Does Washington getting the top pick make them a destination for max level FAs?

[ibby]

I don't think so.  New York got all the press because they are New York.  Outside of Arenas, Washington has no player comparable to Rose, Noah, Deng or even Hinrich (Chicago), Wade (if Miami resigns him), Lopez, Harris, or even Jilian (New Jersey/Brooklyn). 

I actually feel bad for Wall.  After the gutting of the team (Jamison, Butler, Haywood) I'm not sure who he even has to pass to.

[Lucky17]

They won't be able to get in on the LeBron, Wade, Bosh sweepstakes.

I think the Wizards may have a shot at Amare, JJ, Boozer and Gay though.

One ESPN analyst (Stein? Ford? Sheridan?) cited Washington as a dark horse candidate for Bosh, because he has a daughter that lives in the DC area.

Wall, Blatche, and McGee isn't a bad nucleus. Howard and Arenas can be bridges to the future. I think the jury is still out on what kind of players Al Thornton and Nick Young are; although I don't think either are starting material, they might be serviceable rotation players (assuming the Wizards get some defenders to round out their bench).

[Who]

They won't be able to get in on the LeBron, Wade, Bosh sweepstakes.

I think the Wizards may have a shot at Amare, JJ, Boozer and Gay though.

One ESPN analyst (Stein? Ford? Sheridan?) cited Washington as a dark horse candidate for Bosh, because he has a daughter that lives in the DC area.

Wall, Blatche, and McGee isn't a bad nucleus. Howard and Arenas can be bridges to the future. I think the jury is still out on what kind of players Al Thornton and Nick Young are; although I don't think either are starting material, they might be serviceable rotation players (assuming the Wizards get some defenders to round out their bench).

I don't see it. I think Bosh only leaves the Raptors to go to a team on the verge of contending for a title. Like Miami, Chicago or Oklahoma. Or possibly NYC if they get another max contract player to sign there first.

[nickagneta]

They won't be able to get in on the LeBron, Wade, Bosh sweepstakes.

I think the Wizards may have a shot at Amare, JJ, Boozer and Gay though.

One ESPN analyst (Stein? Ford? Sheridan?) cited Washington as a dark horse candidate for Bosh, because he has a daughter that lives in the DC area.

Wall, Blatche, and McGee isn't a bad nucleus. Howard and Arenas can be bridges to the future. I think the jury is still out on what kind of players Al Thornton and Nick Young are; although I don't think either are starting material, they might be serviceable rotation players (assuming the Wizards get some defenders to round out their bench).

I don't think that the Wiz have cap space to get a max level free agent if they retain Howard. I am pretty sure they will not pick up his option and then renounce his rights. That, I think, is what allows them the cap space to sign a max level guy.

[Lucky17]

They won't be able to get in on the LeBron, Wade, Bosh sweepstakes.

I think the Wizards may have a shot at Amare, JJ, Boozer and Gay though.

One ESPN analyst (Stein? Ford? Sheridan?) cited Washington as a dark horse candidate for Bosh, because he has a daughter that lives in the DC area.

Wall, Blatche, and McGee isn't a bad nucleus. Howard and Arenas can be bridges to the future. I think the jury is still out on what kind of players Al Thornton and Nick Young are; although I don't think either are starting material, they might be serviceable rotation players (assuming the Wizards get some defenders to round out their bench).

I don't think that the Wiz have cap space to get a max level free agent if they retain Howard. I am pretty sure they will not pick up his option and then renounce his rights. That, I think, is what allows them the cap space to sign a max level guy.

You're right. Assuming they renounce Foye and keep Howard, the Wizards would be at around $41 mil in guaranteed payroll, before signing Wall. So that's not enough cap space for a max-level offer.

BTW, what's Howard's prognosis? Is he even going to be at 100% during the season, or will he need more than one year to get back to full strength?

[Brendan]

If they think Wall is good enough to win one by himself, they are better off waiting. If they think he's not they should go after the best FA they can get, and try and work GA into the rotation early to get some trade value pumped in. He's a good enough player, but not for how much he makes (leaving aside the gun issue.)

Still they could swap him for another bad contract at a position that doesn't impact Wall's development.

[Lucky17]

I don't see how any team in the league would trade for Arenas. His contract is just staggering.
   
2009/10: $16,192,080
   
2010/11: $17,730,694
   
2011/12: $19,269,308 (will turn 30 in January of this season)
   
2012/13: $20,807,922 (player option)
   
2013/14: $22,346,536

[nickagneta]

I stated this in another thread last night. If Bosh leaves Toronto without a sign and trade, that franchise is in deep trouble.

1.) They will be real close to being at the salary cap with all their contracts and holds considered, meaning they wouldn't have the MLE but would only less than the MLE available to offer to a free agent.

2.) They are a soft team with Bargnani, Turkuglo and Calderon who was below .500 and out of the playoffs WITH Bosh. They will be a bad team that plays soft with no marketable stars to sell to their ticket buyers. The Raptors had 90% capacity attendance with Bosh and a mediocre team. What will they expect with a really bad team and no marketable superstar?

3.) They are locked into three pretty bad contracts. Turk is owed $44 million over 4 years, Calderon $29.3 over 3 years and Bargs gets $50 million over 5 years. They might decide to dump two of those contracts for a marketable superstar that doesn't play soft and brings good, on the court, effort and attitude and pride every night, regardless of what happened with the guns thing.

[LarBrd33]

I don't see how any team in the league would trade for Arenas. His contract is just staggering.
   
2009/10: $16,192,080
   
2010/11: $17,730,694
   
2011/12: $19,269,308 (will turn 30 in January of this season)
   
2012/13: $20,807,922 (player option)
   
2013/14: $22,346,536

Only logical destination would be for the Knicks to trade Eddy Curry's expiring contract straight up for Arenas once all he top free agents sign with their respective teams and Knicks fans are ready to jump off a bridge.   I can see the Knicks pulling a desperation Marbury-esque move once they have no other options.

Also... the Wizards aren't getting anything for Arenas.  They would be insanely lucky to even get Eddy Curry's expiring contract.

[indeedproceed]

I don't see how any team in the league would trade for Arenas. His contract is just staggering.
   
2009/10: $16,192,080
   
2010/11: $17,730,694
   
2011/12: $19,269,308 (will turn 30 in January of this season)
   
2012/13: $20,807,922 (player option)
   
2013/14: $22,346,536

Only logical destination would be for the Knicks to trade Eddy Curry's expiring contract straight up for Arenas once all he top free agents sign with their respective teams and Knicks fans are ready to jump off a bridge.   I can see the Knicks pulling a desperation Marbury-esque move once they have no other options.

Also... the Wizards aren't getting anything for Arenas.  They would be insanely lucky to even get Eddy Curry's expiring contract.

Insanely lucky. Like 'Tom-Cruise-and-Gary-Busey-have-a-baby-and-Lady-Gaga-is-its-nanny' lucky.

[Who]

I think the Raptors are more likely to pursue a high risk acquisition like Arenas in order to keep Bosh rather than to replace him. To try and convince him they have enough talent to win.

I'm not sure Bryan Colangelo would be interested in Arenas following the gun debacle though ... he is one of those GM's that takes that stuff to an extreme. Tries to avoid it as much as possible.

[Lucky17]

Well, if we're talking about desperate franchises, what about the Cavs?

Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson for Arenas. LeBron gets a legit assassin sidekick.

[indeedproceed]

Well, if we're talking about desperate franchises, what about the Cavs?

Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson for Arenas. LeBron gets a legit assassin sidekick.

Well its great that Gilbert Arenas will be his assassin sidekick, but he will still need a legit point guard if they trade Mo Williams.

THat was a joke because Gilbert Arenas owns guns.

[Lucky17]

Well, if we're talking about desperate franchises, what about the Cavs?

Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson for Arenas. LeBron gets a legit assassin sidekick.

Well its great that Gilbert Arenas will be his assassin sidekick, but he will still need a legit point guard if they trade Mo Williams.

THat was a joke because Gilbert Arenas owns guns.

LOL. Completely unintended comedy there.

Seriously though, Hibachi and the Chosen One? It's got a ring to it. Sounds like a TV show about a wise-cracking crime-fighting duo.

Still, Arenas is better than "1st Half" Williams.

[Who]

Well, if we're talking about desperate franchises, what about the Cavs?

Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson for Arenas. LeBron gets a legit assassin sidekick.

Yes, I think the Cavs are the most likely team to be willing to take back Arenas' contract ... assuming LeBron stays.

I think the Raptors are probably second and the Magic may enter the conversation depending on how Otis Smith reacts to his team losing to the Celtics (Vince is old, they need a younger gunslinger on the perimeter).

I would also wonder if Atlanta would be willing to trade Crawford + Bibby for Arenas. Arenas' contract + JJ's contract is a costly move though, not sure the Hawks ownership green light that.

The West is stacked with point guards and only has a limited number of teams who would take on a contract like Arenas'. I don't see any real possibilities there outside of a knucklehead move from someone like the Wolves or Grizzlies.