Next up are the Wizards at #16.

Feel free to discuss potential players to be selected, team needs or any other topics related to this pick in this thread.

Once you know who you think they should pick, post your selection in this thread in bold red type. Only vote once per thread.

At 11:30 am, whichever player has the most votes will be the Wizards' pick in our mock draft.

Players selected so far: http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9551

Best available players: http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9601

Current players under contract for 2007-08
Gilbert Arenas
Caron Butler
Etan Thomas
Antonio Daniels
Brendan Haywood
Darius Songaila

Player options
DeShawn Stevenson ($1.03m)
Antawn Jamison ($16.4m)

No longer with team
James Lang

Free agents
Jarvis Hayes (RFA)
Michael Ruffin (UFA)
Andray Blatche (RFA)
Calvin Booth (UFA)
Donnell Taylor (RFA)
Roger Mason, Jr. (UFA)
Mike Hall (RFA)

Unsigned draft picks
Oleksiy Pecherov [#18 in 2006]

Picks in this draft
#16
#47

:emo kid:

It sounds like they'll need to move Haywood this summer. He and E.Jordan (and Etan) just can't seem to co-exist. I think Haywood has even requested a trade.

You have to think that Stevenson will opt out after having a decent year, he should be able to do better than $1.0m.

They really need to have Songaila healthy, since he wasn't able to give them anything last year.

Jamison has also been mentioned in a lot of trade rumors so this team could look a lot different at the start of the season than it did last year.

As far as needs go, depending on what they get for Haywood, Jamison, etc. in trades or if Hayes/Stevenson leave, I think they'd want a better backup PG, but they really could use help at any position, so they might be in a "best player available" situation here.

^Jamison has a player opt out (like Billups)

^Jamison has a player opt out (like Billups)

Nice catch, I'll fix that. I've been using Storytellers for contact info and that's the first mistake that I've seen from that site yet (Bender's site and Hoopshype show the option).

Jamison's option is a bit different than Billups though, in that Jamison's is for $16.4m, not $6m like Chauncey's.

Not sure if he'd turn down that kind of cash to leave, but maybe.

Either way I think they have a definate need for a big man.

I could see Jason Smith here, and also Thornton as an option.

I see them taking Thornton if he's still on the board. It's an obvious best-available move.

Oh, and also:

:emo kid:

I'm not so sure that they go big.

They love Andray Blatche

Blatche will draw interest
It's no shocker considering that the kid is 6-foot-11 and has flashed nice skills during his first two seasons but as you'll be reading in tomorrow's paper (Thursday morning) Wizards restricted free agent forward Andray "32 Cent" Blatche will be a wanted man when the free agency period opens July 1. According to my sources, the New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers are prepared to offer Blatche five-year contracts with a first-year salary starting at around $4 million.

Now, the Wizards can and likely will match any offer made to Blatche, the team's second round pick in the 2005 draft, but unless president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld can clear some cap space with moves this summer, doing so could make it difficult to retain shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who will opt out of the final year of his contract on July 1, or sign other free agents in what is shaping up to be a tight market.

And they have a 7 footer in Oleksiy Pecherov that they drafted at #18 last year.
Oleksiy Pecherov has only been in town since Sunday but the early word is that the kid is a gym rat. I hear that "Pesh" has been doing two workouts a day down at Verizon Center and won't leave a workout until, get this, he makes 500 jump shots. That vibes with everything I've heard about the kid. His presence could also have a major impact on Blatche because the two have hit if off. If Blatche sees his boy working that hard, you have to think that he'll do the same. Remember, they could be competing for minutes next season. I can't wait to see Pesh and this year's picks in Las Vegas for summer league.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2007/06/blatche_will_draw_interest.html

And if the Nets and Cavs are really willing to throw 5 year deals starting at $4m/yr at Andray Blatche, then how much will Amir get offered?

:scared:

Even so, they still need to replace Jamison. I see him wanting more than they are willing to pay next year (even if he doesn't opt out). I think I'm going to go with the guy that will probably back up Blatche and Butler and be their 6th man:

The Wizards select Al Thornton

Wizards select - Rodney Stuckey

Wizards select Rodney Stuckey

Have to replace Stevenson and possibly Hayes.

He can also help out by backing up Arenas at PG.

I thought about him but to me he's too much like Arenas. Now if you could deal Jamison and Arenas for Kobe and Walton or something like that...then Stuckey would be a great option.

Stuckey and Thornton at 2 votes each.

I'll add a poll and whomever is ahead at 12:30 is the pick

Video on Rodney Stuckey (thanks, Glenn):

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=2922695

No way to the Wizards take another guard. They can easily find a Stevenson type player in FA. Thornton would be the pick imo, but I was a day late...

No way to the Wizards take another guard.

I completely disagree, I think it's very likely.

They especially like Nick Young, apparently.

Wizards Team Needs

Picks: 16,47

Needs: SG,C

Analysis: With Deshawn Stevenson set to hit the open market, the Wizards could use a 2G that can come in and give them something right away. Derrick Byars may not be the sexiest pick as his slow feet limit his overall potential, but he's ready now and should be an excellent role player for years to come. Other possibilities include Javaris Crittenton and Nick Young.

This team is so thin up front. Etan Thomas as your starting center will not get you far into the playoffs. Jamison will most likely come back so there's your starting 4. Songalia can play the 3 and 4. Outside of that, there really is no one, assuming Haywood has no part of the Wizards organization. Maybe Blatche will make some noise or maybe he won't get any pt at all.

But then again...the Wizards don't have many guards too. Daniels is a good backup 1 and will probably be the combo guard off the bench. If not, the starting shooting guard who will back up Arenas. If Stevenson returns, this team makes a big for sure but at this stage, bigmen have morevalue.

They are rumored to be shopping Daniels, Haywood and Thomas. And Jamison has been mentioned in Marion rumors, too.

Sounds like big changes are coming to the Wiz.

I completely disagree, I think it's very likely.

They especially like Nick Young, apparently.

That is because Nick Young makes sense. He's a pure shooter and would create space for Arenas (and vice versa). Stuckey is not a pure SG. he's a combo guard like Arenas. I just don't see them working well together.

I think they go big unless they have Young rated much higher than whatever big man is available there.

Man, I really hope the Wiz take Stuckey now, lol.

I have a hunch that we will. I think Joe sees him as his Vinny Johnson. Unless a guy like Hawes or Law falls to us I think Stuckey will be the pick. I'm not a big fan of him, but I see it happening.

Oz, DC: Any idea on what direction the Wizards will go at #16? I'm hoping for a two guard to relieve some of the pressure off of Arenas. Any chance one of the Young's is there?

John Hollinger: (2:10 PM ET ) I think that'd be a great pickup for Washington at that spot, either one of the Youngs or Stuckey.... though they could also use another body in the frontcourt and a backup point guard, so it's not like they should get too hung up on that one position.