Friday's Washington Wizards links and other stuff
For some reason, it always feels like there's a ton of news out on Fridays, so it makes sense to put them all in a link dump. So, without further ado, today's links:
- Michael Lee checks in with Tim Grover about Gilbert Arenas - Grover guesses that it'll be a two-month process, and the Wizards are cool with this, though they are sending someone there to "check up" on Arenas. This is similar to what happened with Dwyane Wade last summer.
- Chad Ford goes crazy with a Cavs/Wizards/Suns three-way trade proposal - In it, the Wizards get Amare Stoudamire and Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Jamison, JaVale McGee, the fifth pick and both expiring contracts. Uhh, yeah, that's way too much. And Ilgauskas? Really? Chad's argument is that it would finally give the Wizards "a legit big man in the middle." Again, did Brendan Haywood retire without letting the public know? Yuck.
- Wizards Insider: Seven for Five - Michael Lee puts together his best guess of the seven players the Wizards are considering for the fifth pick, based on Flip Saunders' comments in the season-ticket holder meeting. The seven: James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, DeMar Derozan, Jordan Hill, Jonny Flynn and Brandon Jennings. The last of the seven is the surprising one to me.
- Peter Vescey's latest column for the New York Post - Two Wizards references in there. First, Vescey shoots down the Jamison to Cleveland talk, writing "Yeah, that makes sense, give up a 23-point, 10-rebound All-Star for a retread and a reject. Ernie Grunfeld wouldn't have made that trade the first day he arrived in America from Romania." Second interesting tidbit: Vescey says that Gene Banks will likely be hired as an assistant coach because he made a "strong impression," whatever that means. Whatever. The worst part, to me, is that Vescey said he beat out the recently fired Kevin McHale, who was also very much in the mix. I'd much prefer McHale, a big man with a good reputation for individual teaching, than Gene Banks. Our young bigs desperately need a teacher and there are few who could teach better than McHale.
- Hoops Analyst evaluates this year's shooting guard and combo guards in the draft - One of the most underrated and underappreciated NBA websites on the Internet comes through with its evaluation of the SG and combo guard prospects in the draft. Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and James Harden all get high marks here.
- Washington Post: Center Jordan Hill Makes His Case for Wizards - Michael Lee's print edition report of Jordan Hill's workout yesterday. Not sure which headline writer thought Hill was a center. As an aside, say what you want about Lee's reporting and player evaluation skills, but I love the way he writes, sprinking in little anecdotes to show the story rather than telling it. That's how sportswriting should be.
- Chad Ford's annual Tiers article - Nothing too surprising here, except that Harden is in Tier 2 while Evans and Curry are in Tier 3.
- Hoops Addict: In the Scrum with Stephen Curry - Hoops Addict has audio of Stephen Curry talking to media members after his workout with the Wizards.
- Truth About It: Absurd Wizards Trade Possibilities and Rumors - Our new ESPN/True Hoop network colleague shoots down the Jamison-to-Cleveland and Butler-to-Atlanta "rumors."
- Fanhouse: NBA Draft Predictions, Southeast Division - Tim Potvak says the Big Three "could use a big man to defend in the paint." Apparently, Brendan Haywood doesn't exist.
- Fanhouse: Busting on Hasheem Thabeet - Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm and Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty discuss the one guy who could potentially fill Tim Potvak's recommendation. Neither of the two are fans of Thabeet.
- Truth About It reports from the Flip Saunders season-ticket holder meeting earlier this week - Part 1 is here, part 2 is here. Very comprehensive, to go along with ooba's report here.
- Brendan Haywood's blog on Yardbarker: Balling in BLue Heaven and Another League Legal Injustice - Brendan Haywood talks about his pick up games at UNC and rails on the light sentence received by Donte Stallworth for DUI manslaughter.
- Celtics Blog: Offseason SWAGs (Silly Wild Amusing Guesses) and Reasonable Predictions - Jeff's list includes the Wizards trading Antawn Jamison and our two expiring contracts for Ray and Tony Allen. Why? "The Wizards are looking to shed future salary and stay competitive." Uhh, yeah, I don't think so. The shedding salary thing is so overblown, Jeff.
- SB Nation's Draft Hub - Everything you wanted to read about the NBA Draft on the SB Nation network is here. Check it out.
- Washington Times beat reporter Mike Jones is now on Twitter. Follow him if you can.
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14 comments
Comments
Also
since when did Ilgauskas play “in the middle?”
Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.
by Jon L on Jun 19, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As someone who has taken a lot of shots at Flip over the years
But I am starting to like Flip Saunders after reading what Truth and ooba excellent roundups of the meeting with season-ticket holders. I don’t want to, but he I might be starting to drink the Kool-Aid on Flip Saunders doing well here in Washington.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Jun 19, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also check out the Chad Ford/Thorpe chat on ESPN
They say that Rubio might drop to the Wizards at 5. Wouldn’t that be something?
by disgrunted on Jun 19, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He won't get past the Kings at 4
That night, Flip Saunders laughed at the idea that Rubio might fall to the Wiz and said that if anything, someone will trade up to get him.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.
by Truth About It on Jun 19, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're probably right
i read your six reasons why wiz aren’t dumping salary post. you make a strong argument.
truthaboutit also seems to hate the notion.
thing is, if I ran this team, i’d be looking to dump salary right now unless there was a home run trade available. personally, i think it’d be smart to do.
maybe that makes me a lousy fan. (although i’m still hoping there is a home run trade available.) anyway, late post but i haven’t been around here for a while.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jun 19, 2009 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My feeling is
The time to dump salary was at the trade deadline, when you could have saved a ton of money taking on Wally sczcerbiak’s expiring contract for jamison. Once you don’t do that — and once you spend all the money you did on flip saunders — it’s too late to turn back and then say you won’t dump salary. It’s basically too late to get under the tax line anyway. I supported the jamison trade at the deadline because it was the real chance to dump salary and position yourself better for the Blake griffin derby, but I can’t support switchIng plans now. If you’re going to pass on your best chance to cut salary, you better go all out, costs be damned.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
by Mike Prada on Jun 19, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t forget that fielding a competitive team and having playoff games earns the team money.
by MR on Jun 19, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Information overload
Prada the work you’ve done since you got back is quite simply awesome
by morethesamewiz on Jun 20, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks!
It means a lot to me to hear that.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
by Mike Prada on Jun 21, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe
I am been a fan of DC sport since I was a child. I never knew that there were websites like this one and others focused on my teams. I love the work you guys do. i have been following for a couple of months now. I hope to be able to contribute one day. Thanks for the labor of love.
by Unkle Wheez on Jun 20, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Revisiting the 3-way trade idea
Chad Ford goes crazy with a Cavs/Wizards/Suns three-way trade proposal – In it, the Wizards get Amare Stoudamire and Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Jamison, JaVale McGee, the fifth pick and both expiring contracts. Uhh, yeah, that’s way too much. And Ilgauskas? Really? Chad’s argument is that it would finally give the Wizards “a legit big man in the middle.” Again, did Brendan Haywood retire without letting the public know? Yuck.
When I first read this trade proposal – I thought, hmmmm…. that gets the Wizards a serious low post threat in Stoudemire, plus a veteran backup for Haywood, and gives them cap flexibility next year…and the year after. (Stoudemire will probably opt out after this year, and Ilgauskas is in the last year of his contract).. the Wizards would have over $28 Million coming off the books – they could either use that money to resign Stoudemire and Haywood…. or go after one of the 2010 Free Agents…
But after looking again, giving up McGee, the 5th pick, BOTH expiring contracts AND Jamison looks like too much to spend on Ilgauskas and Stoudemire.
The other big downside is that Jamison is the perfect fit for Cleveland. He can score down low, but he doesn’t clog the lane. He can spot up from outside – and he’s a good rebounder. With Jamison, Cleveland has an even better chance of winning the Championship (not to mention, making it harder for our Wizards to get there).
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
by Rook6980 on Jun 20, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just a Reminder
Chad’s argument is that it would finally give the Wizards “a legit big man in the middle.” Again, did Brendan Haywood retire without letting the public know? Yuck.
While it is true that Brendan Haywood is great at what he does, to say that we don’t need a big man in the paint just because we have Haywood is to ignore the fact that we have no one else that does what Haywood does and that Haywood only plays 28 MPG. Although Chad Ford forgot about Haywood when he wrote that, I honestly think that big Z would be an excellent backup and someone we could use for 20 MPG and 6 extra fouls at the center position. I should also point out that Z pwns Haywood almost every time the two meet, especially in the playoffs.
Tim Potvak says the Big Three “could use a big man to defend in the paint.” Apparently, Brendan Haywood doesn’t exist.
Tim Potvak is absolutely correct. We need a, as in another, big man to defend the paint.
"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 Jun 22, 2009 8:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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