jazzy1

We should be smart for once as a franchise and extend Kwame while its most advantagious to the cap. We can't allow him to become unrestricted. We've never as a franchise gambled on our own young talent and I think its about time.

If we don't and he has the big year I think is coming we might end up counting him in the long line of great pf's we let go.

Its time to step up and realize that he's an emerging talent. We could probably get him on the cheap and lock him up. Waiting and he has a 20+ and 10 season and we end up having to max him out. Right now we could get him for far less.

He might decide that all the trouble and bad mouthing by the local media isn't worth it and leave for a fresh start so we'd be left with all the agony and none of the reward.

Sign Him Now

We should also sign Brendan haywood. People complain about him but on the right team Haywood could be an asset. You can't teach his size and he really improved this year. Getting him cheap also could be most beneficial even if we get Okafor. We're probably gonna lose Etan so Haywood would be part of our frontcourt depth.

Time is now to stop losing our quality young talent. Watching the Pistons make me gag when I think about what we could have had here. Lets not make the same mistake again.

thoughts.

Shanghai Kid

How much would you pay him? An Arenas type deal?

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afireinside

I'd give him 18 million for 3 years. sound good for someone who hasn't done much(but will)?

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MJG

I think without a doubt we should try to extend him, but this is the tricky part. Both sides need to be cautious here. We can overpay easily, but his side can also overvalue easily. If we offer up $40 million (six years), will he balk at that and consider it too low? If we offer $60 million, will the team look like complete idiots and be cap-strapped three years from now if he doesn't get much better?

No matter what we do, there's a risk involved. Of course as fans we all assume and believe he will continue to improve, but considering the player he is right now, even my "low" deal above would be a bad contract if he doesn't get much better. Basically, the team needs to make a firm decision on the type of player they believe he will become. Will he turn into an inconsistent 15/10 third option, or will he turn into a 22/12 game-in-game-out all-star? I'm not saying he'll be one or the other, but the team needs to really think about it and come to a decision.

On the flip side, Kwame needs to carefully consider any offers we give to him. He doesn't take an offer, then puts up 13/9 next season, and he'll find that he won't be worth as much as he had hoped come next offseason. Then again, he doesn't want to take a $50 million deal only to put up 18/11 as our first option while improving as the season moves on next year.

With all that said, I don't expect him to be locked up this offseason. There are just too many question marks coming in from every angle.

On a semi-related note, I would absolutely love to lock up Haywood to a small deal. Three years, $8 million? I think he would get a great deal of interest on the FA market as a young big man who plays better than his stats indicate on many nights. If we could bring back both Haywood and Etan with a combined salary of about the MLE, I'd be happy with our center situation regardless of the draft.

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jazzy1

Consider this Kwame averaged esentailly 11 and 7.5. Magloire in New Orleans essentially averaged 13-10 and made the allstar team. In the eastern conference with more touches Kwame could easily average Magloire type numbers and I suspect he'd average much more than that maybe close to around 17-18ppg.

I don't see giving Kwame between 50-60 mill at all to be a gamble. I think its a smart investment in a young player who's numbers have went up every year. He's 7ft about 260 he plays good man defense and can score in the low post teams will overpay for him as an unrestricted fa.

Consider our track record can we afford not to pay Kwame 60 mill.

From Kwame's point of view do you gamble leaving 60 mill on the table to try and max out with a team with the turmoil with the coaches, management and ownership of the Wizards. Heck no you take the deal and call it a day. Because the way we do business he may not get the touches in order to max out on his ability.

If he took a 3 year 27 mill deal I'd do it. He's 22 yrs old and 7 ft .He's only gonna improve as we've seen. Even if by chance it didn't he'd still be tradeable with a short deal.

We need to do this now.

Same with Haywood, he's valuable we could offer him 3 years 12 mill and call it a deal. He could be really effective for alot of teams in this league he's a solid defender and he's developed some offense and he does it in limited time. Some team is gonna look at him in terms of being a 35 minute a game starter and think he's worth much more.

Make these deals or we could end up paying much more a year from now.

Its time to be smart. There are just certain guys who need to be our core and I think Kwame and Brendan are two solid pieces to start with along with Arenas.

Can't overhaul the whole team from year to year.

bullet for life

can we lace it with incentives? maybe that would motivate him

BEEZ

jazzy1 forget that good man defender hes a GREAT man defender. One of the best in the league. That being said you guys better snatch him up. If say the Bulls grabbed the #1 pick and offered Chandler and the #1 for Kwame would you take it?

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I have no clue!

Shanghai Kid

^No. Came this far with Kwame, might as well see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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SCREWED like Bret Hart!

Sánchez AF

Of course you should sign him Remember what happen with almost all HS player they show all their potencial in his 3-4 yr. sometimes 5 yr. in the league. and kwame will be a great player in this league

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Odomiles

I think a major problem with giving a big contract to an unproven player, is you don't know how much motivation they'll have to play. With a big contract in the bag, Kwame might settle for how good he is now, much like Eddie Robinson did in Chicago. If there's no incentive to improving his game, you can never be certain that he'll be motivated to improve. As basketball fans, we all seem to have this idealism that all players want to play and get better, but it's not always the case. As much as I love the guy as a player, at this point in his career, I think it would be far too much of a risk to send that kinda money Kwame's way.

MikeDC

I'd not offer him the max this summer... offer him something somewhat less... maybe in the $45-55M region. If he doesn't accept, he will only be an RFA next year and the Wiz can match any offers for him.

Thus, if we can, let's get him for a slight discount but still a reasonable offer. If we have to, we can always pay more next summer.

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jazzy1

I agree here totally.