wolfenstein wrote:
Ariza had one period where he was a good shooter, when he played for the Lakers the year before the Artest era. He has always been an inconsistent role player who can play sound defense but is overall underwhelming. He can't dribble. He is a rich man's Wes Johnson. Again, the fact that he was discussed here as a major acquisition is pretty funny in hindsight (I did it too). He is an upgrade over Wes but he would have made a minimal impact. Okafar was the prize.

Hollinger generally savages everything because he is an arrogant, contrarian dickhead. The Wizards needed to add some rotation, NBA players to their roster. There is so much damn weight put, by EVERYONE, on saving money constantly in this league. Who gives a shit? You want to know why you save money? For moves like this....The 2nd worst team in the league has added Nene, Okafor and a decent role player in Ariza in 3 months time. My God. This is not a bad thing. Not every team can add LeBron, Dwight, Deron Williams or Scalabrine in an offseason.

These are the types of moves Kahn should have been making from day 1 instead of embarking on some ridiculous crusade to discover his own hidden gems and generally pulling a Hollinger and making consistent attempts to defy conventional wisdom in the douchiest way possible.

Did Kahn draft Pek? Or was that Mchale.

I'm betting Kahn is hoping that Pek-lighting strikes twice and thus putting all assets into 2nd round Euros.

McHale drafted Pek.

Rubio is Kahn's baby and the one area I will give Kahn HUGE credit for is not panicking and trading Rubio, giving him time, and getting him over here before the lockout started. Huge pat on the back for Kahn there.

Wolfenstein, assuming you have Insider, can you post Hollinger's take? I saw the first few lines of it had a Wolves reference, but the rest is paid content.

Hollinger is technically right, but that's unrealistic. The Wizards are definitely not a hot destination right now. Like the Bobcats did when the team first started, a solid playoff bound team is sure to generate fan interest where there currently is none.

By the way, WW, I haven't forgot about the Mike Dunlap rant about the Bobkittens. I'll be back...

Screw Hollinger. The Wizards did awesome to add 3 solid vets for basically nothing (would have had to pay JaVale a big contract anyways if they kept him.) those guys they got are consistent and Ariza and Okafor are plus+ defenders. Nene is super plus+ offensively.

Yeah the Wiz could have paid Rashard less and cut him... Which is nice for New Orleans. The Wiz couldn't cut him though because they had to keep him to make the minimum salary threshold.

Again, screw Hollinger.

WallyWorld wrote:
Yeah, I... agree with you mostly. Hollinger is not my favorite. I will post the insider content when I get home.

You hit the nail on the head with Kahn defying conventional wisdom.

That being said, I am not a salary cap savant. Does this deal challenge their ability to offer Wall a max deal without surrendering lux tax or anything?

Filling in around Nene and Wall with Beal, Ariza, and Okafor seems like a good move. The Wiz are almost unrecognizable, they just need to amnesty what's his name and they have cleared all the potential character issue dudes from their roster.

In that regard, $30M over 2 years for 2 servicable players seems more acceptable to me.

I'm not sure I love that trade if I'm the Wolves though, with Rubio and Love plus Adelman we have more to offer FAs than Washington and their awful recent history and dysfunctional coaching/front office.