Wes REALLY wanted Stoudemire in that draft, I remember it very well. They settled for Jeffries two spots later. The Wiz have always gotten shafted in the draft....ALWAYS.

"Byars: When you see a guy like him, an All-SEC guy who can do it all but doesn't have a lot of hype, you think of Josh Howard."

I'd be happy with that and like I said in the last blog the Wiz will end up with some guy about 6'7" and sit on the bench next year.

Good luck tonight Wiz, and to me I'm going on a date. :)

- Ray

I still don't see that Belinelli guy being good. He just seems like one of the workout guys who hits 43 jumpers in a row when no one is on the floor, then when a hand is in his face can't make any (cough Jarvis cough).

As for the 2002 draft I thought that the G.S. pick was inexcusable at the time, in fact I remember Jay Duke Bilas saying something to the effect of when Dunleavy fills out physically he could even play some 4 in the NBA. Apparently that was the selling point over the next 3 on the board, who was Caron. I nearly turned off the t.v. right there.

As for tonight's first round, Byars is intriguing, as everyone else is saying though, if Thad or J. Wright is on the board, obviously that's the pick. If not I say we trade down, get any two of Almond/Nichols/S. Williams/Big Baby tier of guys and call it a day.

I asked Jon Givony the following question in today's chat, and loved his answer:

"Washington, D.C.: Biggest surprise tonight (though I guess if you can predict it, it won't be a surprise)?

You've predicted that Julian Wright will drop to Washington at 16. If he doesn't, which top guy do you think might be the mostly likely to drop to 16?

Personally, I'm hoping Ernie Grunfeld is wearing his catcher's mitt tonight and just picks whatever upper tier player drops to him. But do you have the sense that the Wizards have a particular guy in mind that they will pick if he's there, regardless of whether someone else drops to them? It concerns me that the Wizards haven't worked out hardly anyone projected to go in the top 15.

Jonathan Givony: That's what the Wizards are planning on doing.

My picks besides Wright would be: Al Thornton (people are worried about his wrist, he would be a STEAL), Acie Law (who I love), Javaris Crittenton (not a huge fan) and Thaddeus Young (ditto). I believe two of those five(including Julian Wright) will be there on the board for them to choose from."
________

As Ivan indicated also, Givony thinks the Wizards will pick the best player available. I definitely agree with that approach. Here's hoping the lottery teams are idiotic and someone terrific drops our way.

Here are some more scouting reports from SN:
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=228142

to save me writing - I copied this from a earlier post. haven't had time to check things out - so 'll hang w/this to see what happens.

Just read article: Grunfeld states: "Were looking at the best available player at 16 and no, not going to go Big." We have some young big guys that can play."(No discussion of trading BH)Both Blatche & Pecherov are considred "rotation players"
by the Wiz Organization. As a result they will likely settle on a player with perimeter skills - a) Jason Smith; b) Nick Young and; c) Thaddeous Young. That said though -they have already stated the "new person" won't see any playing time til...NEXT YEAR. Supposedly not been involved in serious trade discussions(per team scout)Although, Tapscott stated there were 2 teams discussing Haywood - but I guess not serious. Who knows...

Stevenson states he will opt out.

What was clear - they like core of guys they have and aren't interested in shaking things up til next year when they deal with Arenas. Blatche & Pech will remain "bench players"

As I said, I'll wait & see. These guys act like they used to work in the CIA..

I think its prob easier for Lee & Carter to write about other teams because they're more open to the press. Wiz Org. - a bit bizarre in their dealings, are not.

It flows from the top.

I still hold out hope that all this lack of talk of Rudy Fernandez means we are taking Rudy Fernandez.

Yi is dropping to us.. book it

;-)

Chad Ford's latest mock has Spencer Hawes going to the Wiz at 16. Ugh.

Nick,

Agreed. Double "Ugh." I hope the Wiz checked out Sean Williams carefully. If they think he can put his problems behind him, he's the PERFECT player for them. Defensive/rebounding beast, attitude, doesn't need the ball that much. But only if they're *sure* he won't act up like he did in college. That's a huge "if", but he is who they need.

Who is Chad Ford and how would he know? Where did he get his information? Pure conjecture. We shall all see in about 4 1/2 hours.

Getting Spencer Hawes at 16 would be a steal. He's exactly the kind of center the Wizards need in their system on the offensive end. Whether he can defend is another story.

Ray, I'm in agreement w/you.

If they do something more, heh its gravy!

I'm going to predict Jarvis Crittendon for round 1. I wouldn't mind Rudy Fernandez either (but I think the possibility of him playing next season here may be an issue). I think Nick Young, Thadeus Young, & Julian Wright will all be gone by then unless someone makes a blunder pick.

For round 2, I think Aaron Gray is the choice (via some sort of minor trade up).

Maybe they can get another 2nd rounder via Portland and take DJ Strawberry. If he doesn't get drafted, the Wiz should definitely make the call to sign him.

Love the Terps, but lets seperate the two. Strawberry does not have a NBA game. I would stick with letting Donnel Taylor grow vs. getting Strawberry. I would hope they could get better than both. the kid from UVA would be a steal in the second round.

Sean Williams is a bum
Sean Williams is a bum
Sean Williams is a bum

You have a Senior team MVP that lead his team to the sweet sixteen sitting right there for the taking in Derrick Byars and you want Sean Williams.

man

Byars plays SF. Seems to me we have an all-star at that position. In the latest mock, he's projected by some as a second-round pick. In other words, not Byars, at least not with the first-rounder.

Can't wait for the draft, really excited about itand so called the Wizards office to see if they were hosting any event so fans could get together. Here is how the conversation went:
"Hey, are the Wizards hosting a draft party tonight?"
"No"
(Suprised): "Oh, so do you know of any place around town that is?
(Harsher response): "No."

Have to love them trying to build up the fan base.

Does anyone know of any bar, etc. that IS hosting a draft party?

chad ford has the wiz taking spencer hawes in round 1 and aaron gray in round 2. i dont think we need 1 goofy 7 foot white guy, let alone two.

with that said, hopefully someone ahead of us picks crittenton so that would make an al thornton or julian wright drop. what givony said about the wiz having 17 players on their board means they prolly have thaddeus on there. he and crittenton could get picked sooner by "veteran" lottery teams and an immediate impact player could fall to us. yay.

If Morris Almond is the best shooting guard, why should the Wizards take Byars or Crittenton?

I trust Ernie to make the right move. If the Wiz plan to trade Daniels and if Stevenson does not re-sign, then Crittenton makes sense as a point guard. Ernie knows the plan, and the plan will dictate to some degree who they take in the 1st round. In the 2nd round, I think they take Strawberry -- they need a guard (with size) who can play defense.

I am interested in seeing if the Wiz have a trade worked out for the 1st pick, Thomas, Haywood, Daniels, Blatche, or any anyone else, and what they would get for any combination.

The downside (or perhaps upside, depending on your perspective) of choosing Hawes is that he is an outspoken Republican. So Etan will be throwing down with a different center next season.

Sean Williams is a weed smoker, but that don't make him a bum. He is the kind of defensive presence in the post the Wizards need and is worth the risk with the very good character guys (assuming Haywood is outta here) that inhabit that locker room.
Hawes had decent footwork, but the Pac 10 ain't exactly the Big East in the post and other than the Lopez twins who were the real big physical presences in that league that he went up against. And this wasn't his fault, but the Huskies stunk last year and almost missed the Pac-10 tournament. The speculation too is that he left early because the interior play of a lot of teams was going to improve and it wasn't certain his draft stock would get any higher. What does that tell you. I would rather have Gray at 47 than Hawes at 16. But I would rather have Dowdell at 47 than either of them.

I agree with you, 2:24.. Who is Chad Ford? But still his prediction is scary.

Keithinator, I think you hit it with Sean Williams, if we can't get J Wright or T Young, though I would be open to Byars or Belinelli if we can trade down.

With this team's style of play a big unathletic stiff like Hawes or Gray is the opposite of what we need. That might work for Chicago or Detroit, but not for us.

I'd be inclined to ignore our need for a low post scorer in this draft since it appears that whats available is not all that appealing. I would much rather end up with Strawberry than Gray in the 2nd.

Why do you think Hawes is a stiff? Because he's white? He's actually pretty athletic and very skilled (think a faster, non-smoking Divac). Gray on the other hand -- stiffsville.

Anyway, Nbadraft.net is reporting the following rumor:

Toronto, Detroit Want Belinelli
Bryan Colangelo and the Toronto Raptors have no picks in this year's draft but they are actively trying to acquire one, floating Juan Calderon for the 11th pick in an attempt to land Italian prospect Marco Belinelli. Belinelli would be paired with countryman Andea Bargnani and would provide a upgrade at the SG position over Anthony Parker.

Belinelli is the player they are targeting in this year's draft, but they are not alone as Detorit is also rumored to be after the Italian star. The Pistons have been linked with Rodney Stuckey for the past few weeks, but sources say that could be a smoke screen and they are looking at selecting Belinelli at 15.

Man, I'd do Jose Calderon for our 16th in a heartbeat.

I don't know about Juan Calderon though...

Prediction: Gilby is going to get tendinitis in his hands/fingers this summer and will loose his shooting touch this coming season.

""I'm not embarrassed, because once I get the game home I'm going to spend 8, 9, 10 hours on the game. So next time he plays me online...."

Thanks Durant, for ruining Les BouleS upcoming season.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/06/gilbert_vs_durant_in_video_gam.html

Jose Calderon for the Wizards' first round pick? Where does Ernie Grunfeld sign!

the wizards should draft wright if he falls to them. If not, take Sean Williams.
Then trade BTH for a second rounder. Then pick DJ Strawberry and Jared Dudley. with BTH gone, we can afford Sean Wiliams. Hey, he can't be that bad. We used to have Kwame Brown AND BTH and Eddie Jordan hated them both

Jay Bilas is such a jerkoff, guy is clueless for being a duke grad and a attorney

Julian Wright gone. Les bouleS want Nick Young.