[SmootSmack]

I agree about Hughes. He just isn't worth $12 million+ a year. First of all, as has been mentioned already, in seven seasons he's only played one full season. He doesn't pass on the fast break. He's a terrible outside shooter and to say he's "defensive minded" is a bit misleading. He gets a lot of steals because he gambles a lot but he's not a "shut-down defender" per se. And what happened to Hughes saying all season long he wanted to stay in Washington and would give them the first chance?

Now maybe the Wizards' first offer was too low, who knows. But more than anything the Wizards were victims of the Cavs desperation. After swinging for and missing on Ray Allen and Michael Redd the Cavs new ownership had to make a big move so they went after the biggest name out there. Does that sound like any other ownership group we know? Paging Mr. Snyder. But he's not necesarrily going to make the Cavs better. When Lebron draws the double team and kicks it out for the 3-pointer, Hughes isn't nearly as good an option as Redd or Allen...or Cuttino Mobley for that matter. The Cavs needed a shooting guard who can shoot and they didn't get him. Instead the new owners got desperate and the Wizards became the immediate victims, but long term we might actually be better off.

I'm not trying to knock Hughes, because he was an integral part of the best team in decades here. However, I think if we were to let any of the big three go Hughes is the loss that would least hurt us. We did play fairly decently, after all, while he was hurt this year. Is Hughes hitting his peak or did he just happen to have a great year last year because his contract was up...or is he a product of Eddie Jordan's system. We'll have to wait for 2006 to find out.

By the way, I heard that the Lakers have hired Kobe's dad as an assistant coach.