Comments locked last night for our "Be The GM" contest, and it has been a gloriously hedonistic romp through fantasy land. But the truth for most, if not all of us, is that we could care less if a blockbuster trade goes through as long as Ernie Grunfeld drafts smart without compromising future draft selections. Of course, our ideas of drafting smart differ on a fan-to-fan basis. DC fans appreciate off-season fireworks, with Dan Snyder in town how could it be otherwise...but we don't need to see them, not yet. Especially having lived through the results of those fireworks when they're premature or been on the shelves too long, so to speak.
The prevailing opinion on the internet has been that this is a terrible draft, which just isn't the case. Weak at the top, a hard look at the 2011 class reveals plenty of potential role players who can fill needs for the Wizards. Especially since, you know, we could use help everywhere but PG (although I think a Nick Young resigning settles SG and a backup PG wouldn't go amiss in the second round excepting a Euro big man draft and stash). But role players, you may be thinking? A need? Yup.
First of all, there are plenty of players who become integral drafted in the middle of the first round. While the 2009 draft class holds no fond memories for us, only Timberwolves fans should shudder more. Drafted four PGs and the only one to produce thus far was traded away after being drafted mid-late first, fueling another franchise's rebuilding process. So while the star probability is low in this draft, there are still plenty of guys who can become impact players. Define impact as Nick Young on the 2010/11 Chicago Bulls. Tangentially, if the Bulls are able to draft Marshon Brooks, we may not have to worry about a bidding war for NY's services.
But back to the roleplayers, don't we have enough right now? Well, enough for what? Sure, we can just sign a few off the street when we're ready to contend, I suppose. That's putting the cart so far ahead of the horse that it may as well be an X-wing. This has been a familiar theme for me, but we're starting to see the nucleus of a blue-collar culture coming together in Washington. Picking up the third year option on a prospect like Trevor Booker is as routine and automatic as putting on your socks before your shoes, but here's what @Trevor_Booker had to say:
thx 2 the #wizards 4 believing in me & picking up the option on my 3rd year! Building a team 4 greatness! Our hard work will get us there
A more jaded eye would dismiss this easily as meaningless fluff or at best a token acknowledgement. Now Nick Young wasn't on Twitter when the Wizards picked up his third year, and his growth over the past year has me hot to see him back next year. But I can't fathom seeing a similar missive from him, and I view that as an indictment of the culture that existed a few years back. Entitlement needed to go, and the initiative is in full swing.
A season breaking in and leading a draft class will be excellent experience for John Wall and the others who will emerge as leaders on this squad. It will build culture because the new guys will be learning from the ones who have the franchise on their shoulders and who seem to appreciate the weight of expectation. I'm not saying we don't need that All-Star to run with John Wall, although Derrick Rose and Dirk Nowitzki will tell you more than one max contract player is not a requirement (though it doesn't hurt...usually).
Maybe some package of young, high-character roleplayers, and a draft pick or two 'Nets' us a superstar (ah, topical puns). It would be nice to still have a few young, high-character roleplayers left on the team, yes? Maybe Derrick Williams or Enes Kanter is worth the fireworks, maybe they aren't. But going just a little too far at this stage of the rebuild could hurt it badly, and I'd rather quietly make the right move than a big splash. Too many times in DC that ends up meaning there's a fresh body in the water. It may be sophomoric to remind you we'd rather see a solid draft than pay too much in a big trade, but with all the giddy craziness of a virtual GM spree, sometimes the obvious bears repeating.