See that fella above? That’s “Dinner Bell” Mel Turpin, a member of the cursed Washington Bullets/Wizards draft history … sorta.

Turpin was taken by the Bullets with the 6th overall pick in the famed 1984 NBA Draft … the Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and of course, Sam Bowie draft. Bowie was a teammate of Turpin’s at Kentucky, and while both are known as busts, it’s Bowie’s name that most often gets mentioned amongst NBA basketball infamy.

With Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland already holding down the paint, Turpin was immediately traded by then GM Bob Ferry to a team currently generally managed by his son Danny, the Cleveland Cavaliers. In exchange, the Bullets received Cliff Robinson and Tim McCormick, who was promptly sent to the Seattle Sonics, along with Ricky Sobers, for Gus Williams.

Williams lead the ‘84-85 Bullets in scoring (20.0) and assists (7.7), while Robinson was fourth on the team in scoring (16.7) and second in rebounding (9.1). That Bullets team improved by five wins over the previous season’s mark to finish 40-42, but still lost to Barkley, Julius Erving, and Moses Malone in the first round of the playoffs.

Williams only played one more year with the team before signing with Atlanta, spending a single season there before retiring. Robinson also spent just one more season in Washington before being traded to Philadelphia, along with Ruland (who would only play 18 games for the Sixers over two seasons), for Moses Malone, Terry Catledge and two first round picks.

The Bullets used one of those first rounders to select DC’s own Anthony Jones, out of Dunbar High, with the 21st overall pick in the ‘86 draft. Scott Skiles was taken immediately after Jones, and Arvydas Sabonis two picks later. That same draft also produced Mark Price, Dennis Rodman, and Kevin Duckworth in the second round. Jones only appeared in 16 games for the Bullets before being waived in late November. He was picked up by the Spurs on a couple 10-day contracts, and would later make stops in Chicago and Dallas before being out of the NBA after the 89-90 season.

The other first rounder the Bullets received in the Malone trade was actually their own. In 1984, they traded their 1988 first rounder to Philadelphia for Tom Sewell. The stipulation in the Malone trade was that Philadelphia would get the lower of the two ‘88 picks (Washington’s and their own). When the Sixers did not make the playoffs, they ended up in the lottery with the sixth pick, and selected Hershey Hawkins. The Bullets, making the playoffs that year, used their own pick to select Harvey Grant at 12.

So you see, when the likes of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon use Mel Turpin’s name in association with the made up “Curse O’ Les Boulez,” it’s slightly misinformed. Sure, Turpin was a bust, but trading him beget both Gus Williams and Cliff Robinson, who in turn along with a crippled Ruland, beget Moses Malone, Terry Catledge, Anthony Jones and Harvey Grant. Not the worst GM maneuvering in the world, but not the best either.

As for ‘Dinner Bell’, he spent three unspectacular seasons in Cleveland, during which his lack of work ethic drew much ire from then Cavs coach George Karl, whom Turpin once referred to as a “strange coach.”

At once point late in the ‘86-87 season, Turpin’s body fat ballooned to 17-percent and his weight to 273 pounds. Teammate John Bagley also gained a whopping 22 pounds after missing two weeks due to an ankle injury.

Mark Vancil of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “Cleveland’s John Bagley and Mel Turpin appear to have invented their own diet. Call it ‘eating to lose.’” That Cavs team finished 31-51 during Lenny Wilkins’ debut season in Cleveland.

In October of ‘87, Turpin was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of a seven-player, three-team deal also involving New Jersey. Darryl Dawkins was also sent from the Nets to the Jazz. In return, Cleveland received Kent Benson, Dell Curry, and James Bailey from Utah, and sent Bagley and Keith Lee to the Nets.

Upon arriving in Utah, coach Frank Layden discovered that Turpin has “bulked up” to 280 pounds, 20 more than was reported by Cleveland. When asked about the weight gain, Turpin jokingly responded, “I like airplane food.”

Turpin lasted one season with the Jazz, appearing in 79 games and averaging 12.8 minutes per before being “traded” to a Spanish team for Jose Ortiz in September of ‘88. That’s right, the Jazz so miffed with Turpin’s weight problems that they sent him to Spain. A report from the True Hoop archives relates that the Turpin-Ortiz exchange wasn’t really a trade.

Ortiz, a Puerto Rican who played at Oregon State where he teamed up with Gary Payton, was the ‘87 Pac-10 player of the year and actually Utah’s first round pick (15th overall) in the ‘87 NBA Draft. Ortiz’s Spanish team, Zaragoza, was apparently impressed enough watching a heavy Turpin play against JUCO players that they were willing to accept him as compensation for Ortiz using an NBA opt-out clause from his three-year contract with Zaragoza.

After spending a year in Spain, Turpin returned to the U.S. and was invited by the Bullets to participate in training camp in July of ‘89. Turpin knew it was probably his last chance to make it in the league, yet showed up weighing 280 pounds, and could barely make it through a 10-minute scrimmage.

GM Bob Ferry and coach Wes Unseld still aimed to turn Turpin around with a strict regimen of training and a monitored diet. The exhaustive program, run at the University of Maryland and assisted by an associate professor with a degree in exercise science, actually was successful in getting Turpin to shed 22 pounds over eight weeks.

Turpin stuck around for the ‘89-90 season, appearing in 59 games, starting 12. His stats, however, were not impressive, averaging 13.9 minutes, 4.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and a mere 0.8 blocks per game. Dinner Bell was gone by July of 1990, cut by the Bullets after they drafted center Greg Foster and traded for Pervis Ellison.

Turpin was done. No other NBA team wanted him. Deals to play overseas fell through. He faded into retirement, forever relegated as “Dinner Bell” Mel.

Turpin seemed to be the happy-go-lucky guy without a care in the world about the game of basketball. He once moved to a rural farming community in Illinois because his wife wanted to live in the small town where she grew up, yet complained that he couldn’t find anyone to play against, and thus usually did not play basketball at all in the summer. Not many people with the opportunity to make over a million a year in the late-80s would have taken the same course of action.

While likable, Turpin represents the classic case of someone with natural talent and unteachable height, yet without the love or desire to expand upon those skills. Frustrating for many non pro-caliber athletes, those who still sacrifice bodily harm for nothing more than the love of the game.

Justified or not, Turpin will always be associated with a history of Wizards/Bullets franchise draft gaffes. Although, as mentioned, Bob Ferry was able to gain a great deal of assets using Turpin as a bargaining chip.

Here’s to exorcising the demons of a guy who simply preferred to eat than exercise.

Mel Turpin Quoteables from the Archives

About the time the Cavs were fading in February, Mel Turpin was unhappy with something I wrote and kept telling me, “I ain’t gonna be no scape BOAT for this team!” Turpin was such a good-natured guy, but he had weight problems and often seemed overwhelmed by all the travel, the plays and everything that is a part of everyday life. His good friend from Kentucky, Cavs guard Dirk Minniefield, once told me, “Poor Melvin was the kid who they always made stand in the corner when we were in elementary school.”

“1986: Pro basketball arrives: Draft by GM Embry brings Price, Daugherty, Harper into the fold.“ Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, OH). HighBeam Research.

Mel Turpin is a beauty. A big beauty. Two-hundred-eighty pounds worth. “I haven’t seen Mel for three or four weeks because I was scouting the NCAA tournament and the postseason all-star games,” said Cavaliers GM Wayne Embry the other day. “Obviously, he has put on a few pounds since the start of the season, and I’m not too happy about that.” The Baby Blimp will be making $1.1 million next year.

Bob Ryan, “WAIL OF TWO CITIES: WHO GETS FLA. TEAM?.” The Boston Globe. Apr. 1987. HighBeam Research.

Coach Frank Layden has experimented with a front line of 7-foot-4-inch Mark Eaton, either 6-11 Darryl Dawkins or 7-foot Mel Turpin and the 6-9, 250-pound Malone as a frontcourt unit. Utah publicist Bill Kreifeldt has dubbed any such combos the “Wasatch Front.”

Bob Ryan, “MINUTES WERE MANDATORY.” The Boston Globe. Oct. 1987. HighBeam Research.

Utah Jazz Coach Frank Layden banished reserve center Mel Turpin to the locker room for much of the second half of the Jazz’s 101-93 NBA victory Wednesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Richfield, Ohio.

“Mel was laughing with the fans behind our bench and they were beginning to chant `We want Mel,’ ” Layden said after sending Turpin to the locker room in the third quarter for the rest of the game. “I didn’t think it was a good situation for him. I wasn’t going to play him anyway because he missed this morning’s shoot-around. He’ll play in our next game.”

Layden’s explanation for his banishment was mentioned to Turpin after the game, and the 6-foot-11, 270-pound player said, “Is that why?” and refused further comment . . .

“BASKETBALL.” The Washington Post. Dec. 1987. HighBeam Research.

It was in front of a Houston hotel where Mel Turpin and Carey Scurry went fistic and pugilistic. Legend has it they were razzing one another about their ladies when suddenly trouble erupted.

Brad Rock, “Utah Jazz: Brad Rock’s all-time favorite Top 10 Jazz goofy moments.” Deseret News (Salt Lake City). 2008. HighBeam Research.

Washington big man Mel Turpin played in Spain last season and loved to bait the opposing fans.

“My coaches would beg me, ‘Please don’t say anything,’ but I liked to have a little fun,” said Turpin. “Then one night, the fans in Barcelona got so mad they had to rush us off the court before the game ended. They followed us out of the arena and started rocking the bus. They nearly tipped the damn thing over. It wasn’t until then I realized why they wanted me to keep quiet.”

Jackie MacMullan, “MCHALE: A STAR IS REBORN HE’S RETURNING TO THE FORM THAT MADE HIM NO. 1 SIXTH MAN IN THE NBA.” The Boston Globe. Feb. 1990. HighBeam Research.

The aptly dubbed Dinner Bell Mel Turpin, who was granted a personal trainer and nutritionist by the team in an attempt to beat back the bulge, showed up to the gym one day, stepped on the scale in private, then grabbed his things and left, never to be heard from again.

The team received the news from Turpin’s agent by telephone, as thusly: Mel did not make weight, knew there would be serious repercussions with Unseld and so he has decided to retire to Ohio.

Tom Knott, “WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN; Wizards purge the bad karma of yesteryear.(SPORTS).” The Washington Times. Apr. 2005. HighBeam Research.

Sources

• Mark Vancil. “Draft will be tough to pick.” Chicago Sun-Times. Mar. 15, 1987. HighBeam Research.
• “Jazz Trades for Dawkins, Turpin.” The Washington Post. Oct. 9, 1987. HighBeam Research.
• Mark Maske. “Turpin: Center of Attention.” The Washington Post. 1989. HighBeam Research.
• Dave Sell. “Bullets Sign Turpin; Center to Battle Bulge; 275-Pounder to Enter Six-Week Program.” The Washington Post. 1989. HighBeam Research.
• David Aldridge. “Turpin Plays Weighing Game;Facing Last Chance, Free Agent Means Business With Bullets.” The Washington Post. 989. HighBeam Research.
• Marc Stein. “Hole at Center Grows as Bullets Cut Turpin.” The Washington Post. 1990. HighBeam Research.
• David Aldridge. “Club Championships May Lurk for NBA; Stern Says More International Play Possible.” The Washington Post. 1990. HighBeam Research.
• “6-11 Turpin stands out in Clinton.” Chicago Sun-Times. 1988. HighBeam Research.

I mentioned the Bullets Forever idea of trading Mike James and Javaris Crittenton to Indiana for Travis Diener and Jeff Foster in the previous post, ‘Finding A Big Man For The Washington Wizards’ … which could quite possibly the first ‘two white men for two black men trade’ in the NBA in decades, if not ever.

Naturally, I wanted to get the opinion of a Pacers fan-blogger on the potential deal. Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows was kind enough to weigh-in via email:

[The] proposed trade definitely makes sense from an emotionless nuts and bolts perspective. I do think the Pacers are willing to move Foster and with Mike James involved the team could have additional cap room next summer. Plus, as an added bonus, assuming Jarrett Jack does not re-sign and the team keeps A.J. Price in play, James may be a good mentor for the rook since both hail from Amityville, NY.

The Diener/Crittenton parts appear to be a wash. Diener is in the last year of his deal and Crittenton has a team option next summer. Crittenton has some known flaws, namely his ability to shoot the three and too many turnovers which are two areas Jim O’Brien values highly which he proved last season by moving T.J. Ford out of the starting lineup. The physical upside to Crittenton’s game would be worth the gamble though since the team could let him go after the season, not a bad worst-case scenario.

Diener has been pretty efficient running the Pacers offense when healthy which he wasn’t for much of last year. Plus, he can knock down perimeter shots which would probably be the determining factor between the two if Jim O’Brien has a say.

The key sticking point with Foster is that the Pacers value him as a part of the organization and not just for what he does on the court. Foster waded through the muck and mire of the brawl and off-court insanity that disrupted the team a few years ago and never complained but instead covered his teammates’ backs whenever needed and just kept working. That’s the main reason the Pacers extended his contract last year and why they will be reluctant to move him unless a championship contending team is involved or if he is part of a bigger deal for an impact player (say Amare Stoudemire).

Basically, it’s a ‘no thanks’, but ‘it’s not out of the question’.

I ‘d never blame Indy for want to be loyal to Foster, but then again, financial concerns and the “it’s a business” aspect of the NBA could easily cause loyalty to be thrown out the window.

I’d forgotten that the Pacers picked up A.J. Price with the 22nd pick in the second round. Recalling my interview with Mike James, he’s kept a close eye on his boy Price … so it would be cool for those two to be on the same team.

Overall, perhaps the Wizards would be better served keeping the veteran James on the roster to assist with PG duties heading into next season. He could also turn out to be a more valuable trade asset at the ‘10 deadline than this summer.

In addition, Antonio McDyess  might be a better option than Foster. The Detroit News is reporting that the Wizards, along with Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, Houston, and San Antonio, are vying for the services of the veteran big man.

The fact that McDyess, a reasonably relevant free agent, is tied to the Wizards makes Mike Prada of Bullets Forever feel a little better about recent reports that Ernie Grunfeld would not be an initial free-agency participant.

Then again, the “interest” reported by the Detroit News could simply mean that Grunfeld has placed a courtesy call to McDyess’ agent.

Only time will tell.

still miss you d-song | flick/Keith Allison

“Easy lil’ fella,” I told him. “We’ll keep looking around to see if we can add someone else, but we feel comfortable about what we have currently and the depth of our ballclub.”

The kid then kicked me in the shin and ran away.

I suddenly woke up from my slumber and realized those weren’t my words, those were Ernie Grunfeld’s words. I had a mission …

can big gheorghe muresan get on the horn and find the wizards a big man?

Finding the perfect big man for the Wizards … how is it done? Well, with a dose of stats and a bit of guts. I first started this post/research before the Wizards made the Miller/Foye trade, and then had to keep adjusting given circumstances.

First, I wanted to narrow the field to target not only free-agents (restricted and unrestricted), but other big men who are reasonable targets (using “reasonable” loosely). I’ve also eliminated some targets.

For instance, in the narrowed field, you will not see the following:

• Chris Bosh - Toronto is not trading him this summer … check back at the trade deadline.
• Zydrunas Illgauskas - Nope. Cleveland loyalty and we don’t want to give the Cavs anything in a trade, nor his contract.
• Paul Millsap - No way the Jazz are letting him go. They’d rather keep Millsap over Boozer and/or Okur. Of course, Boozer and Okur decided NOT to opt-out/early terminate … so the Jazz might not be able to keep Millsap. But if the Wizards were to go after him, it’d probably have to be a sign-and-trade. I’d LOVE to have this guy (so he’ll actually be on the list for comparison purposes).
• Emeka Okafor - Shaky back and over $60 million and 5-years left on his contract … no, thanks.
• Lamar Odom - Yea, riiight. That dude is not playing for our MLE, nor is he worth a sign and trade with LA.
• Amare Stoudemire - That ship has sailed.
• Michael Ruffin - Bad Toronto memories … horrendous offense … maybe if he weren’t going to be 33 in January.
• Others who aren’t in the list below - Just because.

That leaves us with this set of 24 players (in alphabetical order):

1. Chris Anderson
2. Brandon Bass
3. Marcus Camby
4. Tyson Chandler
5. Samuel Dalembert
6. Francisco Elson
7. Jeff Foster
8. Channing Frye
9. Drew Gooden
10. Marcin Gortat
11. Andrei Kirilenko
12. David Lee
13. Antonio McDyess
14. Paul Millsap
15. Rasho Nesterovic
16. Zaza Pachulia
17. Joel Przybilla
18. Zach Randolph
19. Joe Smith
20. Anderson Varejao
21. Charlie Villanueva
22. Rasheed Wallace
23. Chris Wilcox
24. Shelden Williams

I know what you’re thinking …. there’s no way some of these guys end up on the Wizards. Bad contracts, cancers, injury risks, and your “ain’t no ways” are all there (looking at you ‘Sheed, Dalembert, Chandler, Z-Bo, etc.).

Just bare with me. All of those guys are “available” per se. Stats will eliminate some, intuition others.

Statistics

Ok, so how shall we measure this set?

I’m going to go with some aspects of the much vaunted plus/minus.

We obviously want said big man to be a good defender AND rebounder, so I will use the following (all stats from this past season 82games.com):

• Net +/- for points allowed for 100 possessions on defense.
• Net +/- for effective FG% allowed
• Net +/- % total rebounding
  

However, we (me and Flip Saunders) would also like said big man to be able to shoot a little bit … spread to the floor for others. To measure that, I will use:

• eFG% on jump shots

Finally, as a general rating, I’m going to use the Roland Rating, which is defined as (via 82games.com):

The main components of the ‘Roland Ratings’ are a production measure (a variant of John Hollinger’s PER rating) for a player’s own stats versus the counterpart player on the other team while he is on the court, as well as a simple on court/off court plus minus.

Ok, moving on to a spreadsheet of players and numbers … “yay” …

But first:

• Players in GREEN are unrestricted free-agents
• Players in YELLOW are restricted free-agents
• Players in ORANGE will have to come in a trade, their contract deets:
  • Jeff Foster: 2-yrs, $12.7 million
  • Zach Randolph: 2 yrs, $33 million
  • Sam Dalembert: 2 yrs, $25 million
  • AK-47: 2 yrs, $34.3 million
  • Marcus Camby: 1 yr, $9.65 million
  • Joel Przybilla: 2 yrs, $14.3 million (early termination option)
  • Tyson Chandler: 2 yrs, $25.4 million (eto - doubt he uses it)

Other Things to know:

• You’ll see each measurable columned colored light blue. The ‘R = X’ number at the bottom of each column represents the range between the ‘best’ player rating and ‘worst’ rating in each category.
• The R% helps determine how each player’s rating performs against the entire range [formula = rating/range*100 -- (also adjusted when negative ratings are better)]
• The RK is simply the ranking of each player (against each other) in that category … 24 to 1 … the higher the ranking, the better.
• Not only am I trying to measure how well each individual performs with +/-, but also how each perform in relation to each other.
• I’m not a stat head … so some of this stuff could be effed up, i.e., this is obviously not a perfect measurement of these players; no ’stat’ is.This is why I wouldn’t use a statistic to say, “These stats mean that Player X is a bad defensive player.” Rather, I’d say, “These statistics possibly indicate that Player X is less adept at playing defense.”

Final Tally:

(the three column headers in yellow - you’ll have to scroll right to see them)

• R% Totals = the sum of each R% column
• D&R % TTL = Sum of R% columns for defense and rebounding (sans Roland Rating and eFG%)
• Rank Totals = the sum of the straight ranking of each player in each category
• Green squares reflect those within the top 7 of each ‘final tally’, red in the bottom 7.

[If you can't see the spreadsheet below, click here.]

*Players are currently listed in order of R% totals.

Elimination Time (again, listed in alpha order) via intuition:

1. Chris Anderson - It’s not about the money with the Birdman, it’s about a comfort zone (mostly due to his past issues). He’ll give Denver the hometown discount and will stay where he is loved, and where he’s blossomed/reinserted himself as a defensive force in the NBA.
2. Brandon Bass - Very nice offensive player, and ranks 8th in R% overall (5th in rank total), but his defense and rebounding total (9.82), in addition to the fact that he’s a bit undersized, reflects that he might not exactly be what the Wizards are looking for. Overall, I think he’d fit in Saunders’ system … and that’s why I hesitate to cross him out. But he’s considered a ‘keeper’ by the Mavs and is receiving a ‘ton of interest’ otherwise, perhaps seeking the full MLE.
3. Marcus Camby - Could be a possibility, if Grunfeld is willing to gamble … see trade ideas below.
4. Tyson Chandler - Injury prone and too expensive. I’d only want him as a sixth man and the goods are definitely not worth the price.
5. Samuel Dalembert - This guy doesn’t give me a good feeling. Too unpredictable, too expensive, not enough offense.
6. Francisco Elson - Y’all realize this guy weighs less than JaVale McGee, right? He once called Kevin Garnett “gay” for a crotch shot that K.G. dished out. Elson slightly rebounded from a very poor 07-08 last year in Milwaukee, but the Wizards should want a guy who can throw his weight around … moving on.
7. Jeff Foster - Not the best offensive player, but defends, rebounds, and is deceptively quick. Foster is similar to Songaila in that he has contagious hustle, but is also two inches taller and a much better rebounder, statistically, than D-Song. However, turning 33 in January, and past hip/back problems might be a deterrent. Foster will do what it takes, once scavenging for food in the media room before a game at the Verizon Center (relayed by Steve Buckhantz), and by tripping some lil’ jerk who ran onto the court … so I wouldn’t mind having him on the Wizards. See trade option below.
8. Channing Frye - Could/should be a very cheap option, but ranks low … in fact, dead last in both overall categories. Frye’s got range on his jumper, but is not someone who can protect the paint, and the Wizards need the latter more. Channing blocks shots slightly better than Songaila … enuff said.
9. Drew Gooden - Not the best defender (mentally), but adequate. Gooden has the ability to score inside and out, and is a decent rebounder. However, with teams like San Antonio, Boston, and  Houston probably able to offer him more minutes than the Wizards, the chances of him coming to DC are slim. He’s “boys” with DeShawn Stevenson … all the more reason to move on … unless you’re Dan Steinberg and you like intra-team Beard Growing Contests.
10. Marcin Gortat - His numbers don’t rank him highly among the group, but his play in the playoffs really impressed and increased his value. With Tony Battie gone, and Orlando going ‘all in’ over the tax (but disregarding Turkoglu), bet that they match almost any offer for Gortat. However, with Rockets GM Daryl Morey recruiting Gortat via FaceBook, Twitter, the Rockets’ official website, and created gmail accounts expressing how much Rockets fans love him, look for Houston to try to overpay Gortat (especially with the status of Yao and the retiring Mutombo). Chad Ford reported that Gortat could receive $4-5 million a year (or 4-years, $16-18 million), but will probably get a larger offer, and thus be out of the Wizards’ MLE price range. Ford reports that the Knicks, Mavericks, Pacers and Raptors could also be interested.
11. Andrei Kirilenko - He’d be a very intriguing piece, but he’s a prima donna and the price tag over two seasons is too much.
12. David Lee - His status as a restricted FA makes joining the Wiz improbable and unreasonable. Plus, his stats don’t impress. That being said, I’d love to have him, but it’s a pipe dream.
13. Antonio McDyess - I’m not completely sure I see him leaving Detroit, but could be a bargain possibility. However, McDyess will be 35 in September and is in the ring-chasing phase of his career (remember, he arrived in Detroit the year after they beat the Lakers for the title), and the Wizards might not fill his requirements. Chad Ford is reporting that he could command $3-5 million a year … which could be slightly too expensive for Abe Pollin’s $2.5 million for a 2nd round draft pick lined pockets.
14. Paul Millsap - Even with Utah’s money crunch as a result of both Boozer and Okur returning, they still might match any reasonable offer for Millsap (in upwards of $8-10 million a year). This obviously puts him out of the Wizards’ price range and I cannot fathom a sign and trade, which would still put Utah deep in luxury territory, working.
15. Rasho Nesterovic - Too old, too immobile, and likely going back to Europe. Jake of Bullets Forever makes a decent case for Rasho, so I won’t call him an absolute no.
16. Zaza Pachulia - I’d love to have this guy, especially when he’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with a-holes like Kevin Garnett. However, it’s highly improbable that we see him in DC. For one, he’s probably high on the list of priorities for Atlanta, in line with Marvin Williams and in front of Mike Bibby. After that, more championship experienced squads in San Antonio and Boston are very interested in bringing him in. Pachulia could also be a target of Orlando should they lose Gortat. The only way I could see Zaza in a Wizards uniform would be if we offered the full MLE for something like 4-years (say $22 million) — there’s no way Grunfeld will do that.
17. Joel Przybilla - Another guy I’d love to have, but the Wizards aren’t getting him … even if Grunfeld offered Andray Blatche and Mike James for Przybilla and Travis Outlaw. A future first rounder might get Portland thinking … but at the same time, such a move doesn’t bring a ton of value to the Wizards. With both Raef LaFrentz and Channing Frye likely gone, the Blazers will be content with keeping Pryzbilla on the payroll.
18. Zach Randolph - Ranks highly, but D.C. gun laws could be his best friend and/or worst enemy. No, thank, you.
19. Joe Smith - Doesn’t make mistakes, decent all-around player, local college hero … but turning 34 in July. He’d be a good locker room presence, and would not complain being in a role where he rarely sees the court. Might be a good last-ditch, cheap option.
20. Anderson Varejao - That goofy S.O.B. on the Wiz? No thanks. He opted out of 1-year, $6.2 million with Cleveland … Washington is not paying him more.
21. Charlie Villanueva - The guy can shoot, but his defensive/rebounding numbers are dead last. Combine that with what it might cost to get him and I’ll pass. As Ric(k) Bucher puts it when talking about the ‘right system’ for Charlie: “Any that can put four quality defenders on the floor, because a winning team can’t afford more than one bad one and Charlie has that locked up.” Yea, I just spit up my drink too.
22. Rasheed Wallace - Flip Saunders does not want this headache again … good luck Orlando or San Antonio. ‘Sheed will give Stan Van Gundy an ulcer, or Gregg Popovich more pockmarks on his face.
23. Chris Wilcox - If he can bring back the Wilcox of Seattle fame, then maybe … but too many people think he’s an inferior defender (partially evident by the above numbers). He’s also said to give less than full effort, and has issues with staying in shape (we already have Blatche in that department). He’s worth a look, but just not a lot of money. (*Wilcox’s numbers above are from his time in OKC where he played 719 minutes before heading to the Knicks to play 330 minutes.)
24. Shelden Williams - Could be a very affordable option. Williams has muscle, is a willing, Coach K trained defender, and has the ability to block shots. Unfortunately, his offense close to the basket makes Ben Wallace look like Tim Duncan.

Omitted Names:

Sean May (please … too fat, injury prone), Johan Petro (defense? can’t play it), Robert Swift (don’t need another ‘project’), Chris Mihm (he’s done), Mikki Moore (see: Mihm), Collins Twins (never have impressed me), Jamaal Magloire, (washed up aka also done), Juwan Howard (defense = nope), Calvin Booth (been there, done that), ‘Big Baby’ Davis (Boston will keep him now that Powe is a goner), Theo Ratliff (he’s turning 57 next April).

The Trades

Marcus Camby

Camby is obviously rated highly across the board … and he’d be great to have, but would he be able to play alongside Brendan Haywood? Would he take a bench role? Would he grow dreads so B-Wood could rip them out? Who knows.

The first trade I tried at Real GM was DeShawn, Javaris & Mike James for Camby and Ricky Davis. It works, but it might not ‘work’ — problem is, the Wizards are losing PG depth and a prospect in Crittenton. On the other hand, Javaris is not that much of a prospect to make it worth LA’s while to not only give up Camby, but also take an extra year of DeShawn’s contract money.

The second trade with LA I attempted was Nick Young, Stevenson, and James for Camby and Mardy Collins (and perhaps a second round pick). Sure LA gives up Camby, (which they’d like to do anyway with their glut of bigs), and takes on an extra year of Stevenson, but they get a better prospect back in hometown LA boy Young, who can swing between SG and SF. The Wizards keep a decent backup PG in Javaris and gain the 24-year old, 6′6″ Collins, who is a TERRIBLE offensive player, but a decent wing defender, and can play positions 1-3.

It’d be tough to give up Young in exchange for ‘renting’ Camby for a year, but if Grunfeld wants to shed future salary while improving size and defense, this might be the trade for him.

Jeff Foster

The @BulletsForever twitter account proposed a trade of Mike James and Javaris Crittenton for Jeff Foster and Travis Diener.

The Pacers would get a PG (behind T.J. Ford) to push the ball in their up-tempo style … talking about Crittenton, not James. James becomes a trade-deadline asset for Indiana. They also get out from the $6,655,000 on Foster’s contract in 2010-11.

The Wizards, as evident by Foster’s numbers, get a very capable 32-year old veteran who’s willing to play off the bench and knows what hustle is all about.

Upon first hearing this, I’m like “sign me up!” Everybody wins, right?

Not exactly. The Pacers are losing fans and money, and are looking to shed salary, evidenced by them not picking up Marquis Daniels’ option. But do Larry Bird & Co. want to head into next season with Troy Murphy, Roy Hibbert, Josh McRoberts, and Tyler Hansbrough as their only options in the post?

Perhaps this works if the Pacers can find a better, cheaper alternative to Foster.

But the more I think about this trade, the more fair I think it is for Indy, but less ideal (in the long-term) for Washington. I’d still do it though.

Guys I should have mentioned:

Stromile Swift - PHO ($201,741) - Will he ever fulfill his potential? What kind of sign is it that Hollinger says that Etan Thomas is the “most similar at his age”? Should the Wizards take a chance on this guy? It’s hard to say … I’d much rather have a proven vet in Joe Smith.

Leon Powe - BOS ($797,581 … Celtics decided not to issue a qualifying offer of $1,030,189) - If Grunfeld was scared of DeJuan Blair and his knee issues then he definitely shouldn’t throw caution in the wind and go after Powe. Stet Sports seems to believe that Powe would be a good addition … but after tearing his ACL in late April, his 6-8 month recovery time might not get him back on the court until late 2009 or 2010.

Ike Diogu - SAC ($2,912,822 … Kings decided not to issue a qualifying offer of $3,946,874) - I like this guy. And he used to tear it up years ago … on offense … when he saw the court. But his turnovers and lack of defense kept him on the bench for Portland and a crappy Sacramento team. Is there potential for this four team player going into his fifth year? Definitely. Do the Wizards need a guy still in his development phase? Highly unlikely.

Who’s Left (and what they made last year):

• Joe Smith ($1,200,000)
• Chris Wilcox ($6,750,000)
• Drew Gooden ($1,410,441)
• Rasho Nesterovic ($8,400,000)
• Shelden Williams ($3,395,760)

I wouldn’t mind having any of these guys … just not for much more than the bi-annual exception of about $2 million dollars, or perhaps a 3/5 portion of the $5.8-6 million MLE. Gooden, with his age (28 in September), might command more money, and as mentioned, might desire an opportunity for more minutes elsewhere.

Otherwise, in terms of potential contributions, statistics, gut feeling, and financial implications, I’d rank the remaining four as follows:

1) Shelden Williams
2) Joe Smith
3) Rasho Nesterovic
4) Chris Wilcox

As reported by Mike Jones of the Washington Times, Grunfeld is going to bide his time and see what crumbs slip through the cracks.

[translation: Grunfeld will not be using the full MLE, otherwise he'd be trying to lock someone in now -- Mike Prada at Bullets Forever translates this the same way, and is frustrated as hell ... can't blame him].

This is what we’ve come to expect from the patient Wizards president of operations working under Abe Pollin.

Of course, Wiz fans are hungry for winning, and crumbs might not do … but that’s the state the franchise is in, desiring to have a three-way with ‘Win Now’ and ‘Save Money’.

Sometimes the early bird gets the best worms, and sometimes those who patiently play a hand squeeze their opponents, and come out on top in the end.

I found this quote from a Cleveland Plain Dealer story by Brian Windhorst interesting:

Warren Buffett, a friend of LeBron James and a rather established expert in making acquisitions, can certainly relate to the situation the Cavaliers are now in.

One of the billionaire’s core philosophies and known quotes is to “attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.”

In listening to sources within the organization and across the league, despite being in a challenging climate for professional sports that has prompted fear with good reason, the Cavs fully intend to be greedy.

It seems the team is expected to act quickly to add to their already well-heeled roster in an attempt to win their first title next season, which is famously the last on James’ contract.

Clearly the pressure to retain a superstar, upon whom the emotional state of all of Ohio seemingly depends, creates a different, yet tumultuous environment for the Danny Ferry and Cavaliers.

I still am adamant about my trust in Ernie Grunfeld. But the scrutiny on him is as high as ever and I’ll be very curious to see what moves he makes.

All of this being said, Grunfeld will probably sign Mikki Moore. Damn.

flickr/Keith Allison

Etan Thomas waxed poetic. He audaciously spoke out against the war. He stumped for Obama. He got huffy on the Huffington Post. For his social involvement, he’s a commendable guy. Vastly different from many of the NBA’s young money millionaires.

But when it comes to the goal of winning as a team, Etan’s social activity, which assumingly had a bearing on his locker room inactivity, need not apply.

The Wizards are much better off now that he’s gone.

Think what you want about Brendan Haywood’s failure to give Thomas his proper sendoff while Antawn Jamison did. Haywood can say what he wants, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a good or bad guy.

The fleeting rivalry between Haywood and Thomas is not why the Wizards are better off. Neither is the fact that Etan’s expiring contract was a valuable asset in the trade. Nor was it the fact that Thomas rarely saw the court over the past two seasons because of injury. Rather, it’s the jettisoning of Etan’s aloof locker room behavior that promotes increased unity among the remaining players.

As Haywood told ESPN 980’s Kevin Sheehan via the DC Sports Bog:

“He wasn’t really tight in our locker room structure. You know, he kind of distanced himself, and we even talked to him about it, like, ‘We feel like you don’t feel like you’re part of the team.’ So he distanced himself from the team. So you look out there, we’re gonna miss Songaila because he’s played and played well the last couple years, and we’re gonna miss him because he went out with guys to eat, he went out to the comedy shows and to the mall, he hung out, he was an integral part of our team. While Etan didn’t play, and he didn’t have that many close friends, so, we’re not gonna miss him.”

Many coaches aim to create a unified atmosphere on the court and off. They sell their players on a mentality of “going to war” with each other. In the foxhole, you’re more willing to work harder, fight more, for guys you can trust, guys you can call your comrades.

Etan’s self-imposed separation from his teammates created an unspoken degree of mistrust. Whether it was unintentional or not isn’t the point. What’s clear is that while some guys may have liked, gotten along with, and perhaps admired Etan, there were two factions behind closed doors: The Poet and the rest of the team.

To achieve the ultimate goal of a championship, everyone from the trainers, to the towel boys, to the front office, to the coaches, and especially the players need to be active participants in a ’same page’ environment.

It’s not that Etan was a noticeable burden on team chemistry, but it will improve for the simple fact that he’s gone.

His distance could have been misinterpreted as quiet disdain towards those so different from him, or perhaps that interpretation is valid. Would anyone be surprised if Etan wrote a book chronicling the ills of his NBA contemporaries once his playing days are over?

So while we wish Etan the best of luck in the future, we also bid him good riddance.

a scene from one of the more popular Cleveland street festivals - flickr/jmd41280

And Milwaukee thought it had it bad … being the target of Gilbert Arenas’ trash talking and all. Maybe his buddy Richard Jefferson will have the last laugh, seeing that now he’s off to dance the championship dream in San Antonio with Timmy, Manu and Tony.

Step aside Brew City, Cleveland is more boring than you. The city that LeBron James may or may not leave in the future has been named the most boring city in America by a TripAdvisor survey of over 3,400 respondents.

Uhh … sorry guys.

Luckily, the Cleveland Cavaliers can do no wrong [via Waiting For Next Year]

In Other News:

Hopefully the ‘it’s time for Andray Blatche to step up’ ritual doesn’t extend further than the past three off-seasons (including this current one).

I really/kinda/sorta believe in the kid this time … I really do. Some encouraging words from Tom Knott, Washington Times:

Flip Saunders is working with Andray Blatche on a daily basis, putting the 22-year-old forward through various basketball drills while trying to solve the four-year mystery of what his destiny will be.

“This [one-on-one training] is what I used to do with Kevin Garnett,” Saunders tells Blatche, aware that Blatche idolized Garnett in his days as a youth in Syracuse, N.Y.

That anecdote comes from Ernie Grunfeld, the president of the Wizards and the one who hired Saunders in April to pick up the pieces from a 19-win season.

……..

Grunfeld remains ever hopeful with Blatche, a 6-foot-11 talent with a history of shrinking from his duties. That has been chalked up to his immaturity, a condition Brendan Haywood eventually overcame.

……..

Saunders has taken an active interest in Blatche in an effort to unearth his inner gym rat - if one is lurking inside him.

“Flip is getting through to him at this point,” Grunfeld said. “They have a nice relationship.”

The Saunders-Blatche dynamic is a reflection of Grunfeld’s Red Holzman-inspired belief in developing players, one of the three D’s of building a team. The others are making a sweet deal or draft pick.

Further Reading: It’s Make or Break Time for Andray Blatche [Bullets Forever]

Let’s just say that JaVale McGee is not yet at the “quoteable” point of his career:

“Um, it was fun. We didn’t have a good season, so that was kind of different, but I’m sure next year, we’ll be all good.”

AND

“Um, hopefully just stepping my game up, getting better, something like that.”

JaVale McGee’s answers to what his rookie season was like, and what his personal goals are in an interview with It’s Just Sports.

On the other hand … Sam I Am:

“I enjoy teaching basketball. I wasn’t the most talented guy out there, but I know all of the angles. And I know the chemistry of the game. Coaching in the NBA is about more than X’s and O’s. It’s about managing guys.” -Sam Cassell

“Cassell followed hoops dream from Baltimore to NBA,” by Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun

Other hits

• Mr. Irrelevant has a pictorial of the Wizards’ draft pick past.
• Friend of the blog, Doc Funk, took a road trip to the NBA Draft.
• Now it’s Mike Miller and Randy Foye vs. Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier. Have at it Wizards fans. [We're Off To See The Willards]
• The ‘History’ of Sam Cassell and Gilbert Arenas [DC Sport Bog]
• Stet Sports: Lesson Number One For Young Wizards; Don’t Be Like Brandon Jennings
• Baller Blogger gives the Wizards’ trade for Mike Miller and Randy Foye a big fat D … harsh.

Leave ‘em sweatin’ for more

Sweat dripped from the brim of Grunfeld’s nose as he spoke to reporters after Thursday’s NBA draft, which may have been emblematic of the intense pressure he is under to field a legitimate contender in Washington.

[via The Washington Post]

straight cash homey - flickr/Steve Wampler

For the second year in a row, the Washington Wizards sold their second round draft pick. Good move? Bad move? It’s Washington Wizards Point, Counter-Point.

[previously on Point, Counter-Point: Why Didn’t The Wizards Get Vince Carter?]

Point

DeJuan Blair, the “best rebouder in college basketball” was there for the taking … and what do the Wizards do? Just sell the damn pick, Jermain Taylor, to Houston for $2.5 million cash.

Don’t tell me about saving a roster spot for a free-agent big man. With the departure of Juan Dixon and the three-for-two trade with Minnesota, the Wizards have 13 players under contract. They could have drafted Blair, without committing much money to him at all, and signed a free-agent big such as Zaza Pachulia or Marcin Gortat (assuming either of those guys would play for the full MLE, both will probably command more).

Why not take a chance on Blair? Selecting him could have been a low-risk, high-reward move.

This just reeks of being cheap.

Counter Point

Blair, who was rumored to be good enough to have been a lottery pick, might turn out to be a ball player and he might not. But evidently, surgery on both knees was enough to keep Grunfeld, and many other away. Pistons Blog ‘Piston Powered’ got a doctor’s opinion of Blair’s knee injuries:

In high school, Blair tore both of his ACLs and had them surgically repaired. Blair’s scar tissue essentially got re-absorbed by his body and the result left Blair with essentially no ACLs.

Although he’s suffered no adverse effects ever since, Blair’s is an unprecedented injury and one that scared off a slew of NBA executives. Though Blair literally has no ACL to tear, some team physicians feel that Blair could eventually develop a nagging issue that could wear him down a few years down the road.

No ACLs? Yikes.

1. Perhaps Ernie Grunfeld had a deal with Houston (contingent on Taylor or someone else being available) before Blair slipped.

   Plus, as the WaPost’s Michael Lee has pointed out, the $2.5 million Washington got was significantly more than the $750,000 they got for selling Billy Walker to the Celtics last year. This could help the Wizards off-set having to pay the luxury tax.

2. The sale increases the likelihood that Grunfeld uses both the mid-level exception (estimated at being worth just under $6 million) and the bi-annual exception (est. at being worth just under $2 million).The former could obviously land a big name, and the latter could bring a player more ready to contribute than Blair.
   
   For more information on the NBA salary cap and exceptions, see the NBA Salary Cap FAQ website.
3. Or, Grunfeld uses the MLE and saves that final spot for a rain day contingency as he did last year. Grunfeld ended up using that 15th spot to sign Juan Dixon when Gilbert Arenas went down.

   Or, he finds a trade that nets more players than the Wizards send out.Or, the Wizards find someone in camp, such as a hard working, more experienced NBDL player.

Point is … sure, Blair could be the next Paul Millsap. And if so, the Wizards will fall in line with all the other teams that passed up on him.

But Blair had enough of an injury history not to select, and after that, no one else in the draft impressed Ernie Grunfeld as being a possible immediate contributor.

Why not sell the pick?

Verdict

This one is tough to swallow.  And while some are pretty peeved that Grunfeld passed up on the opportunity to select Blair, I can’t get too bent out of shape.

Grunfeld probably tried his best to move the pick in a package for something significant, but a second rounder just isn’t a valuable kicker in a trade.

In the end, whether the Wizards used the pick or not doesn’t have much of a bearing on the goal of a deep playoff run.

flickr/The CJM

On draft night, there were many frustrated rumblings on Bullets Forever over Ernie Grunfeld failing to land (or go after) Vince Carter. Not only that, but Carter was allowed to go to the reigning Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic.

With Hedo Turkoglu opting out, unlikely to return to Orlando, who knows if the Magic will be better off with Carter … many assume yes. I’ll be curious to see if Stan Van Gundy uses Carter similarly within the offense as he did Turkoglu, creating for others off the high pick and roll.

And if Rasheed Wallace goes to Orlando (which probably means that baby ‘Sheed is backing off demands of $8 million a year), they could be very scary. Tumultuous with Wallace the home-wrecker, buy scary nonetheless.

But in terms of the Wizards, should Grunfeld have gone after Carter?

Point

The Magic were able to get a 32-year old eight time NBA all-star with plenty left in the tank. Last season, Carter averaged over 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and shot 38.5% from long distance. Most importantly, Carter played like a leader on a 34-48 New Jersey Nets team, a 180 degree turn from his days of pouting and ‘bagging it’ in Toronto.

How dare Grunfeld let Carter go to a division rival for less than what the Wizards could have sent to New Jersey. All Orlando had to give up was an expendable malcontent PG who’ll become a pout box on the bench of one of the worst teams in the NBA, a 33-year old bag of bones who might not live through the flight to ‘Jersey’, and a young rising guard all Wizards fans would rather have instead of Nick Young … because Courtney Lee actually plays defense.

Actually, since Rafer Alston has one-year left on a $5.25 million unguaranteed contract, don’t count on seeing him in New Jers, nor Tony Battie with his $6.292 ready to come off the books after next season too.

A Wizards offer of the expiring contracts of Etan Thomas and Mike James, the 5th pick, and perhaps a throw-in like Oleksiy Pecherov, surely would have been more enticing than Orlando’s package. The Wizards would have gotten a true starting two guard AND would not have had to give up Darius Songaila. Who would have been the big winner? Ernie Grunfeld, that’s who.

Counter-Point

Vince Carter? Are you kidding me? Sure he may not be as selfish as people think, but c’mon, the guy dominates the ball. There’s no way he’d mesh with the Big Three. Putting Carter on the Wiz … Grunfeld might as well go after Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson too. Maybe he can even trade for Zach Randolph and create a dysfunctional unit akin to Team USA Basketball 2002.

Ok, so maybe the Wizards wouldn’t exactly start acting like Dan Snyder owned the team. But adding Randy Foye and Mike Miller, even if it means losing Songaila, makes a better team than adding Carter to the mix.

With so many players who can play ON the ball in Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison, the Wizards need someone like Miller who can play off the ball, spotting up beyond the arc and being the court spreading long distance threat all good teams have. Plus,Foye could be the sleeper steal of the trade. In getting talent, I’d much rather have promising youth over a 32-year old on the downside of his career … a creaky boned injury waiting to happen on a team riddled with that very problem.

Aside from team chemistry (I’m not buying the fact that Jamison and Carter were college ‘buddies’ and are married to the Rucker sisters, Ione and Ellen respectively, would have much to do with the overall chemistry of the Wizards), Carter is owed $52.6 million over the next three years. It would be absolutely silly for Grunfeld to handcuff the team financially in such a manner.

Verdict

Maybe the dream scenario for fans would have been to ship Thomas, James, and Young to New Jersey for Carter, and then keep to 5th pick and select Ricky Rubio. Well, that didn’t happen … too bad.

But the fact is, Miller and Foye, instead of Carter, added to the current components, make the team better for the system Flip Saunders wants to run, not the fans. And if things don’t work out, Grunfeld leaves himself significant maneuvering flexibility in being able to extend Butler, or re-sign Brendan Haywood, or add another piece that helps the Wizards retool towards a championship goal.

“We wouldn’t have done anything different. The only player I would’ve been upset if he slipped to five was Blake Griffin, and he went No. 1 overall obviously,” [Ernie] Grunfeld said. “We wouldn’t have taken anybody but Blake Griffin if it came to this pick. Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans, James Harden - we liked all those players, and everybody else did. But if we had a chance to get Miller and Foye in exchange for that pick, there was no question about it.”

>> [Washington Times]

I found it quite amusing that the player most experts had slotted as the second-best talent in the draft slid all the way down to fifth. It was eerily similar to the Wizards drop on the night of the draft lottery, when they had the second-best chance of winning the top pick and dropped down to No. 5. On that night, Rubio didn’t seem like a possibility. Now his career will forever be linked to the Wizards, much like Devin Harris, who has blossomed into an all-star in New Jersey.

>> [Michael Lee - Wizards Insider, Washington Post]

The Rubio thing is particularly ridiculous for two reasons.  First, he carries a lot of trade value, and second, even if he does stay in Spain as rumored, you still hold his draft rights, don’t have to pay him (keep in mind part of the motivation of swapping 5 for Foye/Miller was that the latter two have shorter contracts that the #5) and, assuming you really believe a rookie won’t help you much anyway, you don’t have to actually give him minutes.  There’s a no-lose to drafting Rubio, even if he doesn’t turn out to be as good as advertised.

>> [Mike Prada - Bullets Forever]

Ricky Rubio lasted ’til fifth? You mean the Wizards could have kept their pick, No. 5 — HELLO! — and taken Rubio themselves? How do you say “Maravich” in Spanish? If the Wizards are going to start the season with 10 guards on their roster, then why couldn’t one of ‘em be this kid? In case Gilbert Arenas opens the season in physical therapy, why couldn’t we have watched Rubio throw those delicious passes, the likes of which nobody even attempts anymore in the NBA? The Wizards could have moved Arenas, ultimately, to shooting guard, which of course is what he is.

>> [Michael Wilbon - Washington Post]

The Wizards understood that they were unlikely to get a player at No. 5 who could crack their rotation, and they wanted to be serious contenders right away in the East. I think the addition of Foye and Miller puts them there. The Wolves were willing to pay significantly more than any other team, giving up two solid starters. I don’t think the Wizards could’ve done any better in getting value for the No. 5 pick.

>> [Chad Ford - ESPN (gives the Wizards an 'A' in the draft)]

Wizards traded the No. 5 pick to Minnesota to get Mike Miller, deciding they needed to make their push now instead of waiting for a rookie to grow. Miller will become a feared shooter again.

>> [Tim Povtak - NBA FanHouse (gives the Wizards a 'B' in the draft)]

“I told Ernie, we must’ve done something right. We made the trade and then Cleveland made the trade and so does Orlando,” Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said jokingly. “From our standpoint, we think we made a drastic improvement and put us in a situation where it’s going to be more difficult for teams like that to guard us.”

>> [Washington Post]

Grunfeld & Co. are aware that the need remains, and with Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee still unproven, they would rather get a veteran — even if it does end up being more expensive than what they would’ve paid Blair. Mike James and his expiring contract are bound to be a part of the possible pieces to move as part of a trade to acquire a big man, and maybe DeShawn Stevenson as well, although with him just coming off back surgery, teams might not want to touch him.

>> [Mike Jones - Washington Times]

The surprise, however, is that Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair slid all the way to the second round and the Wizards had a chance to take him — a move that would’ve met the need for an additional big body — but didn’t.

>> [Mike Jones - Washington Times]

I was literally re-sizing a DeJuan Blair photo, just in case, when the Wizards got on the clock last night, drafted another guard and then traded him for cash. Then I went to sleep.

>> [Dan Steinberg - DC Sports Bog]

The Wizards sold the pick for $2.5 million. That better be redistributed in the form of free beer for season ticket holders. So Houston know owns the rights to Jermaine Taylor. The scoring guard, not the super middleweight. Ernie Grunfeld says there’s more news to come tomorrow.

>> [Jack Kogod aka Unsilent Majority - Deadspin]

There he was, Jahidi White 2.0 waiting for the Washington Wizards to snatch him up with the 32nd pick of the 2009 NBA Draft. To an extent, it was surprising that he had dropped that far; but the pick was there for the taking by the Wizards.

>> [Jarrett Carter - Stet Sports]

Say it ain't so Big Ern!

Flip Saunders was just as laughingly confident that Ricky Rubio would not slip to five as he was enthralled with the guy. His partner in crime, Ernie Grunfeld, having seen Rubio play twice in person, mostly likely felt the same way.

To be a proverbial fly on the wall of the Wizards’ draft ‘war room’ Thursday night when Rubio was available at the fifth spot. Grunfeld’s face probably looked like he just swallowed an entire egg filled with arsenic, knowing that at some point the shell would crack and it’d be worse than fecal matter hitting the fan.

Wizards fans are not happy …

[continue reading on NBC Washington.com]

It looks like things are starting to get kicked off. I’ll be “officially” on around 6:30 pm, but might check in a couple times before then.

If you have a question,  comment, or concern, feel free to join the chat, or tweet me @Truth_About_It, or just send me an email to truthaboutit[@]gmail[dot]com.

But don’t worry, as has been indicated, Ernie Grunfeld will be working the trade hot-lines, and there’s still plenty to do:

1) Head over to Bullets Forever and take part in a ‘Darius Songaila vs. the 18th pick’ poll.

2) Brendan Haywood’s foray into blogging has received its fair share of attention. On top of that, it’s a huge contract year for the guy. Be sure and read the previous post, ‘Good Haywood vs. Bad Haywood (and neither are named Brenda)’

3) This site will be taking part in the ESPN True Hoop Network Live Blog-o-Rama-(Rama), organized by the good folks of Hardwood Paroxysm.

‘Cover It Live’ will be embedded here at Truth About It, so you’re welcome to stop by and check out commentary by NBA team bloggers from across the True Hoop Network … while dropping down some thoughts of your own.

4) Other Wizards/Bullets coverage: Bullets Forever will be having a couple draft night threads … I’ll be checking in over there as well to see what the knowledgeable community of Wiz fans have to say.

Also, Rashad Mobley of Hoops Addict will  be covering the draft live from the Verizon Center … be sure and drop by there to see Rashad’s draft night tid-bits from the Wizards’ home base.

And of course, Dave Johnson will be blogging from the draft room at the ‘official’ Washington Wizards blog.

There, think the bases are more than covered.

5) This weekend, the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle is taking place on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. on Saturday and Sunday.

The NBA and Sprite are setting up outdoor basketball court on Penn. Ave between 9th and 10th (NW), and will have a ‘Slam Dunk Showdown’ featuring some of the best dunkers from D.C. –  the competition begins at 4pm on Saturday … Darryl Dawkins aka Chocolate Thunder from the Planet Lovetron is set to be in attendance.

Below is a video for your viewing pleasure:

on a mission (question mark) - flick/Keith Allison

“Everyone likes Haywood.

Hell, I like Haywood (now), and recently challenged someone to name five better ‘Centers’ in the East. They couldn’t.

Championship teams need a guy like BTH. He’s in a contract year, motivated to work hard and make a strong comeback after missing an entire season. Perhaps most of all, Haywood knows enough to not be a stalwart in a free-flowing Flip Saunders offense. More and more, somewhat evident through his blogging, he’s acquired leadership maturity.

He knows his main job is to defend the paint, aided by his defensive communication, and to not allow second chance scoring opportunities for the opponent. He’s aware that the threat of him scoring makes his teammates better on offense, and at the same time, their threat to score creates more opportunities for him.

I’m going to take comments such as this one Haywood made on his own blog, “Philly wouldn’t be a bad spot for me, and my contract is up in 2010 anyways so you never know what might happen,” with a grain of salt.

Then again, being an unrestricted free-agent after next season, it’s highly unlikely the guy has any reason to be loyal to the franchise.

He wants to do well in a contract year and is smart enough to realize the increased value from playing on a good team … whether it’s in D.C. or a free-agent city of his choosing. I wonder if Haywood fetches himself a dream of playing in South Beach alongside Dwyane Wade one day …

With his expiring contract, Haywood’s trade value can only be higher if he played like an all-star candidate for the first half of ‘09-10.

Fairly ‘good’ Haywood.

I went on to discuss the merits of Tom Ziller’s trade idea of Haywood, Nick Young, Mike James, and the 5th pick to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire, and how it simply did not jive.

The discussion continued with other possible big man trade opportunities involving Haywood … perhaps for another time.

In contrast, the good folks at Stet Sports take us into the realm of ‘evil’ Haywood:

In short, the Wizards must tolerate this guy. The jealousy, the public immaturity, all of it;  just to have a chance to compete for meaningful basketball in March and April. But please, don’t let the recently-bloomed talent or the fact that he is the single most important player on the Washington Wizards fool you; from all indications, Brendan Todd Haywood is an opportunistic clown.

And sadly, it is he who must lead the way for the Washington Wizards.

Which Haywood will we see in ‘09-10 and beyond?

Well, it wouldn’t be the Washington Wizards/Bullets if that weren’t for him to know and you to find out.

So after my initial thoughts, the first set of web reactions, and Brendan Haywood’s musings, it’s time to go through the second run of Miller/Foye trade react quotes.

And remember, Ernie Grunfeld is likely not done dealing … especially judging by his quote in USA Today: “We might get out of (the draft) altogether. Very seldom do you get a 32nd pick who’s going to come right in and help a veteran ballclub.”

Of course, this could mean drafting someone and selling them for cash (as the case with Billy Walker to the Celtics last season), or packaging it with Mike James’ expiring contract for some sort of help down low (please be the latter, please be the latter).

Here goes….

WWW:

[Wizards Insider, Washington Post - Michael Lee]

The greatest challenge would be doling out shots for several guys who love to shoot, especially when the point guard is a notorious chucker. You have to assume that the scoring averages for some of the stars are likely to come down a bit, which might not be a bad thing.

………

Aside from making the Wizards deeper in the backcourt, I’m not sure I can say that the team has made a dramatic improvement. Foye and Miller don’t make the team better defensively and neither can be considered an awe-inspiring talent. I still have to wait and see what’s next.

[Pro Basketball News - Sam Amico]

PBN basically has several quotes in regard to the Wizards from former NBA coach Eric Musselman, including:

“I think they are now the fourth best team in the East.”

“It’s obvious Washington is making a push not just to make the playoffs, but to go as far as they possibly can in the playoffs. Their time is now. The rest of the East should be scared; the Wizards have the potential to seriously threaten.”

[The Baseline, Sporting News - Sean Deveney]

Flip Saunders must be smiling wide. After Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld unloaded the No. 5 pick and the albatross contract of Etan Thomas to the Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, Saunders is suddenly sitting with the deepest roster in the Eastern Conference.

[The Washington Post - Michael Lee]

Since he was familiar with the strengths of both players, [Flip] Saunders was immediately on board. “If we can get those two guys,” Saunders recalled telling [Ernie] Grunfeld, “it’s almost a no-brainer.”

[Stet Sports - Jarrett Carter]

My first reaction to hearing that the Washington Wizards traded the fifth pick and a slew of lovable role players to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye was a hearty “NO! NOT POSSIBLE!” Granted, I was walking to an evening class and made the response on TwitterBerry, but still.

But the more I think about it, the more I think this trade works out pretty well. The Wizards jettison a pick they didn’t know what to do with, relieve themselves of hefty expiring contracts, and pick up experienced back court players who should flourish in roles that don’t require much.

[Ball Don't Lie - Kelly Dwyer]

Washington? You just put off rebuilding. You just cashed in a year’s worth of misery for, possibly, only a year’s worth of Mike Miller and Randy Foye. You’re deluding yourselves thinking that this is a championship (or, even with everyone healthy, a 50-win) core. I should hate this move. But, for some reason, I don’t.

Washington is in one of those hardly-rare positions where, though they badly (badly, badly, badly) need to rebuild, isn’t going to blow things up. They’re refusing reality. And if you’re going to refuse reality, well, might as well have some fun with it. Might as well try to average 110 a game.

[The Sporting Blog - Bethlehem Shoals]

First, D.C.: You probably have to squint and think really hard to get there. But remember, if good health smiles upon the Wiz, their starting line-up next year could be Gilbert Arenas, Mike Miller, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood, with Randy Foye coming off the bench. With the East somewhat up in the air, an explosive team like this could sneak in and make some noise. More importantly, they were looking for immediate help, and there’s no one in the draft who could step in and contribute like Miller and Foye.

[Homer McFanboy]

Without looking at the roster and just factoring in who is leaving town and who is coming in, this is a great deal. The bigger issue is the overabundance of guards on the roster and a complete lack of big men other than Brendan Haywood and JaVale McGee. You can try to argue that Andray Blatche should be on that list, but let’s be real – he’s bringing nothing but disappointment to the table.

………

It’ll be interesting to see where the team goes from here, and if nothing else, the Wizards continue to evolve into a highly-entertaining squad that can trade buckets with the best of them.

[NBA FanHouse - Tom Ziller]

Washington needs the Ray Allen version [of Mike Miller]. Leave the rebounding to Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison. Leave the passing to Gilbert Arenas. Just shoot, baby, and everything will be right in the House of Miller again.

[We're Off To See The Willards]

Is Mike Miller the next step to a championship, or just the cheapest option available? I’ll go with the latter. Actually Foye may be the better player.

[Secrets of the City - Britt Robson]

But no matter what I think of Miller, it is sobering to consider what he might have brought if Kahn had been more patient. There are plenty of reasons why his market value is much inflated compared to what he demonstrated here in Minnesota. There are the rookie of the year and 6th man trophies, of course, and there is his reputation, just slightly tarnished, as a cold-blooded long-range shooter who cannot be left alone on the perimeter. The fact is, Miller’s numbers on paper were a lot more impressive than his play on the court last year, and anyone looking at the career in toto of this historically stand-up guy and comparing it to a franchise that has long been regarded as something of a train wreck,  might plausibly conclude that the Wolves somehow screwed up Mike Miller rather than the other way around. Then there is that little matter of Miller’s $10 million expiring contract. You don’t think of a player of his caliber might be a nice little chip to dangle around the trading deadline next season?

[Sports Illustrated - Ian Thomsen]

It was long rumored that the Wizards were seeking to dump salary, but this deal makes it clear they are investing to win big as the trade would keep them well above the luxury-tax threshold — but with a much stronger team. They’d go into next season with firepower at all positions, in addition to the bench scoring they’d receive from Foye, swingman Nick Young and second-year big man JaVale McGee.

[Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune - Jerry Zgoda]

They are chattering away on Internet boards in numbers not seen in these Twin Cities since the last bit of breaking Brett Favre news.

A franchise that has barely registered a pulse since July 31, 2007 — the day McHale traded away Garnett to Boston in the league’s biggest deal for a single player — now is guaranteed a prominent seat at the proverbial table after NBA Commissioner David Stern steps forth Thursday and announces the Los Angeles Clippers have made Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin the first player taken.

[HoopsWorld - Jason Fleming]

Now, let’s assume Arenas is just fine. Between him, Butler, Jamison, and Brendan Haywood you have four starters – Stevenson is the fifth, at shooting guard. Both Miller and Foye are capable at that position, but should either one replace Stevenson? Both players need shots to be effective in any offense, and one where they won’t be any higher than the fourth option seems like it could present a problem. Also, neither one is a very good defender, something that Stevenson practices somewhat effectively.

If you take this Wizards lineup and then remove defense while adding more offense, does that really make them a better team? It sounds good on paper, but in reality that’s not going to work unless the goal is to simply outscore the other team; under Flip Saunders as head coach perhaps that’s exactly what they will try and do.

From Cleveland (with love?):

[Cavs: The Blog - John Krolik]

Then there are true and honest rivalries, where one team’s fanbase truly and honestly hates another team with all of their heart, and desperately wants to see them fail regardless of context. Well, the Wizards hate us. They really, really, really do, and a lot of Cavs fans return the favor. There’s always going to be a little bit extra on the line when the Cavs play the Wizards in the LeBron era. A playoff series against the Wizards would become a war in one fashion or another, even if one team comes in with 25 more wins than the other.

the prose of the poet is due north - flickr/robbed

brendan haywood was never 'that' into poetry - flickr/Keith Allison

Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas have had a well documented tumultuous relationship.

Now that Haywood’s braided ‘buddy’  is being shipped off to cleanse himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka, is the Wizards’ blogging big man shedding any tears?

Not likely.

In a post-trade conversation with Comcast’s Chris Miller [video linked below, but it probably won't show in an RSS feed], Haywood couldn’t express his excitement about the trade enough.

Here are some choice quotes:

“I’m very excited. Sean May called me and told me about the trade when I was just driving back from the mall … I was just so excited about it because I know it helps the team.”

“I think it pushes us over the top. I think you look out there, we can really compete in the East right now. I feel very happy in where we are.”

“Man, I’m about to go get some shots up at like 9 o’clock at tonight. I’m about to go into the gym and just shoot by myself I’m so hyped about this trade.”

But when it comes to mentioning the ‘departed’, Haywood only had this to say:

“I’m definitely sad to see Darius Songaila go, because he did a lot for our team. He played out of position all year long, never complained … was a true warrior. So I think a lot of guys will be sad to see him go, but besides that, I think it’s great for our team.”

Notice the glaring omission of a Poet?

For what it’s worth, Haywood didn’t mention team goof-ball Oleksiy Pecherov either.

And in all fairness, Songaila is the only player who most fans are sad to see go. It’s not a knock on Etan, he just didn’t really fit with the team anymore and has a better opportunity in Minnesota.

In any case, at least Wiz fans don’t have to worry about a potential breakout between Haywood and Etan anymore … but they should keep an eye out for the next time Mike Miller takes the court against David West.

>>>

[UPDATE: Brendan Haywood has a blog entry expressing the same sentiment ... plus, he calls Randy Foye, "a great insurance policy for us in case Gilbert Arenas happens to go down again."]

I'll miss u D-Song : Sincerely, B - flickr/Keith Allison

Tip of the Hat to user ‘redrockin’ for the heads up.

Mike Miller has a monkey … or at least he used to.

Back when he was with the Orlando Magic, Miller had a Java Macaque, which is one of those tiny lil’ monkeys that’s almost like having a kid. Miller would change its diapers, attempt to wean it off the bottle and onto people food, etc.. The monkey, Sonny, had his own mini-playground and would sleep in the bed with Miller every night. The story on the Orlando Magic website even says that Java Macaques can grow to have the intelligence level of a six year old human baby … strange.

But alas, don’t expect to see ‘Sonny’ at Ben’s Chili Bowl or sitting on Abe Lincoln’s lap any time soon. True Hoop’s Henry Abbott, who wrote about Miller’s monkey long ago for HOOP magazine, reported on TH in December of 2007 that Miller had to let Sonny go because he was trying to raise two real babies, his sons Mason and Mavrick.

No word on if Miller’s sons have gotten old enough to get a new monkey. I’m sure that after reporting about Randy Foye’s reverse organs and Oleksiy Pecherov’s farewell, Dan Steinberg of the D.C. Sports Bog will be all over it.

WWW:

[Wizards Insider, Washington Post - Michael Lee]

I’m not completely sold on getting Randy Foye and Mike Miller, but I’m willing to give Ernie the initial benefit of the doubt, because if there is one area where Grunfeld has succeeded in during his time in Washington it is making shrewd deals. He landed Antawn Jamison for the No. 5 pick in 2004 and got Caron Butler for Kwame Brown a year later.

…….

I would feel better about the deal if the Wizards had secured one of the Timberwolves’ late first round picks, particularly No. 18. But I heard from a source that Minnesota wasn’t going to give up that selection in this deal.

[Washington Post - Mike Wise]

Washington’s pro basketball team gets two scoring swingmen who like to have the ball in their hands, and gives up a onetime starting center, a banging veteran forward, a young 7-footer and the fifth pick in tomorrow’s NBA draft. Hey, at least Brendan Haywood will never have to worry about his minutes in the pivot being cut again.

In an apparent ongoing attempt to run, gun and mirror the pre-Shaq Suns, Grunfeld, the Wizards’ president, dealt away that depressing No. 5 selection and three contracts to Minnesota for Mike Miller, Mr. Outside, and Randy Foye, Another Mr. Outside, last night. Which, given that Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Nick Young also want and need shots outside the key, looks a little odd on paper.

[Bullets Forever - Mike Prada]

Both players are helpful, but they improve the team’s depth, not its top-flight talent. They don’t do all that much to fix many of the Wizards’ biggest weaknesses (namely, defense), and by cashing some of his chips (the fifth pick, Etan’s expiring deal) to get them, Ernie Grunfeld has created a major roster imbalance that he must now solve, except now he has far fewer assets available to do it. It’s not taking a risk as much as it is maintaining the status quo and making slight upgrades without going all the way.

So in making this trade, the Wizards are really trying to have it both ways — winning now even while cutting salary. This is clearly the most creative trade Ernie could make to have it both ways, but that’s not how success is measured. It’s measured in championships, and I’m dubious that this really got us much further on that front.

[Hardwood Paroxysm - Matt Moore]

For the Wizards? “Stay the course” I guess. If you can just… get… healthy… you can win… with this nucleus!

In the process of trying to chant that, three Wizards were lost for the season.

[Canis Hoopus]

Regardless of your thoughts on the merit of this take, the bottom line with the Wiz/Wolves deal, at least from a Wolves perspective, is that they gave up two dead-enders for a top 5 pick. The Wolves were able to grab a top 5 draft pick without giving away any part of their Kahn-based core.

…….

It should be noted that this deal puts an end to Kevin McHale’s biggest blunder: Foye for Roy. It also sends Randy back to Randy Wittman, who is an assistant in D.C. Also, I think we now all have a good sense of what Kahn was talking about when he said that McHale probably wouldn’t be comfortable with some of the moves coming around the bend.

[The Howlin' T-Wolf]

As for Miller and Foye I think they just weren’t the best fit here. Miller struggled with injuries this past year and without a distributor to get him the open looks he’s so good at converting he saw previously in his career. He still has plenty of game left in my opinion and I think he will do well in Washington with Arenas and Butler getting him the ball. Foye as well I think is moving to a better situation. He never was the cornerstone point guard the Wolves needed and after being taken out with a knew injury two years ago has failed to progress like the guy he was traded for in Brandon Roy. Personally I think he will do very well as Washington’s 6th man combo guard off the bench in the Leandro Barbosa/Jason Terry mold. He definitely has the ability to score in bunches and should be penciled in for 12-14 points off the bench in 25-30 mins. I wouldn’t be shocked if he played well enough that he was in talks for the 6th man of the year award. That being said I think it was right for the Wolves to move him as he only has 1 year left on his rookie contract and hasn’t lived up to what we needed him to be.

[John Hollinger - ESPN Number Cruncher]

But by adding these two players, the Wizards certainly have made themselves a fearsome offensive team. If Arenas is healthy, they could very well lead the league in offensive efficiency, and if that happens, new coach Flip Saunders just needs to coax an average defensive effort from them to win a ton of games. Neither is likely, I should point out, but both are certainly possible, so as long as they’re painted into a corner anyway by the foolish contracts they gave Arenas and Jamison a year ago, that appears to be where the Wizards will focus.

[Celtics Hub - Zach Lowe]

On the surface, this is team that could really run the floor. The rotation now has two primary shooter/ball-handlers (Arenas and Foye) plus a bunch of 6′8”-type wing players with varying degrees of perimeter shooting skill (Butler, Jamison, Miller, McGuire). They have the potential to be very, very tough to guard.

…….

It makes you wonder if the Wiz have another deal planned for a big man, or if they will be competing for the mid-level type big men on the market. (Mikki Moore may be available for the right price, Wiz fans). Miller and Foye both have expiring contracts (worth about $13.5 million combined), so the Wiz still have trade chips to play with even though they just unloadedThomas’s deal. (They also managed to unload Songalia’s contract, which contains a $4.8 million player option for 2011. Nice work by Ernie Grunfeld).