CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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OT: Nats, Wiz, O's, Ravens, Terps, DC United, Navy, Gtown, etc., 2016-18
- Thread starter g00n
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No money saved. Huh. (Shrug)
It’s def a “beat it, Gortat” moment.
Also allows the Wiz to more easily trade one of their “big 3” now, as Rivers can replace.....well...almost any of them. He certainly isn’t “better” than any of the big 3, but he’s arguably “better” than Gortat. So if they wanted to trade one of the big 3 for say, Kawhi....well, they could, now.
Not sure I’d want that after the spectacle that Kawhi has made of this off season, and his desires to play in LA, but.....it would be more feasible for the roster, now.
I mean, I don't necessarily agree. Austin Rivers wouldn't come close to replacing the production on either end of the floor for Wall, Beal, or Porter. At best he'll be an effective backup PG, which is not nothing considering Wall's backup has been a revolving door since... forever, but he's not getting this team any closer to the Final. I'm not saying they won't -- or shouldn't -- trade one of their big 3 (or Oubre); I just don't think Austin Rivers is the safety net for that transaction. I'm not even sure Austin Rivers would or should beat out Ty Lawson for the backup PG spot at this point.
This is why the draft was so disheartening. The Wizards have a few glaring needs such as more athleticism at the center position and better scoring off the bench, and there were a number of players who could have made an impact as a rookie in key spots available that filled those needs. Robert Williams (C, Texas A&M) could likely step into the center rotation right away. Gary Trent, Jr is a an absolute sharpshooter who could play the Beal role with the 2nd unit, or could step in with the 1st unit alongside Beal and Porter and give defenses fits trying to cover all that perimeter scoring which frees up Wall to do his drive-and-create thing. Instead Ernie picked a whose ceiling is likely Andre Iguodala, a solid player but never will be a foundational piece or difference maker and he threw away his 2nd round pick to save cash. The pick after Troy Brown was Zhaire Smith who was touted as potentially the best athlete in the class and the pick two picks after Brown was Lonnie Walker, IV who looks like he could be a potential star at the SG position.
Ernie's gotta go.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 64,781
- 19,650
Not arguing that Ernie should stay. At all.
But the point about Rivers wouldnt be so that he supplanted the big 3 alone...it would also be with another player acquired for the big 3 player shipped out.
Wall, Rivers, Porter, Leonard, Morris. As an example. -or-
Wall, Beal, Rivers, Leonard, Morris.
Leonard would replace the big 3 player, and Rivers simply adds depth to the backcourt, while replacing Gortat's salary slot.
I dunno. If its a move made in a vacuum, its typical tread water BS from the Wizards. If its a precursor to something else, then....? Need to see the something else.
it DOES make room on team for Boogie Cousins. No clue how that would work out though......sign and trade with Porter going out? Not sure thats good either as Cousins may not be the same player.....
maybe Rivers gets dealt away in short order too. Expiring contract and all. I honestly dont know.
g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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I was thinking about that. Maybe he's a piece in another deal. The quotes had him as a 2nd string guy anyway.
Grunfeld has not been afraid to pull the trigger on deals mid-season but Rivers may never have higher value than now. Based on his point totals I'd guess he was playing significantly more minutes than he'll get here. His value will only decrease as the season progresses.
Yep. Agreed. Trade him and someone else (Oubre?) to New Orleans for a sign and trade for Cousins. Cousins can sign for a year at a reduced salary (so, say 20m or whatever).
Or trade Porter and Rivers.....and sign Cousins to the full monty. Would be a risk for sure, but Oubre can start in Porter's place.
Wall, Beal, Oubre, Morris, Cousins?
Yes please?
g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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I take Porter over Oubre. I'm not sold on Oubre yet and Porter is a 3 specialist which you need in this league now. Plus I think Porter is the kind of guy who can take over a game every once in a while. Oubre strikes me as a kind of moody-but-talented enigma that will be a good 3 in a system that lets him hide most of the time.
But yeah, exactly what I was thinking, even targeting Boogie.
Adding Cousins would certainly make this team formidable. Assuming *mostly* healthy. Would also give Wall a feeling of control.
Now, if LeBaby actually leaves Cleveland for LAL? Then the east is wide open. Wizards would have as good a shot as any with a starting 5 of
Wall, Beal, Porter, Morris, Cousins.
Depth would be an issue (hence why SBNation's article on drafting Brown was so spot on), but you could find some depth vets to surround Satoransky, Mahimni, etc. Although..Satoransky may be a good "get" for a team like New Orleans, who needs distributor type guards to spell Rondo.
Interesting....Rivers and Satoransky...maybe thats the offer.
Regardless of what they do they need to make a few shrewd moves or else they have no chance at catching Boston (or likely Philly either) in the East. Obviously the LeBron decision will determine the balance of power in the NBA for the foreseeable future but right now there's a lot of dead weight on the Wizards and they have no cap space to do anything.
Patience, brother. We waited 44 years for that other team of Ted's to make good.....it's only been 40 years for the Wiz....amirite?
Yes, patience, but Ted fired McFail when it was clear he couldn't put a championship team on the ice and he put in place a man with giant balls. When will he do that for the Wizards? Every year with Ernie overseeing this massively flawed roster is another year they have no chance to do anything meaningful.
HunterSThompson
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If the pattern hold true, I'd say the next time they miss the playoffs.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 64,781
- 19,650
Hivemind
We're Touched
Yeah, Ted waited for a McPhee team to fail to reach the playoffs before sending him packing. It also certainly didn't help it was right after the Erat trade exploded in his face (plus the Adam Oates debacle, although that was a Dick Patrick/Ted Leonsis decision).
NHL and NBA are so different, though. The East is trash and you have to be really medicore or bad to miss the playoffs. Again, making the playoffs should not be the standard. They were one game away from the ECF final two years ago and they were a broken John Wall wrist in the 2nd round away from making it three seasons ago. Last year was a clear regression and they've done nothing to make themselves better. Wall and Beal are no longer kids who need time to develop into superstar players -- this is a roster at max cap space with little means to make themselves better while they watch teams like Toronto, Boston, Philly, and Milwaukee all take strides forward. The time for patience is over.
Jacoby4HOF66
Pull my finger
- Mar 13, 2009
- 30,522
- 7,726
Yeah, brace yourselves...
This guy doesn’t need a reason to jump in a fountain.
This guy doesn’t need a reason to jump in a fountain.
It'd be nice if DC United was relevant again.
HunterSThompson
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Jacoby4HOF66
Pull my finger
- Mar 13, 2009
- 30,522
- 7,726
Watching him walk in that hat and track outfit with the DC united scarf around his neck, just don't have a good vibe about this one.
PB12
Registered User
- Jul 7, 2015
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I think he will be fine. Depends on what you are expecting. I think he will score 15-20 goals for us a year. He won't be the Rooney of old, but will still be a decent player. Even if Rooney was still in his prime, it still wouldn't be enough to turn this thing around off the field....yet. With Rooney on board, DC has a chance to change things off the field. They are now a "player". Players now have a reason to come play here. Mix that with a great acadamy and they could change things a few years.
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