Bullets Forever: FanPosts

Wizards pass on Noel?

2013-06-17T16:53:28Z

So apparently in a Bill Simmons podcast with Ryen Russillo, Russillo said that the Wizards camp was planning to pass on Noel if he fell to 3 because of red flags. I don't know how true this is but I'd like to see what other people think of it.

Personally I'd think we'd make a huge mistake passing on Noel. But I don't have the info other teams do on prospects. We need a big man, and Noel would fit perfectly with Wall and Beal and would be able to learn behind Okafor and Nene.

So...thoughts?

Report: Grunfeld in tears and unconsolable from news...

2013-06-17T14:01:48Z

Having long held and affinity for Europeans that borders on obsession, Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld was said to have literally collapsed upon hearing the news that Croatian forward Dario Saric will withdraw his name from the 2013 NBA draft. While the Wizards organization has remained noncommittal and obscure regarding their plans for the 2013 NBA Draft, it is evident that Dario Saric was indeed a factor in Grunfeld's blueprint for the franchise as he enters the final year of his contract. An unnamed source reportedly said that Grunfeld fell to the ground crying and screaming, "No!! No, no no no!!" when it was confirmed that Saric has signed his letter of withdrawal from the draft and his agent Marc Cornstein will deliver it to the NBA on Monday, the deadline for players to withdraw.

(kidding of course but I don't doubt Ernie was upset)

A cool story I just want to share with all my fellow BFers

2013-06-17T01:31:23Z

So just some basic background on what I do for a living - I'm currently a part-time college student while working as a sales associate at Best Buy in Rockville. Yesterday, to my surprise, Glenn Consor actually walked into my store, looking to buy some electronics. Luckily he ran into me, the only Wizards fan among the store's employees - I'm probably the only associate there who would have recognized him anyway.

So he comes in looking to buy a CD player for his 80+ year old father (yes, I do still get customers who come in looking for CD players in our age of ipods and mp3s. In fact I've had customers coming in looking for vinyl records). Luckily I was able to hook him up with a Sony Walkman. During the sale, I engaged Glenn in some small talk and asked him about the draft. He said that this draft is essentially a "crapshoot" because you simply don't know what you're going to get. He did say that he favors us drafting Otto Porter, but that the real question is "do you think he's going to be better than Martell Webster and Trevor Ariza?"

Anyway it was just awesome meeting him in person and getting a chance to speak with him.

Sign Jamison for the vet minimum?

2013-06-15T18:11:59Z

I was thinking about John Wall's request for a stretch 4 and Antawn Jamison popped into my head. I know he's getting up there in years, and seems to be chasing after a championship, but was curious if the board thought bringing him back could work. I know he can be a liability on defense, but he's a crafty player we could bring off the bench for offense. He also fills the "veteran leadership" role Grunfeld always seems to be looking for. Jamison could be a good cheap option - if he hasn't completely soured on the organization after the Arenas incident.... What do you think?

Poll

Is Antawn Jamison worth a look?

Victor Oladipo and my thoughts on the draft

2013-06-15T12:25:46Z

It seems like there is a sizable minority of fans out there convinced that despite the obvious conflict/overlap with Bradley Beal, Victor Oladipo is going to be the best player to come out of this draft, and the Wizards should take him at #3 if he is still there (which seems likely). Wanting to know what all the fuss was about, I finally watched the Oladipo Draft Express video. Having not seen the guy play during the season it's all I've seen, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Putting my thoughts out here to start a discussion and hopefully get some info from other BF folks who have seen him play a bit more.

He is an impressive athlete, and an impressive finisher. But I have a hard time imagining his game having the same sort of effect at the pro level. SO MANY of the plays in the video feature Oladipo finishing at the rim, either in transition, using his quickness slashing to the basket or using his strength to power over weaker players. But I just don't think the same kind of holes/space exists in the NBA (especially in the playoffs). His athleticism won't be as much of an advantage (better athletes at the NBA level), players are bigger and NBA big men are much more skilled than the average college big man.

His real success/failure seems like it's going to be predicated on how "real" his jumper can be. His catch and shoot stats are encouraging. But it's hard to say. Playing for us he would certainly need to improve his handles so that he can create his own shot a bit more, particularly because he would likely have to do some time at small forward, and being undersized for the position would have a hard time getting off shots...

That said, his defense is very encouraging. A question for anyone who watched him during the year, how did he fare going against bigger players? Is there a possibility that he could guard SFs in the league? If he can, then playing a 3 guard lineup at times could work. The most important question is whether he can guard the other team's SF, right? I imagine he'd do fine against many. And then if teams go big against us and it's a matchup he can't handle we can use Singleton (thinking not so much about next year but "the future"). When there's a size mismatch at SF it's potentially an advantage or advantage for either team. As much as it could be a problem for us having a small SF going against a bigger one it could equally be a problem for the other team with a big SF going against a small one. It's a question of talent and circumstance, really. But as long as we have another option on the bench with more size at SF then we could just shift Oladipo to the 2nd unit in those situations and watch him dominate.

In the end, I think Oladipo could work in Washington. But I don't look at his game and see him as "the next MJ" or anything close to it. He'll be a good player. But he doesn't seem any better than Otto Porter to me, just different. Porter's shot looked great in that (very short) workout video. And his mentality fits with what the team is trying to build. That said, I'd be happy with either pick. Or Alex Len. A true big man that can shoot could become a big problem in the league with the right coaching . Anthony Bennett seems problematic. The things he does well he does very well but I think there's too many big issues there around conditioning, work ethic, defense and mentality. He will be a good player in the league, but I don't think it will be on his rookie contract and it may very well not be for the team that drafts him.

Anyway, thems my thoughts. Tell me why I'm wrong, please. :)

Truth About It compares Victor Oladipo to Michael Jordan. Wizards may regret passing on him.

2013-06-14T16:02:01Z

What an excellent article
One of my most enjoyable articles to read in a long long time. The John Feinstein drinking comments to Pat Riley wre excellent. Otto Porter supporters should definitely not read this article (it mentions things like Porter can only jump 27"....). I like their case for drafting the best available talent regardless of position. Can we Wizards fans accept the possible outcome IF we draft Otto Porter and he becomes a very good player, BUT we bypass Victor Oladipo and he becomes a great player somewhere else?

What an excellent article One of my most enjoyable articles to read in a long long time. The John Feinstein drinking comments to Pat Riley wre excellent. Otto Porter supporters should definitely not read this article (it mentions things like Porter can only jump 27"....). I like their case for drafting the best available talent regardless of position. Can we Wizards fans accept the possible outcome IF we draft Otto Porter and he becomes a very good player, BUT we bypass Victor Oladipo and he becomes a great player somewhere else?

Player Comps

2013-06-14T16:01:56Z

Making player comparisons is major component of how professional sports teams view players and prospects. Comparisons are made at draft time, during contract negotiations, and in other sports during contract arbitration cases where both sides (team and player/agent) make comparisons.

During the scouting process, it's easy to project high with 19-20 year old prospects. You see their physical tools and think the sky is the limit. Which to a certain extent it is with nearly every young maturing adult. The problem however is that most times these prospects never reach 80% of their potential, making it more difficult to project 5-6 years into the future.

Another issue with comparisons is that people, especially the major draft websites tend to only compare within the same race or origin. If it's a European player, he gets compared to another Euro, a white to another white guy, and so on and so forth.

Here are some of my comparisons for this year's prospects, with a little explanation as to why:

Nerlens Noel/Joakim Noah- You're talking about two high energy guys that are the mortar or glue to their team's defense, with a per game stat line of around 12 and 12, with nearly 3 bpg.
Ben McLemore/Bradley Beal- Both players played off the ball in college and both drew Ray Allen comps in regards to their shooting. Beal's just getting started, but I see the same type of impact and potential in McLemore. I think he's going to be pretty good, just not sure what his ceiling is, which is how I feel with Beal as well.
Otto Porter/Jeff Green- School, system, size, skills, and potential all seem to be parallel.
Anthony Bennett/Michael Beasley- Both have the physical tools to be all star caliber players, but both lack that engine that runs non-stop to take their game to that next level.
Shabazz Muhammad/Caron Butler- Physically they're very similar and both like to use their weight/strength to their advantage in muscling their defender down.
Alex Len/ Brendon Haywood- These are two seven foot tall guys that can clog the paint and make an impact due to their legit size alone. True seven footers are great when they're healthy, but more often than not, they're getting banged up throughout their careers.
Victor Oladipo/ Lance Stephenson- Can guard multiple positions, uber athletic, and still a work in progress on offense.
CJ McCollum/Eric Gordon- Versatile combo guard that can shoot and curl off screens all day long.
Cody Zeller/Clifford Robinson- Bigs that can score, step outside and shoot, but not great defensively or on the glass, despite their size.

Here are some of my comparisons for this year's prospects, with a little explanation as to why:

Nerlens Noel/Joakim Noah- You're talking about two high energy guys that are the mortar or glue to their team's defense, with a per game stat line of around 12 and 12, with nearly 3 bpg.
Ben McLemore/Bradley Beal- Both players played off the ball in college and both drew Ray Allen comps in regards to their shooting. Beal's just getting started, but I see the same type of impact and potential in McLemore. I think he's going to be pretty good, just not sure what his ceiling is, which is how I feel with Beal as well.
Otto Porter/Jeff Green- School, system, size, skills, and potential all seem to be parallel.
Anthony Bennett/Michael Beasley- Both have the physical tools to be all star caliber players, but both lack that engine that runs non-stop to take their game to that next level.
Shabazz Muhammad/Caron Butler- Physically they're very similar and both like to use their weight/strength to their advantage in muscling their defender down.
Alex Len/ Brendon Haywood- These are two seven foot tall guys that can clog the paint and make an impact due to their legit size alone. True seven footers are great when they're healthy, but more often than not, they're getting banged up throughout their careers.
Victor Oladipo/ Lance Stephenson- Can guard multiple positions, uber athletic, and still a work in progress on offense.
CJ McCollum/Eric Gordon- Versatile combo guard that can shoot and curl off screens all day long.
Cody Zeller/Clifford Robinson- Bigs that can score, step outside and shoot, but not great defensively or on the glass, despite their size.

Lakers Trade Idea for Dwight Howard

2013-06-13T18:54:00Z

Okay I know there are a million trade proposals out there on this site, most on here know I won't put anything outlandish on here, so before I put this together I gave this some serious thought. Although I'm unsure that this is likely to happen, I was curious to see how many fellow Wizards fans would be open to this, check it out:

Dwight Howard in a sign and trade deal with the Lakers for Emeka Okafor, Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton and the #3 Pick.

Benefits for the Lakers:

Allows them to get something back for losing Dwight (assuming he doesn't want to go back to LA)
Okafor would be a great compliment to Gasol and gives them a legit big to contend next year for at least a playoff spot.
Team instantly becomes deeper once Kobe is able to return healthy.
Could use the #3 Pick to pick up someone like Ben McLemore who could eventually replace Kobe once he retires
Relieves Cap space for the Lakers as all three players would be eligible to come off the books next year and they would save a ton in luxury taxes there after. If Kobe still retires after next year, then they would finally be under the cap, with a foundational player (draft pick) on a rookie contract, which could allow them to sign a big name free agent.

Benefits for Wizards:

Getting one of the league's premier Big men where he can still dominant defensively and compliments the rest of the roster.
Goes along with the defensive construct of current roster
Have a young foundation of Wall, Beal and Howard for at least 4 years and possibly more.
Make use of expiring contracts to get one of the best possible returns you can get.

I know there are a lot of holes to fill with this one. I'm sure some of you dislike Howard, but none of us would deny his raw ability and the potential that he has. If Ernie is serious about making good use of the expiring contracts, then to me this might be the best opportunity to do so. For anyone of you who are cap gurus please let us know if this is a feasible trade or if not, what would have to change for it to work, if it doesn't work already. Other than that, I would love to hear thoughts from fans. Would you be open to Dwight coming here? Do you think this would be worth the risk?

Dwight Howard in a sign and trade deal with the Lakers for Emeka Okafor, Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton and the #3 Pick.

Benefits for the Lakers:

Allows them to get something back for losing Dwight (assuming he doesn't want to go back to LA)
Okafor would be a great compliment to Gasol and gives them a legit big to contend next year for at least a playoff spot.
Team instantly becomes deeper once Kobe is able to return healthy.
Could use the #3 Pick to pick up someone like Ben McLemore who could eventually replace Kobe once he retires
Relieves Cap space for the Lakers as all three players would be eligible to come off the books next year and they would save a ton in luxury taxes there after. If Kobe still retires after next year, then they would finally be under the cap, with a foundational player (draft pick) on a rookie contract, which could allow them to sign a big name free agent.

Benefits for Wizards:

Getting one of the league's premier Big men where he can still dominant defensively and compliments the rest of the roster.
Goes along with the defensive construct of current roster
Have a young foundation of Wall, Beal and Howard for at least 4 years and possibly more.
Make use of expiring contracts to get one of the best possible returns you can get.

Poll

What do you think about this potential trade for Dwight Howard?

Bring Back Swaggy P!!!

2013-06-12T19:25:21Z

Depending on how free agency goes this offseason, the team may or may not retain Martell Webster. I'm hoping they do, and in addition to drafting Otto Porter, find two more solid backcourt players to fortify our wing positions.

In a perfect world, we'd somehow sign Jarrett Jack and Gary Neal. Of course, with EG as our GM, we're probably gonna just re-sign Temple and Price, draft a 2nd round combo guard (Lorenzo Brown!) and call it a day.

But since we'll be mining the dregs anyway, why not go back to the future and bring back a popular ex-Wizard to sop up some of those reserve minutes? That's right, we need to bring back Nick Young!!!

I know some of you are saying "why the heck would we do that"? Well, here's why?

1) He'll come for cheap. He played for Philly last year on a one year, $6M deal. He won't get that sorta money this summer.

2) He's familiar with the team/players already, and understands the coaching staff's defensive philosophy. After getting benched for not playing D under Doug Collins last year, he should be humbled.

3) He's a good man defender. With Okafor and Nene behind him, I think his team defense weaknesses are minimized.

4) He can still hit the 3. His 36% mark last year is deceptively low because he fell out of the rotation (for not playing defense) the final 2 months of the season. He shot a blistering 43% from long range in the month of January.

5) He should understand his role now. He will be here to give the team 15-18mpg behind Beal. He will be expected to play within the flow of the offense and shot up for corner and transition 3's, which he's still really good at.

6) He's Swaggy P! Seriously, was there a more beloved player on this roster before Martell Webster arrived?

Our offense was terrible last year, even with Wall. Adding a solid bench scorer for a reasonable sum should be a priority. I think Nick Young can be that guy.

But since we'll be mining the dregs anyway, why not go back to the future and bring back a popular ex-Wizard to sop up some of those reserve minutes? That's right, we need to bring back Nick Young!!!

I know some of you are saying "why the heck would we do that"? Well, here's why?

1) He'll come for cheap. He played for Philly last year on a one year, $6M deal. He won't get that sorta money this summer.

2) He's familiar with the team/players already, and understands the coaching staff's defensive philosophy. After getting benched for not playing D under Doug Collins last year, he should be humbled.

3) He's a good man defender. With Okafor and Nene behind him, I think his team defense weaknesses are minimized.

4) He can still hit the 3. His 36% mark last year is deceptively low because he fell out of the rotation (for not playing defense) the final 2 months of the season. He shot a blistering 43% from long range in the month of January.

5) He should understand his role now. He will be here to give the team 15-18mpg behind Beal. He will be expected to play within the flow of the offense and shot up for corner and transition 3's, which he's still really good at.

6) He's Swaggy P! Seriously, was there a more beloved player on this roster before Martell Webster arrived?

Our offense was terrible last year, even with Wall. Adding a solid bench scorer for a reasonable sum should be a priority. I think Nick Young can be that guy.

Poll

Should the team bring back Nick Young?

Otto Porter, the next Caron Butler?

2013-06-10T19:56:51Z

Hello BF community! I hope you are doing well. I know it's that time a year for us Wizards fans and we are antsy about the upcoming draft. Part of that anticipation is in hoping our front office doesn't mess up. We can only hope.

If we keep the pick, it is clear that the front office is split between Georgetown SF Otto Porter and UNLV PF Anthony Bennett. Some on BF have been having that same debate. 59% of us voted in favor of drafting Otto Porter, myself included.

I am very into statistical analysis and have been looking into player comparisons for Otto Porter. I believe it helps project a players potential. I believe I have found a pretty solid fit for Mr. Porter that I haven't heard mentioned before. The comparison to Tayshaun Prince is the most common, even from Porter himself. I believe this sells him short offensively. For me, former Wizard and two-time NBA All-Star Caron Butler seems to be a more fitting comparison.

Below is a comparison of Otto Porter and Caron Butler physically and statistically.

Otto Porter and Caron Butler Physical Profile. (Otto Porter is on top, Caron on the bottom)

Height	Weight	Wing Span	Reach	BF%	No-Step Vert	Max Vert	Bench Press	Lane Agility	¾ Court Sprint
6' 7.5”	198	7' 1.5”	8' 9.5”	6.70%	27	36	9	11.25	3.4
6' 5.25”	222	6' 11.5”	8' 7.5”	NA	27	31	2	12.15	3.3

Otto Porter and Caron Butler Statistical Profile

Yr	FG	FGA	FG%	2PT	2PTA	2P%	3PT	3PTA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	Pts	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF
13	6.4	13.3	48	4.8	9.4	50.4	1.6	3.9	42.2	4.6	6	77.7	19.1	8.8	3.2	2.2	1.1	1.8	2.3
2	7.9	16.4	48.5	7	14	49.9	0.9	2.4	40	4.9	6.3	77.9	21.7	8	3.2	2.2	0.4	3.1	2.4

These stats are taken from DraftExpress.com (Porter and Butler), they are per 40 minutes and pace adjusted.

As you can see, Porter and Butler mirror each other in many ways. Both played at a Big East school and entered the draft following their sophomore seasons. They are nearly identical in their shooting percentages across the board, rebounding, assists, steals, and tendency to foul. Their high character level and high basketball IQ are similarities as well.

However, Porter bests Butler in several areas. Most importantly, Porter will be two years younger than Butler was on draft day (20 vs 22). Age is a critical factor when assessing a players development. Porter is two inches taller and longer with an additional five inches on his max vertical leap. This may explain the significant advantage he has in shot blocking, more than doubling Butler's output. Porter shot from deep more often and connected on a higher percentage, signalling that he may have more potential in that area. He also turned the ball over significantly less often, however, this can partially be explained by Georgetown's unique offensive system. I would still give the edge to Porter but context is important. There you have it. You all know Caron Butler's career well, what do you think about the comparison?

How would BF feel about drafting a significantly younger yet taller, longer, slightly more athletic, better shooting Caron Butler with the third overall pick? I would feel pretty good about it. Caron Butler was a two-time All-Star with the Wizards. Because of his youth, I project Otto Porter to have a higher ceiling and probably a longer lasting prime.

He would be an ideal third wheel behind John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Below is a comparison of Otto Porter and Caron Butler physically and statistically.

Otto Porter and Caron Butler Physical Profile. (Otto Porter is on top, Caron on the bottom)

Height	Weight	Wing Span	Reach	BF%	No-Step Vert	Max Vert	Bench Press	Lane Agility	¾ Court Sprint
6' 7.5”	198	7' 1.5”	8' 9.5”	6.70%	27	36	9	11.25	3.4
6' 5.25”	222	6' 11.5”	8' 7.5”	NA	27	31	2	12.15	3.3

Otto Porter and Caron Butler Statistical Profile

Yr	FG	FGA	FG%	2PT	2PTA	2P%	3PT	3PTA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	Pts	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF
13	6.4	13.3	48	4.8	9.4	50.4	1.6	3.9	42.2	4.6	6	77.7	19.1	8.8	3.2	2.2	1.1	1.8	2.3
2	7.9	16.4	48.5	7	14	49.9	0.9	2.4	40	4.9	6.3	77.9	21.7	8	3.2	2.2	0.4	3.1	2.4

These stats are taken from DraftExpress.com (Porter and Butler), they are per 40 minutes and pace adjusted.

He would be an ideal third wheel behind John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Poll

Does this post make you more favorable to drafting Otto Porter?

Offseason Priority: Bench Hype Man

2013-06-10T15:11:07Z

Let's be honest. The Wiz have 3 priorities this offseason: 1.) 3rd guard 2.) Pick and Pop BIG 3.) HYPE MAN

We have been in desperate need of a hype man since we got rid of Hamadye N'daye. Just an absolutely devastating loss that we haven't quite recovered from. Hamadye was among the best in the biz; gap tooth smile, goofy 7 foot foreigner, amazing fist pumps. So reliable, always brought the HYPE on a nightly basis. I guess we have sort of tried to use Cartier Martin in that role but you just can't rely on consistent productivty from him. I need a hype man that thirsts for fast break dunks, lives for a teammate taking a charge, and can just take over the jumbotron. What kind of hype men are out there? Can we lure Scalabrine out of retirement? Or can we just bring back Hamadye?? I NEED A HYPE MAN!

Let's be honest. The Wiz have 3 priorities this offseason: 1.) 3rd guard 2.) Pick and Pop BIG 3.) HYPE MAN We have been in desperate need of a hype man since we got rid of Hamadye N'daye. Just an absolutely devastating loss that we haven't quite recovered from. Hamadye was among the best in the biz; gap tooth smile, goofy 7 foot foreigner, amazing fist pumps. So reliable, always brought the HYPE on a nightly basis. I guess we have sort of tried to use Cartier Martin in that role but you just can't rely on consistent productivty from him. I need a hype man that thirsts for fast break dunks, lives for a teammate taking a charge, and can just take over the jumbotron. What kind of hype men are out there? Can we lure Scalabrine out of retirement? Or can we just bring back Hamadye?? I NEED A HYPE MAN!

What Would You Like To See?

2013-06-10T00:57:53Z

Hey Wizards Fans,

An interesting thought ran across my head and, I would like to hear what you guys have to say. So I would like to pose this question to you all..... What would you guys like to see this off-season?

Here are some questions that may allow you to answer this question easier.

- Who would be your ideal prospect(prospects) for the Wizards to acquire in the draft?

- What free agents would you like to see signed?

- Who would you like for the Wizards to trade for? Who wouldn't you mind being traded on the current roster?

- Who wouldn't you mind seeing the Wizards not bring back?

So that's it ... Let me know you guys ideal/realistic view on a positive Wizards off-season!

Ersan Ilyasova

2013-06-09T21:36:07Z

There have been rumors circulating the last few days that the Wiz might trade the three pick for Ersan Ilyasova. Obviously this would be a horrible trade for us if all we get out of the 3rd overall pick is Ersan Ilyasova. Ilyasova is good, but he isn’t the type of franchise-changing player you expect to get in the top 5 of the lottery and therefore is not worth trading the third overall pick for. However, if the Wizards do like Ilyasova a lot and feel like the draft is weak they could trade down in the draft and then deal the pick to Milwaukee

The Wizards, if they really wanted to, could do something like trading the 3 pick to Sacramento for Patrick Patterson and the seven pick and then deal the seven pick and 56 pick to Milwaukee for Ersan and the 15 pick. They would move down 12 spots but pick up 2 good young forwards who seem to fir their system. Patterson is also a DC native and he played with Wall at UK for a year so chances are he’d be happy to come here and maybe even gives us a good deal on a potential extension.

Another move they could make would be dealing the three pick to Philly for Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie and the 11 pick and then make the same deal with Milwaukee that I already mentioned. That would leave them with the 15 pick, Moultrie, Allen and Ilyasova. It’s unlikely but if Philly really likes someone at the top of the draft maybe they even deal Hawes/Thad Young and the 11 pick to us for the 3 pick. It is improbable but they could use a shooting guard and maybe they love McElmore or Oladipo.

The Wizards could also trade the 3 pick to the T-Wolves for Williams and the nine pick and then deal the 9 pick and 56 pick for Ilyasova and the 15. Other than the pipe dream second Philly deal, this is definitely the one I like best. We get a great forward duo and we could take a project big man like Gorgui Dieng or Rudy Gorbert or maybe even Cody Zeller if he falls.

There are many more of these type deal we could make but these were a few that I liked toying with. To be honest I don't know if I would do any of them except for the second Philly deal of course and probably the T-Wolves trade, but I would have ti think about that one. However, these are what I think are some decent ideas that make sense for both teams. I’m not sure if all the cap numbers work so please don’t jump on me for that but if it comes to that we could always tweak it a little. What do you guys think about these deals?

Coach of the Future

2013-06-09T16:13:47Z

Reading some of the comments on BF recently, the general sentiment among fans seems to be that the team has an extremely bright future, but needs a different coach to take the next leap. It would appear that Randy wittman and possibly EG are in lame duck periods and that assistant coach Don Newman is in position to take over the head coaching job from Wittman when Wittman's contract expires after next season. There has also been a lot of change this past season with teams replacing successful head coaches. Many of these coaches would be available to come to Washington and I bet that many of them would jump at the chance to work with John Wall. It seems that we all want the same thing from a coach for this team, a defensive minded guy that gets our players to play a tough, physical brand of basketball, but a guy that doesn't completely disregard the offensive end of the floor. Many coaches are available, some more realistic than others, so let me know what you guys think about the possibilities for some of these guys to take over.

Staying home to start:

Randy Wittman - has done a fantastic job, beginning to change the culture in the locker room and on the court. He has this team playing great defense and also the locker room is filled with leaders and strong role models instead of knuckleheads and shenanigans. A lot of people harp on his overall record which isn't great, but his only head coaching jobs so far were in Cleveland before LeBron, Minnesota before Love and Rubio, and now here in Washington. This upcoming season he will be fielding easily his most talented roster ever.

Don Newman - The man many have pegged as the coach of the future and the one I am the least familiar with. Since he comes from Gregg Popovich he has my vote. Since he is part of the Pop coaching tree, he will probably instill good defense, and a solid offensive system. The one thing he will be able to bring is structure, which I like, but I also think Wall needs to be able to push the pace and run a little bit. I don't see that becoming a problem and watching the give and take with that could be fun and exciting.

Now some recently available coaches

George Karl - a very exciting possibility. The man has been coaching forever and he is one of those guys who has forgotten more about the game, than I am likely to know about it. He has been able to win with many different teams and most recently ran a high-octane, up-tempo style in Denver that would be awesome to see in the district. Karl also was able to reign in some of the bad habits of Carmello Anthony and successfully helmed a team with Allen Iverson and Carmello Anthony fighting over who gets to chuck it in a worse situation. Early in Melo's career he institued the 5-5-5 rule to Carmello disciplined, meaning if Melo got 5 postups and 5 free throws, he could take 5 jumpshots. I guy that really connects with his players. I would be remiss to disregard Karl's recent health struggles though, which could play a part in his next decision.

Doug Collins - This guy is absolutely one of my favorite coaches. He is a great defensive mind and a guy who was a great role player in the NBA for a long time. He also has a reputation for developing point guards and having a good relationship with him. He is not a player's coach however, and has been known to tear into rookies and destroy their confidence. Seeing as how the Wizards have the 3rd overall pick in the upcoming draft and are probably looking for him to be a factor, Collins may not be the right fit. Especially considering he has never lasted a with a team for longer than three years, nearly always leaves acrimoniously, and usually leaves right before the team has an amazing amount of success.

Scott Skiles - Another great defensive mind, and as a former point guard in the NBA holds the record for assits in a game with 30. I don't really think Skiles is a good fit because, to be frank, he quit on the Bucks this year. He stopped caring weeks maybe even months before he was fired.

Larry Brown - The man has a ring, and he seems to love taking on tough challenges. Washington certainly presents that. He is a hall of famer that has a special relationship with his point guards. Players love him, the GM's are another story. In Charlotte he exercised a tremendous amount of control over personnel decisions, and with EG's job in serious jeopardy he may be unwilling to take a chance on a guy like Larry Brown. I really respect Larry Brown, but this is a tough sell for him.

Brian Shaw - One of the nest assistants in the NBA, spent years on the bench learning from the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson. He brings the triangle offense with him. He turned down the Bobcat's job last year, because he wants to be successful in his first coaching gig and he has offers on the table from Brooklyn and the Clippers at least. LA is an attractive destination, but if the Clippers resign Chris Paul, would Paul want to play in a system that deemphasizes the point guard? Would we want that system in DC?

Lionel Hollins - The Grizzlies have given teams permission to speak to him regarding their vacancies. He is a defensive guy that has helped Mike Conley become a borderline all-star and Marc Gasol win defensive player of the year. He is a great coach, and he would help the team to the playoffs. I think people are making too big of an issue about the shove, but regardless a coach should not act that way.

Vinny Del Negro - I have never been impressed with Del Negro. He did a good job in LA during the regular season, but in the playoffs other coaches have been able to figure him out. A lot of the success of that team has to go to Chris Paul as well. He had roughly the same roster Thibs had in Chicago, but under Thibs that team won 50 games and had the league MVP. He should be in the discussion, but unless he makes personal improvements, his teams will never be as successful as they could be.

The Long Shot

Phil Jackson - Any conversation about coaching at the NBA level needs to include Phil Jackson. The man has 11 championships. His triangle offense gets the game flowing and the players moving around, but de-emphasizes the point guard a little bit. He has had Michael and Kobe, but Michael and Kobe had Phil. Jackson has come out and said that he doen't want to coach anymore, but there just seems to be a glimmer in his eye when he says it. He has also dealt with his share of injury issues and his wife lives in LA. when he was considering returning to the Laker's bench this year, he was negotiating being able to only coach the home games, so I doubt a cold-weather city interests him much at this point.

So there you have it. A pretty big list, including three of my all time favorite coaches. For what it's worth I think that Randy Wittman should be given a chance to play with toy he built, but should he falter at all one of these other coaches should get a call. What do you guys think? Who ya like as the coach of the future?

Staying home to start:

Now some recently available coaches

The Long Shot

Trade Ideas and or Targets

2013-06-09T01:25:40Z

After hearing about the rumors involving Ersan Ilyasova and our No. 3 pick, I've started to become concerned that Ernie might actually bite on this offer from Milwaukee. A few days ago, John Wall came out and stated that he wanted a stretch 4 to help open up the paint on the offensive side of the floor. If EG takes this seriously, he might take this trade in an attempt to please Wall and save his job by putting the team in a "Win now" frame of mind, which in my opinion is not what we need right now. If we make the playoffs next season and get an asset like Ersan that will never become much more than he is right now, we are setting ourselves up to be a bubble team for the next 3-5 years. We will be that team that never gets a lottery pick but is never good enough to contend for a championship. If Ernie tries to save his job by pushing too hard to make the playoffs next season, he may screw us over for the future, and that process will start if we take this trade. There are a few players that I would like to see brought to D.C., and some are more realistic than others.

After looking at teams around the league who may have too many players at each position or just players in a bad position, I stumbled upon Wilson Chandler. I don't follow the Nuggets closely, and I really have no Idea how he fits in with their rotation, but it appears to me like he is stuck behind Iggy and Gallinari. With starter's potential (like in New York), I would like to see if we could pull of a trade to bring Chandler to play along side Wall and Beal. Chandler would fit in perfectly with our style of play. He's a decent shooter, plays great defense, has good size (6'8 225), and is athletic enough to get out and run the floor in transition with John(see video below). Considering that Denver lost both their GM of the year and their Coach, George Karl, Denver might be looking to move in a new direction depending on who is hired to occupy those positions. If the Nuggets want to choose free agency as their route to success in the future, they may be looking to take on Ariza's contract (7.25M) to clear some of their cap space or to sign a good role player after next season. We may also be able to offer Martell Webster if we sign him to the full MLE (around 5M), which would open the floor up for Igoudala and McGee/Faried to work in the paint. I feel like we should try as hard as we can to keep our No. 3 pick, which may or may not be realistic depending on what the Nuggets want in return. However, if we acquire Chandler that would almost certainly mean going for Len or Noel if he falls to us, seeing as we would potentially have our long term option at SF. I don't know about Chandler's injury history other than a freak accident with David Lee(?)'s teeth infecting his forearm. This seems like a reasonable trade for both sides, maybe exchanging picks and some other players like Vesely, Seraphin,Singleton, Booker, etc. to sweeten the deal. Depending on what Denver wants, I would love for us to explore a trade involving Chandler and one of our expirings (Webster if we have to).

Chandler's Two-Handed fastbreak smash! (via NBA)

As a side note, I have seen plenty of pipe dreams proposed mainly involving Kevin Love and Demarcus Cousins, where the trades almost exclusively benefited our side. For this one, I tried to make it as even as I could while trying to hold on to as many assets as possible. It all really depends on what Denver wants for him, and with a new GM and Coach, this trade could be more realistic than it seems.

I would be very excited if this trade went through with similar players/picks switching teams, and this would let us target a big man with potential in the draft, rounding out our core. If the team develops like it should, we could be contenders in 2-5 years, rather than a bubble team for the next 5 that ends with Wall leaving because we can't get past the first round. I think that Chandler would be a good addition to the team, that would be a great piece not only now, but in the future as well. Let me know what you guys think about this. I'm new here, so it would be great if you could give me feedback. Thanks, Go Wiz!

Chandler's Two-Handed fastbreak smash! (via NBA)

Poll

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A cool story I just want to share with all my fellow BFers

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Does this post make you more favorable to drafting Otto Porter?

Offseason Priority: Bench Hype Man

What Would You Like To See?

Ersan Ilyasova

Coach of the Future

Trade Ideas and or Targets

Would you be on board with this trade?