Official Total Roster Makeover Thread

by Manimal Smith on Dec 15, 2009 1:47 AM EST

With the team languishing despite being in luxury tax territory I'd like to open the floor to brainstorming ideas for how we can most effectively cut salary and, hopefully, get young players and picks, young players and expiring contracts for our overpaid veterans. Of course, if you have ideas for how we can retool and remain competitive rather than rebuild, then I am all ears.

Let's keep in mind that, despite how terrible we are we, we still have a number of pieces that other teams covet. See my rundown after the jump

Here are our biggest assets:

1. Mike Miller's ~10m expiring contract (he is an impact team player who has a huge amount of expiring $).

2. Brendan Haywood's ~6m expiring contract (he is an all-defensive caliber player who has an expiring deal at a reasonable $ figure)

3. Caron Butler (he is a former all star who is well respected as a character guy around the league, is under 30, and has a reasonable $ contract with one 1 year remaining after this one)

4. Andray Blatche (breakout multi-skilled big man in a league that covets players with size and ball skills, VERY reasonable contract that he is locked into for 2 years after this one)

5. Mike James' expiring contract (he is useless - though Miami wants him - but he has a hefty expiring deal)

6. Antawn Jamison (overpaid but an all star PF - teams WILL trade for expiring deals for him and maybe we can get more).

7. Javale McGee (his star has probably fallen a little bit this year but he is highly sought after)

8. Randy Foye and his expiring contract (some team may talk themselves into thinking he isn't terrible and he is 0 risk given that he has no deal beyond this season).

9. Javaris Crittendon's expiring deal (he is young, big, and somewhat talented so he can be a decent asset given that he also has an expiring deal)

10. Fabricio Oberto's expiring deal (no one may want him as a player, but $2m expiring is nothing to sneeze at)

Here is what we most want to get rid of:

1. Gilbert's contract

2. Deshawn's contract (not that much $ really, but he is totally worthless)

3. Antawn's contract (he is a true warrior, but if we want to rebuild the team, then we need to get rid of him)

4. Caron (reasonable contract or not he may need to go to shake things up)

5. Flip Saunders (can't trade coaches .... o well)

Keep in mind that we cannot trade our #1 pick next year because of the Ted Stepien rule prohibit a team from trading #1 picks in back to back seasons.

Have at it!

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.

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Comments

Question: Is anyone untouchable anymore?

by morethesamewiz on Dec 15, 2009 1:55 AM EST reply actions

Not if they can help us move Gil

by Manimal Smith on Dec 15, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions

Could the Warriors become interested if Arenas makes some progress and

Monta Ellis asks out

by morethesamewiz on Dec 15, 2009 2:16 AM EST up reply actions

And that applies to Flip, EG, etc as well

Who’s worth keeping?

by morethesamewiz on Dec 15, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions

Andray, Javale, Nick, Taser, Brendan

That’s it really.

I’d keep Gil @ 9m/yr or so but not at near max

by Manimal Smith on Dec 15, 2009 1:59 AM EST up reply actions

Big Asset is going to be the #1 pick in the draft...

Wall will show Gil how to play point guard…

by LoneWiz54 on Dec 15, 2009 5:49 AM EST reply actions

How about Caron and filler for Trevor Ariza and Lowry?

We’d get a good two way player at the wing who can catch and shoot and take advantage of Gil’s passing as well as a purer point guard who can shut down penetration (which is what seems to kill us every game) and allow Gil to play off the ball. Lowry is tough and big enough, too, that he can cross match if necessary. We’d probably have to throw in some extra stuff like Nick Young or Foye to make it happen, but it would definitely make us a better team and one that’s more suited for Flip’s offense.

by pantslessyoda1 on Dec 15, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions

No way that flies ... ever

Ariza appears to be an unbelievable value at the mid-level exception. Morey is not stupid.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 15, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Small differences of opinion

In order, this is the desirability of our players (to the Wizards), including contract considerations (also includes value of letting contracts expire). Just my opinion here.
1. Blatche
2. McGee
3. Haywood
4. Young
5. Miller
6. Foye
7. James
8. Crittendon
9. McGuire
10. Butler
11. Oberto
12. Boykins
13. Jamison
14. Arenas
15. Stevenson

Butler is really the hardest one to place. I think 1-12 are contracts other teams might want, while 13-15 are guys we’d have to compensate teams for taking. Numbers 1-4 are really the only guys I think we should make any effort to hold on to.

Any successful rebuild requires dealing either Jamison or Arenas, just from a $ perspective (over $30M with a $58M salaray cap for two guys who don’t defend at all is crippling).

by steadyhand on Dec 15, 2009 11:07 AM EST reply actions

is there anyone else on this board

besides me, who’s not ready to blow this thing up? who wants to give flip and the players more time to work this thing out? we have a lot of assets, i’d love it if they produced for our team rather than someone else’s.

one concern is, if we don’t move someone with an expiring deal at the trading deadline, do we effectively lose that asset? or can we still move that piece at the end of the year? in other words, does it lose the bulk of its value if you wait until after the mid-season trading deadline?

by DarrellWalkerFan on Dec 15, 2009 12:22 PM EST reply actions

Me

by disgrunted on Dec 15, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

I also vote for the patient approach

But I think some tinkering around the edges is probably warranted. We need to find some productive role players, since ours are either hurt or ineffective. Maybe trade away Mike James’ expiring contract or one of our non-core scorers to bring in a good role player or two. How about Foye and Stevenson to the Lakers for Farmar and Walton?

After the trade deadline, an expiring contract cannot be used to bring in extra talent.

by yop32 on Dec 15, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

for this season, yeah

but what about for next year?

my question is whether we can wait until after trade deadline to blow it up and not lose what we’ve got to offer

by DarrellWalkerFan on Dec 15, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

You can't make trades after the trade eadline

And things get really tough in the offseason because of all our free agents.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 15, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

I appreciate what you are saying

I’d love to be patient too. I think there is a playoff team in this mess.

The problem is that I think this season has shown that even if there is a playoff team at the bottom of this pile of garbage, that playoff team has a very low ceiling (probably a second round exit is the best they could do). I don’t think it is worth mortgaging our salary cap future on a playoff afterthought.

We are in a fairly unique position at the moment because we have a huge amount of expiring salary to work with. If we don’t trade these guys, then we can’t resign very many of them because of the decrease in the cap and if we do trade these guys but don’t get rid of any of our bad contract, then we will be further cap-screwed into the future.

The time is NOW to use our expiring contracts to try to dump our bad ones so that we can rebuild and have a potentially bright future instead of a thoroughly mediocre present AND future.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 15, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe I need to be more clear

I am for being patient — until the trade deadline. I don’t think the solution for this team is to make one tinkering-type of trade. Either the team gets itself together, or it’s time to make a number of moves.

Said another way, if this team is still struggling at the trade deadline, then it is very likely that in the offseason, it would be insanity to resign Miller, Foye, Haywood, etc. this summer, and Butler next summer. So, if you are not going to resign those guys, it makes sense to move them and get something for them. Can the Wizards trade Haywood and get a first round pick? I would think so. Trade Miller for a 1st, or for a promising young player? Maybe. Trade Foye for something? Hard to tell. Trading Butler is a different type of move, but one that will likely need to be made.

But give the new coach, new system, and returning superstar a little more time before this experiment is ruled a lost cause.

by disgrunted on Dec 15, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with this

We’ve seen few signs of progress (and I think I’m one of the optimists around here). Get some moves brewing so we can decide whether to pull the trigger at the deadline or let it ride. It’s still a little early, but time (and patience) are waning.

by MR on Dec 15, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

That's a reasonable approach

But I’d be shopping these guys like mad right now looking for P.T. Barnum’s proverbial sucker.
Let me ask you this: What kind of odds would it take for you to bet on the Wizards making the second round of the playoffs? (assuming you’re forced to bet one way or another — no abstaining). I’d probably start waffling at around 50 to 1.

by steadyhand on Dec 15, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not ready to blow it up

primarily because I don’t think we ever get a favorable draft selection out of the lottery. But I’m in favor of trying for an in-season trade or two with the idea of getting some worthwhile talent back. I don’t think anyone should be off limits and think that we should shop Caron around to see what we can get in return. I think he has the most trade value of all of are players and the most easily replaced of the big 3 (at least this year’s version).

by hotplate on Dec 15, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Today is December 15th

So everyone on the roster can be traded now, even the new guys acquired over the summer.

by yop32 on Dec 15, 2009 12:26 PM EST reply actions

Except Boykins

He signed later. We’ll have a few days to trade him before the deadline, if anyone wants him or his expiring contract.

by steadyhand on Dec 15, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Wouldn't life be so much easier if we had just gotten Blake Griffin?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Dec 15, 2009 11:58 PM EST reply actions

Utah potentially shopping Boozer and their first round pick (from the Knicks)

From ESPN’s Rumors section, quoting David Aldridge
He writes: "Is there any team, outside of Kobe’s Lakers and LeBron’s Cavaliers, that wouldn’t have to seriously consider such an offer? Wouldn’t Washington, which is rapidly coming to the conclusion that no one from a 7-14 team is untradeable, have to think about giving Utah it’s pick of, say, Caron Butler, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee and its own first-rounder? (I’m assuming there would be no interest in Gilbert Arenas on Utah’s part.)

by morethesamewiz on Dec 16, 2009 1:46 AM EST reply actions

Interesting

Trying to think of something creative that works here and would actually entice Utah to throw in that pick. Note that we cannot trade our own 1st round pick because of the Ted Stepien rule.

How about (as a random idea) Boozer + Brewer + Knick’s #1 for Butler + Foye.

Utah gets a cheap all star caliber SF who can play along side Millsap. I think Brewer to Foye is a downgrade, but they are fairly comparable. Not sure this is enough for Utah here since Boozer himeslf has alot of value.

Utah’s starting lineup would be pretty nice though:
Deron Williams, Foye/Korver , Butler, Millsap, Okur

Issue is that their SG spot is still fairly weak.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 2:12 AM EST up reply actions

Doesn't solve the immediate problem

The immediate, acute problem has been too many scorers and no decent role players. Boozer and the Knicks’ #1 pick certainly aren’t role players. Brewer has some role-player qualities, but he’s a terrible fit. We need three point shooting and rebounding from our SG, and Brewer doesn’t provide either.

by yop32 on Dec 16, 2009 7:58 AM EST up reply actions

This wasn't a trade for us to improve this season really

Though it may do that a little bit. Its a trade to dump a little salary while getting a good draft pick.

Also Ronnie Brewer IS a role player and he could help us if we wanted to try to re-sign him (unlike, it appears, Foye).

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

That's nowhere close to enough value for Utah

I think they’d do it without the #1, maybe. With the #1, no chance.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 16, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

Was just throwing something out there.

How do we make it more value? Sub Nick Young for Foye?

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

if we are like 12 – 32 by the deadline then yeah it would be very wise to blow it up and start off young again and wish to have a results like the CAPs and TED have had

we could get real lucky and get a chance to draft John Wall and Derrick Favors

Caron Butler
Brendan Haywood
for
Andrei Kirilenko
early 1st

Antawn Jamison
for
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
late 1st

Gilbert Arenas
Mike Miller
for
Tracy McGrady
mid late 1st

2010 season could be a blessing

John Wall
Derrick Favors
JaVale McGee
Andray Blatche
Dominic McGuire
Nick Young
Randy Foye
Javaris Crittenton
Andrei Kirilenko – become a expring contract
DeShawn Stevenson – become a expring contract
two late 1st and a high 2nd – in a really good draft
Big time Cap room

by eltacoman on Dec 16, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

I like the idea, but not the specifics

I’m on board with the Antawn trade even though it sends him to the Cavs. That is a realistic trade that could really happen.

Why would we make the Kirlenko trade? That first round pick isn’t worth taking on a bad contract and giving up Brendan + an all star low-paid SF in Butler. If anything it would be Butler + Stevenson for Kirilenko + Knick’s 1st.

Why would Houston do the Gilbert deal in a million years? I can’t think of any reason they’d give up a 1st round pick and a max expiring deal to bring in Gilbert – the presence of Mike Miller’s impact play and expiring contract are NOT enough.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

funny

my buddy at lunch today was just talking about a hypothetical arenas for mcgrady trade.

the basic premise is to ask whether a team would take on gilbert for essentially nothing (other than an expiring deal or set of expiring deals), just so the wiz could get out of his contract.

i’m not necessarily ready to do this, but the question is interesting. would any team in the league, right now, be willing to sign gil as a free agent for gil’s current contract? (since if the team gives up expiring junk in return it’s pretty much equivalent to signing gil for nothing)

i’m actually not sure one way or another.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Dec 16, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

I think the answer is "not yet"

He hasn’t shown enough for that yet. There IS, however, a chance he regains that value during the season and maybe before the deadline.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

Any ideas on role players we might be able to get?

We really need a stopgap to replace what we lost when Mike Miller went down. Here are some names that come to my mind: Steve Blake, Raja Bell, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Brent Barry, JJ Redick, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Marko Jaric. There must be some young players out there who might be worth a look, too. We could cut Boykins to make room on the roster, and we have some valuable assets that we would be willing to trade.

by yop32 on Dec 16, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Anthony Randolph

Here is an idea

Randolph + Turiaf + Claxton (expiring) + draft pick for Butler and Oberto

The salaries match almost exactly. Turiaf is a great fit for our team IF he is actually health. Claxton is just there for salary.

The real question here is whether the Warriors would agree to include a draft pick and, if so, whether it would be a first rounder or a second rounder. The question then becomes whether we’d need a pick to make this deal given that we’d be taking on Turiaf’s salary for next season or whether the savings of Claxton and the promise of Randolph would be enough.

I’m not sure yet whether I’d do this without a warriors draft pick included.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 5:27 PM EST reply actions

O and

To make that work we’d have to cut Boykins.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 16, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Best to make a trade now...

If we think chemistry is the issue, then EG should make a quick trade now, probably one of the big three, for a piece that he believes will improve the chemistry of the team. If it works, there’s still time to make the playoffs and maybe win a series or two. If it doesn’t work by the trade deadline, firesale the rest.

Of course, if you think talent is the issue, then firesale now before player values erode further.

by mogoman on Dec 17, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions