The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[mboyd784]

Until recently, the Beal/Ray Allen comparisons weren't really passing the eye test for me. But I see it now, the kid has a sick game and plays much older than 19.

Also, Javale 4 pts, 4 fouls, 2 TOs in 12 minutes last night. No love lost, big fella.

[Burgold]

What a difference a player can make?

This might seem silly, but I wonder if the success of the other first rounders or DC rookie phenoms lit a fire under Wall because he has been good before, but the winning even with him as been pretty scarce.

[Fight4RGIII]

Damn I wish Wall was ready at the beginning of the season. It sucks that we have to wait until next year to compete for the playoffs but it's another chance to add a nice piece in the lottery this year. I'm exciting to watch this TEAM develop, because fellas, we got a real team now.

[Popeman38]

Hey, we are only 11 games out of the 8th spot!

[stevemcqueen1]

What a difference a player can make?

This might seem silly, but I wonder if the success of the other first rounders or DC rookie phenoms lit a fire under Wall because he has been good before, but the winning even with him as been pretty scarce.

Wall came out immediately successful. Really unprecedentedly successful. He was setting a Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson pace as far as scoring and assisting goes. Only player since the Oscar to get 9 assists in his first three games. His rookie season was probably topped only by CP3 as far as recent PGs. He was a steal away from his first triple double in his home debut, probably one of the greatest performances by a rookie PG ever. Didn't matter, by his sixth game he got his first triple double. The only other player who got a triple double with 6 steals on top of it in his first 6 games was Magic. He was an absolute phenom. The only reason he wasn't the ROTY was a quirk in the ROTY rules that let Blake Griffin be classified as a rookie even though he was drafted the year before and had spent an entire year being a pro already.

But people fell asleep on Wall (myself included) because the team was struggling so badly. I don't think people appreciated just how bad the team was around him. During those first two seasons, John didn't play with a single other player who is currently starting for another team. He only played 9 games with Nene at the end of last year--the only guy starting for the team this season from those first two years. Very few of John's teammates from those two teams are even on an NBA roster except for the young guys that came in with him that are still here. I'd argue John's best teammates that he played with for an extended span were probably Booker and Kirk Hinrich...

That's horrific. John was surrounded entirely by washed up vets, detrimental knuckleheads (Blatche, Young, McGee), and developmental players less experienced than him. The roster got disastrously young and teams that young can not win in the NBA. There was 100% turnover from the moment John was drafted until now. He's the longest tenured Wizard! At just under 2.5 seasons!

Now he has legit NBA veteran players around him and the developmental guys that came in with him have started to grow into real NBA players too. Nene, Okafor, Martell, and Ariza could all make most other NBA teams and Nene and Oak would start for most teams around the league. Jordan has grown into a solid NBA role player. Seraphin is getting there. Book is decent when he actually plays. Price seems like a decent backup PG. Ves has his moments though he's still very much an infant talent. And Beal is looking like a legit second star and running mate for John that might even end up being a better player than John in the end. The organization around him is in an entirely different place. It's gone from having no other quality NBA players around John to at least six, maybe seven with a few more developing.

We were in such a huge hole when we drafted John. The Arenas contract and situation was an absolute albatross. The Blatche extension was an albatross. The talent dump of Jamison and Caron yielded absolutely nothing in return in terms of players because Josh Howard got hurt immediately and barely ever saw the court. Nick Young and JaVale were morons forced into huge roles because of an utter lack of veteran presence on the team. And the Miller/Foye trade was an abject disaster when that was an opportunity to get a long term piece for Wall to play with even before he got here. It took two years for us to dig our way out of those mistakes.

Every young star needs talent around him, but a pass first PG even more so. I don't think any other highly touted young PG has had anything close to that kind of roster hell around them.

[Fight4RGIII]

Wall came out immediately successful. Really unprecedentedly successful. He was setting a Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson pace as far as scoring and assisting goes. Only player since the Oscar to get 9 assists in his first three games. His rookie season was probably topped only by CP3 as far as recent PGs. He was a steal away from his first triple double in his home debut, probably one of the greatest performances by a rookie PG ever. Didn't matter, by his sixth game he got his first triple double. The only other player who got a triple double with 6 steals on top of it in his first 6 games was Magic. He was an absolute phenom. The only reason he wasn't the ROTY was a quirk in the ROTY rules that let Blake Griffin be classified as a rookie even though he was drafted the year before and had spent an entire year being a pro already.

C'mon man! We got 8 wins now! Fix that sig!

[stevemcqueen1]

Damn I wish Wall was ready at the beginning of the season. It sucks that we have to wait until next year to compete for the playoffs but it's another chance to add a nice piece in the lottery this year. I'm exciting to watch this TEAM develop, because fellas, we got a real team now.

The draft pick is the silver lining you have to focus on. Think about that and ignore the presence of EG and like Still said, that's how you can stay positive and enjoy the team.

In the end, I'm wondering if Wall's injury won't be a blessing in disguise because it's probably going to yield a high lottery pick. And it gave him a chance to watch the game from the coach's perspective.

Wall + Beal + Nene is a good core when it fully matures but the problem is Nene's age. Nene is not going to be a long term member of that big 3 construction, he's so much older than Wall and Beal. But when those three are together, you're not going to be bad enough to get another lotto pick most likely. This lotto pick will hopefully be an opportunity to add a high quality long term piece that can be the third member of a big 3 when Nene is too old. Maybe even an outright upgrade over Nene. Either we spend the pick ourselves on someone good or we trade it for a young potential star.

Wall
Beal
X
Nene
X

Looks pretty good if you make the X at SF Shabazz or the X at C Nerlens/Zeller. Or DeMarcus Cousins.

That wouldn't just be some late seed in the East. It would be one of the better starting lineups and have a shot at contention by the time it matured.

[Fight4RGIII]

We just can't strike out on this lottery pick. I'm almost inclined to lean towards picking a low upside/high floor type of player that can contribute early and often. But we're a long ways away from the draft.

[stevemcqueen1]

C'mon man! We got 8 wins now! Fix that sig!

I'm thinking of taking it down now that the team is playing so much better with Wall back. I'm not feeling that negative about it any more.

But I'm a little superstitious. After we went through that early season crucible, I thought for sure we must have hit rock bottom. I'm afraid if I take it down thinking we're clear of it, something horrible will happen and it'll be back to the start.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 10:34 AM ----------

We just can't strike out on this lottery pick. I'm almost inclined to lean towards picking a low upside/high floor type of player that can contribute early and often. But we're a long ways away from the draft.

Yeah we absolutely have to make this pick count. BBall IQ has to be such an important factor in anyone we pick. He must be smart as hell because that's the safest way he'll be able to contribute right off like Beal has. Plus we've got a nice mix of high IQ players right now with Oak, Nene, Beal, etc. We rack up assists and have good ball movement between them. I don't want to throw a wrench in that with a dumb player who can't pull his weight in team ball. No Nick Youngs. That's why I'm so interested in guys like Nerlens and Zeller.

But yeah, you're right, the draft is a long ways away. I could see some of the top underclassmen like Zeller or even Nerlens wanting to go back for another year. That would suck.

[stevemcqueen1]

James Michael McAdoo playing well so far today. Len hasn't been super active yet. I'd like to see him finish with a big second half.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 01:36 PM ----------

McAdoo just owned Len for that offensive rebound. He's been outplaying Len so far. Len still needs to get stronger.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 01:40 PM ----------

Other noteworthy prospects playing today:

- Nerlens is on ESPNU at 9:00 (Poythress too).
- Otto Porter is on at 6:00
- Shabazz is on CBS at 4:00
- Marcus Smart and LeBryan Nash are on at 2:00 on ESPN 2
- Ben McLemore is on CBS at 2:00

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 01:41 PM ----------

Nice block from Len on McAdoo but he's letting McAdoo outposition him for boards. Letting McAdoo get into the paint too easily. Good quickness and recovery on Len's part but it looks like he's lacking strength.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 01:50 PM ----------

You got to body McAdoo up. Push him out of the paint because he is just creeping in there for deep position and getting offensive boards and baskets around the rim.

[nuposse87]

We ought to just assume we're not getting a top 3 pick, especially if this winning nonsense continues, lol. A SF that can make 3s is our biggest need. Ariza was hot last night and was one of the reasons we won, we all know, he usually isn't that good from 3 pt land, as evident by his performance at the kings. The only PF that would make a difference for us would be Noel. Bennet's defense is apparently lacking, although his offense is steady.

Assuming we pick 6-14 I'd prioritize players like so:

1. Poythress
2. Bennett
3. Porter
4. Gobert
5. T. Mitchell

With Minny in shambles with injuries they might be willing to trade quality for quantity. I wouldn't include Seraphin in any such proposals if he continues to show he's worth a damn. Also, Nene isn't going to get any quicker, but he is big enough to play center, so if we do end up taking a SF in the draft we could have a potential small ball lineup of:

Wall
Beal
Webster/Poythress(If he's ready)
D. Williams
Nene

That would a very effective lineup in todays NBA climate. Lots of wingspan and speed (sans Nene).

[stevemcqueen1]

I'm a little disappointed in Alex Len. I really like his physical tools and his shot blocking ability. I think he's got good NBA potential with his length and quickness. But I was hoping he'd be farther along than he is. He's going to be a big project IMO.

[nuposse87]

Oh and No way Noel stays another year, he's going number 2 at the minimum, he'd go like 5 next year, people know they'll be down 4 slots with next years class, at least.

[stevemcqueen1]

1.) Shabazz
2.) Noel
3.) Zeller
4.) Bennett
5.) Len
6.) McLemore (ideally to trade)
7.) Austin
8.) Poythress
9.) Plumlee
10.) McAdoo
11.) Porter
12.) Mitchell

Big drop off after the top three, even bigger drop after the top six IMO, and McLemore is not a guy we can make much use of. From there I don't see a lot of difference in quality between 7-12. I'd trade down into the late lottery and target somebody like McAdoo, who would be a pretty nice fit here.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 02:18 PM ----------

Oh and No way Noel stays another year, he's going number 2 at the minimum, he'd go like 5 next year, people know they'll be down 4 slots with next years class, at least.

Prospects don't care as much about that as you think. They think they can go first overall any year. And by all accounts Noel marches to the beat of his own drum. I don't think anyone really knows what's going on in his head but him. He could stay four years and it wouldn't necessarily surprise me.

[nuposse87]

1.) Shabazz
2.) Noel
3.) Zeller
4.) Bennett
5.) Len
6.) McLemore (ideally to trade)
7.) Austin
8.) Poythress
9.) Plumlee
10.) McAdoo
11.) Porter
12.) Mitchell



---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 02:18 PM ----------

[/COLOR]

Prospects don't care as much about that as you think. They think they can go first overall any year. And by all accounts Noel marches to the beat of his own drum. I don't think anyone really knows what's going on in his head but him. He could stay four years and it wouldn't necessarily surprise me.

The only kids that stay for all 4 years are non-phenoms that need the time to become talents that can instantly add value to potential drafting teams. Noel's growth would be hampered by merely playing against collegiate talent for 4 years, I think he knows that, that and I highly doubt he'd turn down the chance to get paid.

Oh and no way Zeller is a better prospect than Mclemore. exhibit A:



Jeff Whitey in the background is pretty funny.