Aaron Holiday discussion, news and highlights.

Saberestar · Post #1 » by **Saberestar** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:28 pm

Contract: He is in the last year of his rookie contract ($4M) and he will be a RFA next season.

Stats: He has played in 41 games for the Wizards playing around 16 mpg. Backup PG who averages 6 points and 2 assists shooting 34% from three. He has had better numbers before.

He is 25 years old, 6-0 with 6-7 wingspan who plays hard, is skilled and defensively puts a lot of pressure on ball handlers.

I like him and I think he can help us. We got him just for cash considerations so there is not risk with him. Nice move by James Jones.

Post #2 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:06 pm

Is he better than Cam? Probably not 2021 Cam but 2022?

ImNotMcDiSwear · Post #3 » by **ImNotMcDiSwear** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:15 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:Is he better than Cam? Probably not 2021 Cam but 2022?

Probably not, but maybe.

I really like this move. He's a career 36.9% 3-point shooter, which is better than Gordon's shot it this year. He gives us what we've missed with Payne out - speed. And he plays hard. That's critical with an end-of-bench piece. I like that we grabbed a guy for free whom we've coveted for years. Bottom line: He's Payne insurance, which is what this team needs the most. Just a great addition, all around.

Interesting to consider what might happen this offseason. His QO is $5.6 or so, which... I'm not sure what his value would be in the open market. He'll get another NBA contract, of that I'm sure. Imagine if Payne's injury issues persist, or if Holiday just outright wins his minutes. On a national stage, he could create some FA buzz. Despite our financial situation, I think there's a non-zero chance we'll pick up his option.

Post #4 » by **bwgood77** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:22 pm

ImNotMcDiSwear wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:Is he better than Cam? Probably not 2021 Cam but 2022?

Probably not, but maybe.

I really like this move. He's a career 36.9% 3-point shooter, which is better than Gordon's shot it this year. He gives us what we've missed with Payne out - speed. And he plays hard. That's critical with an end-of-bench piece. I like that we grabbed a guy for free whom we've coveted for years. Bottom line: He's Payne insurance, which is what this team needs the most. Just a great addition, all around.

Interesting to consider what might happen this offseason. His QO is $5.6 or so, which... I'm not sure what his value would be in the open market. He'll get another NBA contract, of that I'm sure. Imagine if Payne's injury issues persist, or if Holiday just outright wins his minutes. On a national stage, he could create some FA buzz. Despite our financial situation, I think there's a non-zero chance we'll pick up his option.

Career 3 pt shooting not better than Gordon but better than Payne, Paul, Crowder or Shamet have been this year...about the same as Bridges and a tad worse than Book.

Post #5 » by **bwgood77** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:22 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #6 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:25 pm

I don't doubt we'll pick up his QO if he doesn't get a better deal from somewhere else this offseason. I am curious to see if he's able to outplay Cam. I do like him a fair bit defensively and I also like that he's a pretty physical guard not afraid to get into the chest of his defender but his shot has been shakey this year so hopefully they get back closer to the 40% mark with better players/system around him

Post #7 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:26 pm

bwgood77 wrote:

Read on Twitter

This was the exact play that was in my mind when I wrote that he's a fairly physical guard

ImNotMcDiSwear · Post #8 » by **ImNotMcDiSwear** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:33 pm

bwgood77 wrote:
I really like this move. He's a career 36.9% 3-point shooter[...].

Career 3 pt shooting not better than Gordon but better than Payne, Paul, Crowder or Shamet have been this year...about the same as Bridges and a tad worse than Book.

My bad, don't know why I got that number confused. In the last month or so I was pretty quiet about Eric Gordon, despite being one of the first to champion the idea earlier in the season. EG's been struggling of late, and now plantar. Holiday provides a lot of what EG would have given us, but more aggressive defense and without the injury or financial concerns.

Hard not to have a positive view of this move.

Post #9 » by **bwgood77** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:44 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:I don't doubt we'll pick up his QO if he doesn't get a better deal from somewhere else this offseason. I am curious to see if he's able to outplay Cam. I do like him a fair bit defensively and I also like that he's a pretty physical guard not afraid to get into the chest of his defender but his shot has been shakey this year so hopefully they get back closer to the 40% mark with better players/system around him

It's $5.8 million just to pay his QO even if he doesn't get an offer. That could be an overpay. I mean I would have rather had Jalen Smith at his QO and they declined that.

Post #10 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:59 pm

bwgood77 wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:I don't doubt we'll pick up his QO if he doesn't get a better deal from somewhere else this offseason. I am curious to see if he's able to outplay Cam. I do like him a fair bit defensively and I also like that he's a pretty physical guard not afraid to get into the chest of his defender but his shot has been shakey this year so hopefully they get back closer to the 40% mark with better players/system around him

It's $5.8 million just to pay his QO even if he doesn't get an offer. That could be an overpay. I mean I would have rather had Jalen Smith at his QO and they declined that.

You're right, I thought it was like $3m or something.

Bogyo · Post #11 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 6:18 am

Not the Holiday we wanted, but might be the Holiday we needed!

Mulhollanddrive · Post #12 » by **Mulhollanddrive** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:37 am

So in a 10 man rotation he's probably next in line for at least 3 positions, so you'd think he'll plenty of gametime.

Starters - Paul, Booker, Bridges, Crowder, Ayton
Bench - Payne, Shamet, Craig, Johnson, McGee
Emergencies - Payton, Holiday, Biyombo
Injured - Kaminsky, Saric

RedIndian · Post #13 » by **RedIndian** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:48 am

Should get a good look at him over the next 5-6 games leading into the ASB. Don't think Payne and Shamet will back till after the break. Hopefully he balls out. I'm quietly a bit excited about this kid. Think he could add a really nice scoring punch.

Saberestar · Post #14 » by **Saberestar** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:57 am

Fo-Real · Post #15 » by **Fo-Real** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:15 pm

RedIndian wrote:Should get a good look at him over the next 5-6 games leading into the ASB. Don't think Payne and Shamet will back till after the break. Hopefully he balls out. I'm quietly a bit excited about this kid. Think he could add a really nice scoring punch.

Am always eager to see if certain players flourish in this system like others have. Monty with this system and the vets like Chris and Jae seem to bring out the best in some, hope this kid falls into that category.

Hsker4Life · Post #16 » by **Hsker4Life** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:17 pm

My hope is that this pretty much signals the end of Payton playing meaningful minutes.

sunskerr · Post #17 » by **sunskerr** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 5:17 pm

Hsker4Life wrote:My hope is that this pretty much signals the end of Payton playing meaningful minutes.

For reals. That's the big thing. And then for the playoffs hopefully he eats away Shamet's minutes.

Bogyo · Post #18 » by **Bogyo** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 5:21 pm

Hsker4Life wrote:My hope is that this pretty much signals the end of Payton playing meaningful minutes.

If he can take some from Shamet too even better. Although that sunk cost of a contract would be stingy for the next 2 years.

Post #19 » by **bwgood77** » Fri Feb 11, 2022 6:29 pm

Bogyo wrote:Not the Holiday we wanted, but might be the Holiday we needed!

I would have rather had Justin than Craig of course, but the recurring idea to get both Justin Holiday and Craig made little sense, so to get a point guard and a wing rather than two wings makes more sense.

Bogyo · Post #20 » by **Bogyo** » Sat Feb 12, 2022 6:47 am

bwgood77 wrote:
Bogyo wrote:Not the Holiday we wanted, but might be the Holiday we needed!

I would have rather had Justin than Craig of course, but the recurring idea to get both Justin Holiday and Craig made little sense, so to get a point guard and a wing rather than two wings makes more sense.

Exactley what I meant. Ballhandler/playmaker PG who can fill in at SG due to his size a physicality, and a big, strong athletic but still very quick wing who can even fill up the smallball5 spot if need be. Instead of the 2 wings. Perfect.