Weekend Project: You're the GM

by Pradamaster on May 4, 2007 3:05 PM EDT in Polls

NOTE: This post is staying on the top of the page all weekend. Playoff threads, and anything else, will go in the diaries. This is the brainstorming thread, so throw out names and ideas of people and moves the Wizards should make. We'll pair down the ideas next week until we get a definitive offseason plan. -Pradamaster

I think it's pretty accurate to say that this offseason is one of the most important ones in franchise history, even though it will probably be displaced in importance by next offseason. The Wizards have been a .500ish team in the Eastern Conference for the last three years, and even though I think they've improved in many ways, the win total has gone from 45 to 42 to 41. Next offseason, Gilbert Arenas has an opt-out clause, and Antawn Jamison is a free agent, so what the Wizards do this year is extremely important.

All of that you probably know. So now, it's time to brainstorm on what to do. How should Ernie go about approaching this offseason, and what specific moves would you do?

The Wizards have seven free agents, but their core of Arenas/Jamison/Butler is still all under contract. Here's a list of the Wizards and their salaries for next year (all salaries from Hoops Hype:

Antawn Jamison: $16,360,095 (Player option)
Gilbert Arenas: $11,946,667
Caron Butler: $8,218,990
Etan Thomas: $6,370,000
Antonio Daniels: $5,800,000
Brendan Haywood: $5,000,000
Darius Songaila: $3,942,000

TOTAL: 57,645,384.

That leaves the following players as free agents.

DeShawn Stevenson*
Jarvis Hayes^
Andray Blatche^
Michael Ruffin
Calvin Booth
Roger Mason
Donnell Taylor^
Mike Hall^

(*=Player option. ^=Restricted)

We know Stevenson is going to exercise his player option and opt-out, which would make him an unrestricted free agent. The Wizards have the right to match any contract offer to a restricted free agent, which they didn't do when the Knicks took Jared Jeffries last year.

The salary cap is estimated to be around 55 million, although we won't know for sure exactly what it'll be until July. My guess is that it'll be slightly higher. The NBA is a soft cap, however, and the luxury tax threshold, which is the point where teams needs to pay double for any additional contracts, is likely to be around 67 million. I severely doubt the Wizards will go over the threshold, so try to avoid it.

For answers to your salary cap questions, go here.

In terms of trades, make sure the money works. To check, go to the ESPN trade machine. I'm deleting any proposals where the money doesn't work.

As far as free agents go, here's a list of the 2007 free agent class.

This thread will stay up all weekend as the main post. Do as little or as much as you like.

Thread away!

0 recs | Comment 44 comments

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problem

not a single good defender on that list of signed players. Maybe Haywood and Daniels?

So I'd focus there, heh. Gotta deal Haywood (and change) for an actual defensive big man. Hey you can get Adonal Foyle for him, at least :-D

-Matt BlogABull.com

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 4, 2007 3:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Take my Nocioni, PLEASE!

by Paxson Jackson on May 4, 2007 3:51 PM EDT 0 recs

If the Wizards sign Nocioni

I'll throw up all over my dorm room.

Seriously. You two are spot on about him, IMO. He's a limited player that tries to do too much most of the time, struggles at playing defense, and can't rebound.

Everyone else on BaB is all over his "heart" and "toughness" and "clutchness." It's just ridiculous.

The funny thing is I'm hearing the exact same things about Songaila, and he's a poor man's Nocioni. I can't understand how Songaila gets 30 minutes and Andray Blatche stays tethered to the bench.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 4, 2007 3:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

nocioni

jamison>nocioni>songaila

theyre the same guy, two of them is enough

by joshp on May 4, 2007 5:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

my plan

Here goes: $9,354,616 under the luxury tax + the MLE

1. Re-sign Andray Blatche ($2,000,000) ($7,354,616 cap)
I have no idea how much it will cost us to do this, because someone could swoop in with a huge offer, but hopefully 2 million does the trick, considering Blatche has proven nothing except that he is athletic and has potential.

2. Re-sign Donnell Taylor (min. $770,610) ($6,584,006 cap)
Given the choice between him and Mason, I would choose him because he has more potential. Neither will ever be solid rotation players, but at least Taylor has shown some nice moves.

3. Sign Oleksiy Pecherov ($427,163) ($6,156,843 cap)
I don't know how signing a player from Europe would work, so I just put O-Pec down for a minimum salary.

4. Trade Antawn Jamison to Denver for Marcus Camby and Reggie Evans (+ $2,301,626 in cap room) ($8,458,469 cap)
This is the tough one, considering how important Jamison has been as a leader, and as a player recently. At the same time though, if you have a chance to acquire the defensive player of the year, you gotta do it. Evans is a nice pickup who balances out the salaries. Throw in a future second round pick if needed.

5. Trade Brendan Haywood to Minnesota for Marko Jaric (- $1,025,000 in cap room) ($7,433,469 cap)
HOOOOORAY!!! I hope Minnesota would do this. They need a C and Jaric is pretty overpaid. It would also help them clear the way for Randy Foye at SG. At this point, I would take a ham sandwich for Haywood, if only the salaries matched up.

6. Draft Al Thornton with the 16th pick in the draft. ($1,242,700) ($6,190,769 cap)
Being an ACC guy, I've seen Thornton throughout his career, and he is a very intriguing prospect with a lot of physical tools. He may be undersized at PF, which has suddenly become a need with the Jamison trade, but we're used to that around here.

7. Draft Reyshawn Terry with the 47th pick in the draft. ($427,163) ($5,763,606 cap)
Terry is an experienced guy who may be able to stick around in the league, which is all you want out of a 2nd rounder.

8. Sign Grant Hill for the full middle-level exception.
Hill would be the replacement at SG for DeShawn, or he could come off of the bench. Getting him is a good substitute for not being able to bring Navarro, which seems to be the case.

9. Sign Mikael Pietrus ($4,000,000) ($1,763,606 cap)
Pietrus is a well-rounded swingman who is used to playing in an up-tempo system in Golden State.

That leaves us with:
PG: Arenas/Daniels
SG: Hill/Jaric/Taylor
SF: Butler/Pietrus/Blatche
PF: Pecherov/Thornton/Evans/Songaila
C: Camby/Thomas
OR
PG: Daniels/Jaric
SG: Arenas/Hill/Taylor
and so on...

The only problem with this plan is that there are no PFs on the free agent market this year. I would expect that the PF situation in this plan would be like the SG situation coming into this season. Eddie would just let the four candidates battle it out in training camp and hopefully one would emerge as the starter, like DeShawn did this season.

What do you guys think?

by joshp on May 4, 2007 6:57 PM EDT 0 recs

As much as I like this plan

The Nuggets would have to be crazy to go through with that plan.

At least I think, I mean some crazy deals have gone down before but I can't see the Nuggets giving up a legit rebounder AND the DPOY for a perimeter oriented PF. Unless George Karl wants to go Phoenix style with his team.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 4, 2007 7:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

yes...but....

they would be crazy to go through with that trade...if not for their cap issues.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/45957/20070504/camby_to_end_up_on_the_block/

it got awfully crowded in their frontcourt when they signed Nene to that 6 year 60 million dollar deal

by joshp on May 4, 2007 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Alright

I'm with you there, I didn't realize how bad Denver had gotten. I think someone would probably have more to offer for Camby than the Wizards, but I see where you're coming from.

Although that Blake-Iverson-Anthony-Nene-Martin lineup has gotten the better of my imagination, definitely something I"m going to have to practice with on NBA Live.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 4, 2007 8:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

I doubt

the Nuggets will part with Camby just for salary cap issues. It seems like they're willing to go with the guys they have, over the cap or not, becuase they get them closest to a championship.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 4, 2007 9:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

in that case

it probably wasnt the best idea to give nene 10 million dollars a year

by joshp on May 4, 2007 9:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Eh

Not after the way he played at the end of the year.

10 million is the going rate these days for those types of players. It looks better now that Kenyon Martin had two knee surgeries.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 4, 2007 10:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nocioni plays power forward!

The Wizz are golden!

by Paxson Jackson on May 4, 2007 7:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

i dont think so.................

by joshp on May 4, 2007 7:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

i have heard...

That Grant Hill is going to resign in Orlando or he is going to retire.

With that said, someone we may want to look at is Jamal Magloire. He won't cost too much and is definately an offensive improvement over Haywood and Etan Thomas. DaSagna Diop would also be a good Defensive addition but a low-post scorer is very enticing.

I've said this before but I would also sign Jason Kapono as he would be a great compliment to Arenas and Butler. I keep Jamison this year as his value will be much higher next year when he has his expiring deal

by finkad01 on May 5, 2007 3:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Diop is intriguing

Seems like he brings everything Haywood should without all the bad things.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 3:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Someone's thoughts on what the Wiz should do

Can't say I agree with it any of it, but it's worth linking to:

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=206495

It's like Adrian Wojlonglastname, Canadian style!

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 5, 2007 12:17 AM EDT 0 recs

Nah

This guy's worse.

Let's cherrypick on every single bad moment Gilbert had this year and show how he's a selfish jerk.

Lazy, lazy column.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 12:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

Oh my God

I'm reading this article again, and it's seriously the most ridiculous thing in the world. I might have to pick it apart sentence-by-sentence, FJM style over the weekend.

Seriously, he's calling a guy who reportedly said he would not sign a max contract selfish. This coming from one of the guys who probably deserves that money.

I'm going to stop before I keep going, because there's a crapload to say.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 12:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

wow!

Eddie Jordan: "a coach who actually seems to know how to get the most out of his roster"

HA! thats where i lose this guy!

by joshp on May 5, 2007 1:49 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'll tear it apart later

But in the meantime, let's get off this tangent. Back to fixing the Wizards.

And please, can we not trade Jamison in any more proposals. It's definitely not happening, especially not for both Marcus Camby AND Reggie Evans.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

why not?

the nuggets need cap relief and camby and evans are two of the guys most likely to go. not only does jamison give them 15 million in cap relief, but e would be a perfect fit in denver.

by joshp on May 5, 2007 4:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Because

Camby is not going to go anywhere, not when he's the only good defensive player on that team. If you watch the Nuggets play defense, it's incredible how much Camby means to them. Their goal is to funnel penetration to Camby because he's such an intimidating presence down there.

I'm not real sure where you get the idea that Camby is most likely to go. Denver's not going to trade any members of their core, not after they basically blew up their team in the middle of this year. They need continuity at this point, not more change. They're not going to do anything drastic just to get back under the cap, not when they have two superstars and arguably the most intimidating defensive presence in the league.

And I don't see why you think Jamison would be a good fit in Denver. His game is too similar to Carmelo's, and Jamison would just kill Denver's already so-so defense. The Nuggets need a consistent shooting guard more than anything.

Honestly, Jamison has more value in DC than he would anywhere else, and after this playoff series, there's no way I see him going anywhere.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 4:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

SG

im not arguing that camby isnt important, they just have issues with the cap.

anyway, since they need a SG, we could throw in stevenson with a sign and trade to even things out in that deal.

by joshp on May 5, 2007 9:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think

It's more likely they'll dump bench guys like Evans and Najera instead of one of their core guys in Camby.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 9:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

najera

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/45911/20070502/najera_plans_to_return_not_test_free_agenc y/

make of it what you will

anyway, i guess its all a question of whether denver is willing to stay over the cap. if they dont want to, camby's gotta go. iverson and melo are untouchable, and nene just signed that new deal.

by joshp on May 5, 2007 10:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Let's switch topics a bit

Let's move away from the Jamison debate. What I want to know is who do you think we can get for Haywood?

So far, the only possiblity thrown out there is Marko Jaric.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 4:57 PM EDT 0 recs

slight upgrade in draft position?

The problem with the Haywood trade is that we're offering a big man and need a big man. With the potential exception of Nazr Mohammed, who I know nothing about but clearly has fallen out of favor in Detroit, any team willing to trade for Brendan won't be offering any sort of upgrade.

It's possible though that a team might be willing to trade down a few spots in the draft for an established big man with a reasonable contract and decent skills. Drafting a couple spots higher could yield a young project with potential at center. Alternatively, I could see Miami trading the 20th pick straight up for Brendan, as both their centers are on the "most dominant players in the 1990s" list. An extra draft pick could let the wizards grab a center and a real power forward.

by sierradave on May 5, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Problem with the Miami proposal

Is that the salaries wouldn't match up.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 6:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

how about

We get:
Jamal Tinsley
Marquis Daniels

Indy gets:
Antonio Daniels
Brenden Haywood

I don't want to give up AD but Indy would probably like him as he's a steady point guard who does not need to shoot to impact the game and should help Jermaine O'Neal.

M. Daniels will give us much more than Jarvis does and has proven in the past that he can play and I think needs a change of scenery after falling out of favor in Indy.

Tinsley is definately a downgrade from Daniels but he is good at pushing the ball and would be a good energy guy to help our uptempo offense. Tinsley is also a fairly good defender avg. 1.65 steals a game this year (though I'm not entirely sure how good of an on ball defender he is).

This trade works according to the trade machine and if we did it we would need to sign Diop (hopefully) or another serviceable 7-footer.

What do you guys think?

by finkad01 on May 5, 2007 6:25 PM EDT 0 recs

My only concern with Marquis

is that he needed a change of scenery in Dallas too. At some point, maybe it's the player.

Tinsley is interesting though.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 6:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Here's my proposal

I was going to wait, but I'll throw it out here anyway. No salaries have been checked.

Trade Haywood to Sacramento for John Salmons and a second-round pick in the 30-40 range. Not the best trade, because of Salmons' contract length, but I'd rather have Salmons backing up Caron than Jarvis.

Re-sign Blatche to something like a 5 yr 20 million dollar deal. Dump Hayes, Ruffin, Donnell Taylor, and Mike Hall. Try to get Roger Mason for the veterans minimum.

Sign Diop for the midlevel exception, if you can. If not, re-sign Booth for the veteran's minimum.

Draft Nick Young with the 16th pick, someone like Aaron Brooks with the early second-rounder, and a project late.

Try to see if Stevenson will accept the same 3 yr/10 mil proposal he rejected last offseason. If not, let him go.

Thoughts?

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 6:52 PM EDT 0 recs

The depth chart

Under that proposal:

PG: Arenas/Daniels/Brooks
SG: Stevenson or Young/Young?/Mason
SF: Butler/Salmons/Last-round pick
PF: Jamison/Songaila/Blatche
C: Diop/Thomas/Pecherov

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 5, 2007 6:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Just a crazy thought

I doubt this would ever go down, but I was messing around with the trade machine and came up with wacky 3-way trade that would work under the cap:

Washington gets:
Andrew Bynum
Marko Jaric

Minnesota gets:
Lamar Odom
Kwame Brown
Etan Thomas

L.A. Lakers get:
Kevin Garnett
Brendan Haywood

And Prada, I like your plan with the exception of Nick Young. I don't know why but for some reason I just get weird vibes from him. But other than that, I like the plan a lot.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 5, 2007 7:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Andohbytheway

I have an actual plan coming at some point, just not yet.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 5, 2007 7:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

another trade proposal

We get:
Mike Miller
Hakim Warrick

Grizz Get
Brenden Haywood
Darius Songaila
Our #1

Miller is a great shooter and can compliment our core (Gil, CB, AJ) very well. Warrick is a rising player who would fit well in our system. He is also better than what we would get in the middle of the 1st round.

The grizz need a center and Songaila is a good complimentary player. The Grizz also in a massibe rebuilding stage so they would love to get our #1. The salaries match up and we get a much needed player and a good athletic backup to the 3 or 4.

Then sign Diop for the mid-level exception. We would have to let Stevenson go but i think miller is a better fit as a shooter than stevenson is.
We could start:

Gil/AD
Miller/Gil
Butler
Jamison
Diop

with
AD
Mason (i like him and hes cheap)
O-Pec (from everything i hear, hes coming over next year)
Blatche (definately do everything in our power to resign him)
Etan Thomas

That team has to be top 3/4 in the east esp. with the pistons getting a year older

by finkad01 on May 6, 2007 2:08 AM EDT 0 recs

I like the trade

But I think Memphis would rather improve at the center position with the draft.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 6, 2007 1:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm thinking

That would happen if they didn't get the first overall pick.

What if they got the second and picked Durant? They would have to listen to a proposal like that, wouldn't they?

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 6, 2007 2:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

If the Grizzlies did end up with Durant

I think they would definitely listen to that proposal, but I also think other teams could offer Memphis a more enticing proposal than Haywood/Songaila/1st rounder.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 6, 2007 3:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

If it was AD instead of Songaila

I think they'd jump at it, although the salaries might not match up.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 6, 2007 3:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just checked on Trade Machine

Daniels-Haywood for Warrick-Miller does match up so the trade could work. Although if we give up the first rounder we would have to almost definitely use that second round pick on a PG. At that point in the draft it looks like our best options would be Dominic James or Sean Singletary. Unless there's still room under the cap for a free agent PG.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 6, 2007 7:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just tried it again...

I threw in Daniels but to get it to work we would need to take back a bad salary like Brian Cardinal (decent hustle player to play 10 minutes a game but VERY overpaid) or Damon Stoudemire. The trade would look like this:

We get:
Mike Miller
Hakim Warrick
Brian Cardinal or Damon Stoudemire

Memphis gets:
Brendan Haywood
Darius Songaila
Antonio Daniels
our #1 (i think its #16)

Memphis would be more likely to accept this with Daniels and us taking back a bad contract like Cardinal or Stoudemire. I would rather take Stoudemire to replace Daniels as he's a better player and is a decent, quick player. I agree that this trade wouldn't happen if they get Oden but with Durant, Warrick really becomes expendible because they also have Rudy Gay.

I'm very high on Warrick as a fit for our team as well as Miller. Stoudemire is a downgrade from Daniels but is still a quick player

While it's tough to accept losing Daniels, Stoudemire can still contribute 20-25 minutes off the bench.

by finkad01 on May 6, 2007 7:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

My actual plan

As far as re-signings go, I'm going to go ahead and assume that Blatche and Mason re-sign, Stevenson signs elsewhere and everyone else gets nothing. Then bring over Pecherov but let Vermeenko stay in Europe for another year.

With the money left from not signing Stevenson, we sign Tarence Kinsey to fill the hole at SG. Then we trade Haywood to Detroit for Nazr Mohmammed and swap Detroit's first round pick via Orlando with ours. With the whole spot moved up we draft Derrick Byars to backup Caron and play some SG if needed. With the second round pick take Marko Tomas from Croatia.

In the end we look like this:

PG: Arenas/Daniels
SG: Kinsey/Mason/Tomas
SF: Butler/Byars
PF: Jamison/Songaila/Blatche
C: Mohammed/Thomas/Pecherov

I'm not really good at any of this stuff, but I figured it was worth throwing out there.

No siento mi cara.

by JakeTheSnake on May 6, 2007 1:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Power forward FA

I'm basing my opinion on one half of the Hornets - Wizards game played in DC, but I was impressed with Marc Jackson. He hit 4 or 5 consecutive jumpers against us. Maybe he'd be a good guy off the bench. Or maybe our defense just made him look good for a half.
The link to the Canadien guy's article was way off base. The biggest problem with it is that Gilbert has not made ANY demands or comments about upgrading the roster. In fact he has said the opposite. So the whole premise of his article is wrong. Oops! Just ridiculous.

by hotplate on May 6, 2007 9:31 PM EDT 0 recs