Gortat Traded to Wizards

[Cheesebeef]

I think we'll get it next year. I'm pretty sure they make the playoffs in the East with Gortat assuming they stay relatively healthy.

that would be pretty awesome, but the East is a lot tougher then it has been in recent memory.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Not a chance. He makes $14.5 million this season, can't stay healthy, and isn't an impact player even when he's capable of taking the floor. He has massive negative trade value.

Other than that, however, I agree with you.

I'm not talking top 5 pick or star, but for a team that's in desperate need of a big man - he's at least a rotation player, and his contract is expiring.

A team like the Clips or Heat could really use a guy like Okafor...

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not a chance. He makes $14.5 million this season, can't stay healthy, and isn't an impact player even when he's capable of taking the floor. He has massive negative trade value.

Other than that, however, I agree with you.

is there a reason you just completely ignored the fact that he's a huge expiring contract? we've seen that be very helpful in making big trades in the past.

 

[Mainstreet]

top ten protected for the next 6 years? that doesn't seem like too great of a pick.

Collecting assets (first round pick), moving less than desirable contracts and freeing CAP space is the name of the game. I guess it's how one looks at it. IMO, Gortat's value was not going up. My guess is McDonough has been shopping Gortat for the best deal for a long time.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not talking top 5 pick or star, but for a team that's in desperate need of a big man - he's at least a rotation player, and his contract is expiring.

A team like the Clips or Heat could really use a guy like Okafor...

Trading him near the trade deadline makes it much more palatable financially for a team that might need him.

 

[bankybruce]

Does anyone truly think we have a chance at getting the Wizards pick? Seems to me that hoping the Wiz aren't one of the 12 worst teams in the league is a tall order.

Outside of the top 5 teams of in the East there are no locks. The Wizards could get the 8th seed with 35 wins. And don't forget they were a .500 team with Wall.

All the aforementioned are fine players in their own respect, but this team starts and stops with John Wall. As evidenced by last season’s records with and without Wall (5-28 without, 24-25 with), as long as he is healthy, this team has a chance to compete. With the continued development of second-year shooting guard Bradley Beal, this team will feature the league’s best young backcourt combination.

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2013/10/17/predicting-the-washington-wizards-final-record-for-2013-14/

Locks to make it
Miami
Chicago
Indiana
Brooklyn
New York

Fighting for three spots
Atlanta
Cleveland
Detroit
Milwaukee
Washington

Not a chance
Toronto
Charlotte
Orlando
Philadelphia
Boston

 

[elindholm]

No. This all but guarantees more playing time for Channing Frye.

Yeah, and who else do you see at center? Len's body isn't ready for major minutes, and the other guys are 12th men on the worst roster in the league.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Love love love it. We FINALLY HAVE A PLAN!!!

Not only does this open up minutes for Len/Goodwin/Plumlee/Bledsoe, but it pretty much guarantees we'll get a top 3 pick with potential superstars.

In addition, we could have another 3 (3!) decent picks in a great draft to use as trade bait, to get more young players in a potentially historically good draft.

Finally, the cherry on top, Okafor could definitely be traded for something of value.

In McD I trust!

I totally agree with this.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Yeah, and who else do you see at center? Len's body isn't ready for major minutes, and the other guys are 12th men on the worst roster in the league.

Plumlee

 

[elindholm]

Fighting for three spots
Atlanta
Cleveland
Detroit
Milwaukee
Washington

That looks right to me, and I'd say Washington should be better than Milwaukee and Atlanta, and comparable with Detroit.

 

[elindholm]

Plumlee

I'll believe it when I see it. The guy played 55 total minutes last season and shot 24% from the field.

 

[Phrazbit]

There is not a pretty option at center on the roster.

Frye: In dubious physical shape after only being cleared a few weeks ago, terrible at center anyway. What little value he has is as a stretch 4.

Plumlee: Reminds me of a taller Lou... not sure if that should be taken as a compliment or insult. I think he ends up getting a lot of minutes until they decide Len is ready.

Len: Not ready. Not at all ready. Looked lost and weak in the preseason. Hopefully he gains strength as he gets further from his surgeries.

Krvastavasov: Pretty sure I spelled that right. Needs more "v"s in his name.

Markieff Morris: I guess he will see minutes at center by default. At least watching him try to match up against some of the bigger boys will be worth it for comedic value.

 

[Superbone]

that would be pretty awesome, but the East is a lot tougher then it has been in recent memory.

Yep, for sure. It's definitely not a lock for the Wiz. I'll be rooting for them.

 

[Superbone]

I'll believe it when I see it. The guy played 55 total minutes last season and shot 24% from the field.

You'll be seeing it soon. He's been really good this preseason.

 

[Mainstreet]

Interesting tweet:

Rick Bonnell
Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell 2 minutes ago

Hypothetically the Suns and Bobcats could control a combined 7 1st-round picks in 2014 NBA draft.

Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html#ixzz2imFKKqVW

 

[Cheesebeef]

upon more thought, even with the protection this is a pretty good/smart move. maybe we could have gotten a less protected pick from someone at the deadline, but the Wiz do have a shot to get one of those last two playoffs spot and a bird in hand is better then one in the bush.

I also like this because it's going to open up minutes for Len, which will actually give me another reason to watch the team to see what kind of flashes he shows.

I wouldn't be surprised if Goran is the next out the door at some point during the year.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I wouldn't be surprised if Goran is the next out the door at some point during the year.

Nope, Frye too. This is some fantastic tanking between us and Philly.

 

[slinslin]

Interesting tweet:

If you throw in Philly I think it could be 10 of 30.

Anyway I'd only give Washington a 25% chance to make the playoffs, if they don't they will pick higher than 13 because the West fringe playoff teams usually are much better than the East.

If only this pick was top 7-9 protected instead of top 12.


Len/Plumlee
Morris
Green/Morris
Goodwin
Blesdsoe

Is the lineup I would like to see.

btw Okafor was better than Gortat last season, who says we can't flip Okafor to a contender at the deadline?

 

[slinslin]

That looks right to me, and I'd say Washington should be better than Milwaukee and Atlanta, and comparable with Detroit.

If John Wall can play at his best for the entire year they should make it, we would be looking at a #15-16 pick then.

 

[Phrazbit]

If you throw in Philly I think it could be 10 of 32.

Anyway I'd only give Washington a 25% chance to make the playoffs, if they don't they will pick higher than 13 because the West fringe playoff teams usually are much better than the East.

If only this pick was top 7-9 protected instead of top 12.


Len/Plumlee
Morris
Green/Morris
Goodwin
Blesdsoe

Is the lineup I would like to see.

btw Okafor was better than Gortat last season, who says we can't flip Okafor to a contender at the deadline?

Oakfor might not play this entire year because of a neck injury.

And Washington is better than you're giving them credit. A .500 team when John Wall returned. Another year of development for Beal, adding Otto Porter... I think they're very likely to make the playoffs in the East.

 

[elindholm]

And Washington is better than you're giving them credit. A .500 team when John Wall returned. Another year of development for Beal, adding Otto Porter... I think they're very likely to make the playoffs in the East.

I'm not sure that I'd go "very likely," but I might put it at better than 50-50. Beal has looked impressive in preseason.

 

[Mainstreet]

If you throw in Philly I think it could be 10 of 30.

Anyway I'd only give Washington a 25% chance to make the playoffs, if they don't they will pick higher than 13 because the West fringe playoff teams usually are much better than the East.

If only this pick was top 7-9 protected instead of top 12.


Len/Plumlee
Morris
Green/Morris
Goodwin
Blesdsoe

Is the lineup I would like to see.

btw Okafor was better than Gortat last season, who says we can't flip Okafor to a contender at the deadline?

An azcentral article dated 10-25-13 seems to indicate flipping Okafor may be an option. See link.

The deal gives the Suns additional flexibility in advance of a strong 2014 draft, as well as retaining the option to trade Okafor near the February trading deadline for additional assets.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...e-with-washington-wizards.html?nclick_check=1

 

[Cheesebeef]

An azcentral article dated 10-25-13 seems to indicate flipping Okafor may be an option. See link.



http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...e-with-washington-wizards.html?nclick_check=1

classy quotes from Gortat too.

 

[Mainstreet]

classy quotes from Gortat too.

Yes. I think it will benefit both parties to part ways.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a link to comments from Lon Babby and Ryan McDonough regarding the trade at the Suns site.

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-acquire-okafor-first-round-pick