Don't make too much out of who the Wizards work out

by Mike Prada on Jun 11, 2009 3:00 PM EDT in Draft

A number of astute people have noticed that the Wizards aren't exactly bringing in the top talent in the NBA draft for individual workouts. Today's list of participants is headlined by Ty Lawson, whose draft stock isn't exactly doing so well. Say what you want about Lawson, but nobody is picking him in the top five.

The obvious conclusion is that this shows the Wizards are definitely trading down in the draft. After all, why would we work out players that are certainly not going to be considered if we kept the #5 pick?

To this line of thinking, I say, "Maybe, but don't make too much out of it." Why? A few reasons.

1. The Wizards have a history of drafting players they don't work out: I think we can all agree that JaVale McGee and Dominic McGuire were the two best draft picks of the Ernie Grunfeld era. Neither of them actually worked out for the Wizards. Last year, the Wiz worked out the 12th pick (Jason Thompson), 16th pick (Marreese Speights), 17th pick (Roy Hibbert), 19th pick (J.J. Hickson), 22nd pick (Courtney Lee), 27th pick (Darrell Arthur) and 28th pick (Donte Greee), but never McGee. You may remember that the Post did a nice little insert in their print edition, profiling five players they thought the Wizards might take. McGee wasn't on that list. Meanwhile, McGuire also never worked out for the Wizards, even though 2007 was the year the Wizards worked out 100 bajillion players leading up to the draft.

2. The Wizards have been present at group workouts: They sent a couple representatives to Treviso for the Reebok camp. Ernie Grunfeld himself was at the Chicago pre-draft camp. The Wizards had people at the big Golden State pre-draft workout camp. It's not like they aren't around.

3. Individual workouts are often determined by the players: As we're seeing more and more, the top prospects in the draft just won't work out for individual teams. That was the reason McGee didn't work out, after all.

4. It's still early: Draft day is two weeks away. The Wiz have time to bring in the top prospects for workouts.

Just a few things to keep in mind before we all jump to conclusions.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Derozan in today

per TWP: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2009/06/wizards_give_derozan_a_look.html?wprss=wizardsinsider

by Jheiser3 on Jun 11, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Videos from both workouts today

Nice reverse alley-oop dunk by Heytvelt at a little over a minute in. http://www.nba.comwizards/news/workouts_090611.html

by igetbucketsson on Jun 11, 2009 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Even though Ernie plays his cards close to the vest

it’s still fun trying to guess what he’s gonna do…. He’s probably not interested in half of these guys he’s working out

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

by Rook6980 on Jun 11, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

An important additional point

In addition, I believe it was after the Crittendon trade that Grunfeld was quoted as saying that they use the workout period as an opportunity to analyze a lot of players and develop something of a database that they can rely on in the future when considering trades. Makes sense. If three years from now the Wizards are considering a trade for Terrence Williams, for example, they will have met him and run him through drills.

by disgrunted on Jun 11, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Very good point.

Curry is scheduled to workout with the team next week. Don’t know when but it’s been reported in the media.

by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 11, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

sb nation draft

Didn’t one of the sb nation blogs have some sort of draft last year? Where one representative from each blog picked a player. Did I miss it this year? Didi it happen at all? Does anybody know what I’m talking about?

"McGee is just flying all over the place. He’s like a condor." -Stacey King

by Lukbuster on Jun 11, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

We're still doing it

It’s actually our pick now, and Blake, Rubio, Harden and Evans are off the board. Take Thabeet?

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

by Mike Prada on Jun 11, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds good to me

-despite DraftExpress listing “frail frame” as one of his strengths.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Hasheem-Thabeet-1061/

Maybe it is all the talk about trading the pick and the fact that I am in Orlando where the atmosphere is still all about the current season but compared to last year I am not as interested in who mock drafts say we will pick.

However, I do value your and many of the other SB Nation bloggers’ opinions and that specific mock draft was a good read last year. Not just for who is picked, but the justifications. Thats why I have interest in it.

"McGee is just flying all over the place. He’s like a condor." -Stacey King

by Lukbuster on Jun 12, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions