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The DOPPLER EFFECT Responds:

The Washington Wizards dealt tomorrow night's #1 draft pick (fifth selection overall) and some players to Minnesota for guards Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Going to Minnesota (along with the draft pick) and leaving the Nation's Capitol are veteran back up forwards and marginal big men; Etan Thomas, Darius Songalia and Oleksiv Pecherov.

When I first heard about this trade, I was not happy. As a DC area resident and Wizards fan, I was hoping for a WOW! type move, trade for a big name player (Amare Stoudemire, Vince Carter and LaMarcus Aldridge were recently rumored as possibly coming to DC via trade) or draft the best available college or international player. NBA pundits say this is the weakest draft in a while but it seems to me there will be some very promising and talented players available at the five spot, players like Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, James Harden, Johnny Flynn and Stephen Curry (possibly even Ricky Rubio as it is rumored he could slide a few spots due to signability issues). I love watching the NBA draft and absolutely hate when the Wizards do not participate in the first round. Ruins the excitement and anticipation of the whole thing!

 But, after analyzing the deal and really seeing it for what it is, I have drastically changed my opinion on the whole thing. Especially, seeing that the players coming to DC were starters in Minnesota and fill positions of need in DC, makes me feel a little better about this transaction and Wizards management overall. Combo guard, Randy Foye averaged 16.3 ppg in the NBA last year. I'm willing to bet that no one that the Wizards could have taken at the five spot could put up similar numbers in 2009-2010 as a rookie. It could happen but historically and realistically it is highly unlikely. The Wizards need to position themselves for a deep playoff run now because Gilbert Arenas, Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler are in their prime. Unless you can draft a bona fide starter and contributor like Blake Griffin or Ricky Rubio, than bringing in an upside NBA player like Foye, who is in his mid twenties, a veteran of the league and a decent scorer on a bad club is the best move to make.

Foye is being made the focal point of the trade but lets not forget 29 year old, 10 year veteran, Mike Miller. He is the former 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year and the winner of the NBA's 2005-2006 Sixth Man Award. He is an established, gifted and solid NBA veteran who always seems to fly under the radar in regards to talent. Until his forgetful one year season with Minnesota he was always averaging in the ballpark of 17 ppg 6 rpg 5 apg. and is considered one of the more accurate shooters in the NBA and can consistently hit the three. Miller is also an underappreciated rebounder, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game over the past two seasons, a number that had him leading all shooting guards and finishing third among small forwards last season. Washington got rid of three of their rosters most non impact players, at least statistically. In return they received two players who would be high contributors on almost any team in the NBA. For now, this has to be called a very good transaction for the Wizards. Only the future will reveal the true careers of the potential young players the Wizards could have had and knowingly bypassed by dealing away their fifth overall draft pick.

Whether or not this draft is as weak as it is being speculated remains to be seen, I personally do not think it is, but the bottom-line is this, none of the players that would have been available at that pick are going to have better numbers or contribute as much next season as Mike Miller and Randy Foye.

This trade is not the "BIG SPLASH" (to coin a phrase another local pro sports franchise that plays at FedEx field normally uses every offseason) that Wiz fans were hoping to happen, but it is arguably the safest move to help the team reach the playoffs this year. If anything, the Wizards definitely upgraded their long range game; they now have a career 37% three-point shooter in Foye and a career 40% three-point shooter in Miller. Foye should be able to step in with the first team and contribute right away; he can score, pass very well, speed up the pace of play and get in the lane. The Wizards have not had a decent scoring back court since Arenas and Larry Hughes so Foye and/or Miller could fill a much needed void. They will also now have better than average bench scoring with offensive minded, Mike Miller always ready and able to put some points on the board. Miller is also very capable of stepping on the court as a small forward if needed so that is a big positive in regards to roster depth.

 Another benefit of this trade (and I am sure it was driving force behind it's consummation) is that it will give the Wizards a little breathing room for the much anticipated 2010 "Summer of Lebron" free agent frenzy. They were able to get rid of Thomas and Songalia's loaded and burdensome contracts as well as clear a little more space with Pecherov's . They did have to absorb Mike Miller's $9.8M contract. However, it is an expiring contract and I am sure Miller is only with the Wizards this one season. He will then be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent which will take his contract off the books and free up even more salary space (his current contract status might also be very attractive for contending teams at the trade deadline this season. If the Wizards playoff hopes are dashed early expect them to deal Miller for a future draft pick or young affordable players).

If the Wizards stay healthy this coming season, no one is going to want to see them in the playoffs.  I  know this does not makes them a viable contender yet, but with a running line of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Randy Foye and Mike Miller as the sparkplug off the bench the Wizards would have a ton of offensive options that would be difficult for teams to handle. The reliable Brendan Haywood will clog up the middle and hopefully provide a defensive presence. The Wizards also have a plentiful supply of promising youngsters who could be set to have decent, if not break out seasons-Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, Javaris Crittenton and Dominic McGuire.  Promising young Russian center/power forward, Vladimir Veremeenko, who was selected by the Wizards in the 2006 NBA draft but has remained in Europe to play professionally, could also be joining the Wizards young core of players this summer. They seem to be putting together a nice balance of veterans and young talent. Also, do not be surprised to see Etan Thomas return to Washington in a few weeks. Thomas has an opt-out clause in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent on July 1 and he is expected to execute that clause (it is already rumored that he is lined up to rejoin the Wizards albeit at a restructured salary).

Now they just need to try and get rid of Mike James's bloated contract, sign an affordable veteran free agent big man or two for a bench role (Like Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Sean May or Chris "Birdman" Anderson), resign unrestricted free agent, Juan Dixon (I just like his leadership and energy on the floor, plus he is a local guy and fan favorite. Go Terps!), pick up the best available player with their high 2^nd round pick tomorrow night (remember Arenas was a second rounder-you never know), learn to play a little "D", stay healthy, focused, buy into new head coach Flip Saunders' methodologies and this upcoming season will make Wizards fans definitely forget about the last one!

Regards-