.
Willis: Andray is like a vestigial organ, left over from the Arenas era of Wizards history and now functionally useless. Unlike JaVale, he is a failed home project. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! The same guy who managed to trick Orlando into taking Gilbert Arenas off of our hands, Ernie Grunfeld, can still make a shady move at the deadline to dump him off. GM’s are constantly making stupid moves, and last I checked the New Orleans Hornets were starting Gustavo Ayon (WHO?!) at the 4. You don’t think Andray would be an upgrade over that? Heck, if we could pry Antawn back from Cleveland in a package deal for Nick Young and ‘Dray I’d be happy. The Wizards could use a veteran presence, and Antawn is a leader of men.
Worst-case scenario, we keep Andray until the off-season and Amnesty Clause him. But the problem in that is the same problem, albeit on a laughably smaller scale, that Orlando will have with Dwight Howard if they don’t trade him at the deadline. Anything, one could argue, is better than nothing. That’s what we’d get if we kept Andray; recognition of failure.
3.) Is Jan Vesely on the table for a trade?
Bohlin: Jan Vesely has little to no trade value; he is clearly a project on the offensive end of the floor. He has displayed improvement as the season has progressed, but Jan still has a long way to go before he is even deemed as someone worth guarding. The fact of the matter is Vesely is still a rookie. A rookie we thought highly enough to take with the 6th overall pick. If he continues to develop his offensive game, Jan will be a difference maker on this team going forward. He already plays more inspired defense than 95% of our roster and frankly that makes him a piece that is quite valuable to this team.
Willis: We agree here. It would be stupid to get rid of Jan, given that we haven’t even given him a chance to shine. But stupid is the Wizards’ M.O. ! As far as I’m concerned, Jan is the only player on this roster (aside from John Wall) who hasn’t done something in this league to diminish his trade value. Most NBA GM’s probably haven’t been keeping tabs on his play, thus might be convinced to believe he could still be a lottery pick with tons of promise. I was in the Vesely camp when he smooched with his girlfriend on draft night, but once I saw him on the court I realized that he is nowhere near what the Wizards need at this point in time. What good is a role player on a team with no stars?
4.) What should the Wizards do/who are some prospects to go after?
Bohlin: If I may put on my GM hat for a moment, I would try and do anything and everything I could to move Javale McGee and Nick Young. The duo that also goes by the aliases of “Pierre” and “Swaggy P,” contribute to the knucklehead mentality that needs to be eliminated from this locker room. Unfortunately, I am not convinced Ernie’s job is safe enough where he would attempt to make some sort of deal centered around those two. Nick is a UFA in the off-season and will almost certainly leave DC, why not try and move him now for assets that will help in the future? I really believe that McGee and Young present the only players on this roster not named John Wall that have any trade value whatsoever. Ernie Grunfeld needs to be working the phones nonstop until the deadline, talking to any GM that will field his calls trying to unload these two.
Personally, I’d like to see him put the “full court press” on attempting to acquire DeMarcus Cousins from the Kings. Reuniting him with John Wall would put the Wizards in a position to compete sooner rather than later. Cousins would present the Wiz Kids with a true post presence that could throw his weight around on both ends of the floor. His arsenal of post moves in just his second season already surpasses what McGee has proven he is capable of. Wall and Cousins have a distinct connection that goes beyond the court and more times than not, when that’s the case the relationship translates to success on the hardwood.
Willis: Agreement on Nick Young, not so much JaVale. I think Nick Young is probably the reason that JaVale is a knucklehead. I think he’s a good kid who can be rehabbed, like children who grew up in gangs. As for DeMarcus Cousins, I don’t buy into the Wall-Cousins combination. You want to get rid of a knucklehead in exchange for perhaps the biggest culprit of ridiculousness since Derrick Coleman? DeMarcus would absolutely trash this team, and I think he’s overrated as a big man. How does a 6’11 big man shoot worse than Chris Paul, Monta Elllis, and Lou Williams?
If I had to try and pick up a big man, I’d look to the dearth of talent sitting in Minnesota. Why not try to nab Anthony Randolph from the Wolves? Last year when he filled in for Kevin Love (who went down with an injury), he absolutely lit it up. He’s one of the best kept secrets in the NBA, and one in which the Wizards might be able to get for cheap. It’d make our team a ton better.
We could even try to snag Mike Beasley from them, as the Timberwolves could use an actual two-guard instead of the dual PG role of Rubio and Ridnour. And given that Rubio just went down with a big time knee injury that could keep him out for awhile, the Wolves and GM David Khan might just make a desperate move for talent (Jordan Crawford, Nick Young).
Tags: Anthony Randolph, Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, JaVale McGee, John Wall, Jordan Crawford, Khan, Nick Young, Washington Wizards, Wizards
- 6 comments
- Posted under Washington Wizards
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Smintyfresh
said
I would disagree with your argument on Chandler’s ascension Willis. The fact is Chandler played very well in New Orleans for the Hornets with Chris Paul for several years and was widely regarded a top center there before the Mavericks pilfered him. Give McGee a star pick n roll PG who is not overrated like John Wall, along with a little maturity, and you may see similar results.
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thedcdime
said
Having a pre-acl injury David West paired with Chandler in the front court was a major factor in his success in N.O. as well IMO. A Booker/Blatche combination doesn’t demand the same type of attention on the defensive end as West did during his days in N.O. with CP3 and Chandler, or his time in Dallas with Dirk for that matter.
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Smintyfresh
said
The fact that the only real talent we have is at the 5 and 1 positions don’t really help, I’d agree.Wall is like the 15th best PG in the league – so atleast he would start for half of teams.
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theStretch4fromBrooklyn
said
I am going to save my full analysis of this post till later, but I want to start off by making a general comment about teams involved in a rebuilding process. As much as stock-piling hoards of young talent is the best way to assure that your team will be successful in the long run, this has only proven to be successful in a handful of scenarios. Every rebuilding team wants to be the Oklahoma City Thunder right now. Let’s keep drafting lottery picks, keep them on the roster, and eventually they will all progress until we have a playoff contender. Seems simple, right? But not everyone gets to have the chips fall like OKC did. Player progression isn’t simply throwing the young guys out there for 36 minutes a night and watch them become stars over a three year period. There is so much more going on. Team chemistry, coaching, and personalities all factor significantly in the development of a young talent. The Wiz right now are a prime example of a team which has not done enough to create the appropriate atmosphere around their young players to have them develop into winners.
What should they do? theStretch4fromBrooklyn will sound off when he returns to the Dime later on…
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thedcdime
said
The Wizards have always been similar to that. The OKC model doesn’t work, but the young guy model isn’t exactly the worst one either. Memphis traded away Pau Gasol for Marc, drafted OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gay. Not to mention almost everyone else on their roster. Only a good team until they picked up Zach Randolph in free agency, who put them over the top into a contender. Atlanta comes to mind in drafting solid talent and adding a piece or two via free agency. Minnesota fiiinnaallllyyyy managed to do something positive.
Certainly, there are disasters like Sacramento, Golden State. But what also seems to be a viable model for success is drafting a young core (not mismanaging the picks like the Wizards have recently with bad players) as the foundation, building that foundation up, and filling in when necessary.
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theStretch4fromBrooklyn
said
So I had said that I would give a fully exhaustive run-down on what moves I think the Wiz should make this week, but I have been busy and will only be able to make a rough outline of Brooklyn Stretch 4′s suggested rebuild.
First, looking at the Wiz, it needs to be decided who are “keepers”, who are “movers”, and who fall in between and therefore, by default, are movers.
I think the Wiz can really only say that Wall is a keeper but even as a write this I am reminded how over-valued the point guard position is in the league, and how there really are between 15-20 “good” point guards. As Willis pointed out earlier, its kind of deflating to realize the “cornerstone” of this team might only be a starter on half the other teams in the league. But were gonna put that aside! The kid can play, he is a freak athletically, and unlike some of the other point guards we know can get the job done, he has a glass ceiling up in the stratosphere. So lets call Mr. Wall a keeper.
As for movers, I think its obvious that the whole rest of the team could fall in this category. It would be ridiculous to say 2011 Lottery pick Jan Vesely is an “untouchable”, and I would even beg to suggest he should be shopped like a basket of pastries thats been sitting out for a day and a half. They look delicious, and maybe if we spread some more frosting on them we can get back a pretty penny, but when that customer takes their first bite… nothing but overdrafted euro big man with no touch. The three ring circus that is Nick Young and JaVale McGee have been well documented on thedcdime, so I won’t get in to too much detail except to say GOLD HAS ALREADY PEAKED! YOU NEED TO SELL SELL SELL!!! YOU ARE GOING TO BE LEFT HOLDING A PORTFOLIO OF WORTHLESS, SHINY METAL! DUNK CONTESTS AND 35 POINT OUTBURSTS DO NOT EQUAL WINS! Well, now that I’m done screaming like Jim Cramer, lets get towards what I believe are some good moves for the Wiz moving forward.
John Wall is the type of player who, as he continues to develop, will feel most comfortable with the ball in his hands. This is not rocket science. What comes along with a point guard like this, however, is harder than most fans realize. The Wiz would go a long way if they can match Wall up with floor-stretching players. With shooters in the rotation, the Wiz can spread defenses out and allow Wall to initiate the offense 1-on-1 with his defender. Using his superior speed he can break down said defender, and put the defense on its heels playing catch up as the ball is swung around. Finding these types of players is running saga in the NBA. There are very few “pure” shooters in the league, and even fewer of which can do the other things necessary to be on the floor 36 minutes a night. But what they provide is so valuable that every year around this time in the season you hear about contenders willing to make ridiculous trades to bring one in a put them over the top. Like a defense anchoring big man, a starter-quality shooter does not grow on trees.
Before I move further with this thought, it is appropriate to point something out. In this years upcoming draft there are, miraculously, a handful of “defense anchoring” bigs who will be available in the lottery and could be the cornerstone of a young team moving forward. Two stand out at the top of mock draft boards: Anthony Davis (Kentucky) and Andre Drummond (UConn). With the 2nd worst record in the NBA at 9-30, whatever I suggest in the following paragraphs will hinge on a big risk: that the Wiz will continue to tank and be able to draft one of these two players with either the first or second pick.
With a young, defense anchoring center moving in to play the 5 this offseason, I think the Wiz should do anything they can to make a move to land a floor-stretching big man to play the 4. This type of player can’t be the type that operates in the lane. This would get in the way of Drummond/Davis, as well Johnny Wall slashing to the basket. Who fits this bill? Ryan Anderson of the Orlando Magic. The guy is the best 3-point shooter in the game not named Steve Novak, but unlike Novakaine he can play 36 minutes a night. He can put the ball on the floor a bit, play some defense, and rebound at surprising rate. I also personally believe he is going to get better. At 23 years old he has a lot of life left to cure some of his weaknesses, and he has the drive and basketball IQ to get those things done. A core of Drummond/Davis, Anderson, and Wall is a step in the right direction. We have already seen Anderson play well with a defensive-anchoring big who can make up for his average defense.
Why would Orlando do this? With Dwight Howard on the way out, and the rest of the team’s core being veteran “win now” guys, it is clear that team needs to be buyers of youth and sellers of age. They also will have a whole at center that needs to be filled. Anderson is a young player, but if the Wiz offered JaVale, Nick Young, and Jordan Crawford for Anderson and Hedo Turk, they might just bite on that. Taking back Turkoglu wouldn’t even hurt as much as people think, for having a veteran like that working with Vesely is what the team needs for that young project.
What about Blatche? Where does he fit in the whole spectrum? I think a starting lineup of Wall, [insert run-of-mill free agent 2 guard], Turkoglu, Anderson, Drummond/Davis doesn’t leave room for All-Day ‘Dray. But what that starting lineup does offer is a glaring hole for a free agent swingman to fill. Amnestying ‘Dray would give the team the cap-flexibility to offer [way too much] money to a guy like Nicolas Batum or Wilson Chandler (if he doesn’t get signed mid-season). A guy like these two would offer a slashing scorer who can defend multiple positions and still keep defenders honest from long range. They also will be the much-needed perimeter defender on the one-named guys like LeBron, ‘Melo, Kobe, and Co.
If at this point next year the Wiz are playing with John Wall, Nic Batum, Hedo Turk, Ryan Anderson, and Andre Drummond then I think the future would be bright for this team. 4 starters under 24 years old, each with ceilings not yet reached, and a small forward in Hedo who would be knocking down jumpers and clearing 11 million off the books when he leaves after the following year – offering the team more cap space to re-sign its young talent and bring in rotation guys to plug the holes.