If the Wizards land the No. 1 pick, Griffin is a no-brainer. And Rubio appears to be a lock at No....

If the Wizards land the No. 1 pick, Griffin is a no-brainer. And Rubio appears to be a lock at No. 2. Washington has a 35.16 percent chance of landing one of the top two picks, so is it Griffin, Rubio or bust?

Not necessarily. According to a high-ranking league executive familiar with the Wizards' front office thinking, Washington could use the third pick to draft a player like Hill or possibly Jennings or Curry. But if they get the fourth or fifth pick, they're more likely to try to trade it as part of a package deal.

Comments

hmmm...

There are all sorts of “insider” info released by the press that doesn’t have any validity, but for the sake of fun let’s say this does.

The way it’s worded suggests the Wizards have their eye on someone specific in the 3rd round, but the article really only speculates who it is. Otherwise if there really are a few players they’re considering at the 3 (assuming Griffin and Rubio are already taken) it makes sense to consider them at the 4 & 5 spot as well. So if this article speaks the truth (and I’m sure very few if any have a good look into Grunfeld’s thinking so I tend to doubt it), the Wizards covet 3 playes in this draft – Griffin, Rubio and a 3rd.

by Johnnie Futbol on May 19, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

oops.. 3rd pick not 3rd round

by Johnnie Futbol on May 19, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

This story seems like smoke to me. Curry at 3? I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him in single digits.

Of course it’s better than EG saying “everyone after 2 sucks, who wants to trade for my pick #3?”

by MR on May 19, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

yep

The Post article today includes Grunfeld quotes that imply he might want to hold on to the pick. Who really knows, but one thing’s for sure if he’d prefer to trade the pick he’s not going to let it be known.

by Johnnie Futbol on May 19, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Apparently the Knicks love curry

Rumor has it, the reason he entered the draft was because the Knicks guaranteed curry he would not fall past their pick

for what thats worth. Clearly curry in the top 5 is a reach, unless he grows to 6’6….

by Blatche4MVP on May 19, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't believe anything I hear pre-draft

Except for info from the team with the #1 pick.

by MR on May 19, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

What would Ernie have to gain by broadcasting his intentions like this? At the same time, it makes a world of sense for him to try to fake everyone into thinking he likes someone else. I’d be happy with Jennings, Hill, or Harden with the third pick, but I doubt we’ll find out if Ernie is until the day of the draft.

by pantslessyoda1 on May 19, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

My guess is that he has no intention of using pick 3-5 but he is helping to increase the value of the pick in order to get a better trade and to not seem desperate to trade it.

by MR on May 19, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

wow 9 more hours this is going to be crazy

common # 1

by eltacoman on May 19, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure this is fixed

Which I think is good for the Wiz, b/c it would be of better interest for the NBA, but…

Lebron to Cleveland
Rose to Chicago
Ewing to New York

hard not to think its fixed, hopefully we get the cold ping pong balls

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on May 19, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgJE7C5wiU

by MR on May 19, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Well I wish they would go back to having this counducted in public

Because while that will never quite the conspiracy theories, it would increase public confidence that the lottery isn’t rigged. You talk about rigging what about the Magic winning the lottery two years in a row? I heard all kinds of conspiracy talk about that one.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on May 19, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree they should go public.

Why not? Because the intense drama of the event would be ruined?

That clip, however is the mother of many conspiracy theories. Look at how one particular envelope hits the side of the bin and the corner gets bent as it is placed inside. Watch how Stern reaches in and overturns a pile of envelopes to get to the one with the bent corner.

by MR on May 19, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, start watching around 4:40

by MR on May 19, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

the story is that they froze the knicks envelope

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on May 19, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

they are actually filming it at Area 51 tonight

From Richmond to the District

by Parks Smith on May 19, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

If it's fixed, Griffin goes to Oklahoma

And Rubio will most likely go to Sacramento, since they’re a franchise in financial trouble that’s traditionally had very devoted fans, plus they’re in desperate need a good point guard.

by pantslessyoda1 on May 19, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

Rubio – who will be a star in the NBA, will go to New York….

and Griffin will go to Oklahoma.

So, if I were a conspiracy theorist, I’d say Oklahoma gets #1, and New Yorkk gets #2 tonight.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 19, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That was my guess too. OKC & NY (or NJ)

Sacto is a small market with no local hero in the lottery. The NBA has already proved that it is willing to put in the fix AGAINST Sacto (see WC Finals 2002).

by MR on May 19, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

too easy

Haven’t the Knicks done poorly in the lottery since the Ewing pick? Stern needs a jolt for the small markets so OKC would fit. My guess is Indiana or Memphis. Griffin would fill the Griz’s hole at PF. He’d be playing with Conley, Mayo, Rudy, and Marc Gasol. Rubio would re-inforce the Spanish Link to Memphis. Indiana already has the system in place to surround Griffin with 3 point shooters and play a lot like Orlando. That crowd would love Rubio.

The other conspiracy would be Stern sending the best talent to one of two teams that are only in the lottery because of Superstar and multiple starter injuries. The Duncan conspiracy. That could mean Phoenix or your Washington Wizards.

Thats whats great about conspiracies. No matter the outcome there will be someone somewhere with a story on why the NBA chose those teams.

by Jheiser3 on May 19, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would the league benefit from sending potential marquee players to small markets?

OKC kind of makes sense because of the local angle, but I’m not sure that really holds water either.

Stern likes dynasties (or as close as he can get) so DC might make sense, but I think Phoenix wouldn’t fit into that scenario.

I think NJ (Brooklyn?) is a possibility too.

by MR on May 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

If the lottery was fixed, which it isn't (at least not anymore)

I’m not entirely sure Stern would want Griffin to go to OKC. He’s got a great guy to market in Durant, why would he want to clutter that up with a guy who’d likely be even more popular locally?

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.

by Jon L on May 19, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure I disagree about OKC. However if there is a conspiracy, the evidence points to the NBA liking stars to remain close to home when practical. There is also the thought that OKC is a new (sort of) franchise etc.

by MR on May 19, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Those are the teams losing the most money.

by Jheiser3 on May 19, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

If fixed, Griffin to OK would probably be correct

But Rubio would not go to the Kings. As someone who lives in traditional Kings territory (an hour south of Sacramento), I’ve noticed that there are no longer any Kings fans left now that they suck. Many turned into Warriors fans a couple years ago, but now the Warriors aren’t any good either. Most either stopped caring about the NBA or became Laker fans. There’s definitely way more Lakers memorabilia at the mall here than Kings stuff, just a few years after the Lakers were the most hated team around these parts.

The NY guesses sound about right, but my guess is they don’t fix any more than just the first pick, if that.

by benz0 on May 19, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

With the Above Comments Taken Into Account

Does that explain what Ernie means when he says:

I see five players out there that could make an impact on this team. … It’s not as deep a draft, but there are still some talented players if you’re picking in the top 10. You just might have to wait a little longer for some of those players [to develop].

Five players he thinks can make an impact on the Wizards? Is he just trying to fool other GMs into valuing the Wizards pick, like pantslessyoda said above, or are there really five players Ernie would draft and keep? If so, who are the other three players?

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on May 19, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t think he’s going to “fool” anybody. But adding to the feeling that it’s a deeper than 2 player draft doesn’t hurt. Mostly I think it just gets a more honest deal out of another team than if they think you have no fallback position.

by MR on May 19, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

James Harden
Stephen Curry
and Jordan Hill or Hasheem Thabeet

Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!

by Evander holyfield on May 19, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Is That a Guess?

Or has Ernie said something about each of those above to make you think that?

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on May 19, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

"There are ... talented players if you are picking in the top 10"

I thought that was an interesting quote from Ernie. It echoed what Jonathan Givony of draftexpress said in his most recent podcast, that there is a break after the 10th or 11th spots in terms of talent. That would seem to indicate that (1) Grunfeld would not be interested in trading down past pick 10; and/or (2) teams would be willing to pay a premium to trade up into the top 10. So when people are talking about this not being a deep draft, they are not only talking about Griffin being the only sure thing, but that the talent dips significantly after the top 10.

by disgrunted on May 19, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is Bigger?

The gap between Griffin/Rubio and the other 8 of the top 10, or the gap between the top 10 and the rest?

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on May 19, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

There are some good players in the lower half of the 1st round

They’re just not “Starting quality”… Good, experienced fundamentally sound players that will become good, experienced fundamentally sound bench players.

Tyler Hansbrough, Darren Collison, Sam Young, Patrick Mills, Danny Green are some of the guys I like. Each one brings some skill that will translate well to the NBA. All of them are fundamentally sound, and have experience at a major College playing against high level competition. (Most are Juniors or Seniors). And most importantly, each of them can defend; one skill that all Coaches hold in high regard.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 19, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm probably completely off my rocker

But I think Thabeet is quite a prize in this draft, so I think the first real drop off comes after him. Maybe he doesn’t have the potential of Griffin or Rubio, but a 7’3" athletic big man like Thabeet is pretty enticing.

by Johnnie Futbol on May 19, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

Granted, almost everything you hear about any potential draft pick is fluff and should be taken with a grain of salt, but Thabeet really has looked like a decent, hardworking guy. I think that the Dalembert comparisons are pretty good as far as his stats and playing style, although he seems more coachable and like he should be a better offensive player simply as a result of being three or four inches taller than everyone else. He’s obviously not a franchise guy like Griffin or Rubio, but he seems like a future legitimate starting center who would do really well on a team with a couple of great wings or a high post power forward. Oklahoma City seems like a perfect fit for him, although I don’t know how fast he is running the floor.

by pantslessyoda1 on May 19, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

he tall

In the absence of overwhelming talent teams will chose the tall guy. Bogut, Shawn Bradley, Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Michael Olawakandi to name a few. It helps that Thabeet is such a great shot blocker. He’ll go at 3 or 4. Getting the 3rd pick might be the fastest way to turnover the dead weight on this roster.

by Jheiser3 on May 19, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

At the same time, the only players we have who would really be worth trading are Deshawn and Pech, since Mike James and Etan’s contract should get us back under the luxury tax if we let them expire.

by pantslessyoda1 on May 19, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Other expiring

Add Songalia to that list if Ernie gets a reserve F in return.

I thought Jake’s idea of getting Tim Thomas (and his expiring contract) made better use of that salary chunk than paying Mike James.

BH and Tim Thomas in contract years would be a sight to see.

by Jheiser3 on May 19, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Please, Lord, not Stephen Curry

Curry is going to have the same problems as JJ Redick and Juan Dixon. I just don’t think he’ll be able to successfully play point or defend at the next level.

by antawnjameson on May 19, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions