2012 NBA Offseason: Washington Bullets
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Washington Wizards (Last Year: 20-46)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
3. Bradley Beal, G, Florida: A Grade
The Wizards breathe a sigh of relief as the Bobcats didn't deal the second pick to a team wanting to grab Beal at No. 2. Beal and John Wall give the Wizards a talented backcourt to go with the pieces they've recently added up front with Nene, Emeka Okafor, and Trevor Ariza.
32. Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic: B Grade
This is a good second-round investment for the Wizards as they didn't have a glaring need and can stash him overseas for a year or two.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2011-12 Season Summary:
Team president Ernie Grunfeld called this the second year of a three-year plan for the Washington Wizards franchise. After finishing with the second worst record in the NBA, there will need to be some accelerated growth next season if the team is going to reach the desired destination of said plan.
As part of their rebuilding effort, the Wizards were one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the NBA. Seven rotation players were either rookies or in their second year in the league. Injuries to veterans Rashard Lewis (who was disgustingly the second-highest paid player in the NBA this past season) and Andray Blatche factored into the young guys being thrust into larger roles, but that should actually benefit the team in the long haul.
The main cog of this youth movement is former No. 1 overall pick John Wall, who didn't show a whole lot of growth from his rookie season. His supporting cast certainly had something to do with that, but you still expect to see him make steady strides. Wall's stats were consistent with that of his first year in the league though he shot an abysmal 3-42 from distance.
The team formerly known as the Bullets shook up its roster a bit prior to the trade deadline by dealing young players/sometime knuckleheads Nick Young and JaVale McGee for a veteran big man in Nene Hilario. Though Hilario only played in 11 games with Washington, his presence and experience was a welcomed addition to the young roster as it displayed better chemistry and maturity while finishing 11-14 after his acquisition.
It's easy to find a glass half-full approach for the Wizards. They finished the season on a six-game win streak and have quality young talent to go with a proven veteran in the middle. With a top-five pick in the draft, Washington will add another piece to the puzzle. I'm not ready to make a bold statement like Jordan Crawford's claim that the Wizards will be a playoff team next year, but I think with a couple of intelligent moves this offseason that they'll be one step closer to fulfilling that three-year plan.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Nene Hilario/Emeka Okafor/Kevin Seraphin
PF: Jan Vesely/Andray Blatche/Trevor Booker
SF: Trevor Ariza/Chris Singleton
SG: Jordan Crawford
PG: John Wall/Shelvin Mack
NBA Free Agents:
SF-Mo Evans (UFA)
PF-Brian Cook (UFA)
G-Roger Mason (UFA)
PF-James Singleton (UFA)
G/F-Cartier Martin (UFA)
SG-Morris Almond (UFA)
Offseason Transactions:
Wizards acquire C Emeka Okafor and SF Trevor Ariza from Hornets for F Rashard Lewis and 2nd round pick (46th overall).
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $56 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Leadership: With all the talented youth Washington has acquired the past couple of offseasons, it now needs to find a player or two to add to the veteran presence Nene brought to the team in mid-March. Rashard Lewis is another elder statesman on the roster, but he isn't a part of the team's long-term future, while other veterans like Mo Evans and Roger Mason are free agents. The Wizards may not need to look outside of their roster if John Wall can truly emerge as a leader entering his third season as a pro.
2. Leaping the Wall: The parallel of Washington becoming a legitimate playoff-caliber club must coincide with Wall taking the next step toward being the true face of the franchise. He needs to cut down on his league leading 255 turnovers and work on his outside shot to reach that next level.
As I mentioned earlier, upgrading the talent around Wall will take some of the pressure off his shoulders. I also think it would be beneficial for the team to bring in a veteran floor leader who can help tutor Wall a bit.
3. Shooters: The Wizards need to find some depth on the wing since the shot-happy Jordan Crawford is their only shooting guard under contract for next season; small forward Chris Singleton is known more for his defensive ability. A wing or two who can actually shoot the rock from distance would be ideal, since only one returning player (Singleton) connected on higher than 30% of his three-point tries.
4. Amnesty Andray: With about $23.4 million remaining on the final three years of his contract, it's time for the Wizards to bid adieu to the enigmatic Blatche. Since they did not use their one-time amnesty prior to this past season, they can still release him and not have his bloated contract count toward their salary cap.
Young guys like Jan Vesely, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin are capable of replacing Blatche's hot-and-cold production. Lewis is also a candidate to be amnestied, but since he is in the final year of his contract, Washington might be better letting his contract play out even though he is scheduled to make a baffling $23.8 million next season. The team also has the opportunity to buy out the final year of Lewis' deal for a cool $13.7 million.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Washington Wizards (Last Year: 20-46)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
3. Bradley Beal, G, Florida: A Grade
The Wizards breathe a sigh of relief as the Bobcats didn't deal the second pick to a team wanting to grab Beal at No. 2. Beal and John Wall give the Wizards a talented backcourt to go with the pieces they've recently added up front with Nene, Emeka Okafor, and Trevor Ariza.
32. Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic: B Grade
This is a good second-round investment for the Wizards as they didn't have a glaring need and can stash him overseas for a year or two.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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Caiden
11-12-2012
02:14 am
xxx.xxx.xxx2.12
(total posts: 2)
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You make things so clear. Thanks for tkanig the time!
Wesley C
10-19-2012
01:08 am
xxx.xxx.xxx1.45
(total posts: 1)
8
8
So wait, if Atlanta, Orlando, Washington and Charlotte finish 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th in the conference respectively, does that mean the Heat clinch the Southeast Division by St. Patrick's Day?
Geiger
10-05-2012
01:21 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.220
(total posts: 1)
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Washington has done a great job of building a quality team that can contend for the 8th seed..the only problem is that they have no room to get better. They sold their future to appease the fan bases want of winning now..I hope this isnt the case, but the Wizards are going to be in contention for nothing more then a low seed and an early exit from the playoffs.
Mohamed
07-25-2012
12:16 am
xxx.xxx.xxx2.12
(total posts: 2)
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I like the way it is.If you lose you get a better cacnhe at winning the top pick but it's still only a cacnhe.For this reason you can tank you season to improve your cacnhes but as most teams find out it is certainly no gaurantee of the top spot.The teams that feel they got ripped (Boston, Memphis, Milwaukee) need to realise that for example Boston only had a 38.7 percent cacnhe of getting the number one or two pick.Odds are they weren't going to get one of them, so there's no reason to feel entitled to the one or two spot just because they sucked.The systems seems very fair to me and I certainly can't think of anything better!
Ridiculous.
06-28-2012
10:07 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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Neither Nene nor Okafor can play PF. Booker has earned his spot and both Nene/Okafor have injury problems.
It will be: Wall/Mack Beal/Crawford Ariza/Singleton Booker/Seraphin/Vesely Nene/Okafor To say otherwise is to just not be paying attention.
Listen Up
06-28-2012
09:00 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx1.62
(total posts: 1)
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22
Real Wizards fans would already know that the line-up has already been set. THIS IS OFFICIAL BARRING INJURY:
1- Wall 2- Beal 3 - Ariza 4- Okafor 5 - Nene
Lineup
06-28-2012
07:56 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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Wall
Beal Ariza Booker Nene
h
06-27-2012
12:27 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.121
(total posts: 1)
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Wall
Beal Ariza Nene Okafor
Vesely
06-25-2012
03:37 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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Come on Walt, learn something about teams before putting this crap up. Vesely is not now, nor is he likely to be, the starting PF.
The starting PF for the Wizards is going to be Trevor Booker. It's really that simple. He's been very good his first two years and has earned his spot. With Wittman willing to play the best players, instead of the high picks/supposed stars, Booker will keep his well earned PF spot.
Depth Chart
06-21-2012
03:27 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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It should look more like this:
C- Nene/Okafor/Seraphin PF- Booker/Seraphin/Vesely SF- Ariza/Singleton/Vesely If you insist on just one spot per player, then it's: C- Nene/Okafor PF- Booker/Seraphin/Vesely SF- Ariza/Singleton Either way, you must have Booker as the starting PF. He's earned the spot and is still improving. This trade definitely points to Beal as the 3rd pick.
Jay
06-11-2012
01:13 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.17
(total posts: 1)
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Beal or Kidd-Gilchrist should be the selection. I think Beal would be a better fit but I wouldn't pass on Gilchrist if he's available.
Robinson?
06-08-2012
01:00 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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You've got Nene who is a proven post player, Booker who has earned a starting PF spot and is still improving, Seraphin who has the best inside shooting touch of the bunch and plays both PF and C, and Vesely who is a PF that was taken 6th overall just last year.
It would be idiotic to take another short PF (he's really 6'8") when two of the MKG/Beal/Barnes trio will be available, actually fill needs, and aren't vastly overrated off of a good junior season after being nothing for two years. Picking Robinson would confirm that Grunfeld is completely incompetent.
Thomas Robinson
06-01-2012
06:14 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.167
(total posts: 2)
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Take him without hesitation with the 3rd pick. 18 points and 17 boards in the Championship against #1 pick Anthony Davis. Leading Rebounder in the NCAA per 40 minute basis. Runner up in player of the year voting his first season starting. Carried mediocre Kansas team to the NCAA championship. Will measure around 6'7 without shoes, slightly below Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. Might be a good thing because it will force him to fight for opportunities, make him more of a force in the low post and focus his game on rebounding.
I think this guy is a perfect fit. DC native, is taking care of his little sister who lives in the area. Throttles people out of the low post, was leaping over Jared Sullinger for rebounds when they played eachother, husteles every second on the floor. I haven't seen a player dominate in the low post for DC in a decade, real excited about Robinson. I think the Bobcats will go with Kidd-Gilchrist at 2. If not they take him and trade off Singleton and Vesely for some help in the low post, somebody like Arnett Moultrie later in the 1st would be fine.
hosch kabosch
06-01-2012
06:09 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.167
(total posts: 2)
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Problems
1. Ernie Grunfeld is incompetent 2. Ernie Grunfeld is incompetent What they should do but Grunfeld will combat it because he is incompetent. 1. Amensty Blatche. Only reason this hasn't been done is Leonsis is impressed with how Grunfeld has handled the team's financials. Biting the bullet on this massive mistake would blemish the team's financials so he's trying to find any takers for this clown. No one is going to pick your trash Grunfeld get this guy out of town. Going to boo him till you have to. 2. Jordan Crawford. Horrific volume shooter. Guy kills the offense and when he isn't on the court it's like fresh air into the offense. John Wall would play a lot better w/ a non ball dominant 2 guard, someone who doesn't dribble himself into ridiculous 25 foot fade aways with a full shot clock. Kim English would be a great answer in the 2nd round. Ray Allen would be a nice FA but Grunfeld destroyed the Bucks franchise back in the day by trading Ray Allen for breaking down Gary Payton. He was fired the next year. Similar move with the McGee for Nene trade, I don't think McGee is a great player but the trade reeks of a lack of intellectual development from Grunfeld.
Bullets reality
05-31-2012
02:09 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 6)
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Fairly good look at what the Wizzies need.
I like the PG combo as Mack played really well off the bench late in the season. Chris Singleton, while unable to create his own shot, did hit 34.6% on 3PT and 68.2% on FT. If those numbers become something like 38% and 75% he could be a longer Bruce Bowen type with his defense. I really like adding MKG to the mix as he and Singleton could bring some superb wing defense and help the team get more fast break points. Depending on how the 2nd pick goes, it's got to be MKG, Beal or Barnes for the Wizzies. Whichever one they land, they should look to add the veteran at the other position instead of as a backup PG. Lewis will be shopped to teams looking for an expiring contract and could even be packaged with someone else to upgrade a position if needed. Agree completely on going the amnesty route with Blech. He's been a joke for years now and he's the last of the knuckleheads that needs to go (it was an enormous boost to the team to be able to dump both Brick Young and Magoo Magee last year). This team could legitimately start next season with 4 hard working post players, all of which are good scorers, a double salvo of long defenders at SF, a sweet young PG combo and a youngster/veteran duo at SG. That, along with the potential of the Blech and Lewis contracts being gone, seems like a pipe dream from just 1 year ago that actually came true. |
2011-12 Season Summary:
Team president Ernie Grunfeld called this the second year of a three-year plan for the Washington Wizards franchise. After finishing with the second worst record in the NBA, there will need to be some accelerated growth next season if the team is going to reach the desired destination of said plan.
As part of their rebuilding effort, the Wizards were one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the NBA. Seven rotation players were either rookies or in their second year in the league. Injuries to veterans Rashard Lewis (who was disgustingly the second-highest paid player in the NBA this past season) and Andray Blatche factored into the young guys being thrust into larger roles, but that should actually benefit the team in the long haul.
The main cog of this youth movement is former No. 1 overall pick John Wall, who didn't show a whole lot of growth from his rookie season. His supporting cast certainly had something to do with that, but you still expect to see him make steady strides. Wall's stats were consistent with that of his first year in the league though he shot an abysmal 3-42 from distance.
The team formerly known as the Bullets shook up its roster a bit prior to the trade deadline by dealing young players/sometime knuckleheads Nick Young and JaVale McGee for a veteran big man in Nene Hilario. Though Hilario only played in 11 games with Washington, his presence and experience was a welcomed addition to the young roster as it displayed better chemistry and maturity while finishing 11-14 after his acquisition.
It's easy to find a glass half-full approach for the Wizards. They finished the season on a six-game win streak and have quality young talent to go with a proven veteran in the middle. With a top-five pick in the draft, Washington will add another piece to the puzzle. I'm not ready to make a bold statement like Jordan Crawford's claim that the Wizards will be a playoff team next year, but I think with a couple of intelligent moves this offseason that they'll be one step closer to fulfilling that three-year plan.
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Nene Hilario/Emeka Okafor/Kevin Seraphin
PF: Jan Vesely/Andray Blatche/Trevor Booker
SF: Trevor Ariza/Chris Singleton
SG: Jordan Crawford
PG: John Wall/Shelvin Mack
NBA Free Agents:
SF-Mo Evans (UFA)
PF-Brian Cook (UFA)
G-Roger Mason (UFA)
PF-James Singleton (UFA)
G/F-Cartier Martin (UFA)
SG-Morris Almond (UFA)
Offseason Transactions:
Wizards acquire C Emeka Okafor and SF Trevor Ariza from Hornets for F Rashard Lewis and 2nd round pick (46th overall).
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $56 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Leadership: With all the talented youth Washington has acquired the past couple of offseasons, it now needs to find a player or two to add to the veteran presence Nene brought to the team in mid-March. Rashard Lewis is another elder statesman on the roster, but he isn't a part of the team's long-term future, while other veterans like Mo Evans and Roger Mason are free agents. The Wizards may not need to look outside of their roster if John Wall can truly emerge as a leader entering his third season as a pro.
2. Leaping the Wall: The parallel of Washington becoming a legitimate playoff-caliber club must coincide with Wall taking the next step toward being the true face of the franchise. He needs to cut down on his league leading 255 turnovers and work on his outside shot to reach that next level.
As I mentioned earlier, upgrading the talent around Wall will take some of the pressure off his shoulders. I also think it would be beneficial for the team to bring in a veteran floor leader who can help tutor Wall a bit.
3. Shooters: The Wizards need to find some depth on the wing since the shot-happy Jordan Crawford is their only shooting guard under contract for next season; small forward Chris Singleton is known more for his defensive ability. A wing or two who can actually shoot the rock from distance would be ideal, since only one returning player (Singleton) connected on higher than 30% of his three-point tries.
4. Amnesty Andray: With about $23.4 million remaining on the final three years of his contract, it's time for the Wizards to bid adieu to the enigmatic Blatche. Since they did not use their one-time amnesty prior to this past season, they can still release him and not have his bloated contract count toward their salary cap.
Young guys like Jan Vesely, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin are capable of replacing Blatche's hot-and-cold production. Lewis is also a candidate to be amnestied, but since he is in the final year of his contract, Washington might be better letting his contract play out even though he is scheduled to make a baffling $23.8 million next season. The team also has the opportunity to buy out the final year of Lewis' deal for a cool $13.7 million.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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