Wizards Make a Series of Moves; Rebuilding Process Begins - LHSLax_D24's Blog

LHSLax_D24's Blog

Wizards Make a Series of Moves; Rebuilding Process Begins

Posted on February 17, 2010 at 10:33 PM.

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When the 2009-2010 NBA season began, the Washington Wizards were expected to compete in the Eastern Conference and possibly an NBA Championship. With newly acquired G Randy Foye and G/F Mike Miller, a healthy "Big 3", and new head coach Flip Saunders; many experts predicted a 50+ win season for Washington. The big three would consist of G Gilbert Arenas, F/G Caron Butler, and F Antawn Jamison.

Things have gone south ever since. With the lockerroom scandal, involving Arenas and G Javaris Crittenton, it lead to the suspensions of two Washington players. Since the Wizards were not able to reach expectations (for the past two seasons), General Manager Ernie Grunfeld has decided to rebuild him team.

The first move Washington would make was with the Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards would send Butler, along with C Brendan Haywood and G DeShawn Stevenson. In return, the Wizards would acquire F/G Josh Howard, F/C Drew Gooden, G/F Quinton Ross, and F James Singleton.

Dallas is now expected to be a top contender in the Western Conference. Butler is a perinial All-Star and Haywood has proven to be one of the premier defensive NBA centers this season. Butler has struggled in Saunders' new offense, but now is given a chance to get back on track by complementing All-Star F Dirk Nowitzki. Haywood is having a career year while being second in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game and top-ten in blocks. Stevenson was thrown into the deal, otherwise Washington would not send Haywood to Dallas.

In terms of the Wizards, they get the much needed cap relief. All of the players they received have an expiring contract. Although Howard has a team option for the 2010-2011 season. Howard, a former first-round selection, is having one of the worst seasons in his career. In previous years, he has been an All-Star and a good complement to Nowitzki. Gooden, had been a solid double-double guy his whole career averagine 12 PPG and 8 RPG. Gooden is expected to ask for a buy-out. Ross and Singleton are to match the contracts.

The second move Washington made involves a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers get the power forward they wanted in Jamison along with G Sebastian Telfair from L.A. The Clippers would receive Gooden from Washington and the Wizards would receive C Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Cleveland, F Al Thornton from the Clippers, and a first-round pick from Cleveland as well. Washington also received the draft rights to Emir Preldzic from Cleveland.

The Cavaliers have been seeking a bigman that could stretch the floor with his shooting since the beginning of the year (Jamison, F/C Troy Murphy of Indiana, or F/C Amar'e Stoudemire of Phoenix), and they also get an emergency guard in Telfair. Jamison a two time All-Star is arguably Washington's best and most consistent player, averaging 22 PPG and 8 RPG. Telfair was brought in incase of further injuries to Cleveland's back court.

What in the hell was Mike Dunleavy doing? After trading C Marcus Camby to the ailing Portland Trail Blazers, he sends out two promising players, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and Skinner for Gooden, F Travis Outlaw, and G Steve Blake. Why would Gooden want to play in L.A.? He didn't want to play in D.C., so why would he want to play in L.A.? Outlaw and Blake have proven to be solid role players, but neither player is getting younger. He gets cap relief, but what else? They couldn't scrub anything from Cleveland because they are getting virtually nothing.

The Wizards receive Ilgauskas' 11.5M that will be off the books at the end of the year along with a potential promising young player in Thornton (if they decide to keep him). The first-round pick gives them two, one of which expected to be in the lottery. Skinner is not expected to see any action. Now the Wizards only have a few players with contract for next year (outside of Arenas) in G Nick Young's, PF/C Andray Blatche's, C JaVale McGee's, and now Thornton's and Howard's team option.

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On to today's Wizards game. Blatche may have proven to be a good replacement for Jamison. Scoring a career-high 33 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. The new trio from Dallas (Howard, Ross, and Singleton) combined for 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals. Howard, sporting his new #55 jersey, led the way with 14 off the bench.

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Other trades around the NBA (on Wednesday)

Milwaukee Bucks get: G/F John Salmons
Chicago Bulls get: F Hakim Warrick and F Joe Alexander

New York Knicks get: F Brian Cardinal
Minnesota Timberwolves get: F/C Darko Milicic

Also, the Boston Celtics are expected to trade G Eddie House and G J.R. Giddens to New York for G Nate Robinson before Thursday's trade deadline.

With many other rumors, what will happen next?

Please feel free to post any comments, opinions, or questions.

Comments

# 1 rockchisler @ Feb 17

Boston to get Nate huh? Hmmm

# 2 LHSLax_D24 @ Feb 17

Yup. It's suppose to happen on Thursday.

# 3 denverbro89 @ Feb 18

I am a avid Mavs fan since I started watching basketball, and when I saw Butler and Haywood last night, I could do nothing but be happy, the chemistry was already, there and they seemed to be happy. Fakers watch out!!!