Wizards/NBA

Post staff writers Ivan Carter and Michael Lee were online Wednesday, May 7 at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the Washington Wizards and the NBA.

The transcript follows.

Wizards Coverage

Discussion Archive

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Ivan Carter: Lots of questions on this super-nice day in the district. Let's get to it.

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Hagerstown, Md.: Do you think that there is any chance that Ernie could convince Gilbert not to opt out? If so, and Antawn signs for about $6 million less than he made this year, the Wiz would have money to resign Roger Mason Jr. and bring somebody else in.

Ivan Carter: Gilbert has been very consistent in saying that he will opt out by July 1, but it's worth keeping in mind that he doesn't have to and he does have the option of seeing what's out there before making a decision. The thing complicating all of this is the fact that Agent Zero doesn't have an agent. He's going this alone, so there is no telling what he's thinking on a daily basis. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out but, I do see a way for Ernie to get Gilbert signed, get Antawn signed and still have money left over to add a player. However, I see Roger Mason Jr. ending up elsewhere given the fact that Arenas will be back and Nick Young should be better for a larger role. It would be nice if Ernie could find a veteran front-court player. Think about how Joe Smith has helped Cleveland.

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Arlington, Va.: Do you see a scenario where Gilbert ends up signing with Cleveland (as he and LeBron are "good buddies")? Hopefully this won't be another Larry Hughes situation.

Michael Lee: No need for an intro. Let's go...

No way Gilbert signs with Cleveland. I could go all day listing why that won't happen, but the first would be that the Cavaliers have the third-highest payroll in the NBA, with almost all of their money tied up in Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak.

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Washington: Pecherov seemed to have the roughest season of all the rookies; do you think it was the injury, or a little bit of nerves?

Ivan Carter: The injury he suffered right before the season really stunted him. He missed several weeks of valuable practice time, and there is no way for a rookie -- especially one as young and raw as Pesh -- to make that up. He told me that the ankle really only started feeling better in the past few weeks.

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College Park, Md.: Do you think Ernie considers moving the Wizards' first-round pick this year? they already have four young guys coming off the bench -- I'm not sure they need another. What do you think?

Ivan Carter: That is an option. As you point out, the team already has four young players (Young, McGuire, Pecherov and Blatche) so if Ernie determines that there is nothing there that can help right away, he could package it in a deal for veteran help and/or future picks. One thing on the draft: The season just finished, so I know very little about this class right now. Have to get caught up on my research quickly. It never ends.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Hey guys, I love your work! My question is, do you think other teams can or would offer Arenas max money? I just don't think you can give him a max contract without fearing of getting a Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway situation. The way I look at, he has been paid a salary for two straight years without having to work! Why don't players ever consider that fact?

Michael Lee: When it comes to contracts and negotiations, players/agents never ask "how much am I worth?" It is always "how much is somebody willing to pay me?" If a player/agent believes he can get a maximum salary and he finds a willing participant, it is going to happen. That's why you've seen so many players who aren't max players getting max dollars the past eight or nine years. Teams are afraid to lose their stars because some other team is willing to buy them, so they blow all of their money on the star. It happens time and time again.

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Rockville, Md.: Ivan/Michael, I'm confused. Why would Arenas opt out of the last year of his contract? You would think he would have little-to-no leverage at this point, given that he has had a bum knee for two straight seasons and no other team can afford to pay him the max this offseason. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to play out his contract, show that he's healthy next season, and then get his max deal? I must be missing something...

Ivan Carter: Exactly. The issue may be that Gilbert wants the security that comes with a long-term deal right now -- and that makes sense given that he's coming off of the first serious injuries of his life.

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New Orleans: How would you advise Popovich in defending Chris Paul?

Ivan Carter: Get a pack of guard dogs, a fence, a few security guards with Tasers and then pray. You can't keep that dude out of the paint. From watching the first two games, it's obvious that the Spurs have some major matchup issues. Bowen can't stay in front of Paul and he can't defend both West and Peja. We'll see how it plays out in San Antonio, but the Hornets look good.

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San Francisco: Are there any trade or free agent possibilities for a hard-nosed forward like Kurt Thomas or Al Horford? We need rebounding and inside toughness.

Ivan Carter: A guy like Kurt Thomas is exactly what this team needed this season and I agree with you, Ernie has to address that this summer. Horford is going to be a beast in this league for a long, long time. I love the way he plays.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: When he returned, Gilbert's lackluster defensive efforts were even more glaring when compared to the increased focus the rest of the team displayed in playing defense. Has there been any indication or signs from Gilbert that he will commit to learning defense next season?

Ivan Carter: Not that I've seen. Then again, we didn't get to really see how he would have been this season because of the injury. The team clearly bought into a more defensive-minded philosophy. As Eddie Jordan has said: "Teams take on the personality of their best players." If Gilbert makes a commitment, the team will only get better.

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Wichita, Kan.: Are the Spurs done? Will the Lakers sweep?

Michael Lee: No and no. The Spurs aren't done until they are beaten four times. It doesn't matter if they are down 0-2 or 1-3, I wouldn't count them out until the clock reads zero and their opponent has won their fourth straight game. They are too talented and too well coached to go down like chumps. That being said, if they can't find an answer for Chris Paul -- and soon -- they will be gone till November, if you know what I mean.

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Dale City, Va.: Hey guys, don't you think the Wizards need to change something? Three years of first-round exits to the same team is a disgrace. Someone needs to be held accountable. In NBA cities that matter, a coach or general manager would have been fired by now. The problem is that being mediocre is acceptable for Wizards basketball in this area.

Ivan Carter: If I were Ernie Grunfeld and Abe Pollin, I'd be taking a long, serious look at my medical staff and figure out whether the injury thing is just bad luck or something else. There have been too many cases where a player was originally diagnosed as having one thing only to find out later that is was more serious. Jarvis Hayes and his knee. Pecherov and his ankle. Butler with his hip. Gilbert with his knee. etc. etc. etc. I'll ask Ernie about that tomorrow when he holds his postseason presser.

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Falls Church, Va.: Besides Gilbert, who will be the big free agents? Monta Ellis?

Michael Lee: The big unrestricted free agent will be Antawn Jamison. Then there is a list of players with options to become free agents, like Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis (although it is unlikely that any player other than Maggette actually leaves). But the list of restricted free agents includes Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor. This is a pretty solid free agent class.

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Washington: Hey guys -- am I one of the only Lakers fans who really is worried about Utah? For a while now the defense has been adequate at best, but in Game One you could see that Gasol was going to get pushed around all series, and he gets tentative when he gets pushed off the block. We can't rely on boozer to get in foul trouble the whole series.

Michael Lee: I think your concerns are justified. Utah is good. I know a lot of people who see them coming out of the West because they are so solid defensively and efficient offensively. They are a terrible road team, so I wouldn't put much into their performance in Game 1. The Jazz shouldn't be overlooked. You have a right to be nervous.

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Alexandria, Va.: I met the Cavs after the last Wiz game while the team was heading to the bus. Of course everyone was there to see LeBron and get an autograph. All the other players were really cool and signed autographs and took pictures and talk to the crowd waiting for them. Of course, LeBron comes out last and walks by the crowd like we didn't exist. One lady yelled "that's messed up, LeBron." LeBron said "y'all don't like me anyways" and continued to walk away. Even though Cavs won the series, seems like LeBron James really took it to heart with all the booing at the game and people calling him crybaby.

Ivan Carter: I could be wrong because I don't truly know him, but LeBron has always come off to me as a super arrogant guy. I guess that's what happens when the world kisses you're rear end from the time you are a kid. Great player though.

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Washington: What's the point of keeping this team together when the reason why they lost was because they had no low-post threat, no defense in the front court, and were out-jumped and out-hustled and out-shot by the opponent? This team needs new blood, not year-to-year promises and hopes for health and prosperity.

Ivan Carter: A lot of folks share your frustration. It's like a broken record.

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Falls Church, Va.: Question about the Olympics ... in crunch time, who are your starting five? I got Chris Paul, Kobe, King James, Melo, and Dwight "Superman" Howard.

Michael Lee: I might have to go with Paul, too. Jason Kidd was the starter last summer and he played great, but Paul ate him alive in the playoffs and is playing on another galaxy right now. I'm with you on that five because Carmelo Anthony proved that he can play the four last summer. I don't see that unit losing -- unless they are out-coached or unprepared. That's too much talent and too many players willing to sacrifice for the greater good. That's a dangerous mix for the rest of the world.

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Bethesda, Md.: Did you catch LeBron last night? Sam Cassell touched him on the shoulder and LeBron acted like he got punched in the face, and Cassell ended up get a flagrant.

Ivan Carter: I fell over laughing when I saw that. I watched the game at Solly's Pub on U Street and when that happened, a bunch of folks started hissing and booing. The guy next to me said it best: "What a drama queen." But hey, it got Sam I Am a flagrant, so it worked. The refs have to stop rewarding that kind of behavior.

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Washington: Does the "no leaving the bench during an altercation" rule only apply to players? When Songaila and James got into it in Game 5, Eddie Jordan and was all over the court trying to keep his guys away and arguing with the refs. Why is it different for coaches to step in and hold back players than it is for a player to go on the court and do the same thing?

Michael Lee: Chances are coaches won't throw blows! The coach is within his rights to run on the floor, while his assistants are advised to keep the players on the bench. The situation has a greater chance of diffusing with a coach on the floor and a greater chance of escalating if players run wild.

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Tampa, Fla.: Great job of coverage this season. What's the preliminary outlook for Etan Thomas playing next season? Although he's an undersized "big," the Wiz could have used his fouls and rebounding against Cleveland.

Ivan Carter: As long as his sternum heals up, Etan should be good to go. Ronny Turiaf of the Lakers came back from the same thing and plays a very physical style.

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Richmond, Va.: First, what about the Wizards drafting D.J. Augustin to feel a crying need at point guard? Second, what kind of deals might be out there for an Arenas sign-and-trade? Third, did you see the ridiculous fakery by Little Lord James last night and how he got that flagrant call? Now the Celtics fans know how we feel!

Ivan Carter: I like Augustin a lot. Will he be around that late?

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New Orleans: Who do you think the Wizards will be looking looking to draft? What position? Who would you draft with a midrange/middle pick?

Ivan Carter: As I said earlier, I have to do some research before trying to answer that question. You'd be amazed how little college ball you see as an NBA beat writer. You're either at a game, traveling to a city for a game or watching an NBA game. I'll get a good feel during the pre-draft camp and individual workouts.

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Hyattsville, Md.: Isn't it time to send Gilbert Arenas packing for a true point guard and a center?

Michael Lee: If it's really time for Arenas to go, why would another team give up a point guard and a center for him? The problem for the Wizards is that they have never had the opportunity to see what this team will look like in the playoffs. It's a crying shame, really. You can't say that Gilbert isn't good enough to build around because he's been dealing with the same injury for the past two seasons. He's been hurt, so you really don't know what you have with an improving Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. What the Wizards really need is size, depth and veteran experience. They don't need to get any younger.

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Washington: Why has Arenas been given so much leeway on this team? Why does team management and the coaches seem to put up with his disrespect for authority (i.e. not telling the coach first he was coming back to play and then not telling Eddie Jordan first he was shutting it down for the season)? The coach and medical staff should have the final say on when Arenas plays, not him or his blog. Arenas is a great player, but he needs to mature, grow up and start respecting authority.

Ivan Carter: I agree with you on that. I like Gilbert a lot as a person and don't think that he's vindictive, but he did disrespect his coach twice this season. And the antics he pulled on the night of his return made him look bad. Again, I don't think he intends to do that but he has to be more careful about how some of his actions are perceived.

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Falls Church, Va.: Do you see the 2006 draft pick, Veremeenko, coming over anytime soon?

Ivan Carter: Good question. I'll ask Ernie about that tomorrow as well. Last I heard, he suffered some kind of shoulder injury that impacted his season overseas. Again, I'll get you an update and put in the paper and/or blog tomorrow.

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Falls Church, Va.: Ivan, do you get to travel to any of the other playoff games since the Wiz are out? Or is Michael Lee taking all the per diem money?

Ivan Carter: It's a Michael Lee production baby! If I don't see an airport or hotel within the next month, I'll be thrilled.

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Washington: Hi. Being older than most and having seen a lot of teams, it seems as though most really successful teams have a strong point guard who demands the ball but not the shots. Most who had point guards who demanded the ball and shots did not get to the championship games. How will the Wizards, with Gilbert at point, reconcile this (or will they)?

Michael Lee: I know everybody likes to make that argument about having a "pure" point guard, but can anybody tell me how many assists Tony Parker gets for the Spurs? How many rings does he have? Parker is not your typical pass-first point guard, but the Spurs aren't suffering because he shoots a lot, are they? How many rings have Jason Kidd or Steve Nash won? When I look at the past, I don't know, 10-15 NBA champions haven't had a the prototypical point guard running the show. Did Jason Williams demand the ball for the Miami Heat? Chauncey Billups took a fare amount of shots for the Pistons, but they excelled as a team sharing the ball. I just think you can win with a number of formulas. The most important position the past nine years, though, has been center, because Shaq and Tim have won eight rings.

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Falls Church, Va.: What did you guys think of the Verizon Center crowd for the three playoff games? I thought the crowd was probably the best I've heard since the 2005 playoffs against the Bulls.

Michael Lee: I thought the crowd was great in Game 3, pretty dull in Game 4 and only great for one quarter in Game 5. Compared to Cleveland, it doesn't even come close. D.C. fans were pretty cool but by no means as rowdy as the folks by Lake Erie.

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Colmar Manor, Md.: How long will LeBron James remain Kevin Garnett's punk?

Michael Lee: When did that happen, again? I must've missed that.

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Washington: Why wouldn't Baron Davis leave if Nellie dissed and benched him during the final game of the season?

Michael Lee: I can think of 17.1 million reasons why he'll stay put.

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Washington: Why are people so high on Kurt Thomas? He's won nothing, and has been traded time and time again. He was traded to the Sonics, and was supposed to mentor their two young forwards, but was traded. He was in New York, and won nothing. He was with the Suns, and won nothing. Now he's with the Spurs, and they are 0-2 this round.

Michael Lee: I don't know anybody who looks at Kurt Thomas as a franchise changer. He's a role player. He's wanted because he rebounds and defends. I don't know what you want him to do. It's not his fault that the Spurs are down 0-2. And I bet you he won't have trouble finding a job if he wants of next summer. I don't know a team in the league that doesn't want a rugged rebounder and defender who can get the occasional baseline jump shot.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Mike D'Antoni needs not to take (or even consider taking) the Knicks job. Those players will walk all over him. Who actually would make the better head coach for the whole organization, Mark Jackson or Avery Johnson?

Michael Lee: I think Mark Jackson makes sense because I believe he's familiar with New York and the Knicks and wouldn't have to make a difficult adjustment to Donnie Walsh. Avery Johnson would be a terrible fit for New York. I was really surprised that Charlotte was in a such a rush to hire Larry Brown because I thought Avery would've been a better fit with the Bobcats. D'Antoni would be great for Chicago.

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Falls Church, Va.: Whom did you guys vote for in the MVP race?

Michael Lee: We don't have votes at The Post, but I would've voted for Kobe because it seems like every year voters kept coming up with new criteria for him to meet so that they wouldn't give him the award. Now he has done what has been asked of him and his team had the best record in the West, so he deserved it. Since Ivan is from Minnesota, he will always pledge allegiance to Kevin Garnett.

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Washington: Guys, any reaction to Wilbon calling your blog overrated?

Michael Lee: He did? Let me call up Jay-Z...

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A Disgrace?: When I read comments about the "disgrace" of three straight first round exits, and the need to hold someone "accountable," I have to ask whether the writer has any sense of history, either of the Wizards or the league for that matter? How long did it take Jordan to get the first of his championships? How many decades did it take the Lakers to beat Boston in a championship series? Everyone needs to take a deep breath and enjoy watching this team being built.

Michael Lee: I'm with you. A disgrace is what happened in New York this season. A disgrace is what the Wizards were the seven years before they made the playoffs four years in a row. A disgrace is what the Atlanta Hawks were for nine seasons before this one. Or the Golden State Warriors were for 13 seasons before last year.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Can we trade for the Phoenix Suns' medical staff? How did Shaq get healthy so quickly, and why does Steve Nash look like he's 28? I completely agree, something has to give!

Michael Lee: Phoenix and Detroit are well-known for having top-notch medical staffs. They focus on treating the causes of injuries as opposed to focusing on the injury itself. They look at see which core ligaments are out of whack and work on that. In Shaq's case, they discovered that he had some problems with his buttocks that contributed to his bad hip. Look at Jarvis Hayes. He had a bad kneecap for two seasons, went to Detroit and played an entire season injury free. A lot of organizations should follow their leads.

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New York: What is your honest assessment of the quality of the playoff officiating so far? I'm supposed to believe that game clocks "randomly" malfunction only when the home team has the ball for the last-second shot?

Michael Lee: It's so inconsistent. They are missing so many calls this postseason, it is ridiculous. That clock malfunction was terrible. I don't think an apology will make Orlando feel any better. That being sad, the NBA officials are the best in basketball and this is one of the toughest sports on the planet to call. They have some room for improvement, though.

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Arlington, Va.: Despite the loss last night, it looks to me like LeBron and Co. will be making it to the Eastern Conference finals this year (and probably for as long as LeBron as around). Do you see anyone in the East really stopping him in the long term, or are the Wiz to become the Jazz of the Michael Jordan Bulls dynasty?

Michael Lee: I think Boston can beat Cleveland this round. This Cleveland team is not very good, and it is not better than the one that went to the Finals last season. I still believe that. The Wizards can't beat Cleveland without all of their weapons. They went into battle with two hands tied behind their back last season and one hand tied behind their back this season. Boston is at full strength. They have three all-stars - although only one showed up Tuesday. Fortunately for the Celtics, LeBron James was absent too.

I think Cleveland needs to get another legit All-Star to team with LeBron before they become a truly elite team. LeBron is awesome, but he needs consistent help. Even Michael needed Pippen -- a legit All-Star/All-NBA player.

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Falls Church, Va.: Will Avery Johnson be able to motivate Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph in New York?

Michael Lee: I don't see anybody being able to motivate Eddy Curry. He has to do it himself. I know Avery turned DeSagana Diop into a serviceable big man, but Diop wanted to get better. I haven't seen enough out of Eddy to make me believe that he wants it. As for Zach; he wouldn't listen to Nate McMillan. I'm not sure how Avery could get through to him. That's why I think a smooth communicator like Mark Jackson is the best fit for the Knicks.

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Washington: Mike, to follow up on your "pure point guard" argument, none of the guys that you mentioned, such as Tony Parker or Jason Williams disrupted the flow of their team. With Arenas, when he's on the court, all the players react based on what he does. Arenas just commands the ball much more than anyone you mentioned, and he's good like Michael Jordan where it works for the team.

Michael Lee: I wouldn't classify Arenas as a ball-stopper. I think his teammates defer to him because they what he is capable of doing. I think this past season showed him that he doesn't have to be the hero in order for the Wizards to win. That comes with maturity and growth in the game. This injury has probably humbled Arenas a lot more than he'll ever let on.

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Reston, Va.: What do you think about using one of the two picks to select Dorsey of Memphis? He seems to be the type of physical presence and interior player that the Wizards need for their defense. I like the fact that he works to get his shots off the offensive glass rather than relying on being set up.

Michael Lee: I think the Wizards should use the pick to get some veteran help. They really don't need to develop any more players -- unless they get some can't-miss prospect. Even still, for the Wizards to be a legit contender, they need more size, depth and experience. Young guys can carry you in the regular season, and even the first round -- but you need some vets to get it done in May.

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Michael Lee: Alright, everybody. It's been fun. I've got to run. Talk to you soon. Peace.

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