NBA Trade Rumors: Andray Blatche is reportedly off the trade block

by Mike Prada on Feb 23, 2011 12:33 PM EST in Rumors

Michael Lee has a post on Wizards insider indicating the Wizards will probably be quiet as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches. It's an approach I've advocated here before, and none of the rumors I've heard involving the Wizards' players (Josh Howard to Boston, Kirk Hinrich to Atlanta) have changed my mind. But there is something new in there that is a bit concerning to me.

According to Lee, the Wizards ~~have moved Andray Blatche off the market.~~

And, if any players get moved, it will unlikely be members of the young core -- John Wall, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin. While two Western Conference executives said in late December that the Wizards were open to moving Blatche, the Wizards have informed others in recent weeks that they intend to keep him.

I don't like the way that sounds.

UPDATE: Lee clarifies, says he's not "off" the market. For what it's worth.

Now, I'm not saying the Wizards need to unload Blatche, but I'm not sure I like the idea of taking him off the market, which is how that sounds. Blatche has played better in February, shooting 52 percent from the field and passing more. But it's an eight-game sample, and it's come with the same lack of focus at key moments.

The matter of his long-term salary remains an issue, as well as his fit with JaVale McGee. We've seen 55 games of these two together this season and many more last year, and I don't like what we've seen so far. McGee is still on his rookie contract, so the Wizards can't possibly get good value back unless they shift into "acquire a star" mode. I don't think this is an area where the Wizards can say they are completely comfortable the two can figure it out. By taking Blatche off the market, that's exactly the message they are sending.

Again, I'm not saying trade Blatche immediately, but the Wizards have to continue doing their due diligence to see what is out there. If Blatche gets distracted by it, then he's not worth what they gave him anyway.

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I would lean towards this meaning the Wiz don't want to distract him, and his value is too low now

It seems absurdly stupid though to not even see what’s out there……..

by Jon Kelman on Feb 23, 2011 12:35 PM EST reply actions

agree - his value has plummeted this year

take the distractions away, let him play, see where things stand in the offseason

"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier

by little stevie colter on Feb 23, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Short of Lebron being off the market ...

… or Kobe or Wade or Durant, I don’t ever believe it when a player is “off the market.” No way they won’t listen if there’s a call, and no way a GM hesitates in picking up the phone to make that call. Blatche is available because he’s Andray Blatche, no matter what’s been said.

by ryasch on Feb 23, 2011 12:44 PM EST reply actions

I'm saying they should still be making the calls themselves

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by Mike Prada on Feb 23, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

True enough

by ryasch on Feb 23, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I thnk they're probably just sick of fielding low ball offers.

I’d read this as the Wizards saying, if you want Blatche, come to us with something real because we’re not going to give him away. Blatche needs to know the team doesn’t see him as a liability. I don’t believe they’ve labelled him as untouchable.

by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Feb 23, 2011 12:45 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, I mean you're right

This all could be posturing, and it probably is. I’m just saying I don’t like how it sounds.

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by Mike Prada on Feb 23, 2011 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

We should all know by now that whatever teams say about certain players needs to be taken with a grain of salt

by Jon Kelman on Feb 23, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Thats probably the perfect explanation.

by returnofswagger on Feb 23, 2011 3:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I know LAC is looking for a SF, I wish we could pawn 'Shard off on them and get Aminu.

But we’d have to take Baron Davis’s crappy contract too probably.

by Parks Smith on Feb 23, 2011 12:49 PM EST reply actions

They might as well say he's not available to keep his mind right

Since no one wants him anyway.

Seriously, I bet not a SINGLE team in the nba is interested in him. Not one. Re-upping him over the summer precludes being able to trade him now, not even EG can clean up his own mess that fast.

by DCrez on Feb 23, 2011 12:49 PM EST reply actions

I'm not really expecting the Wiz to do anything

We are still committed to countless lottery picks…

by TheRealBigMike on Feb 23, 2011 12:52 PM EST reply actions

Ernie Grunfeld needs Blatche to succeed

I think that Ernie is willing to keep Blatche even if is not the most sensible decision from a team risk-benefit calculation, because Ernie realizes that if his biggest signing since Gilbert’s and AJ’s summer 2008 contract extensions results in an addition-by-subtraction trade or Blatche not playing well enough to merit his contract then Ernie will be out of a job. Considering the only Blatche trade would at best be essentially giving him away for nothing in return and wiping his contract off the books, Ernie’s best bet to keep his job is to stick with Blatche and hope he turns it around. Ernie probably recognizes there’s not much chance of Blatche earning his contract, but that small chance is still higher than finding a trade partner willing to give the Wizards something back , some return on this 5 year investment in Blatche.

by Emmet O'Neal on Feb 23, 2011 1:03 PM EST reply actions

Yup.

Which is exactly why having EG handle the upcoming draft could end up a colossal mistake, he could shy away from PFs

by DCrez on Feb 23, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I hear Mike Miller is on the block

maybe we’ll trade our #5 pick for him?

by ryasch on Feb 23, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

I am not worried about us shying away from a PF in the draft

I think Ernie knows the strategy has to be Best Player Available at any position besides Point Guard and maybe Shooting Guard.

by jeffco01 on Feb 23, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

I think EG is actually a very good drafter.

by mogoman on Feb 23, 2011 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Only if you're talking about how he can sell draft picks to the highest bidder....

by TheRealBigMike on Feb 23, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Ernie is ok on his best days

when he’s on he can be really on. this is the same guy that tricked the Lakers into taking Kwame for Caron, found good value in the 2nd round of a couple of drafts finding Blatche and Booker and at one point found legitimate pieces for the Wiz to get into the playoffs.

But on his bad days, boy Ernie is bad. I mean John Paul Ramos, Pecherov at the 18th pick and Vladimir Veremeenko (both in the same draft) and trading the 5th pick for Mike Miller and Randy Foye when we could’ve had Stephen Curry

What's this hell I view?
Wizards are like the winter
Ice cold from outside
-wjb1492

by pwilson319 on Feb 23, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

The Wizards are putting their chips on youth....

I think they will move Hinrich and Howard for more youth, leaving Shard as the only vet…

Basically, the team has to pan for Gold in the youth stream for now… Tank for a high lottery pick, stockpile some late first rounders, and pray for a supporting cast worthy of Wall.

I don’t think keeping Blatche means no PF will be drafted. Blatche could move over to the 3 (especially if Howard goes to the Celtics now) or he could eventually become a sixth man.

Meanwhile. the East keeps getting tougher, with DWill now going to the Nyets.

by khrabb on Feb 23, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Blatche at the 3?!!? GROSS

by Parks Smith on Feb 23, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

by jeffco01 on Feb 23, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

He plays more like a three than a four anyway...

Jamison couldn’t or wouldn’t do it, but in some circumstances I think Dray could.

Now is the time to experiment, there is absolutely nothing more to lose.

by khrabb on Feb 23, 2011 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Yea he TRIES to play more like a 3 and sucks when he does,

if he tried to play the 4 and stop taking rediculous shots he’d be a lot better

by Parks Smith on Feb 23, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

and he can't defend 3 or 4's.

by Jheiser3 on Feb 23, 2011 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Do you think EG would take a PF with the 5th pick

and have that guy come in and take ABs spot straight away?

by DCrez on Feb 23, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

We could be looking out at Kanter (if you want to consider him a 4) or Motiejunas...

if P.Jones, Sully, and DWilliams are off the board.

by Parks Smith on Feb 23, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Kanter wont have played in 2yr and is what, 19?

Motiejunas is a total unknown Euro…in either case I could see having to sit behind Dray so they can “learn” the league and all that crap. I really do not want to see a top5 pick come in here and spend a year on the bench while everyone talks about how much potential they have and just how great it will be “a few years” down the line.

And how would those guys fit in with Booker and Seraphin? Ernie just drafted 2 PFs in the 1st round of previous draft….what would it say about his plan to take another one top5? That he doesnt have one? I dont know….I could see him taking a SF no matter what

by DCrez on Feb 23, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure how anybody else on here feels about Montejunas

But I think he could be a stud. I really like his game, looks like he is capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor.

by TheRealBigMike on Feb 23, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

Blatche is not a 3 any more than Yi is a 3

Give it up people!

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on Feb 23, 2011 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

Blatche's value is so low anyways

We would not get anything good for him right now. They are probably trying to give Blatche a little confidence boost by floating this report out there. I would bet we would still move him if anything decent came our way. If you know you won’t get an offer you like by the deadline then why not come out with a “report” saying “blatche is off the table”. He has looked a little better recently and maybe he plays even better after this all star break. At the end of the year before the draft you can trade him when his value is higher. Knowing what we know now, imagine if we traded him at the end of last year when his value was very high.

As far as the Hinrich- Bibby trade goes… no thanks. Hinrich fits with this team better, is a good guy, seems to be a leader and his value will be higher next year. I could see Bibby being an A-Hole on this team coming off the bench behind Wall. This save in cap room atlanta is talking about seems absurd to me. First off we wouldn’t save shit this year because the salaries have to match and next year the contract is only like $2 mil apart. Hinrich is a better player for this team. This offseason and next season’s deadline he could be a very coveted player for a contending team plus his contract will be expiring, we could get some real value for him.

The only trade I want to see happen is the Josh Howard to Boston trade. I have said it before but Howard for Avery Bradley + Von Wafer would be a good trade for us. The salaries match and we get a rookie in avery bradley who was drafted in the top 20 and could develop into a long term 3rd guard for us. He is a combo guard and an explosive athlete who is a tenacious defender. Von Wafer would just be a guy who makes the salaries work but he could be useful for us as well.

by jeffco01 on Feb 23, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Agree no Bibby needed here....

Take a first rounder, ZaZa (i tell you he is a good luck charm!) and Evans expring

by khrabb on Feb 23, 2011 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

Telling the world Blatche is off the table the day before the deadline isn't exactly like anointing him starting PF for life.

It’s actually a backhanded insult. “Not only have we been shopping Blatche but there have been such bad offers that we’re not even shopping him anymore”.

by MR on Feb 23, 2011 1:33 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

by pwilson319 on Feb 23, 2011 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Definitely

It would suck if we ended up getting all these picks but then we never make the playoffs within the next few years. I’d worry about it once things begin to fall into place however.

by thewiz06 on Feb 23, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions