The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

Post #1201 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 2:15 pm

An extension during the season is extremely unlikely imo, because he'll be an RFA, and here's why. Look at NY; he asked for 9 mil, and he's a shooting guard. Add 25% for Javale being a center; that's 12 mil. The new CBA says the max contract for a player with Javale's experience is 25% of the CBA - which is 58 mil (prorated). At 25%, that's 14.5 mil. It'll probably go down some next season. I think it's safe to say that no team is going to offer Javale the max. So, in RFA - he's not going to get offered significantly more than 12 mil - probably less - perhaps significantly less - unless he has a year that exceeds expectations. If he has a setback this year, he'll cost less. So, at this point - there's most likely very little benefit to signing him now - rather than waiting for him to be an RFA. And if you're not saving money by signing him now, you wait before you lock yourself into a deal.

Post #1202 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 2:26 pm

Illuminaire wrote:Regardless Ruz, we can probably both agree that this will be a telling year for both players. If McGee can't put it together for a contract year, he's not likely to amount to more than a mediocre starter/super sub for his career. If Hibbert is going to make any additional leaps, they're probably going to happen now as well.

Fwiw, Indy is 4-1 with Hibbert as their 2nd leading scorer, 1st leading rebounder, and shooting 56% from the field.

7-Day Dray · Post #1203 » by **7-Day Dray** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 3:19 pm

I think he gets a contract similar to DeAndre Jordan, but he's much better than Jordan IMO. McGee is way more skilled than Jordan. He has the dropstep, a hook (even though he needs more elevation on it), a decent face-up game for a C, and a developing left hand. Once he learns how to settle down and pick his spots on offense, he can become a 17+ scorer.

Silvie Lysandra · Post #1204 » by **Silvie Lysandra** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 3:37 pm

Lots of teams get burned overpaying guys who blow up in contract years. And I'm still a skeptic on McGee given his track record.

I got burned on Dray and that was a 30 game stretch. McGee may not be cut from quite the same cloth but it's close enough. But he is playing very well right now. So I have no room to criticize him. But we need to see sustained performance, and at least some stretches of dominance on one end of the court, before I'm ready to throw 5 years 70m at him.

Honestly, what I want to see is for the Wizards to throw it to McGee in the post 15-20 times a game and see what happens. I want to see him use his length and athleticism to completely dominate a game defensively. I want to see a 10-15 game stretch where he averages 13-15 RPG. I want to see him set a pick and finish on the roll multiple times a game, every game. And most of all, I want him to be in a professional, mature environment, such as the one we're NOT building in Washington. I think our current situation is set up for a player like him to regress.

If he's putting up 17/13/3/1.5 on .544 EFG (his TS% is artificially depressed because of his currently low FT%) 20 games from now I'll become a believer. Or better yet, he's putting up 22/12/3/2 in games because he's playing more minutes, staying out of foul trouble and becoming a go-to scorer.

verbal8 · Post #1205 » by **verbal8** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 3:56 pm

7-Day Dray wrote:I think he gets a contract similar to DeAndre Jordan, but he's much better than Jordan IMO. McGee is way more skilled than Jordan. He has the dropstep, a hook (even though he needs more elevation on it), a decent face-up game for a C, and a developing left hand. Once he learns how to settle down and pick his spots on offense, he can become a 17+ scorer.

I agree that is his market value. I think it would be greatly in the Wizards interest(and somewhat in McGee's) to reverse the deal with the biggest payment coming in the first year. If he wants more money, the Wizards could accommodate by adding to the salary, but decreasing the guarantee in the final year(I think there is about 4 million wiggle room to do that). I would only offer him 4 years and would make him test free agency if he is holding out for over $50 million.

Post #1206 » by **nate33** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 4:06 pm

Chaos Revenant wrote:I got burned on Dray and that was a 30 game stretch. McGee may not be cut from quite the same cloth but it's close enough. But he is playing very well right now. So I have no room to criticize him. But we need to see sustained performance, and at least some stretches of dominance on one end of the court, before I'm ready to throw 5 years 70m at him.

I think there's a significant difference between McGee and Blatche. Blatche is skilled but unmotivated, lazy, and lacking in a motor. He's the type of guy who one might expect to have a good contract year and then get lackadaisical again.

McGee's problems aren't with effort or energy. He definitely tries out there. McGee's problems are his lack of basketball IQ and defensive instincts, and his general tendency to do what looks good rather than what wins games. If he improves these things enough to be effective on the court this year, I don't see any reason to expect him to forget them afterwards.

The one aspect in whicih McGee might be a bit of a contract year outlier is in his physical conditioning. McGee definitely bulked up this summer and it's the first time we've really seen a major change in his strength. The potential exists that he won't work quite as hard on his body in the offseason once he's got a fat contract in his hands.

Nivek · Post #1207 » by **Nivek** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 4:13 pm

McGee is off to the best start of his career. He clearly put in some work on his game. His usage is up this year, and while his efficiency is lower than it was last year, it's about the same distance above league average -- last year he had an offensive rating of 111 vs. a league average of about 107; this year he's at 107 and the league average is 103. Plus, his rebound rate is up and his turnovers are down. He's trying more "stuff" offensively so his shooting percentage is down from last year, but it's simply back to previous career norms, which were pretty good. Combine all that with signs that he's beginning to get a clue on defense, and he is starting to look like a guy who could be valuable to the team.

One good sign (at least to me) -- virtually everything he's done offensively has been INSIDE. He has 5 attempts all season outside of 10 feet. He's missed all of them, so it's not like his jumper has gotten any better. But he's playing more inside, and that's good for McGee (and the Wizards).

queridiculo · Post #1208 » by **queridiculo** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 6:46 pm

McGee's decision making still needs to get better, but it's improved by leaps and bounds and in particular the Celtics game was a huge improvement over how he's played in the past.

His drop step is starting to look pretty good, but one of the moves that I would like to see him use more is that running hook shot that he's shown us a few times so far this season.

What impressed me the most against the Celtics was that he didn't get caught with the pump fake quite as frequently as we're used to. The play that stood out there was the one involving Ray Allen, but there were quite a few instances where he forced a poor pass, or defended a shot simply by virtue of his presence.

pancakes3 · Post #1209 » by **pancakes3** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 7:31 pm

oh god no. the running hook is a tough shot for GOOD players. mcgee should just keep practicing that footwork for his dunks and layups before working on those countermoves.

best offensive move from mcgee last night was when he posted up the C's center, spun baseline, found himself wide open and instead of shooting it - maintained his pivot foot and jumped flat footed from outside the no charge circle to dunk it. it was the single most impressive big man dunk i've seen in a while. in today's leaguei think only dwight and mcgee could have converted that. if javale continues to improve and build off that, he has a chance to be a MONSTER offensively.

dobrojim · Post #1210 » by **dobrojim** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 7:51 pm

with his length and hops, he can dunk from farther away
than seems humanly possible.

the drop step dunk is an awesome move.

Higga · Post #1211 » by **Higga** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 8:01 pm

I'm loving McGee right now and want to resign him, but I'm just scared of him reverting back to his old self once he gets paid. I think we're in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation either way.

The way he's playing right now, he'll get $10 Mil+ a year easily.

verbal8 · Post #1212 » by **verbal8** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 8:25 pm

Higga wrote:The way he's playing right now, he'll get $10 Mil+ a year easily.

If he gets to free agency, you know that Golden State and the Nets(assuming they don't get Howard) would be in the running. The FA crop isn't exactly stellar, so tying up money on an offer sheet may seem worth the risk.

Silvie Lysandra · Post #1213 » by **Silvie Lysandra** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 11:53 pm

If he just keeps up his CURRENT pace (and preferably does it in 32-34 mpg), I'd max him out and not look back. He's playing like a franchise C right now. And if he becomes a straight up 20/12/3/1.5 player? **** the check, just go to the bank, fill a bunch of briefcases full of bills, and throw them at him.

I just hate the atmosphere and the coaching - I just don't think it's the kind of environment that is conducive to the growth of a player.

Oh, if only we had gotten Thibs.

hands11 · Post #1214 » by **hands11** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 12:27 am

pancakes3 wrote:oh god no. the running hook is a tough shot for GOOD players. mcgee should just keep practicing that footwork for his dunks and layups before working on those countermoves.

best offensive move from mcgee last night was when he posted up the C's center, spun baseline, found himself wide open and instead of shooting it - maintained his pivot foot and jumped flat footed from outside the no charge circle to dunk it. it was the single most impressive big man dunk i've seen in a while. in today's leaguei think only dwight and mcgee could have converted that. if javale continues to improve and build off that, he has a chance to be a MONSTER offensively.

That was the move. The game before he tried to do it all in one move. He didn't get balance and he ended up shooting it from behind the basket. This time and gained the corner with the drop step, got balanced, he even leaned back some and bumped the players from closing, then he was uncontested to the hoop for a dunk. It was an assume more.

The other one I liked was the right baseline hook and the center circle hook. Two different moves in three places. Just focus on those moves over and over. He would be amazing if he can keep that up because he is going to get his transition dunks, alley opps and put backs. If he could hit the FTs, thats 15+ pts and 10 + rebounds in 30 minutes.

If he keep those rebounds at around 12 a game, that is a valuable player and he can slowly grow from there.

hands11 · Post #1215 » by **hands11** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 12:30 am

Chaos Revenant wrote:If he just keeps up his CURRENT pace (and preferably does it in 32-34 mpg), I'd max him out and not look back. He's playing like a franchise C right now. And if he becomes a straight up 20/12/3/1.5 player? **** the check, just go to the bank, fill a bunch of briefcases full of bills, and throw them at him.

I just hate the atmosphere and the coaching - I just don't think it's the kind of environment that is conducive to the growth of a player.

Oh, if only we had gotten Thibs.

Yet he is showing growth. What say you ?

Post #1216 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 12:55 am

Chaos Revenant wrote:If he just keeps up his CURRENT pace (and preferably does it in 32-34 mpg), I'd max him out and not look back. He's playing like a franchise C right now. And if he becomes a straight up 20/12/3/1.5 player? **** the check, just go to the bank, fill a bunch of briefcases full of bills, and throw them at him.

I just hate the atmosphere and the coaching - I just don't think it's the kind of environment that is conducive to the growth of a player.

Oh, if only we had gotten Thibs.

More than likely, he's not going to be a franchise player, and that's no matter where he plays, and no matter who coaches him. No doubt, he'll continue to improve, but people need to stop. He's likely going to be a better than average starting center, and that really is ok. Again, he's more than likely... always going to be a guy who makes more than his fair share of mistakes - which is okay when he also does things that other players aren't capable of. But at some point people really should stop with the - he's great or he's terrible stuff. He's somewhere in the middle with a chance to be good.

Silvie Lysandra · Post #1217 » by **Silvie Lysandra** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 1:29 am

hands11 wrote:
Yet he is showing growth. What say you ?

Can he sustain it? That's the big question.

hands11 · Post #1218 » by **hands11** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 6:11 am

Chaos Revenant wrote:
hands11 wrote:
Yet he is showing growth. What say you ?

Can he sustain it? That's the big question.

I will pray for him that he does. Because if he can, he could be McNasty.

Saw this posted in the random thoughts thread. It desires to be here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n07L1A_ibwQ[/youtube]

Can't wait till someone posts some video of the drop step dunk and hook shot moves.

hands11 · Post #1219 » by **hands11** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 6:34 am

Hadn't seen this. Nice work out. Where was Dray dude. Give him a call.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHtTjtZGxA0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6P-Owe3y2M&feature=related[/youtube]

Post #1220 » by **nate33** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 8:40 pm

With Oden and Lopez out, and Bogut, Amare and Nene ailing, it helps one appreciate that McGee seems very durable. He's only had one real injury in the past 3 seasons, despite his agressive, high-flying style. That should be a factor when it comes time to resign him. It seems that most high-minute NBA centers not named Dwight Howard get hurt all the time.

* knocks on wood *