The Wizards hold the fifth pick in the draft this year, but there has been a lot of talk about them trading back into the late first round or just trading out of the draft completely, say for a guy like Amare Stoudemire.
Let's take a look and see what they might do...after the jump!
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2009 Free Agents
- Juan Dixon (Unrestricted)
- Etan Thomas (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)
PG: Gilbert Arenas - Javaris Crittendon - Mike James
SG: DeShawn Stevenson - Nick Young
SF: Caron Butler - Dominic McGuire
PF: Antawn Jamison - Andray Blatche - Darius Songaila
C: Brendan Haywood - JaVale McGee - Oleksiy Pecherov
Draft Picks (Mock Picks)
- 5th overall - DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, USC - I was going to say Jordan Hill here, but Hill wouldn't add anything to this team other than another big body. DeRozan is raw still, but could flourish by learning from guys like Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison.
- 32nd overall - Taj Gibson, PF/C, USC - Here is where I think the Wizards are go with a big man in the draft. Gibson is a solid defender and a good energy player. Could push a few of the other bigs out of playing time if they aren't careful.
Depth Chart (Post-Draft)
PG: Gilbert Arenas - Javaris Crittendon - Mike James
SG: DeShawn Stevenson - DeMar DeRozan - Nick Young
SF: Caron Butler - Dominic McGuire - Demar DeRozan
PF: Antawn Jamison - Andray Blatche - Taj Gibson - Darius Songaila
C: Brendan Haywood - JaVale McGee - Oleksiy Pecherov - Taj Gibson
Players on Trade Block
- Gilbert Arenas
- Caron Butler
- Antawn Jamison
If the Wizards look to pull off a major trade this summer, then one of their big three is going to have to go. There isn't a way around it.
Final Analysis
This is a team that struggled with injuries all of last season. This year, they are healthier (as of now) and with this 5th pick, they should get some more talent and depth. I see the Wizards making it back to the playoffs.
Comments
If they can get Jamison traded before the draft, which I doubt will happen, then they would take Hill if he is there.
It's all a crap shoot at this point and my brain is fried!
I say we draft Harden. Hill is too raw and we can't wait for the young guys to develop. Harden is cooked, he is nba ready and that's what we need. I would only trade the pick if we get Amare in return. Having 4 guys who could score 20 + is kind absurd though.
Tough team to gauge here. Feels like they should be better than they are. They can't trade Arenas because of his contract/injuries and they love Caron so I guess Jamison has to go. If not, they have to hope Thabeet falls to them and then pick up the kid from Georgetown in the second round. If they can't do that.....they kind of have to take Hill.