New Orleans trades Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Washington for Rashard Lewis

[2short]

New Orleans frees up money to spend on Gordon and one or two of the mid-tier free agents and Washington gets two more overpaid vets to propel them into Bucks-style mediocrity (though, to be fair, Wall & this year's pick give them a more exciting foundation than Milwaukee). 

I think it's two different teams. Maybe I'm overvaluing him, but Okafor and Nene is a pretty formidable front court. Very strong, two way players.

I agree, Okafor's contract is bad (not his fault) but he and Nene are both very good players and I'd welcome either guy on the celtics.

[Smitty77]

I guess this means that Blatche might be on our radar if bought out or amnestied???  As well as Rashard Lewis when bought out?

Thoughts??

[mctyson]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

Here's how I guess the Wiz see it:  Ariza and Okafor are not locked up long term, just 2 years versus Lewis' 1 year.  

Ariza and Okafor are serviceable players, and certainly not the disaster that is Rashard Lewis.  If you just take Okafor's salary and forget about it for a second, he is the type of player nearly every team in the NBA would want in their rotation.  Washington now has a strong(if overpaid) frontcourt of Nene and Okafor.  They upgrade their defense and rebounding, and surround John Wall with character guys and winners (Ariza in the pros, Okafor in college).  

The Wiz become competitive in the East, probably a 6 or 7 seed.  Fans come to see their games.  Wall gets playoff experience. The owners get some more ticket and concession revenue. Then in 2013/2014, Okafor and Ariza are expiring deals that, when combined, can grab the same type of player you are referring to, and push Wiz up the ladder in the East.

That's my spin.

[Celts Fan 92]

I guess this means that Blatche might be on our radar if bought out or amnestied???  As well as Rashard Lewis when bought out?

Thoughts??

after seeing Doc Rivers take a shot at him in dis article im pretty sure we aint in da Andray Blatche sweepstakes his garbage work ethic would frustrate doc lol

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2012/06/12/even-doc-rivers-thinks-andray-blatche-is-a-disaster/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[rondohondo]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

Here's how I guess the Wiz see it:  Ariza and Okafor are not locked up long term, just 2 years versus Lewis' 1 year.  

Ariza and Okafor are serviceable players, and certainly not the disaster that is Rashard Lewis.  If you just take Okafor's salary and forget about it for a second, he is the type of player nearly every team in the NBA would want in their rotation.  Washington now has a strong(if overpaid) frontcourt of Nene and Okafor.  They upgrade their defense and rebounding, and surround John Wall with character guys and winners (Ariza in the pros, Okafor in college).  

The Wiz become competitive in the East, probably a 6 or 7 seed.  Fans come to see their games.  Wall gets playoff experience. The owners get some more ticket and concession revenue. Then in 2013/2014, Okafor and Ariza are expiring deals that, when combined, can grab the same type of player you are referring to, and push Wiz up the ladder in the East.

That's my spin.

completely agree, plus washington would have a hard time signing big free agents even if they amnestied Lewis. This way they are getting two tough defensive minded players to add to Wall and Nene. It will likely get them close to a playoff spot which would be very valuable experience for wall for the next 2 years and then see if you can attract free agents after a few years of being a playoff team .

[StartOrien]

completely agree, plus washington would have a hard time signing big free agents even if they amnestied Lewis. This way they are getting two tough defensive minded players to add to Wall and Nene. It will likely get them close to a playoff spot which would be very valuable experience for wall for the next 2 years and then see if you can attract free agents after a few years of being a playoff team .

On top of this, if I'm Washington I want to know what I have in John Wall. No more excuses about teammates. Give him the surrounding cast to give you an idea on if this is a type of guy you can build around. Elsewise, you're going into contract negotiations blind.

[tyrone biggums]

Thank God this deal happened now people have to stop making trade Rondo threads!!!

I hope someone trades for Tyreke Evans and Big Al and then people will stop complaining

[Kane3387]

I guess this means that Blatche might be on our radar if bought out or amnestied???  As well as Rashard Lewis when bought out?

Thoughts??

after seeing Doc Rivers take a shot at him in dis article im pretty sure we aint in da Andray Blatche sweepstakes his garbage work ethic would frustrate doc lol

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2012/06/12/even-doc-rivers-thinks-andray-blatche-is-a-disaster/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Good find. Blatche is a guy like Arenas that no one might put a bid in for. Still for a mill? I wonder if he could turn it around? Zack Randolph has. Marbury did in phoenix for a while. The locker room in Washington was a disaster after all.

[snively]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process?? 

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

Here's how I guess the Wiz see it:  Ariza and Okafor are not locked up long term, just 2 years versus Lewis' 1 year. 

Ariza and Okafor are serviceable players, and certainly not the disaster that is Rashard Lewis.  If you just take Okafor's salary and forget about it for a second, he is the type of player nearly every team in the NBA would want in their rotation.  Washington now has a strong(if overpaid) frontcourt of Nene and Okafor.  They upgrade their defense and rebounding, and surround John Wall with character guys and winners (Ariza in the pros, Okafor in college). 

The Wiz become competitive in the East, probably a 6 or 7 seed.  Fans come to see their games.  Wall gets playoff experience. The owners get some more ticket and concession revenue. Then in 2013/2014, Okafor and Ariza are expiring deals that, when combined, can grab the same type of player you are referring to, and push Wiz up the ladder in the East.

That's my spin.

Put it this way: when we wanted to dump our overpaid 29-year old center with injury problems (Raef), we had to include the #6 pick (mitigated somewhat by the inclusion of Telfair, but not much).

The Hornets got to dump Raef-level contract, with a clunky Ariza deal on top of it, got a partially guaranteed one year deal in return and didn't even have to throw in the #10 pick.  They even got a mid 2nd rounder thrown in.

I'm all for a team in the Wizards situation to take on overpaid but functional vets as a part of asset accumulation, but there were no assets accumulated here.  Just a lot of cap flexibility burnt for a boost into contention for the 9th best record in the East.

[Lucky17]

There was no appreciable 2012 cap space gained by cutting Lewis (less than $10 mil, and no MLE). 2013 cap space, yes.

[Edit: now, if you'd cut Lewis, and then amnestied Blatche, that would have freed up some appreciable 2012 cap space, and been a bold and definitive alternative statement to making the deal made today. Would have been paying players a lot of money to play elsewhere, and I don't know if Wiz' management would have wanted to do that.]

In the last four years, the Wizards have finished with the 2nd worst record twice, and the 4th worst record twice.

Moving up to a bubble playoff team this coming season and instilling a new culture should help Washington develop and hopefully keep its franchise player. Otherwise, the Wiz run the risk of being the Sacramento Kings.

[T-LoDaniels]

There was no appreciable 2012 cap space gained by cutting Lewis (less than $10 mil, and no MLE). 2013 cap space, yes.

In the last four years, the Wizards have finished with the 2nd worst record twice, and the 4th worst record twice.

Moving up to a bubble playoff team this coming season and instilling a new culture should help Washington develop and hopefully keep its franchise player. Otherwise, the Wiz run the risk of being the Sacramento Kings.

TP. People underestimate what winning actually means to a franchise. John Wall is their future and so far in the NBA, he has been (to be blunt) a LOSER. They now have a solid team and it's not like they were going to be major players in the FA markets in 2012 or 2013 anyway.

[pearljammer10]

Look like a full on rebuild is coming in NO.

[Birdman]

looks like they get #1 pick again next year..Davis and Noel would be another twin towers

[CelticsFan9]

NO seems to understand that having the #1 pick in the draft gives you a big advantage in way that not a lot of people notice.  Most #1 picks turn out to be solid if not good players, while only being paid a rookie salary.  Anthony Davis seems to be headed towards being a great player, so his development will be crucial for NO in the next year or two as a popular destination for top-tier free agents.

Couple that with all the cap space they have, and NO will have a great, young player in Davis on a small salary to go with all the money they can spend on the big names come summertime.

The Hornets(or whatever new nickname they will inevitably get) seem to be prepared to become a really good team in a few years(If they make good decisions).

[lightspeed5]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221612/Wizards_Trade_Lewis_For_Okafor_Ariza

wiz trade away garbage and get back decent players. how does this happen? can a team really be that cheap to be all about salary dump?

wall ariza singleton nene okafor

should be interesting to see what they can do.