Chris Sheridan says Wiz will likely do Blake/Outlaw for Haywood at last minute

Evan (Portland, OR)

The Wizards are greedy. Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake should be more than enough to bring Haywood to Portland. On top of more cap relief, those two players fill needs for Washington. What gives?
Chris Sheridan (3:34 PM)

Washington wants Rudy Fernandez in a Haywood deal, and the Blazers haven't been willing to trade Rudy because owner Paul Allen thinks he'll be an All-Star one day. But if it gets to the 11th hour and all the Wiz can get is Blake/Outlaw, I think they'd probably do it.

Game 95.5 also reporting it. Do you do it? I say 1000% YES

 

And we'd gladly accept!!

 

It also sounds like the Heat and Charlotte might be trying to put something together for Haywood; if they up the ante enough to best a Blake+Outlaw package then you can bet your bottom dollar Haywood will be going somewhere else.

 

Travis (Portland)

Do the Blazers make a move before the dealine?
Chad Ford (1:33 PM)

Not a big one. I think they'll see what a package of Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw gets them. But it sounds like they aren't moving Batum, Fernandez or Bayless.


After watching the Blazers play against the Lakers, it seems like they definitely need a center ASAP. Do you have any updates on Blazers and their search for a Center?
John Hollinger (2:12 PM)

They're working on it. The problem is that everybody wants them to give up Fernandez, Bayless or Batum, and that's not happening. Blazers will only make a deal if it involves some combo of Blake, Outlaw and spare parts/picks.

 

Isn't Haywood an expiring contract too. What does the Wiz (who aren't making the playoffs)get out of a trade of Outlaw and Blake for Haywood?

 

What is the point of trading for Haywood if he is expiring? Then next year if we resign him we have 3 centers? Seems pretty short sighted and stupid, but maybe I'm missing the bigger picture. We may not even make the playoffs this year, why do this?

 

blake has an option lol?

thats a good question unless we are giving a pick back?

 

getting haywood ensures we get in

 

3 million dollars.....

 

EXACTLY.

(Except... If Portland threw in $3M, then I think Washington would be interested.)

HOWEVER, I don't think Outlaw gets traded. I wouldn't trade him for Haywood, who is overrated and who got into a fight with his own teammate. Trading the most popular player on the team for a player who doesn't get on with teammates would be more of a Whitsitt move.

Aren't people a little bit concerned that Haywood has for years been labeled as a chronic softie underachiever? Don't people remember the (predictably misogynistic and sophomoric, but you get the implication) label of "Brenda" that he has had since UNC? Or are we just happy to have ANY half-decent 7-footer on rental till the offseason?

 

Hope it's true, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

If we're trading with the Wizards for a seven-footer, quite frankly I'd rather have Oberto.

 

Oberto is 6'9"

BTW

 

Actually it was Etan Thomas who kept getting in fights, he just happened to get into them with Haywood. You will note, Thomas was traded, not Haywood.

 

Remember Travis is Brandon's best bud.

 

I am sure glad you posted that, just in case somebody had forgotten how bad of a GM you would be.

 

I'm not sure about that. Haywood has averaged double figures in points ONCE in his carreer, and rebounds ZERO. Before this year, the most boards he ever grabbed were 7.4 We're not talking about a rebounding machine here. His career average for defensive rebounds a game is 3.5. Is he better than anything we have? Yeah. But he's not going to be this great rebounding/shot block pressence some may be thinking. He's not Greg, he's not even Joel.

I'd give Blake/Outlaw for his services for a few months. But I'm not expecting him to average 10 boards/2 blocks here. I think he'd end up splitting minutes with Juwan. Juwan definately gives you more offensive flexibility - you have to respect his shooting range and that draws oposing bigs out of the paint. Of course Haywood would start and play more minutes, but I don't think he'd play 33 minutes/game like he currently is in Washington. Not to mention there will be nights when we go small with LA at the 5 based on matchups.

 

You don't have to be. He is only on the books until the end of the year. If it works out, great. If it doesn't, it's not much different situation then we are in now. It is basically the same as now, minus Blake and Outlaw who can't even suit up anyhow.

 

I think Haywood's contract value is 6 mil and Blake and Outlaw is 7.6. They actually gain 1.6 in cap relief by doing it. Whether or not that is enough for them to close the deal, I don't know. But that plus 3 mil in cash could persuade them.