I'm going to be posting some random trades here and there that I think that may work or this may be the only one I talk about (I doubt it). But yesterday, Chris Miller of Comcast SportsNet was tweeting about a trade in which he stated was just him, "wondering out loud," which is very much true knowing Chris. Who knows though, Chris knows a lot of inside information, but I take his word for it.
Anyways, contrary to what other bloggers have been saying about Kanter, he may not slip to #6 but the Wizards could move up and grab him if they like him that much and also have the firepower it seems to do it.
Chris made an interesting trade that just makes sense and seems like a win-win for both teams.
"Do the Wizards have enough to package 6 18 and a player to move up to 2 plus Michael Beasley from Minnesota?" - Said Chris Miller on Twitter @cmillscsn
The Washington Mystics last season got swept in the playoffs (it's a DC curse, I just know it ala Capitals/Wizards/Redskins/Nationals). But this season is so much different, as they present new colors along with the logo like the Wizards, but unlike their men counterparts, the Mystics have a new head coach in Trudy Lacey.
Lacey was an assistant to a Mystics team that went 22-12 last year before being swept in the playoffs by the Atlanta Dream. Lacey had this presence about her which was very respectful. These players seem like they have nothing but total respect for Lacey. Alana Beard, the old face of the franchise (I'll explain later what I mean by this), went on to say that, "If we ever had a problem or an issue we would go Coach Lacey," then later added, “I think there will be a change. I think Trudi does a great job of implementing plays that play to the strength of the players."
This pick is a lock. Dan Gilbert and company have their point guard of the future in their sights Irving will be the top overall pick. It took all but two minutes after Cleveland won the pick for Irving to start autographing Cav’s jerseys for Gilberts kids (read into that what you will).
Irving is an exceptional talent who exudes a sense of maturity that is beyond his years. He’s a floor general who was as fast as anyone in college basketball with the ball in his hands. He is a leader and will soon become the face of their franchise. We encourage him to enjoy the moment though because the realities of being handed the reigns of the worst team in the NBA will settle in quickly once the season begins.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
SF Derrick Williams Sophomore Arizona
With point guard help on the way (according to David Khan UPDATE: RUBIO TO MAKE DECISION IN JUNE) via Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio, the Wolves take the best player available in Derrick Williams. Combining him with Kevin Love will give Minnesota a dynamic young forward duo. Despite not having a set position in the NBA, he has freakish athletic ability and an effective stroke that will make him a dangerous scorer in the NBA.
This will create a logjam at the forward position with incumbents Michael Beasley, Martell Webster, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph and last year’s first rounder Wes Johnson all already on the roster. The Wolves suddenly look like the Atlanta Hawks of the West and should be exciting to watch but they lack balance and will be back in the lottery next year unless they get Ricky to buy in. With that young core the T-Wolves could begin contending for the playoffs as soon as next season.
3. Utah Jazz (Via New Jersey Nets)
PG Brandon Knight Freshman Kentucky
Only a few months after trading away franchise point-guard Deron Williams to New Jersey, Utah selects the Knight to usher in a new era in Jazz basketball. The young point guard has seen his stock rise dramatically following a strong finish to the regular season and impressive performances during the NCAA tournament. Though he isn’t what many would refer to as a true point guard, he has shown excellent leadership qualities considering his young age. He may not be as great as an athlete as some of his Coach Cal' predesessors but he can shoot better than any of them which means defenders won't be able to cheat under screens. Considering how much better his prospective supporting cast is over the top possible first 2 picks, Knight will be a rookie of the year candidate.
Though I expect the Cavaliers to ultimately trade this pick in exchange for more picks and/or veterans, they will go a long way towards rebuilding their team by selecting Kanter. He’s a hard-nosed, rugged player who can potentially flourish as a pick and roll option with his ability to finish around the rim as well as hit the mid-range jump shot. The biggest concern, in my opinion, isn’t his NCAA suspension but rather lingering knee issues. Without having watched Kanter compete in a full season, it’s difficult to tell how his body will respond to a grueling 82-game NBA schedule. High risk, high reward pick for the "what's not to like crew."
5. Toronto Raptors
SF Jan Vesely Partizan Belgrade 1990 (Czech Republic)
Jan Vesely fits right in with a Toronto team that doesn’t shy away from over-seas prospects. Vesely adds his impressive size and athleticism to a Raptors team desperate for production from the SF position. He gets out in transition and finishes around the rim with authority. He struggles to create his own shot off the dribble but has the mechanics to be an effecient jump shooter. He's also a liability on defense right now but he has the length to potentially become a stopper in the form of a Andrei Kirilenko.
Tuesday night is the night where WE find out if the Wizards have a bright future or a crappy one. The NBA draft lottery is tomorrow as John Wall will be the representative for the Wizards at the draft lottery in New Jersey.
What the Wizards need to get is not the #1 pick (it would be great if they did) but need the #3 pick. #3 you say? Yes, because at #3, they need to target international star/Kentucky University/Turkey's own, EnesKanter. The 1st pick and 2nd pick of the draft will probably go to Arizona's Derrick Williams or Duke's Kyrie Irving.
The guy wins almost everything but got screwed out of the Rookie of the Year award. Jimmy is the 2nd Wizard to lose to Blake Griffin this year (first being, JaVale McGee in the infamous jumping over the front of the hood of a KIA).
Wall didn't exactly win anything but is on the NBA All Rookie First Team. Along with Wall is, Wizards Buzz kill, Blake Griffin, New York Knicks Landry Fields, Sacramento Kings big man and former teammate of Jimmy's, DeMarcus Cousins, and surprise of the bunch, San Antonio Spurs Gary Neal rounds it off.
The Bullets, ergh.....I mean the Wizards unveiled the new jerseys/colors and overall logo if you didn't hear already. I must say, I came into the press conference thinking the jersey's would be bad and the colors would be off. I was so dead wrong. I could not have been happier to be wrong neither. The colors of course being red, white, and blue but with a darker blue. If anybody was following @WizardsExtreme on twitter, there was several pictures and postings about the new jersey's as it was being introduced (basically, follow @WizardsExtreme on twitter if you haven't already)
I would rant on and on about the jersey's but it does not do any justice to what these pictures show below.
Although the NBA anointed the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love as this season’s “Most Improved Player,” there is no doubt that fans in the DMV would argue that honor should have been bestowed upon the Wizards’ leading scorer, Nick Young. Make no mistake about it, this was Young’s coming out party and his play turned heads throughout the league.
Statistically, 2010-2011 was Nick’s best year. With averages of 17.4 ppg, 1.2 apg, 2.7 rpg while shooting 44% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line in 32 minutes per game, he proved that he is a prolific scorer in this league.
“I’ve been waiting on the opportunity to have a season like this,” Young recently told Wizards Extreme. “It was there and I took advantage of it. I’m glad how things turned out.”
We've discussed on this blog before that the NBA draft is more about tomorrow than today. We've also addressed the idea of drafting need or value. This year, with so few potential stars in the draft, it becomes more likely that need will come before value since the differences in value between many players will be seen as very small. With that in mind, let's project what players each of the five worst teams should draft, with the balance scale more weighted on team needs.
Washington Wizards If Toronto is sick about Barnes, the Wizards are in intensive care. They have a franchise talent in Wall and must take care to surround him with skilled shooters with athleticism and great character. Barnes would have been heaven sent because players with those three traits are rare indeed.
JaVale McGee had a breakthrough season and is the league's best shot-blocker, so drafting anyone who could take away his minutes would be a problem. But in Enes Kanter, the Wiz can get someone who can play alongside McGee and be a backup center, while giving them more scoring punch inside. McGee is not a great first option inside, and Kanter has a chance to be just that. His feel and poise inside are impressive. Because Kanter hasn't played in a real game in a year, it may take him a while to recover, but he's been working every day on his game. And compared to the other top Euros the Wiz can consider drafting, Kanter is already comfortable playing in and being in this country, an advantage when we think of how many other young players the Wizards have, plus they have three of the top 35 picks in this draft. Think of Kanter/McGee as a clone to the Boozer/Noah tandem in Chicago, with Wall playing the Derrick Rose role.
In case you've been hiding under a rock for the last few months here are some clips of Enes...It's ok to dream on both fronts Wizards fans...
A. That we will be able to draft Kanter
B. That the combo of Wall/McGee/Kanter will clone Rose/Boozer/Noah
B. And in case you didn't know, his intro at Big Blue Madness was to the theme of WWE's Undertaker however they called him UnderKanter
David Thorpe
David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. and the executive director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he oversees the player development program for NBA and college players. David has trained Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, Omri Casspi, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Yi Jianlian, Courtney Lee, Kyrylo Fesenko, Earl Clark, Jrue Holiday, DeJuan Blair and others.
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