Washington Wizards 2010-2011 Ongoing Thread

Wow, Leonis wasn't lying when he said the Wizards were intent on building through the draft.

Nope, he did it with the Capitals so he's going to do it with the Wizards. I heard you don't build through the draft anymore though, that true? I'm not a big NBA fan so I can't really agree or disagree on that.

Portland is insane... I'd can EG for Pritchard in a heartbeat.

Ridiculous that they'd fire him 30 minutes before the draft started. I mean it's been known for weeks, if not months now that he was gone. But the timing is ridiculous. "Good luck with the draft tonight Kevin...by the way, as soon as it's over you're fired"

The way I look at it a nice mixture of free agents, drafting, and trades can build a great team. Look at Boston. Back a couple years ago when they just had Pierce they were an average to good team. Then they go out and get Garnett and Allen and boom! championship. I think we could make huge leaps if we went out and got a nice free agent this summer, combined with Blatche (up and comer despite maturity issues), Wall and Arenas who is still certainly serviceable despite the upcoming change to the 2 spot.

Lately it seems like winning championships in the NBA is about having a game changer combined with role players who have team chemistry and know what it takes to win. I'm not too huge on the NBA but it seems like the draft is even more hit and miss than the NFL, especially with many guys who don't make an impact their first few seasons in the league. The last team I remember winning the title with a bunch of solid all around players with not really a huge, game changing superstar amongst the bunch was the Pistons back when they had Ben Wallace (sure he was the Defensive POY but he wasn't like Kobe or anything), Billups, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Rip Hamilton.

I think I would have let the Thunder take Seraphin if they really wanted him.

On another note, I'm not saying the Wizards should fire Grunfeld but I am saying they should seriously consider Kevin Pritchard

I'm not well versed in NBA front offices, but isn't Pritchard the same guy who passed on Durant for Oden? Granted, Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy have worked out well, but I don't see how he's a major upgrade over Ernie. Again, I don't know much about NBA front offices at all. Why do you like him?

I'm not well versed in NBA front offices, but isn't Pritchard the same guy who passed on Durant for Oden? Granted, Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy have worked out well, but I don't see how he's a major upgrade over Ernie. Again, I don't know much about NBA front offices at all. Why do you like him?

I can't fault Pritchard for selecting Oden. Hindsight is always nice, but a healthy Oden (and there really wasn't reason to think he wouldn't be other than a few minor injuries here and there) would have been the perfect defensive anchor in the middle for that team.

Pritchard is a shrewd (some say too shrewd) negotiator who turned guys like Tyrus Thomas and Sebastian Telfair into Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Alridge.

He brought in one of the more underrated veterans in the NBA in Andre Miller to serve as not only an effective leader on the court, but in the locker room as well.

He's basically been let go for two reasons 1) He's kind of arrogant from what I understand and doesn't necessarily get along well with others in or out of the organization and 2) Paul Allen is considered one of the most hands-off owners in the NFL; but he's considered just the opposite in the NBA. He basically wants to be the GM, or at least get the credit for it.

All that said, if the rumors of Sam Presti (Thunder GM) going to Portland are true...that'd be remarkable.

I'm not well versed in NBA front offices, but isn't Pritchard the same guy who passed on Durant for Oden? Granted, Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy have worked out well, but I don't see how he's a major upgrade over Ernie. Again, I don't know much about NBA front offices at all. Why do you like him?

He knows how to wheel and deal without giving up value picks. Jarryd Bayless, Martell Webster, Nicholas Batum (who's the reason they shopped Webster during the draft for Babbitt), Rudy Fernandez (who they're also probably shopping), Sergio Rodriguez (traded for first pick in the second this year) were all taken at really good spots in the draft. Plus, he sprinkles in veteran pickups that make sense- Miller and Camby both filled holes last year and performed well (Miller had a tough start, but turned it up later... I still say Nate McMillan should have won CoY with the injury situation in Portland). Most importantly, Portland turned Tyrus Thomas and Randy Foye into Roy and Aldridge on draft day. And remember, Pritchard had to clean up a real bad culture in Portland- finally shipping the last remnants with Zach Randolph packing his bags.

Compare that with Ernie moves: Nick Young and J-Mac were first rounders that are still unknown quantities at this point. Pecherov was an absolute bust in the first. Before this season, I'd say his only gem was Blatche in the second. Although I liked the Foye/Miller move at the time, we see how his draft last season ended up... both are probably gone from the roster this year and we end up with nothing to show for last season's number 5. But the upside is that we may not have had the record needed to get Wall this season if we don't make that trade with Minny. To EG's credit, he did get Washington back to the playoffs with the Jamison trade for Devin Harris. But that's negated with the Gilbert contract extension after two or three surgeries (but maybe Abe made him). Kwame for Caron was a win, however. But Haywood and Caron for cap space+Howard+Ross+Singleton (and no Beaubois) was pretty terrible. Then again, AJ for a Z buyout and Al Thornton wasn't bad. He's like the Rod Gardner of NBA GMs... 50-50.

*edit- just saw your post SS... same brainwave on this one!

SS and itv,

Good posts, and thanks. I really do enjoy the Wiz, but I'm soooo not attached to all things NBA like I am other sports.

Sounds like canning Grunfeld for Pritchard would bring some good and possibly some bad. I'll put my hands up and say let the cards lay where they fall.

Is it weird that I do and do not want Gilbert on this team? As much as I'd like to see how he could turn into a combo-guard with Wall, I'd like to see him pack his shit and get the hell on.

Nope, he did it with the Capitals so he's going to do it with the Wizards. I heard you don't build through the draft anymore though, that true? I'm not a big NBA fan so I can't really agree or disagree on that.

From what I've seen it's get one big name and a few role players through the draft. Afterwards you need to find one or two other impact players weather it be through free agency or trades.

Actually there is one team (and a pretty damn good one at that) that has been able to build through the draft and go all the way, and thats the Spurs with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli all being draft picks. However it seems that everyone else is doing it through one big draft pick and a free agents/trades. The Blazers also might be end up being the next "build through the draft" team to go all the way but they need Oden to get healthy and right now the man is two years behind on his development which is critical since he has a very weak offensive game.

This isn't the long verison, but still good:

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