MikeDC

Ok, I've been trying to think, and here's what I think the Wizards biggest needs are:

1) A "Point Guard" who can properly mesh with Arenas. We need a guy who can operate on court with him, and thus he needs to at least be big enough to take on a lot of shooting guards. He's also going to have to be the kind of guy who will "buy in" to sharing and somewhat placating Arenas' fragile ego.

I see two guys who have the size and PG skills that might be able to fit. One is Jamal Crawford, and the other is Marquis Daniels. I'm relatively certain that a full MLE offer would be hard for the Bulls to match on Crawford. I mean, they could easily match it, but they're on the verge of the luxury tax and they do not appear to be willing to pay for him. They'd gladly accept a sign and trade deal, however.

Daniels... I think the Mavs are more likely to match an offer for Daniels than the Bulls are for Crawford, although I could imagine them showing some interest in a dual sign and trade that would send back a brawny guy like Etan or Haywood. Personally, I'd hang on to Haywood though.

At this point, I'd go for Crawford 1st, as I see him having somewhat more experience and somewhat more complete PG skills, and because I think the Wizards get him for less. I think a Crawford/Arenas backcourt could adequately distribute the ball for the team. Hughes as the third guy in this rotation and Blake playing spot minutes looks pretty nice.

2) Defenders. Boy, our defense sucked pretty much all around last year. And I'll be the first to admit that bringing in Jamal Crawford doesn't help on that front, although I believe it's necessary on others. What we really need is a guy who can guard any 2/3 in the league and won't requite (or command) some huge number of shots (because with Jamal and Gil, he won't get them).

3) High basketball IQ players. We've got not a whole lot in this regard, and it seems pretty self-evident to me.

----------------------------------------

Here's one plan:
* Suppose we get the 3rd pick. I like Deng for this team. He's a smart player and I think he'll be a pretty good defender too. He'll score but he won't need to be a huge focal point.

* Go hard after Crawford and offer up Hughes or Stackhouse to give them something back. We've established that, in the long-run, we don't like either of them. Hell, I'd be willing to offer them both more likely than not.

* This also gives us our MLE back, so we can still spend it on a good player or a couple of cheaper decent players

1- Arenas, Blake
2- Hughes
3- Hayes
4- Kwame
5- Haywood

__________________
* De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum
* Images in signatures are now operational

Shanghai Kid

I'm sorry but Crawford isn't better than Hughes or Stack. Hughes is a better defender and Stack is a better passer who can rack up assists. Crawford is a shoot first volume shooter, and our offense would stall with Arenas/Crawford taking people off the dribble.


Brent Barry would be better.

All the rest of your ideas are good though. I would go after Eric Williams if we can't get Deng.

__________________


SCREWED like Bret Hart!

jazzy1

I fear that Arenas and Crawford are the same players basically. Crawford has major talent but also major immaturity. With Crawford who always seems to play like he's trying to prove a point by scoring . Defensively he and Arenas scare me.

I think Arenas is further along from a maturity standpoint.

At this point I want players with toughness and as you say bball IQ.

I really want Deng if not Okafor.

I heard Jerry West say on the radio that he doesn't like any of this years highscool kids. He said essentially that they are all unprepared and that one high profile highschool guy could never be ready to play in the league.

Okafor to me would be ideal for obvious reasons.

But Deng gives us something on the perimeter that we don't have which is defense and toughness along with unselfishness.

As mentioned Deng has a tremendous bball IQ.

We need to stay away from the projects and trade the pick if not 1st or 2nd.

Barry would be alright if we could trade Hughes or Stackhouse.

Barry could handle and guard the 2's he could stretch the defense with his range and he's unselfish.

We really need to see some serious improvement from Jared Jeffries and Hayes next season.

Jeffries needs to get stronger and learn how to shoot while Hayes needs to get in better shape plus learn how to handle the ball. They could be 2 players who help us improve alot next season.

I to want to keep Haywood he's developing and his length defensively has an impact

twinz2gether

BRENT BARRY, man if we could get him..... he is a free agent right?

__________________
Kwame, how can you not love him?

havoc

I would love to take Deng and get rid of Jared. IMO JJ isnt worth a roster spot if we got another 3.
Perhaps theres a sucker team out there looking to pick up JJ/Laet/Stack?

MikeDC

Jazz, I share some of your concerns, but what I like is that Jamal is actually pretty sure with the ball. My big concern about Arenas is that he's a freaking TO machine. I question whether he's going to be successful unless we get someone in here that can relieve him of some of that responsibility.

Crawford does have shoot-first issues, but he's not what I'd call a selfish guy and he seems to get along with everyone except John Paxson. If he were a year or two more experienced he'd be ideal, but I think they could grow into a really nice backcourt.

Brent Barry... eh, in theory, yes, he's the perfect guy. In practice I'd like someone younger than 33 (I think- I know he's getting up there), and with this team it's probably better to go for a guy who's a year too young than a guy who's a year too old. I also don't think he'd come here... he'd probably rather stay out West and play for a better team. But yeah, for a 2 year contract and if he'd do it, I'd love to have him.

Shanghai, Crawford is by far a better passer than stack. Stack racks up lots of assists, yes, but also lots of TOs.

Havoc, I'd rather see JJ at the 4 most of the time myself. I think he's a little better there than at the 3. No reason not to keep him around.

__________________
* De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum
* Images in signatures are now operational

Shanghai Kid

The reason to not keep JJ is because he's ranked as the worst offensive player in the NBA for anybody who took over 300 shots.

__________________


SCREWED like Bret Hart!

havoc

Agreed... he rebounded well a few games at the 4 but hell I'd rather have Lonny out there taking those minutes. He's much bigger/stronger and as meager as his offense is, it's not as bad as Jareds.

jazzy1

I'm just not sure what to make of Jared's game. He scares the hell outta me. He's not a scorer at all. He doesn't set teammates up for buckets, he doesn't block shots, he's not a good defender.

BUT he's 6'11 a good athlete, he works hard, he's really coachable if he can find a niche of which I have no idea I'd just as soon keep him around a couple more years before making a decision about trading him. He could blossom at any point.

I think he's better suited to playing on the perimeter. His length and quickness could be a factor defensively if he'd get more physical defensively out there.

MJG

I have a more positive outlook for JJ than many, but I still can't see him being much more than an average role player any time soon. His offense was just so putrid last year that unless he becomes a DPOY level player on the defensive side, it'll be tough to swallow that he's always going to force you to play 4-on-5 on offense.

His rebounding is very good, and with some coaching he has the ability to be a real hounding and long defender a la Tayshaun Prince. If he can figure out how to bump up his offense to something beyond anemic (maybe 7-8 PPG on 42-44% shooting) as well, then he could probably get his minutes from last year without constantly being ripped on by all of us. That's still a ways away from what most of us were probably hoping for when he was drafted, but after last season, I'll take what I can get.

__________________
Washington Wizards Fans (Click here to join!)
MJG | popeyejones54 | NBA4life | TheRifleman | THE NBA GAZETTE | NorthEast Wiz | local_sportsfan | Tom | sagebrush | C-MO 22 LD | adarsh1 | Ice | rukahS capuT | dazed-and-confused | DaUnbreakableKinG | erickboy22 | DaBullz | Epadfield | twinz2gether | AL9045 | shonin | BrandinKnightFan3 | << SkipToMyLou >> | Dualie | Carter182 | QuiksilverMaggette | BrYaNBaIlEy06 | StraylightRunner | bullet for life | pG_prIDe | IggytoWiz_at5 | teddyguy | SilentOneX | FanOfAll8472 | HoopsAvenue05 | viviki | eYeKey | DwyaneWade4MVP | KidCanada101 | PejaWebber | B Dizzle | byrondarnell66 | LakerLunatic | wiz kid