Andray Blatche - Resurgence Thread ( Merged )

[dandridge 10]

At this point in time, I think the organization needs to do anything they can do to dump Blatche. The bottom line is that he is not going to help this team win. If anything, he will hurt them. Moreover, while I wouldn't mind seeing him benched or his minutes significantly curtailed, does anyone really believe that such an action will really "wake him up"? If you do, give me what you are smoking. Also, does anyone believe that Blatche will just accept a reduced role like a professional? Hell no. I know some of you will say "that don't matter," but it does because it is going to just create more dissension and distractions in the lockerroom. Again, because of EG's misguided faith in Blatche, I think the Wizards are now in the position where they have no choice to just let him go, even if it is for a can of beans. I suspect that Blatche's trade value, if there is any to speak of right now, will go nowwhere but down from here.

[hands11]

At this point in time, I think the organization needs to do anything they can do to dump Blatche. The bottom line is that he is not going to help this team win. If anything, he will hurt them. Moreover, while I wouldn't mind seeing him benched or his minutes significantly curtailed, does anyone really believe that such an action will really "wake him up"? If you do, give me what you are smoking. Also, does anyone believe that Blatche will just accept a reduced role like a professional? Hell no. I know some of you will say "that don't matter," but it does because it is going to just create more dissension and distractions in the lockerroom. Again, because of EG's misguided faith in Blatche, I think the Wizards are now in the position where they have no choice to just let him go, even if it is for a can of beans. I suspect that Blatche's trade value, if there is any to speak of right now, will go nowwhere but down from here.

Come on people. It has been two games. He didn't suck last year and I doubt he completely forgot how to play basketball over on summer. The guys averaged 17 and 8 last year and he was injured the entire year until the end. The three years before that he shot .478, .471 and .474 He has posted better stats every year he has played.

I hope the same people that are claiming Nicks small sample size are not the ones over reacting to two games from Dray.

[Black Eyed Sooz]

At this point in time, I think the organization needs to do anything they can do to dump Blatche. The bottom line is that he is not going to help this team win. If anything, he will hurt them. Moreover, while I wouldn't mind seeing him benched or his minutes significantly curtailed, does anyone really believe that such an action will really "wake him up"? If you do, give me what you are smoking. Also, does anyone believe that Blatche will just accept a reduced role like a professional? Hell no. I know some of you will say "that don't matter," but it does because it is going to just create more dissension and distractions in the lockerroom. Again, because of EG's misguided faith in Blatche, I think the Wizards are now in the position where they have no choice to just let him go, even if it is for a can of beans. I suspect that Blatche's trade value, if there is any to speak of right now, will go nowwhere but down from here.

I agree- Dray has to go- period. With him, the Wizards are not a team, we are a joke. Without him, we may not be a good team, but at least we are a team. We saw that last year when he was hurt for a while, and we've seen it so far this year when he steps off the court, and Turiaf or Booker goes in for him, and the team actually starts to D up and move the ball around.

Maybe the Heat would give us Mike Miller and a 1st round pick for him? Though honestly I would settle for Miller and his sports hernia all by himself at this point.

[no D in Hibachi]

Which route do you want Washington to go this off-season; 1) pull a Jamaal Tinsley with Blatche and send him away then amnesty him in the off-season...from what I recall you can't amnesty a player mid-season, 2) amnesty Lewis in the off-season and keep blatche around hoping for some miracle revival, or 3) amnesty Blatche and buy out Lewis for $10-$13m or whatever it is? Honestly, #3 is looking pretty stinkin nice to me.

[no D in Hibachi]

I agree- Dray has to go- period. With him, the Wizards are not a team, we are a joke. Without him, we may not be a good team, but at least we are a team. We saw that last year when he was hurt for a while, and we've seen it so far this year when he steps off the court, and Turiaf or Booker goes in for him, and the team actually starts to D up and move the ball around.

Maybe the Heat would give us Mike Miller and a 1st round pick for him? Though honestly I would settle for Miller and his sports hernia all by himself at this point.

With the ability to amnesty Blatche, Washington needs to set their sites on either trading him for an expiring, or amnesty at seasons end. Last thing they need to do is waste cap space on an equally awful bum without the luxury of the amnesty clause.

[dandridge 10]

At this point in time, I think the organization needs to do anything they can do to dump Blatche. The bottom line is that he is not going to help this team win. If anything, he will hurt them. Moreover, while I wouldn't mind seeing him benched or his minutes significantly curtailed, does anyone really believe that such an action will really "wake him up"? If you do, give me what you are smoking. Also, does anyone believe that Blatche will just accept a reduced role like a professional? Hell no. I know some of you will say "that don't matter," but it does because it is going to just create more dissension and distractions in the lockerroom. Again, because of EG's misguided faith in Blatche, I think the Wizards are now in the position where they have no choice to just let him go, even if it is for a can of beans. I suspect that Blatche's trade value, if there is any to speak of right now, will go nowwhere but down from here.

Come on people. It has been two games. He didn't suck last year and I doubt he completely forgot how to play basketball over on summer. The guys averaged 17 and 8 last year and he was injured the entire year until the end. The three years before that he shot .478, .471 and .474 He has posted better stats every year he has played.

I hope the same people that are claiming Nicks small sample size are not the ones over reacting to two games from Dray.

You have to be kidding me. Does Blatche suck? No. But he is not particularly good either. He is extremely inefficient, a horrible team defender, and a poor rebounder. And, on top of that, he is lazy, has no work ethic and uses bad judgement both on and off the court. And, I make these statements not because of 2 games, but because of watching this loser for 6 years. Aside for a few disillusioned fans on this site who still pray that he will turn it around, 99% of the world who watches NBA games, both expert and non-expert alike, view Blatche as a joke. No other team is going to give up something of value for him and after several years of watching this team play with him, it is clear that he is not going to help this team win. It is clear management is trying to change the culture of this team by bringing in tough, hardnosed players with good work ethic. Blatche is is complete opposite and if anything a negative influence on the younger players. This team would be better off without him. We certainly havent won anything the last few years with him. Its not like he will be missed.

[Black Eyed Sooz]

With the ability to amnesty Blatche, Washington needs to set their sites on either trading him for an expiring, or amnesty at seasons end. Last thing they need to do is waste cap space on an equally awful bum without the luxury of the amnesty clause.

Totally agree about trading him for an expiring- if we could pull that off, but would any other team in the NBA make that deal with us?

As for Mike Miller, not that I have any special affection for him, but he strikes me as somebody who might pull the old Ilgauskas/Bibby maneuver and buy himself off the team (if that is still allowed under the new CBA), or just flat out retire.

In any case, I suspect that whatever deal we get for Dray will have half the board fuming about what garbage that Ernie had to take on to ditch him, but I will just be happy to old 7-day gone.

[Ruzious]

I agree- Dray has to go- period. With him, the Wizards are not a team, we are a joke. Without him, we may not be a good team, but at least we are a team. We saw that last year when he was hurt for a while, and we've seen it so far this year when he steps off the court, and Turiaf or Booker goes in for him, and the team actually starts to D up and move the ball around.

Maybe the Heat would give us Mike Miller and a 1st round pick for him? Though honestly I would settle for Miller and his sports hernia all by himself at this point.

With the ability to amnesty Blatche, Washington needs to set their sites on either trading him for an expiring, or amnesty at seasons end. Last thing they need to do is waste cap space on an equally awful bum without the luxury of the amnesty clause.

It's too late to amnesty him this season, and Lewis is more than likely getting amnestied next season. We're pretty much stuck with Blatche. Hopefully, the CBA allows us to amnesty him the season after next - if he still hasn't gotten his act together by then.

[popper]

Blatch is sunk cost right now. Seperate him from the team with a personal trainer until he is strong enough to contribute (30 -45 days) then reevaluate.

[Scabs304]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

[verbal8]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

I think Lewis' contract is being kept as trade bait for next season.

Lewis' expiring contract or 23.8 million(only ~13 million guaranteed) can absorb just over $35 million in a trade. That means the other team(s) would save $22 million. Usually lotto picks aren't for sale, but they may be at that price. And this maneuver can be done after using up all the other cap space.

[closg00]

Andray Blatche is a knucklehead, and the Wizards better get rid of him if they want to keep John Wall.

It is becoming next to impossible to prevent NBA superstars from flying the coop. They want to play in more attractive big markets. They want to play alongside other superstars. They want to win championships. And of course, they want to get paid.

What they don’t want is to be stuck with a lottery-bound team. They don’t want to share a locker room with players who care more about MINs and FGAs than Ws and Ls. And they don’t want to have to answer questions from the media about why their teammates were fighting in public or blasting the coach on Twitter.

That’s where Wall is right now – stuck on a loser, sharing a shower with Blatche, whose latest display of immaturity could capsize another Wizards season just hours after it began.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/walls-future- ... to-blatche

[Ruzious]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

I think Lewis' contract is being kept as trade bait for next season.

Lewis' expiring contract or 23.8 million(only ~13 million guaranteed) can absorb just over $35 million in a trade. That means the other team(s) would save $22 million. Usually lotto picks aren't for sale, but they may be at that price. And this maneuver can be done after using up all the other cap space.

That's an interesting idea that I hadn't thought of - I wonder if EG thought of it that way. My hunch is that they still go the amnesty route - figuring pure cap space is easier to maneuver with.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

I don't think he's malignant, either, Scabs. I think a different coach or Flip just sitting Blatche down a lot more often would help. I like him wanting it in the post. I doubt he will be very successful, but I also know he's better than his last game.

I think all the talk about amnestying Blatche next season is premature. Flip coached really poorly with not just leaving Blatche in, but with leaving Young out, as well as playing an out-of-control John Wall too many minutes. Flip has enabled Andray by playing him too much and not holding him accountable. I think a new coach, even if it is an interim like Cassell or Whitman could get better results from AB.

I would take almost any Blatche deal and run with it, but if he stays in house I think Saunders going would potentially give the team a useful Blatche.

[hands11]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

First, you can not amnesty more then one player IIRC.

Second, yeah, I think he is benign.

I like what Flip is doing with captains. Dray and Wall were a fine choice to start the season but let it be known that captain is an open position. That means other players like Singleton, Jesely, etc know there is something open about the future direction of the team. Not even Wall is set as a captain yet. I like that. The personality of this team is not set and that is good because I like the personality of the new draft class of Vesely, Singleton and Mach more than what was here.

I am frustrated Dray didn't show up with a more noticeably in shape body and I have said as far back as three years that the day may come that he starts to come off the bench or gets moved if he doesn't make the right progress. But it isn't time to panic. There are several ways this team can grow and still have Dray here.

Its only been two games. He could find his way where he is.
He could get moved to center.
He could get moved to the bench behind Jesely and base up the PF and Center

6.4M for a 6-11 player with the skills and experience to back up those two positions is not over paying. That is the situation they are in right now so just let it play out. He isn't getting traded right now. He gets at a min until the trade deadline to show how he can help the team.

[hands11]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

I don't think he's malignant, either, Scabs. I think a different coach or Flip just sitting Blatche down a lot more often would help. I like him wanting it in the post. I doubt he will be very successful, but I also know he's better than his last game.

I think all the talk about amnestying Blatche next season is premature. Flip coached really poorly with not just leaving Blatche in, but with leaving Young out, as well as playing an out-of-control John Wall too many minutes. Flip has enabled Andray by playing him too much and not holding him accountable. I think a new coach, even if it is an interim like Cassell or Whitman could get better results from AB.

I would take almost any Blatche deal and run with it, but if he stays in house I think Saunders going would potentially give the team a useful Blatche.

He will sit more as soon as there is a viable better option. Jesely is our first hope of that. Sadly, when Dray was playing his best ball he was stuck behind AJ when he was quicker and should have been starting with Haywood. Then once that position opened up, the team was in total chaos. Dray has done plenty wrong himself but he also has been in a terrible environment. Personally, I think the environment is changing. This is the best it has been since Dray got here. Time to sink or swim and time for this team to come together, not divide.

It is a rebuild and this is a gelling/evaluation year. I think all three of the last draft class will stick around. Hopefully, they also keep Nick and hopefully Wall learns the PG game better. But other then that, everyone is moveable or a potential backup. That is just were they are in the rebuild. This next draft, trade season and FA class is what will define this team for the next step. This team doesn't just need to add talent/experience, it needs to keep adding the right personalities. I think they added three of those players last draft and I like the vet they have, which is a move in the right direction.

On a good team, Nick is the only player here who would likely start and Singleton looks like he has the potential to start. And maybe Lewis on the right team if he rebounds. But Wall, Dray and McGee would not start on a good team nor would their back ups. Hopefully Vesely is a starting quality players and hopefully Wall develops.

If everything goes well this year, we have Wall, Nick, Singleton, Lewis, Vesely and Ronny as starting quality players with Dray and McGee likely better as back up. And hopefully Mack become a solid back up.

As for Crawford, not sure is the player I want backing up PG/SG.

So as is, I am looking for one of or both Dray and McGee to probably lose their starting roles at some point. That isn't going to happen after two games. Its going to take 10-20 for that to happen. Unless one or both step it up. Once Vesely is ready, things will look different. Most likely it will be Dray and Ves and PF with McGee and Ronny at center. Then you can finally break up the Dray/McGee combo. Question is, who gets benched first. Will they start Dray/Ronny with Ves/McGee backing them up or start Ves/McGee with Dray/Ronny backing them up. Or even Ves/Dray with McGee/Ronny. I say they likely go Dray/Ronny first. They are more the vets. Or Ves/Dray. That also lowers McGee's value making him cheaper to resign. But Ves/McGee would be the move to the future and better for Wall to run with but neither is likely to be polish enough this year. You need a center that can defend the position first and foremost.

We will see. Should be messy but interesting.

[hands11]

dandridge 10

How much did Kwame Brown just get paid ?

[dandridge 10]

I've said this before but I'll say it again. There is no way Blatche is going to accept a reduced role with a professional attitude. He's already bitching about the coaches and he is getting way more minutes than he deserves. If Vesely or Booker takes his starting position, I can guarantee you it will get ugly and the last thing this team needs is more dissention and distractions in the locker room. I can understand taking that type of a risk with a guy that has shown he can help you win, but Blatche has never shown that he can be that guy.

[dandridge 10]

dandridge 10

How much did Kwame Brown just get paid ?

I have no idea. What's he have to do with Blatche?

[nate33]

The thing I'm always worried about with blatche is he malignant or benign. I believe he is still benign at this point and him wanting it in the post is a good thing. Also amnestying blatche and not Lewis would be the dumbest move possible.

I think Lewis' contract is being kept as trade bait for next season.

Lewis' expiring contract or 23.8 million(only ~13 million guaranteed) can absorb just over $35 million in a trade. That means the other team(s) would save $22 million. Usually lotto picks aren't for sale, but they may be at that price. And this maneuver can be done after using up all the other cap space.

That's an interesting idea that I hadn't thought of - I wonder if EG thought of it that way. My hunch is that they still go the amnesty route - figuring pure cap space is easier to maneuver with.

If we wanted to save a team $22M, we would simply amnesty Lewis and then absorb that much salary with our cap room.