Wednesday Wizards Report
Since last week the Wizards have stumbled a bit and went 1-3 over that stretch. All three losses were on our mini road trip which saw us lose to The Sixers, The Grizzlies, and The Spurs. After our three game losing streak the Wiz got a win Monday over a Griffin-less and Paul-less Clippers team in the Phone Booth. Monday’s game against the Clips was by far our best performance since last Wednesday, but with the Clippers’ best two players out, we should beat them.
But after watching a week of basketball and hearing trade rumblings across the league, none of which really talk about the Wizards making a move, I’m taking it upon myself to stir up some rumblings of two trades I would love to see the Wiz pursue. You have to remember though, Grunfeld is still the GM, and his forte isn’t making sound trades that really help this team out. So that’s why I’m here, to entertain the idea of two trades that could really help the Wiz moving forward. So let’s dig right in.
Trade 1
-Trevor Ariza and Kevin Seraphin for Derrick Williams and Luke Ridnour
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cp3wubz
This trade is courtesy of Trevor and I couldn’t agree more with it. I love pretty much everyone on the Wizards roster except Seraphin and Ariza. Both of them have become black holes on the offensive side of the court for us (Seraphin because he wont pass…Ariza because he can’t shoot), Seraphin especially. I think it’s time for us to move on from the Seraphin experiment and let him shoot other teams into a deep dark hole that consists of baby hooks and fadeaways. Ariza brings some nice things to the team, but he has gotten in the habit of jacking threes as soon as he steps on the court. Both of these players I was excited about coming into the season but that excitement has turned into sourness and I’m ready for a change.
Derrick Williams hasn’t gained much playing time in his stint in Minnesota and I think he could use a change of scenery for sure. Also the T-wolves are filled with PGs on their roster so Ridnour is easily expendable and he needs to be included in this trade to make salaries match. In this trade the T-Wolves get a solid Wing defender in Ariza and would clear 8 million of cap space after next year. In Seraphin they get an offensive minded big to match with their defensive centers in Pekovic and Stiesmsma. The Wiz would get an athletic combo forward that could run up and down the court and I think would thrive with John Wall in Williams. Ridnour would also give them another veteran PG in John Wall’s ear and if they don’t want him long term, I’m sure the Wiz could flip him to a third team for a pick and/or cash or flip him to a third team for someone on a one year contract to clear up some cap space.
Most trades aren’t really win-win scenarios most of the time, but I really do think this is one. But again, if it’s a trade that makes sense, Grunfeld probably isn’t interested in it. Now on to trade 2 which I still have mixed feelings about, but I would pull the trigger on.
Trade 2
-Nene and Kevin Seraphin for Zach Randolph and Toronto’s 2nd round pick
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a8gcg94
There have been rumblings that the Grizzlies may still want to trade Randolph even after the Rudy Gay trade. Enter the Washington Wizards. As much as it pains me to put Nene in a trade, I think this would benefit the Wiz. Randolph would provide a true 15-20 points a night post scorer who you can just give the ball to on the block and let him go to work. I think he would be a good fit beside rebounding machine Emeka Okafor and he could even play center in our smaller line-ups. Even though Randolph’s salary is higher than Nene’s, it is a year shorter than Nene’s deal. Also scoring the Raptors 2nd round pick would give the Wizards three second round picks that could easily be packaged with one of our young players for a first rounder.
Memphis would get a cheaper alternative to Randolph in Nene who would fit nicely beside Marc Gasol. This would make the Grizzlies salary even lower and give them more room to add some veteran pieces in the off-season. Also they would get a young developing big in Seraphin whose offense first game would also be a nice fit beside Marc Gasol and Ed Davis.
This trade does have me leery though taking back Randolph’s monster contract and the fact that he is 31 years old. But like I said, his contract is one year shorter than Nene’s who is 30 years old. If you’re going to pay $13 million a year to Nene, why not pay Randolph a few million more for a year shorter.
I hope that Grunfeld can venture into some possible good trades that are out there, especially these two. But again, we’ve learned from past experiences that we should never hold our breaths when it comes to Grunfeld making smart moves.
With the trade deadline two weeks from tomorrow, let’s hope some interesting trade prospects pop up for the Wizards. Tonight the Wiz host the Knicks in the Phone Booth and Friday we battle New York’s other team, The Brooklyn Nets, also in the Phone Booth. Let’s hope that the Wiz can show New York how it’s done these next two games!
But until Next Wednesday, Stay Steezy my friends!
22 Comments
I like Seraphin. Honesty, I’m not interested in moving him
I am. At least at the moment i want to move him. If he can learn how to pass and learn some post moves that involve him taking to the rack instead of the weak stuff he puts up, then i would like to keep him. But hes driving me nuts on a nightly basis. Plus i like to see Vesely and Singleton get some run at the 4. They are better fits alongside Wall
I am still intrigued by Seraphin. He certainly is a black hole and needs to learn he is allowed to pass, but he has touch and inside scoring ability that is rare in a big man his size.
I would actually like to see us give him some heavy, consistent run for like a two week period and see what he does. Guarantee him 35 minutes a game (assuming no foul trouble) and stick with him to see how he plays.
Learning to pass as a big man from the block is one of the last things they learn. It’s hard to teach his size and his touch around the basket.
I’m sure learning to pass better off the block will come next for him.
I Don’t see him getting 30+ minutes with the veterans we have in front of him. I think he’s a center/of that we hold into and continue to develop. When he gets the playing time he’s a double double guy and I think it’s be foolish to give up a very young double double guy who is still developing.
I also noticed that Derrick Williams costs more, averages less points and get this LESS assists than Seraphin does. So there goes the theory of getting a big man who can pass better.
To me, Derrick Williams can be a poor mans Antawn Jamison but last time I checked when Jamison was here most fans wanted him gone because he was a tweener and most of what he did was shoot outside shots like a guard and didnt play very good defense.
Seraphin plays solid on the block defense, is a big strong rebounder and has a repertoire of low post moves that almost no young big men in the game today have.
I am all on board for Trade 1. The Wizards need a stretch 4, and I think running along side John Wall will be just what the doctor ordered for Derrick Williams.
Out of the two I’m for trade 1, but I still don’t think Derrick Williams can be as valuable as Seraphin can be to us in the future. Seraphin just brings the power, strength and touch you look for from a down low player.
We can find a different option as a stretch 4, possibly draft one.
I still think Kevin Seraphin has a nice skill set. He has been a black hole this year but it may be due to the fact that he is a young dude who is still just learning basketball. He is developing a mid range J right now and just trying to figure out how to use it. Once he figures that out, I think he would be a beast. However, my bigger problem with him is his lack of rebounding. For such a big dude, this is disheartening
In 24 minutes a game where the cosch gives them to him inconsistently, he averages 5 rebounds. He’s not that bad of a rebounder.
Few things:
he averaged almost same amount of boards last year in 5 minutes less…also out of those 5, 1.5 are offensive. That means 3.5 defensive rebounding per 25….that’s not very good
Most players playing his types are minutes are averaging around the same unless they are like a Reggie Evans or something.
Again, his inconsistent minutes hurt him having more.
Players that play that many minutes have 5 or so rebound a game.
Believe seraphin has the upside to be a very good pf in the league. That being said, I would move him for Williams because he fills an immediate need and should mesh well with PG John Wall.
Well said Jimmy. Seraphin COULD def become a very good PF, but Williams fits a need and SHOULD mess well with Wall. I would love to have 15 athletic dudes who can shoot the three
Derrick Williams sucks, were going to have a good draft pick we can use that for an athketic 3-4. Keep seraphin and with some decent coaching he can develop. Im all for trading ariza though
I agree Kenny G. I really can’t believe some believe getting rid of a talented guy like Seraphin for a poor mans Jamison with no low post game is a good idea. We need to draft a stretch 4 or find a 4 that can be good on the block and shoot. To me, Seraphin is more of a center anyways
What’s your all’s thoughts on GRIII (Glen Robinson III)? Hes athletic as shit and hes probably more of a 3 in the NBA buts hes play the 4 in college. I like him alot
Alex Len would be a nice piece. Esp since Nene gets hurt often. Also he does have a skill set which emulates what Nene can do in terms of passing and jumpshot. Also size alone makes him a very good blocker and rebounder.
One more thing…HE PIPED IT ON PLUMLEE…reverse style
GRIII sounds good to me I like the name -RGIII
I’d love to get GRIII, if we can’t get Shabazz
You down with OPJ?…..yeah you know me
the way our roster stands, i hope we take Shabazz, Otto Porter, or GRIII…one of those three need to be the pick
I was going to say the same, in that order. I would take Porter before GR3 and seeing as I’m almost 100% we’ll have a top 10 pick, either Shabazz or Porter should be the pick.