thedcdime

By: Willis

The Wizards haven’t really made too many big summertime splashes into free agency lately, and for good reason; after Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards have become a bit gun-shy (pun definitely intended). Hibachi schadenfreude aside, after going over the list of 2012 free agents, there are a few moves that could be made which might be sneaky pickups for the Wizards.

The three biggest faults that Washington has are at shooting guard, small forward, and on defense. Because we can address one of these needs through the draft, the logical move would be to pick up a free agent target to shore up another spot. Since we can’t know who the Wizards will draft just yet, we can only compile a list of potentially palatable players. So without further ado, here is that list:

Shooting Guards

1.) Eric Gordon – Restricted FA – New Orleans – I know, I know. Didn’t I just get done ranting about giving lofty contracts to injury-plagued players? Yes, Eric Gordon has missed the majority of his year with the New Orleans Hornets (courtesy of David Stern) due to a knee injury, but he remains the best shooting guard in the class. He’s on this list because he appears healthy (he just scored 31 points against San Antonio), and his game is not predicated on phenomenal athleticism. Gordon is an effective (albeit slightly overrated) shooter at the 2-position, and he’s as solid as they come. He’s got enough of a 3 point shot to keep defenses honest, and he’s not the worst defender ever. Sure he’s a little undersized, but when he’s healthy (never played a full season), he’s an incredibly gifted scorer. He is restricted, so he is likely to command a large price tag for his talents to come to Southeast.

2.) O.J. Mayo – Restricted FA – Memphis – People probably don’t remember this, but it was only 3 short years ago that Mr. Mayo was averaging 18.5 PPG for Memphis as a rookie and playing some damn good all around basketball to the point where he was considered a ROY candidate. Since then, his play has gone completely downhill and he’s been overshadowed by fellow draftees Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love. That’s not even half the list, actually, but that doesn’t mean you can blame O.J. this time! He’s been relegated to the bench in Memphis to bolster a second unit in need of a creating presence. But that’s not his game, and he’s got the talent to be a starter. In fact, he may even be a safer pickup than Gordon. His game would be fairly well tailored for the Wizards offense, and he’d benefit greatly from a point guard like John Wall (he’s a 37% career shooter from deep). Downside: Memphis may want to keep him. But his production has dropped off so much that they might be better off cutting their ties.

Sleeper 3.) Jodie Meeks – Restricted FA – Philadelphia – Didn’t this guy play at Kentucky before Calipari came? You’re darn right he did, and they were just not that good. Jodie Meeks was, however! At least when it came to scoring. That has nothing to do with the NBA, and yet it does. He was talented scorer who scouts saw as one-dimensional coming out of college. And while he still is a bit of a tweener at a generous 6’4, he can be had for cheap and he can still score (See: His 31 point performance vs. Washington this year). Meeks has seen his minutes go up significantly this year, and that’s because he has found the one thing he was notorious for in college: the long ball, baby (he once made 10 three’s in a game). He’d be a nice piece for the Wizards, assuming the 76ers aren’t going to throw money at him.

Small Forwards

Yes, Gerald Wallace is in this class, so is Grant Hill, but neither of these players at their age are good for Washington. We’ve learned our lesson. There are only two options here..

1.) Nicolas Batum – Restricted FA – Portland – Were the Wizards to get Nic Batum, they’d be grabbing another young Frenchman to play alongside fellow countryman Kevin Seraphin. I’m not sure the Blazers are going to be willing to give up on Batum, who has had his best year so far as a pro (14 PPG, 4.6 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal). He does it all, but he does it all inconsistently night in and night out. He’s got the most upside of any small forward in this free agency class, and he’s a 40% shooter from deep. There are going to be a lot of suitors bidding for his services, and he may just be a tad too pricey for the Wizards. That being said, if Batum were to leave, he’d be a huge boon at the 3, as he plays great defense and has exceptional length for a 6’8 guy.

2.) Michael Beasley/Anthony Randolph – These two guys don’t even really play small forward, and they both come with the same baggage: inconsistency. Beasley is a local, lovable, stoner who has all the basketball talent in the world, but has absolutely no interest in defense. He wants the ball, and he wants to score. Anthony Randolph could presumably play any position on the floor, but he isn’t the smartest basketball player in the world. Randolph did manage to fill in very admirably for Kevin Love when he went down last year, but he has fallen out of coaches favor everywhere he goes. A freak athlete and a stoner, both can ball, both have huge upsides; both need to put it all together elsewhere.

Sleeper 3.) Antawn Jamison – Unrestricted FA – Cleveland – …..Just kidding.

Defensive Stoppers

This list doesn’t really merit a scouting report, because I can sum it all up for you in a few short sentences: “Plays stingy defense against opposing shooting guards/small forwards,” “Exceptional hustle, has intangibles on and off the court,” “A real locker room presence,” and “Can be had for dirt cheap”

1.) Sam Young – Restricted FA – Memphis – Former Pitt Panther and D.C area native (Friendly High)

2.) Wilson Chandler – Restricted FA – Denver – Small forward hybrid

3.) Ronnie Price – Unrestricted FA – Phoenix – He plays basketball.

Tags: basketball, denver nuggets, eric gordon, Georgetown Hoyas, grizzlies, jodie meeks, Kentucky, Kevin Seraphin, memphis, philadelphia, sports, Washington Wizards, Wizards