A Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer John Manuel

I am taking my NBA Season opening thoughts to South Beach, I mean fanspeak.  The NBA tips off this week with its most anticipated season in a long time.  All eyes will be the new Big Three of Martell Webster, Michael Beasley and Kosta Koufas in Minnesota.  Just kidding…Martell Webster starts the season injured.  How many games will the Miami Heat win?  I was in Vegas two weeks ago and the win over/under was 63.5.  I thought that was a pretty good number.  I passed and gambled all my money on that the Sasha Vujacic and Maria Sharapova engagement rumor was a joke.  I lost. We all lost on that one.

Speaking of the Lakers most analyst I have listened to the past week feel they are still the favorites to repeat.  I have never been a fan of the Lakers but I may find myself rooting for them now based on two moves.  One is obvious.  Lebron and Bosh joining the Heat to load up a team of superstars.  But I am sick of hearing about Lebron and the Heat.  More important was when the Lakers added my fellow Maryland grad Steve Blake.  It would be great to see Blake hit a huge shot in the finals against Miami.  Slim chance of that with Kobe and the returning Derek Fisher.

Opening night with TNTs coverage is always great.  Charles Barkley’s reactions to the bench players, trainers and other no names receiving championship rings is priceless.  I do feel sorry for Sir Charles and I am guessing lost 50k on that Vujacic bet also.  Barkley would probably cut off one of Adam Morrison’s ring fingers Jack Bauer style if he had the chance.

My team is the Wizards or the team that doesn’t know a good practical joke.  Or just Gilbert Arenas doesn’t.  I wonder if Gilbert wishes he would have used this practical joke on Javaris Crittenden instead of the locker room gun fiasco. RIP Manute Bol.  John Wall is going to make the team fun to watch this season at the least. Hopefully with a team full of 7′s like Josh Howard and Al Thornton they can possibly contend for the 8th spot in the East.

If I lived in Oklahoma City and couldn’t afford the cost of Oklahoma City Thunder season tickets I would probably be in the Oklahoma state pen right now for a failed bank robbery to pay for tickets.  Kevin Durant is sick and I applaud him for signing his extension and seeing where this talented bunch can go the next few seasons.  I would love to see him come back home to DC at some point but they could have something special.  Last seasons Lakers-Thunder series was great to watch.  A few seasons ago the Heat had a nucleus of Wade, Caron Butler and Lamar Odom that reminded me of the Thunder but they decided to break it up and trade for Shaq.  It got them a title, but I hope that the Thunder keeps guys like Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green together with Durant.

The whole season outlook can change if either Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul change teams during the season.  Chris Paul in Orlando could make them the favorites.  Melo with the Knicks or Nets would probably move one of those teams at least into the playoffs.  Melo is probably my favorite player so I hope he doesn’t goto the Knicks.  Can’t his wife just host her Vh1 show reunions from Denver?  And why can’t a NBA player marry Katie from MTV Road Rules/Real World challenges, she is nuts but highly entertaining.  I may be willing to pay for the wedding of Katie and Kenyon “Necklips Tattoo” Martin.

The Lakers, Heat, Celtics and Magic are getting the most hype so far.  But look out for teams like the Thunder or my surprise selection the Utah Jazz.  Not to win but possibly finally upset the Lakers in the Western conference playoffs.  Portland has been waiting to take that step up and Dallas’ addition of Tyson Chandler will be big.  If I have to make a call I am going Lakers over Heat.  Sorry, I just have that feeling and you know how whacky the officiating gets in the playoffs.  Any Sacramento Kings fans of the C-Webb-Vlade era  just smashed their monitors so they won’t be able to hear me tell them Tyreke Evans is sick so hang in there.

A Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Dan Bronstein

This upcoming NBA season, I believe the Washington Wizards are going to be one of the most underrated teams. It is no wonder since the team won just 26 games last season and traded away some of its most productive players such as Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison, and Brendan Haywood. This year the Eastern Conference might be stacked, but I still believe the Wizards will be a top ten team in the NBA.

Having the number one overall pick in this year’s draft didn’t hurt the Wizard’s chances of being a top 5 team in the East. John Wall has been a beast so far in summer league, training camp, and in preseason averaging over 15 points and about 8 assists per game. His blazing speed could already make him the fastest player in the NBA as shown by his ability to run the floor past defenses especially on the fast break. He may have learned that quickness growing up with his good friend Brandon Banks who is the electric kick return man for the Washington Redskins. His defense isn’t too bad either. If you have watched him at all this preseason, you would know that he has caused turnovers on opposing offenses not just with steals, but also with his defensive awareness and ability to pressure the ball. Let us also not forget that he is only 20 years old and with each game he is only going to get better.

By now you are probably wondering how this rookie is going to carry a Washington Wizards team that lost 56 games last year all by himself. The answer is he’s not, well at least at first. There are going to be times when Wall drives to the hoop so fast that big men are not going to know what hit them. There are also going to be times when he drives to the basket and will have no easy shot, so who will he dish it out to for the open jumper? Well let’s take your pick.

There is last year’s break out player in Andray Blatche, who averaged just over 22 points per game after last season’s all-star break and whom I think is one of the best mid-range shooting big men in the game. The newly acquired 7 foot tall Yi Jianlian from China has an unbelievably nice shot for his size and has the potential to hit that open jumper 95% of the time. The 7 ft. 1 in. athletic center JaVale McGee will always be looking for the open alley-oop from Wall, just as they have done countless times in summer league and preseason. McGee at just 22 years old already had a run with team USA this summer proving he has upside and I am sure he will rack up a huge amount of blocks this season.

Besides the Wizards big men, let us not forget about the other guys. The addition of Kirk Hinrich will help to give Wall a rest at point guard, but when they are on the floor at the same time, Kirk will almost always hit that open jumper like he did in Chicago. Hinrich is also one of the only point guards to make the NBA all-defensive team in the past 5 years besides Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, and Jason Kidd. Then there is the 16th overall pick from the 2007 draft, Nick Young who has shown flashes of potential over the years for the Wizards. When Nick gets hot, he lights it up on the court with his standout shooting ability. John Wall will also have the always consistent small forward in Al Thornton who averaged about 17 points per game for the Clippers the season before he joined the Wizards. Al has seen his FG% rise in all three of his professional seasons and I still think he is a tremendous player even at age 26. Once former all-star Josh Howard recovers from injury which is coming along smoother than predicted, he will provide enough veteran leadership at that small forward position to help Wall take the Wizards to the playoffs just like he did for the Mavs.

I forgot to mention one crucial element of this revamped Wizards team. Gilbert Arenas is back and with a vengeance. He has paid his dues and now he is serious in getting the Wizards back on the right track. Gil understands this is Wall’s team now and only wants to play his part in helping Wall become a better player while also helping his team be a playoff contender. Agent Zero will play the shooting guard position and we all know how well Gilbert can knock down a three as long as Wall provides for the open shot. Arenas is pretty much healthy as he has had a lot of time to rest his knee and has put the past into the past. Although Gilbert probably won’t be able to drive to the lane as much as he once did, the bottom line is that this season he won’t need to thanks to Wall. Gil is going to be so open this season that he will have to take out his old hibachi grill and be hot almost every game. True Wizards fans know what I am talking about and remember when the former all-star hit numerous game winners for Washington or when he had 60 points during a game against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2006. Gil is no longer wearing the number zero, but I am sure he will reinvent himself and help lead the Wizards back to the playoffs.

My Eastern Conference Season Predictions By Ranking:

1. Boston Celtics
2. Miami Heat
3. Orlando Magic
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Washington Wizards
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Milwaukee Bucks
8. New York Knicks
9. Charlotte Bobcats
10. Philadelphia 76ers
11. Indiana Pacers
12. New Jersey Nets
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Toronto Raptors
15. Cleveland Cavaliers

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

ESPN the magazine released an article ranking the 122 franchises in major American sports (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL). These rankings are based on the following criteria: bang for the buck, fan relations, ownership, affordability, stadium experience, players, coaching and title track. You can read more here: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings.

Prior to reading this article, I had always felt that DC area teams were constantly overlooked in conversations discussing the worst professional sports teams in one area. Many Philadelphia sports fans believe that they have it bad – that their teams are cursed. Wrong. Washington DC is safe haven to putrid sports teams, and this can now be quantified. DC area teams ranked as following:

11. Washington Capitals

94. Washington Nationals

102. Baltimore Orioles

105. Washington Redskins

120. Washington Wizards

I’ve included the Orioles because many people that root for DC teams also root for the Orioles as they were the only baseball team in the area prior to the Nats’ arrival.

As this list points out, aside from the Caps, Washington DC area sports rank near the bottom of the league in every major professional sport. The Washington Wizards are regarded literally as the third worst franchise in professional sports.

What’s most appalling is the Redskins’ embarrassing placement on this list. The ‘Skins are a rich and storied franchise with a fan base that sweeps across the Carolinas, yet they are easily one of the worst franchises in all of sports. It is clear that this is testament to Dan Snyder’s failures as owner of a once proud and distinguished franchise.

The only person in the DC area that may appreciate this list would be Ted Leonsis. He is the owner of the Washington Capitals, and he recently purchased the lifeless Washington Wizards. It will speak volumes of Leonsis, if the Wizards become a respectable franchise in the near future.

Finally, the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals may deserve a flier on their rankings. The Orioles have been mediocre or worse for over a decade now, which is unacceptable, but at the same time, they play in the AL East with the Yankees and Red Sox in a league that is uncapped. The Orioles do not work within an even playing field – but at the same time, the Tampa Bay Rays have clawed their way to respectability. The Nationals, on the other hand, do not face as much of an uphill battle, but they are still a new franchise. With Stephen Strasburg emerging in the league, the Nats’ future looks much brighter.

In any regard, this list is invaluable as it quantifies just how miserable the DC sports teams are, and it should be a surprise for many people to see.

First let me say I love John Wall and think he will become a major star, so the Wizards did well there. But that was a no brainer pick that anyone on the planet could have made, so I’m not going to give them major credit for drafting John Wall. I also am a Kirk Hinrich and a Yi Jianlian fan so I give them some credit there. Yi and $3 million for Quinton Ross is a huge steal. Yi can play a little SF and even C, but will mainly be playing PF. His versatility alone makes him worth the extra $3 million against the cap. Not to mention he is a superior player and has larger upside. What I’m really grading them on here is the rest of their draft day strategy which I think was a resounding failure.

First off I was excited for the Kirk Hinrich trade that brought cash (reportedly $3 million) and the 17th overall pick to the Wizards for some future, conditional 2nd round draft pick. That is easily a steal. Hinrich has a bit of a costly deal, especially if he isn’t getting 30 minutes a night, but he can play both guard spots and isn’t a selfish player. Washington would need to bring in a veteran guard, preferably a combo guard given Arenas injury history, and considering that it was a weak point guard year in free agency the Wizards made the right move. Although Hinrich is pricey you got to figure they would have been paying $5-7 million for any free agent signing, and have to sign them to a 4-5 year deal. Hinrich is done after two years, so in the long run the Wizards saved money. He is a solid mentor for John Wall, and considering the amount of resources they put into the guard positions last year, Hinrich’s deal isn’t that bad. On top of that the Wizards get a bit of cash and the 17th overall pick which contrary to what many NBA insiders believe has a lot of value.

So while Chicago would be making the pick, the Wizards would have three picks between 17 and 35, which is perfect since there is still a good bit of talent available in that area. And if there was one thing the Wizards needed it was talent, particularly in the front court. At the start of the day the Wizards had 6 players on their roster of those two were guards Arenas and Nick Young, two were Small Forwards Al Thornton and Quinton Ross, and two were big men Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee. With the Chicago deal and knowing that you were grabbing Wall your back court was pretty much set. And Nick Young can possibly get some minutes as a SF (not ideal, but possible), so the big need for the Wizards was big men, particularly ones who could play center since McGee is your weakest link.

So when the 17th pick comes up it would make sense the Wizards would grab a big man, even if they have to reach a little bit. Well they didn’t disappoint, they grabbed a big man alright and reached quite a bit to do so. Washington selected Kevin Seraphin from France. While every draft pundit talks about his upside, they also talk about how raw he is. While time will tell when he will come over and play in the NBA, many insiders believe he is at least 1 if not 2 years away from playing with the Wizards. Now stashing foreign players can have a lot of value, but not when you only have 8 guys (and that includes Wall and Hinrich) on the roster, and zero front court depth. The Wizards shouldn’t have been so focused on Seraphin’s upside, as they should have roster need. If they wanted an ‘upside’ player they could have taken center Daniel Orton, at least he fills a bigger need, and could give them minutes this upcoming season.

Washington compounded their problem by trading their 30th and 35th picks for the 23rd and 56th to move up to draft PF Trevor Booker and grab center Hamady N’diaye with the 56th pick. While I am a big fan of Booker, because I love his work ethic and passion, I don’t know if anyone else was going to grab him before the 30th pick. And while it would have been a bigger reach I would have rather seen the Wizards take him at 17 overall than trade the 30th and 35th picks to move up for him. N’diaye is in all likely hood a D-league player, and truly might never develop into anything more. So there is absolutely no value from that pick. Had they grabbed Booker at 17, the Wizards could have then taken either Hassan Whiteside or Dexter Pittman (both centers) at 30, and either Darington Hobson, Devin Ebanks, or De’Sean Butler (SF’s) or Jarvis Varnado, Jerome Jordan, Gani Lawal, Keith Gallon, or Soloman Alabi (all big men) at 35. Any way you cut it that is a much better draft and roster going forward, sure Seraphin could end up being an All-Star caliber player, but so could any of the guys I just mentioned. And they can all play (and fill a need) this year for a team still without any depth at center.

What is also frustrating about the whole Trevor Booker draft trade is that the Wizards had an extra $3 million in their pocket from the Hinrich deal. $3 million is the max amount a team can trade in a single deal, and is the going rate for late 1st round picks. Given the fact that Minnesota had multiple picks they might have been interested in selling the pick outright, and if not we know for a fact that Dallas bought 25th pick for $3 million dollars. Does anyone really believe that Booker would be off the board by then? Washington should have just bought the 23rd or 25th pick for $3 million and maybe a future 2nd rounder. While I realize the Wizards aren’t made of infinite resources, trading the $3 million for a pick is well worth the price. Particularly when you have an empty roster, and major needs. A draft pick in the early 20′s is going to be guaranteed only roughly $2.5 million over two years, and then the team will have a couple option years and restricted free agency. That is a ton of value and well worth the extra $3 million dollars. That would have meant that for some conditional 2nd round pick (and sacrificing cap space) the Wizards would have gotten Hinrich, Seraphin (or a better player) and Booker. That would have been a huge steal. Instead now that money just offsets part of Hinrich’s deal (though it doesn’t change his cap number). And instead of having a good young player under team control (which makes him a highly tradeable asset), cheaply the Wizards will have to go out and sign a free agent. If they want anything more than a warm body (which given their team, they will need to find) they will have to be paying $3-4 million a year over 4 years to a player who might not be any better than what they would have acquired with their picks. Because remember if they had just bought Booker, they would still have the 30th and 35th picks, which combined wouldn’t eat up as much cap space as some middling free agent that the Wizards had to overpay.

What’s even worse for Washington is the fact that the 31st, 44th and 50th picks were all basically sold, and at each spot a center was taken. Washington could have bought their way out of their biggest need, and even if the Jerome Jordan’s or Solomon Alabi’s don’t work out at, they are at least worth trying. Because if they do become just even effective backups they are absolute steals for the middle of the 2nd round. I think the Wizards missed a huge opportunity to grab some young players to cheaply fill out their roster and needs, to help give them financial flexibility and trade value going forward. While I love getting Hinrich, Wall and Booker, the Wizards could have done so much more and didn’t maximize thier assets (especially since they got another $3 million in the Yi trade). Had they used that $6 million to add some more assets aka players (maybe even a Euro guy in the 2nd round) I would have loved their draft day and offseason. Instead for now that $6 million is just sitting in Washington’s bank account, and to make it even worse they will have to pay even more than that to fill out their roster. Washington did well to get extra value for their cap space in the Hinrich and Yi deals, but they could have done a lot better. Right now I give them a C-, which I think is pretty generous.

Winners:

Los Angeles Clippers:  The Clippers already benefit since last year’s top pick Blake Griffin is expected to make a full recovery from a knee injury, now Los Angeles just added 3 more solid players to the mix. With the 8th pick LA grabbed Al-Farouq Aminu, a very good small forward, who fits the Clippers biggest need. He is incredibly athletic, and a solid defender/rebounder. His offensive game still isn’t up to par, but the Clippers already have Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Chris Kamen to create offense. LA then traded a future first rounder for the rights to Eric Bledsoe, who while raw has all the skills to be a starting point guard in the league. Given Davis’s age/injury history, Bledsoe is a wonderful pick up for the Clippers. The Clippers also might have found a gem in the late second round by adding PG/SG Willie Warren. Warren a college teammate of Griffin, was one of the top rated players in the country this year, but fell due to an average season (in part because Griffin was no longer a threat inside). Warren can back up both guard positions and offers a good bit of youth and potential. On top of adding three very good young players with unlimited potential, the Clippers will still have a good chunk of change left under the salary cap. They might not be able to add a max guy, but they can still add a pretty big name.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings had what I think one of the best drafts. DeMarcus Cousins was to me no worse than the 3rd overall pick, and the Kings took him with the 5th pick. Cousins was the best big man in this draft and has the athletic ability to play either the 4 or the 5. He can dominate the paint, and really could become one of the best players in this league. While the maturity issues are a bit of a concern, he is going to a young, talented team that really could be making its way back to the top in the Western Conference. With their 2nd round pick the Kings took another 4-5 big man in Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside was talked as a potential lottery pick, but fell a little due to his age and raw talent. For a 2nd round pick, he is an absolute steal and given the Kings depth in the front court, he only has to be a solid contributor right away. The Kings are another team that has some money to burn in free agency and if they add the right piece or two, could be a new contender in the stacked Western Conference.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are higher on my winners list than on most people, but I really like what they did draft night. Milwaukee is an emerging team already this offseason, as they added Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Now they add four young players all with the skills to play in the NBA. No they didn’t add any superstar talents, but they already have a pretty good starting lineup. Larry Sanders helps bring size, athleticism, and shot blocking ability to their front court. Keith Gallon and Jerome Jordan are great depth players, and could develop into solid contributors. As for their non-4/5 pick wing Darington Hobson, I think the Bucks found a steal. Hobson has a good bit of upside and won’t have to be rushed on the Bucks roster. Within a few years, I would not be shocked to see him starting.

Losers:

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors took Ekpe Udoh a solid PF/C, who excels as a shot blocker and rebounder. The problem is he is way to similar to Brendan Wright, Anthony Randolph and just about everyone else on the Warriors roster. The Warriors just traded away Corey Maggette, so grabbing one of the top SF’s like Aminu, Hayward, even George might have made sense. Also, grabbing a more complete center with excellent ball skills like Greg Monroe would have been a better fit. The Warriors were without a 2nd round pick, after basically selling it away, so they couldn’t add any of the guys who slid in the draft. All-in-all this emerging young team, seems to have taken a step back this past week.

Cavs and Bobcats: Both of these teams were without draft picks, and are in serious need of reinforcements. The Cavs need to begin to prepare for life without LeBron James and not having a draft pick hurts them in this department. While I still think the Jamison deal was the right move because they kept Hickson and got Big Z back, not acquiring a pick yesterday hurt. Especially considering the Cavs could have just bought a pick like Dallas, or the Thunder did. While it might not have netted them a star, they could have found a solid role player at either 25 or 31 (two picks we know that were for sale, I bet others were as well). The Bobcats were even worse, because they don’t have really anything to show for giving up their first round pick (Alexis Ajinca ouch). The Bobcats desperately needed to add talent to this roster, but they are stuck in neutral.

Washington Wizards (not counting John Wall):  I’ll write a longer post about the Wizards draft, but I have to mention them here. Sure John Wall keeps them in the B to B- range, but they really couldn’t screw up that pick, one that they literally lucked into with the lottery system.  After that, I was throughly disappointed with the Wizards draft, this is a team pretty much starting from scratch and while I liked the trade for Hinrich and the 17th pick, I just expected them to actually use that pick on a need like say a big man. While the Wizards are pretty set at guard now, they have no depth at PF and have just JaVale McGee on the roster at center. So at 17 the Wizards take Kevin Seraphin, a player who does have some nice upside, but is probably 1-2 years away from even playing in the NBA (much less starting). Seraphin might have made sense if you already have 10+ guys on the roster and you want to stash a player, but for a team like the Wizards who are literally bare, it is a major head scratcher. Washington compounded their problem when they traded the 30th and 35th picks to the T-wolves for 23 (Trevor Booker PF) and 56 (Hamady N’diaye C) while it looks like they addressed their size issue, Booker is an undersized 4 and N’diaye is so raw he has D-League written all over him. What makes it worse is the players they could have grabbed at 30 and 35. Center Hassan Whiteside fell to 33, and the Marshall product would have looked good as the 30th overall pick. At 35 any one of Javis Varnado, Keith Gallon, Jerome Jordan, Gani Lawal, or Solomon Alabi would have filled a major need (and all should be at least quality back ups in the NBA), the Wizards could have also taken a SF which is another need like Hobson, or either of the WVU products (Butler or Ebanks). Now the Wizards have just Trevor Booker this upcoming season (and possibly forcing N’diaye in the rotation) instead of adding three additional players to help John Wall turn this team around.

1. Washington Wizards: PG John Wall- Wall while only a freshman, has the talent to be the next elite point guard in the NBA. His upside reminds me of either a Rajon Rondo or a Derrick Rose, and Washington will be happy if he turns into either one. As tempting as Cousins or Turner could be, Wall will be the pick here. He will allow Arenas to play off the ball more and fill two needs, and give Washington an impressive backcourt.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: G/F Evan Turner- You can make a strong case for DeMarcus Cousins here since the 76ers need some help with their front court, but I doubt they let Turner get by them. He is the safest player in this draft and they need to add some impact. While his game is similar to Andre Iguodala, Turner can handle the 3 fine and will give Philly another scorer.

3. New Jersey Nets: F/C DeMarcus Cousins- The Nets may have lost out on Wall and the Lottery, but could still end up with the best player in this draft. Cousins has immense talent, he just needs to learn how to harness it. He would form a dominate frontcourt with Brook Lopez, whose presence would allow him to mainly play the 4. Cousins could handle either position, but there aren’t many power forwards in the league that play with that combination of size, strength, and range. Cousins has some risk involved, but is well worth the pick for New Jersey.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves: SF Wesley Johnson- The T-wolves could add another big man, but they really need someone who can play center and I don’t see them reaching for Aldrich or Greg Monroe. Johnson gives Minnesota a very consistent wing player who should compliment their talent at 1 and 4 nicely.

5. Sacramento Kings: C/F Greg Monroe- I think you will hear a lot of talk of Favors here, but he is so raw of a player I don’t think it makes sense. Also the Kings need someone who can play some center and Favors I think would be overmatched. Monroe is a good fit here because he can rotate with Landry, Thompson and Hawes and would allow Cassipi to play full time at SF. This seems high for Monroe, but given his high basketball I.Q. and passing ability I think he is well worth a top 5 pick.

6. Golden State Warriors: PF Derrick Favors- I personally am not high on Favors, and think he is redundant on the Warriors since I question his ability to play inside, but he screams of a Golden State player. He is extremely athletic and has been hyped up all season. While he could one day be an elite NBA player, I think he is a few years off, and will really need to refine his game.

7. Detroit Pistons: C Cole Aldrich- Aldrich is a bit of a reach here since I think he is more of a late lottery talent, but fills a big need for the Pistons. Detroit has their share of shooting guards, small and power forwards, what they don’t have is a quality center. Aldrich should develop into a solid starter, and does have some offensive upside, but he is far from a top level 5.

8. Los Angeles Clippers: SF Al-Farouq Aminu- Aminu could easily go higher, but if he falls to the Clippers he will definitely be their pick. The Clippers biggest weakness is lack of a true SF, and while they could resign Travis Outlaw and will kick the tires on LeBron James and Rudy Gay, Aminu would be a great pick for them here. He is still a bit raw, but should still offer productive minutes as a rookie.

9. Utah Jazz: PF/C Ekpe Udoh- Udoh would be the perfect choice for the Jazz with this pick. He offers insurance in case Boozer leaves town, and also can give Utah some minutes at center allowing Milsap a breather. He is a defensive first big man, but has the offensive potential to become an all-star caliber of player.

10. Indiana Pacers: PG/SG Avery Bradley- Bradley doesn’t get as much hype as many of the other freshman, but in reality could end up being one of the top 3 players from this class. He isn’t a true point guard and lacks the range of a shooting guard, but he is a fantastic defender and still has a very good offensive game. The Pacers desperately need help in their back court, particularly at point guard, making Bradley a nice fit.

11. New Orleans Hornets: PF Ed Davis- Scouts have been salivating over Davis for two years now, and I don’t see the Hornets letting him slip any further. He is an athletic big man, who at times looks dominate. His major problems are his lack of consistency, especially on the offensive end and that he is coming off a major injury. That being said he fills a need for New Orleans, and can learn by coming off the bench, making this a good fit for both sides.

12. Memphis Grizzlies: PF/C Donatas Motiejunas- With 3 first round picks, and a young talents squad to begin with the Grizzlies can risk pulling the trigger on an international talent like Motiejunas. Even if he does stay in Europe another year, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for Memphis. Motiejunas has incredible upside and while his primary position is PF he can play some center as well, if he can add some bulk. If he does come over this year, he won’t be forced into a starting role allowing him to get a solid 15+ minutes to learn the NBA game.

13. Toronto Raptors: C/F Hassan Whiteside- Whiteside is a boom or bust player. He has incredible athleticism and talent, but doesn’t show it every game. He is still raw in a number of areas, but would be a nice fit in Toronto. He can fill in for Bosh who is almost guaranteed to leave, and by playing next to Bargnani he would have some help in the middle.

14. Houston Rockets: SG Xavier Henry- Henry is another of the one and done players, but is one that I really like. He doesn’t possess elite athleticism or defensive ability which will likely keep him out of the top 10 picks, but has plenty of upside. He is an excellent shooter and should be a sniper off the bench for the deep Rockets team. Houston needs a center, but there really isn’t one worth taking at this spot, making Henry their top choice.

Check back later for the rest of the 1st round!

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

1. Washington Wizards–John Wall

This looks like an obvious pick for the Wizards, but there lies a major issue with Gilbert Arenas on board. Arenas will have to be told upfront that he is no longer the center of the franchise, and he is obligated to play the position his coaches want him to play – and that position may be shooting guard. If Flip Saunders can somehow manage to get Wall and Arenas playing together harmoniously, the Wizards could have a bright future ahead.

2. Philadelphia 76ers–Evan Turner

Turner looks like the second best prospect in the draft. What remains to be seen is if Philadelphia feels the same way. Turner would bring size and versatility to the backcourt, but is he a franchise-changing player? He looks like a sure-fire prospect, but he does not have as high a ceiling as Wall or others.

3. New Jersey  Nets–Derrick Favors

Again, Favors is the best player available and he does not play center or point guard, which are positions occupied by Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. Wesley Johnson could also be a strong possibility in this slot.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves–Wesley Johnson

There is little chance the Timberwolves will select DeMarcus Cousins here considering that Al Jefferson and Kevin Love are already jockeying over the starting Center and Power Forward spots. Cousins would only complicate things as he would be yet another tweener-center/power forward added to the mix.

Johnson is a long and athletic small forward, and he also has a fairly polished game with a nice looking jumper. The Timberwolves are putting together a nice young nucleus with Jefferson, Love, Flynn, Johnson and Ricky Rubio’s rights.

5. Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins

This is a no-brainer. Cousins and Tyreke Evans will officially become the core of the Kings’ franchise for the next five-plus years. Cousins is an athletic and powerful center/power forward and he has great size and length. His stock is greatly hurt because of his off-court issues, which makes Cousins a bit of a steal at number five.

6. Golden State Warriors Greg Monroe

I think it would be typical of Golden State to take Monroe, as he is an excellent offensive player. Monroe has demonstrating a natural passing ability that is a rarity amongst big men. He also has great range on his jump shot for a center, and he is a good rebounder. He may also pan out to be a solid defender. It looks like a win-win for Golden State as they will be able to take a player that entices them with his versatility on offense while also potentially shoring up some of the defensive issues they have had.

7. Detroit Pistons– Al-Farouq Aminu

This is the perfect pick for a franchise that is headed in no particular direction. Aminu is a great overall athlete with an unpolished game. He has an improved inside game and he is great in transition. He is also a good rebounder and defender. He does not have a great offensive skill set, but as a small forward, he is very versatile. His versatility would be a great addition to the Pistons because there is no telling what kind of player they will require him to be a few years down the line.

8. LA Clippers            Patrick Patterson

Patterson is a fairly polished forward, and he could be a good fit along side a healthy Blake Griffin. Patterson has a nice inside-outside game, and he has a solid NBA frame to work with at 6-9, 240.

9. Utah            Jazz Hassan Whiteside

Utah needs to get bigger and more physical. Utah simply cannot hang with the stronger teams in the West, so it may be wise to find a future solution to potentially losing Carlos Boozer and having a softer center in Mehmet Okur.

10. Indiana Pacers–Xavier Henry

Henry would fill a need for the Pacers, which is backcourt scoring, but I don’t see Henry as an elite athlete. Henry has a great jump shot though, so he will at least have a chance to stay in the NBA for a while.

11. New Orleans Hornets–Cole Aldrich

New Orleans has a lot of finesse on their team outside of Emeka Okefor. Aldrich could be a nice change of pace off the bench.

12. Memphis Grizzlies–Ed Davis

Davis has fallen down the draft ladder a bit. Weeks ago he was slated as a top-five pick. Davis is a good athlete, but he isn’t strong enough to play with NBA big men. He can improve on this, but it is still a question mark.

13. Toronto Raptors–Donatas Motiejunas

Toronto loves foreign players. It looks like a fit.

14. Houston Rockets–Avery Bradley

Houston could use more scoring to go along with Aaron Brooks. Bradley is a great shooter and scorer and could be the answer.

Luck, at least the good kind, isn’t something you usually associate with the Washington Wizards. But that could all change after they won the top pick in last night’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Wizards moved up from the 5th pick in the draft to nab the top overall pick. This will be their first number one overall pick since 2001 when they selected Kwame Brown (oops). The Wizards will now get the pick of the litter as they try to rebuild from a disappointing year last season. One that saw their best player under house arrest, and the rest of the stars traded away for spare parts and salary relief.

The Wizards will look to put the 2009-2010 season in the past, by drafting a new superstar player. While there are a few choices for the Wizards to pick from, their selection has to be PG John Wall. A strong case could be made for either SG/SF Evan Turner or PF/C DeMarcus Cousins as they both have the star potential as well, but Wall has to be the selection. When it comes to the NBA, point guards and centers are the most important positions on the floor.

Sure plenty of stars like LeBron, Wade and Kobe thrive as 2′s and 3′s, but the ultimate success of a team will come down to their PG and C play. So while Evan Turner is a great player, and could be the next Wade (probably a bit too high of an expectation) you can’t take him unless you already are set at point guard. Now some might point to Gilbert Arenas (whose legal troubles appear to be over) as the team’s starting point guard, but Arenas is more than capable of playing the 2 guard role and leaving the point guard position to Wall.

As for Cousins, while I would rank him as the player with the most star potential and talent in this draft, he is also the furthest from reaching that level. Unlike point guards (or even SGs and SFs) power forwards and centers usually need some development time upon reaching the NBA. Usually these players just relied on being the biggest/strongest player on the court in college, and were able to dominate. They don’t have that advantage in the NBA and that is why it will take years sometimes for them to develop into a starting caliber player (if they develop at all). While there are definitely exceptions to the rule, they are few and far between. What makes things worse for Cousins is there are some serious character/mental toughness issues with him, which is also the same profile as many of the failed big men over the last 10 years. Cousins has immense talent, but would seem to check out of games at times for Kentucky. Also, he didn’t do a great job of controlling his frustration when he faced off against other physical big men. While I personally have loved Cousins this season and think he is a fantastic prospect, the unknown is too great to select him over a point guard like Wall.

John Wall is not without his flaws. As a freshman (like Cousins) he made his share of mistakes, but the athleticism and talent are definitely there. Wall is a very long point guard with a large wing-span that is reminiscent of Arenas or say Derrick Rose. Wall isn’t a completely refined player, and will need to work on his assist/turnover ratio. He will also need to be more aggressive rebounding in the NBA. Wall’s three point shot isn’t NBA perfected yet either, and will be a work in progress. So why is he the sure-fire top pick? Because Wall is so young and talented. He might not be a great passer yet, but he is already a very good one. He also uses his long arms and quickness to get steals and has the potential to be a lock down defender. Wall can create his own shot, but he is also good at creating space when he doesn’t have the ball.

Wall and Arenas have the potential to form one of the best back court duos the NBA has seen in a long time. If they can figure it out, they can pull the Wizards out of the rut they are in and finally make them a championship caliber team.

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

1. Washington Wizards

Coming into the season, the Washington Wizards had one of the highest payrolls in the NBA. They expected to compete for a top playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with their “big three” of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler (and Brendan Haywood didn’t hurt either) finally healthy. Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld even went as far as to trade the Wizards’ top-five draft pick for veteran, “win-now” talent to supplement the already talented roster. Grunfeld traded the Wizards’ coveted pick for Mike Miller and Randy Foye – two expiring contracts. In fairness, using Grunfeld’s logic, the Wizards felt that they could compete in the Eastern Conference, and their only weakness was at shooting guard.

Unfortunately, Grunfeld’s assessment of the roster he assembled was completely misguided. The team floundered at every point in the season. They could not solve their defensive deficiencies – which would be expected as Grunfeld’s roster contained maybe one player that was capable of being a good defender (Haywood). More importantly, many coaches and general managers across the NBA saw the flaws of the Wizards’ roster long before the season began, but Grunfeld and the rest of the Wizards organization continued to build around a team with very limited potential. It is important to note that Grunfeld has become a popular scapegoat over the last few months, but the organization as a whole is to blame. It is certainly not in his best interest to sell off second round draft picks. Why would Grunfeld care about the luxury tax? He’s certainly not the one that has to pay it.

In summary of the Wizards questionable decisions:

-Signing Arenas to a $111 Million dollar contract after having serious knee surgery (ignoring the fact that Arenas is not worth that money regardless of health)

-Ignoring for upwards of five seasons that the roster was incapable of playing defense

-Trading away a top-five NBA draft pick essentially for expiring contracts

-Selling multiple second round draft picks for cash

The Wizards have since blown up their roster. Jamison, Butler, Haywood and a few others have been shipped out for expiring contracts, draft picks and one prospect – Al Thornton. Even with the recent development of Andray Blatche, the Wizards have probably the worst roster in the NBA with little means of improving it other than lying in the NBA cellar for a few seasons until they can assemble a roster through top-five draft picks (that they don’t trade). Even with spending money this off season, they still won’t be able to lure a big-name free agent to such a poorly run organization that is undergoing a transition to new ownership.

2. Detroit Pistons

Joe Dumars has been vaunted for years as one of the top GMs in the NBA, and early in his tenure he had assembled one of the best rosters in basketball. In 2004, the Pistons won the NBA title, and it would seem difficult to argue against Dumars after he accomplished the ultimate goal.

But over the last few seasons, the decisions Dumars has made have been mystifying. Dumars famously drafted Darko Milicic in what was a can’t-miss 2003 draft (he passed over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Chris Kaman). In 2008, Chauncey Billups was traded for Allen Iverson – a deal meant to shake up a championship-contending team that had gone flat. It also gave Detroit financial flexibility with Iverson’s contract expiring. The Pistons immediately lost their competitiveness, whereas Billups’ new team, the Denver Nuggets, is still a championship contender today.

At some point over the last year, Dumars decided that point guard Rodney Stuckey was the franchise cornerstone, and that he was not to be moved under any circumstance. Stuckey has been maybe an above average NBA point guard. Consequently, Dumars felt that he needed to throw talent at Stuckey, so with the new cap space, the Pistons signed Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon to five-year contracts worth over $90 Million combined.

As expected, Dumars’ newly assembled roster has failed. He signed a streak shooter that requires volume in Gordon and a power forward that doesn’t play defense in Villanueva. They are 23-46 on the season, and their core players are all locked in for multiple seasons. Their best prospect is still Rodney Stuckey, and they seem destined for mediocrity for years to come.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have been average at best for years now. They have failed to develop their talent. Thaddeus Young, Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams have all gone from prospects with huge potential to above average players at best.

The signing of Elton Brand has been a disaster, and he is easily one of the top-five most overpaid players in the NBA. He has three more years on his contract, and the 76ers as a whole will have a higher payroll next season. The 76ers are 24-45 thus far, and an increased payroll for a bottom feeder has to be a red flag.

It seems that the 76ers will be stuck in limbo just as the Detroit Pistons are. They aren’t quite terrible enough to land top-five lottery picks every season, and they are locked in with their sub-par roster for multiple years. Also, both the 76ers organization and its players have lost confidence in their head coach, Eddie Jordan.

4. LA Clippers

Donald Sterling and Mike Dunleavy Sr. had garnered a reputation as one of the worst owner and general manager/coach tandems in the league. Dunleavy was recently fired, and the Clippers are starting anew. Unfortunately, Sterling, a notoriously cheap owner, is still in charge, which likely means the Clippers organization will make little progress.

Strangely, the Clippers have assembled a roster with potential. Chris Kaman has become one of the better centers in the NBA, and Eric Gordon is a promising young shooting guard who was one of the best rookies in the NBA a year ago. Blake Griffin, the number one overall pick last summer, will not play this year, but assuming he can stay healthy, he will likely become a premium talent. Baron Davis is underperforming, which is not surprising.

The Clippers will also be in the running to sign a big-name free agent this summer. They have the money, and they might have the tools to lure someone. The problem still remains, and that is that the Clippers organization has failed to execute such plans so many times in the past. Good ownership could make this current team into a future contender, but history tells us that it won’t happen.

The Clippers have a long, long history of mistakes and disappointments, and even when thing don’t look terrible, it seems that it’s only a matter of time.

5. Charlotte Bobcats

This team will likely make its first playoff appearance in franchise history this season, which would seem like a huge step in the right direction, but this team is old. It would be one thing if they were in a situation similar to that of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Charlotte Bobcats are relying primarily on players that have reached or are passing their prime. Tyrus Thomas and DJ Augustin are the only young players on the roster, and they do not look to be stars in this league.

Charlotte is also in the same category as Detroit and Philadelphia – they are stuck in long-term contracts that equate to mediocrity at best. Raymond Felton will likely be gone next year, as the Bobcats will not have the money to resign him, and it is becoming more and more clear that Charlotte’s desperate attempt to only sign players that fit Larry Brown’s system was a huge mistake.

Michael Jordan is now in charge of the organization, which is also somewhat disturbing. Jordan’s stint in Washington was a failure, and his draft record and free agent signings were disappointments to say the least. This franchise will easily not see a top-four playoff spot for at least four-five years.

Honorable Mention:

New York Knicks: Isiah Thomas ran them to the ground, but their roster is about to be gutted. Next year will be an entirely new team.

Golden State Warriors: Any franchise that blindly buys into Don Nelson’s no defense approach because of one playoff series (Dallas ’07) is obviously short-sighted.

New Jersey Nets: They’re 7-61. Not to be too results-oriented, but that’s what this business is all about – results.

The Washington Wizards acquire Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the rights to Emir Preldzic, and a 1st round draft pick from Cleveland. And acquire Al Thornton from the Clippers.

The Cleveland Cavailers acquire Antawn Jamison from the Wizards and Sebastian Telfair from the Clippers.

The Los Angeles Clippers acquire Drew Gooden from the Wizards.

Why this works for Washington:  Money, and lots of it. The Wizards not only save over two million dollars against the cap this season, putting them right around the luxury tax line, but will save over $10 million dollars against next years cap. This will allow the Wizards the flexibility to either be very active in free agency, or to take on a bad contract to get either a draft pick or a young player. While Ilgauskas is a quality center, he will never suit up for the Wizards. Washington will either trade him by today’s deadline or work out a buyout to get under the luxury tax line. The Wizards do get three “assets” in this deal, in Thornton, the rights to Preldzic and the first round pick. Thornton should step in as small forward, but probably isn’t the Wizards long term solution for the position. His game has gotten exposed this past season and a half, and that was on a team with some decent offensive weapons. Preldzic offers little long term upside, but could be an interesting role player when he comes over from Europe.

The first round pick was the key here for Washington, as the Wizards could find a solid, young, and inexpensive player. The problem is the pick will likely be between 28-30, severely limiting the talent pool. The real upside to this deal is with Jamison and Gooden off the roster, the Wizards can give playing time to Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, to finally see if they can be starters at this level.

Why this works for Cleveland:  The Cavs were in a bit of a tough spot but made the best of the situation. Last season they stood pat at the deadline and ended up not even making it to the finals. This year, in LeBron’s contract year, they couldn’t risk not making the effort. Jamison gives them a ‘stretch 4′ who fits in well with their other power forwards who work much better in the paint. Jamison should also fit in well with Cleveland, as he’s never been a selfish player, and should adapt well to being the Cavs 2nd or 3rd option. Despite his age, he’s still an excellent scorer and a quality rebounder. Jamison is weak defensively, but is versatile enough to play some SF if James is playing either the 1 or 2. Jamison makes the league’s best team, that much better and that much deeper and that should cause the rest of the NBA some problems.

The best part about this deal for the Cavs was their ability to complete it without giving up PF J.J. Hickson, whom the Wizards desperately wanted. Hickson is developing into a solid young low-post player, and should be a key piece down the stretch for Cleveland. While the Cavs did give up Ilgauskas in the deal, he could very well be returning to Cleveland in the near future. Unless the Wizards trade him this afternoon, he will work a buyout. And while he will have a number of suitors, I’d expect the Cavs to be at the top of the list. If they do end up with Ilgauskas back (which I’d say is pretty likely) then this is a HUGE win for Cleveland and gives them a stacked lineup heading into the postseason. The only downside for the Cavs is the financial commitment this season, and in the future with Jamison and Telfair. Not only does this deal up their luxury tax bill, but it is a big chunk of change for Jamison over the next two seasons that Cleveland is on the hook for.

Why this deal works for Los Angeles:  The Clippers have worked this trade deadline beautifully. First they send PF Marcus Camby to the Trail Blazers and get back a point guard (Steve Blake) and small forward (Travis Outlaw), both of whom like Camby are expiring contracts, plus cash. Then they send out Telfair (PG) and Thornton (SF) for Gooden (PF) who has an expiring contract. With these moves, the Clippers have cleared enough room on next year’s cap to pursue this summer’s top free agents. And what’s even better, was they did so with no net loss of current talent. They didn’t need to add a good young role player or draft pick to clear cap room, and in fact picked up some additional cash. Also Outlaw could be brought back if the Clippers can’t get a major player.

Winner:  All the teams benefited in this deal, with Cleveland being the primary winner (especially if they get Ilgauskas back). The Clippers are next, and the Wizards get penalized a bit for not getting a true ‘young’ talent back for their marquee player. This deal will be valued in Cleveland based on two things; one, winning this year’s NBA Championship, and two, keeping LeBron in Cleveland this summer. For the Clippers there is no real downside to this deal, since Thornton and Telfair weren’t important pieces, but they will be judged on if they can use their free agent money wisely (for once). The Clippers have a good core of players, that if they can sign a great player they could be the next Los Angeles team raising a championship banner. For Washington, the value in this deal will be based on what they can do with the money they’ve saved and the draft pick.