Update: Wizards Keep Jamison, Arenas

being a sixer fan, hopefully i can be alittle more objective. Arenas is top 5 talent. the wizards keep making the mistake of trying to make him a point guard. they signed Jamison in order to show Arenas they are trying to win. i think they should of let him walk. for he couldn't cover me or you, on his best day. i laugh at the comparison between Pierce and Arenas, for they are very similar

After watching the Celtics win it all, FG % is a joke. You should care how well a player plays defense that is what won it for Boston.

What would you do?

Since GS offered their max for Gilbert (and if they really really want him back), I'd wait till Gilbert signs our max and then offer a S&T for Ellis and Biedrins. I wouldn't do it if I were the Warriors, but hey... no telling how much they want 0 back.

Even before it got this far, my thinking was to scrap it all before it happened. I don't think even a healthy big 3 gets us past the first round in any playoff (even though they're good enough to pull of W's against any team in the regular season).

About a month ago, I proposed a bunch of different scenarios before the draft happened (on a hoops board) that would have netted us the two things I'd rather see the organization have- a pass first, defensive-oriented PG and a low-post, defensive banger to man the 4 spot.

That would have meant letting AJ walk for nothing and making a run at EB post draft (either S&T with the Clips or offering a long-term deal to make his decision to opt out a bit easier... I didn't think he'd opt out this easily and it's a good bet he was in contact with Baron before doing so). How about offering the #18 pick and filler (OPEC?) to Memphis for Lowry? They've got a glut at point, with Conley, Critt, Stoudemire and now Mayo (who may switch between both guard positions as it calls for). Lowry's probably worth more than the 18 on its own, but with the number of teams needing PGs drafting ahead of us and the number of quality PGs in the draft, I don't think they would have had a better deal than ours. While not as good defensively, I also believe Udrih and Calderon are much better fits for an offense like ours (and would have cost much less, thereby giving us the space to grab a big man elsewhere).

With the money you aren't blowing on AJ and Gilbert, the team has flexibility for the future. With these two contracts, I think we're pretty much saddled with this team for the foreseeable future. I'm glad the big 3 have put the Wiz in the playoffs three consecutive seasons, but the East is getting better. Youth, talent and athleticism are permeating through upside teams like the Hawks, Sixers, Bulls, Heat and Magic. I'm not even including the perennial teams, such as the C's and Pistons next season. The Raps now have Bosh and O'Neal in the post (with Calderon probably resigning here, they've got a pretty sick squad). The Bucks have a pretty solid Big 3 of their own now, with Jefferson. Long-term, New Jersey is the team to watch out for in the East. Grabbing YJL and shedding Jefferson's contract is genius... With that excellent draft they just had, plus Devin running point and LeBron moving in within a few years, how can we expect to keep up?

Another context is to look at what the Clippers just paid to what we did. Rumors are floating that Brand may be looking to take less (around 13.5 per) to get a long-term deal to stay in LA, now that Baron is here. They're paying EB and BD about 26.5 million per year, combined. If Gilbert signs the sheet, the Wiz are now on the hook for 33.5 million per year. Personally, I'd rather have the former plus the extra 7 in cap space than Gilbert and AJ. You've shored up your post defense with Brand, added a pretty solid replacement at point and you have a nice MLE to play with every season.

This doesn't mean the Wizards could have pulled this off... but it's just a comparison to see what we're offering our own to stay vs. how the team can improve now (and in the future).

Of course, this theory is all blown to hell if EB jumps to Philly for a grip.

Since GS offered their max for Gilbert (and if they really really want him back), I'd wait till Gilbert signs our max and then offer a S&T for Ellis and Biedrins. I wouldn't do it if I were the Warriors, but hey... no telling how much they want 0 back.

Even before it got this far, my thinking was to scrap it all before it happened. I don't think even a healthy big 3 gets us past the first round in any playoff (even though they're good enough to pull of W's against any team in the regular season).

About a month ago, I proposed a bunch of different scenarios before the draft happened (on a hoops board) that would have netted us the two things I'd rather see the organization have- a pass first, defensive-oriented PG and a low-post, defensive banger to man the 4 spot.

That would have meant letting AJ walk for nothing and making a run at EB post draft (either S&T with the Clips or offering a long-term deal to make his decision to opt out a bit easier... I didn't think he'd opt out this easily and it's a good bet he was in contact with Baron before doing so). How about offering the #18 pick and filler (OPEC?) to Memphis for Lowry? They've got a glut at point, with Conley, Critt, Stoudemire and now Mayo (who may switch between both guard positions as it calls for). Lowry's probably worth more than the 18 on its own, but with the number of teams needing PGs drafting ahead of us and the number of quality PGs in the draft, I don't think they would have had a better deal than ours. While not as good defensively, I also believe Udrih and Calderon are much better fits for an offense like ours (and would have cost much less, thereby giving us the space to grab a big man elsewhere).

With the money you aren't blowing on AJ and Gilbert, the team has flexibility for the future. With these two contracts, I think we're pretty much saddled with this team for the foreseeable future. I'm glad the big 3 have put the Wiz in the playoffs three consecutive seasons, but the East is getting better. Youth, talent and athleticism are permeating through upside teams like the Hawks, Sixers, Bulls, Heat and Magic. I'm not even including the perennial teams, such as the C's and Pistons next season. The Raps now have Bosh and O'Neal in the post (with Calderon probably resigning here, they've got a pretty sick squad). The Bucks have a pretty solid Big 3 of their own now, with Jefferson. Long-term, New Jersey is the team to watch out for in the East. Grabbing YJL and shedding Jefferson's contract is genius... With that excellent draft they just had, plus Devin running point and LeBron moving in within a few years, how can we expect to keep up?

Good points. This could end up looking great for the Wizards and Arenas. With the Wizards showing their not "cheap" by offering the max and Arenas showing he's not greedy by "settling" for less and then freeing them up to make some other moves. Posey maybe? Or it could totally blow up in their face.

Either way. The Wizards biggest problem is that how they're building the team around the big 3. First and foremost has been their apparent refusal to get a point guard. A true point guard than can lead the offense. They should have kept Steve Blake in my opinion. But even still, I don't know that I'll ever understand taking Pecherov when guys like Rondo, Rodriguez, Williams, and Lowry were still there.

I'm biased but I think they should give Arroyo a look.

Let me ask you this, do you take an "Eramus James" on Shaun Livingston?

Good points. This could end up looking great for the Wizards and Arenas. With the Wizards showing their not "cheap" by offering the max and Arenas showing he's not greedy by "settling" for less and then freeing them up to make some other moves. Posey maybe? Or it could totally blow up in their face.

Either way. The Wizards biggest problem is that how they're building the team around the big 3. First and foremost has been their apparent refusal to get a point guard. A true point guard than can lead the offense. They should have kept Steve Blake in my opinion. But even still, I don't know that I'll ever understand taking Pecherov when guys like Rondo, Rodriguez, Williams, and Lowry were still there.

I'm biased but I think they should give Arroyo a look.

Let me ask you this, do you take an "Eramus James" on Shaun Livingston?

I can only hope your first paragraph comes true. Knowing the quirkiness of Gil, they probably offered him the max hoping it was just a sign of gratitude that he would kindly reject. Seeing these vets take less to win a ring seems to rub off on some of the opting out lately and we can only hope Gil sees the same thing.

I totally agree with you re: Blake. He was solid for Portland last season- excellent A:TO ratio and that's all you can really ask for in a PG. Arroyo ain't a bad option. The names you listed that we passed on for OPEC make me wince.

I loved Livingston out of high school- thought he'd change the game at his position. If we're offering Erasmus James money, I'd take a flyer... but that last knee injury looked career-ending.

I don't think the Wiz had much choice with Gil. He's one of the more popular athletes in the area and sells tickets. If they don't max him they look cheap and ungrateful. I like Gil a lot as a player but in the end I don't think the big 3 gets this team anywhere really. Thy have no defense. None. And it kills them every night. Missing out on Thibedeaux(sp?) may have been the biggest blunder they have had. Do Jordan and Grunfeld really not get along that much to make him quit after like 2 days and go to Boston and teach them how to win with D?

Missing out on Thibedeaux(sp?) may have been the biggest blunder they have had. Do Jordan and Grunfeld really not get along that much to make him quit after like 2 days and go to Boston and teach them how to win with D?

I'm not sure what really happened there... I think there may have been some awkwardness when Thibs came in while the rest of EJ's staff hadn't been extended beyond the season. After the finals, I can see what Grunfeld saw- he's probably going to be a really successful head coach soon.

I think Gil will be staying.

The other team looking at him was the Warriors. They lost Baron Davis to the Clippers but are close to signing and paying out the wazoo for Elton Brand. They can't get Brand AND Arenas.

The Bullets will be keeping him. I'm glad because he's my favorite NBA player and I couldn't stomach seeing him on another team.

Good points. This could end up looking great for the Wizards and Arenas. With the Wizards showing their not "cheap" by offering the max and Arenas showing he's not greedy by "settling" for less and then freeing them up to make some other moves. Posey maybe? Or it could totally blow up in their face.

Either way. The Wizards biggest problem is that how they're building the team around the big 3. First and foremost has been their apparent refusal to get a point guard. A true point guard than can lead the offense. They should have kept Steve Blake in my opinion. But even still, I don't know that I'll ever understand taking Pecherov when guys like Rondo, Rodriguez, Williams, and Lowry were still there.

I'm biased but I think they should give Arroyo a look.

Let me ask you this, do you take an "Eramus James" on Shaun Livingston?

Blake would be good here but they should've kept Larry Hughes. True, his career has gone down the toilet since he left, but when he was in Washington, he and Gilbert were a GREAT combo.

I'm glad the team let Cleveland overpay for him though, or Caron may not be on the team (financially it would be tough to have the "Big 4").