Wizards agree to terms with Eric Maynor

[LyricalRico]

I would have been cool with keeping Price. Like most of you, I don't see Maynor as major upgrade. The big difference bertween the two, however, is that Maynor is more of a pure PG than Price. I think he'll be far better at running the offense--he's a better passer and distributor. Maynor played decently for the Blazers the last half of the season. Portland would usually have both him and Lillard on the court together at the end of close games with Maynor running the show and setting up Lillard and his other teammates.

As for other possible free agent PGs, I'm really not impressed with most of those that are available (Beno, Robinson, etc.), and Bynum, who can be instant offense, is a SG in a small PG's body.

Jarrett Jack and Lowry would have been my first choices but I expect both of them to draw contracts in the $4-$6 mil range. Collison and Calderon are other guys who I also would have seriously considered. Others worth signing, such as Jennings and Teague, see themselves as starters and are almost certain to be retained by their current teams. But you could make the case for and against any of these guys...just like you can Maynor.

For the price, Maynor could turn out to be a very good move.

Bingo. Not an earth shattering move, but a need has been filled and there are other moves to be made.

I understand that the mob's Ernie hate dictates that every move must be flamed to an infinite degree, but c'mon - it's the second day of the league year and folks are already predicting that the team misses the playoffs because they disagree with the choice of a low salaried bench player. Seriously?

[tontoz]

Bingo. Not an earth shattering move, but a need has been filled and there are other moves to be made.

I understand that the mob's Ernie hate dictates that every move must be flamed to an infinite degree, but c'mon - it's the second day of the league year and folks are already predicting that the team misses the playoffs because they disagree with the choice of a low salaried bench player. Seriously?

After the draft the biggest need on the roster was a quality backup for Wall. EG addresses this need with Eric Maynor on the 1st day of free agency while other much better options are unsigned.

Scrubs like Maynor can be signed a month or more down the road. What is the hurry to sign him now?

[80sballboy]

http://nba.si.com/2013/07/01/eric-mayno ... l-blazers/

[pancakes3]

Maynor's a nice game manager and can keep the 2nd unit level headed until the big boys get back. He's not a sparkplug and can't shoot us back into a game like a jason Terry, Eric Bledsoe, etc. However, hopefully that's what Glen Rice is there for.

[barelyawake]

Until the roster is set with a young, star big, we probably need to think cheap and short term (but effective). I believe Maynor fits that bill. My choice would have been Marco. I'm fine with the signing. If he plays well, he opts out (and that's a good thing for us). We need to think about peaking two or three seasons down the road, when people will WANT to come here.

[fishercob]

I'm just curious -- for the dozen or so commenters who say "well, obviously he's better than Price..." On what basis are you making that statement?

[Dat2U]

Bingo. Not an earth shattering move, but a need has been filled and there are other moves to be made.

I understand that the mob's Ernie hate dictates that every move must be flamed to an infinite degree, but c'mon - it's the second day of the league year and folks are already predicting that the team misses the playoffs because they disagree with the choice of a low salaried bench player. Seriously?

After the draft the biggest need on the roster was a quality backup for Wall. EG addresses this need with Eric Maynor on the 1st day of free agency while other much better options are unsigned.

Scrubs like Maynor can be signed a month or more down the road. What is the hurry to sign him now?

My biggest gripe as well. This is not someone you target on the first day of free agency and offer a multi-year deal to. It looks like another of Ernie's guys that's been "on his radar" for a long time. He probably remembers the player he scouted 4 or 5 years ago and thinks of him that light as opposed to actually looking at what he's done the last few years or so. If Maynor was signed in August or September on a one year deal with a team option on the 2nd because there where limited options elsewhere, it would have been understandable. Rome wasn't built in a day. But to blow your wad out the gate on some scrub backup that's known better for what he did against Duke than what he's accomplished in the NBA, it only adds fuel to the fire as far as how some of us view Ernie.

[Benjammin]

I'm agnostic on this. Maynor has ability but because of injuries or perhaps he's just not that good, he's been a disappointment in his career. I think keeping Price would have been easier. I never thought they would spend significant money on a backup PG. I do think the contract structure with Maynor getting the option in year two is good for him, but if he actually plays well not good for the Wizards. As much as I love to bash EFG I just can't get that worked up about this move.

As for Jamison, aka the great "leader of men", I don't see the point, vet minimum or not.

[Dat2U]

I'm just curious -- for the dozen or so commenters who say "well, obviously he's better than Price..." On what basis are you making that statement?

Eric Maynor
'12-'13: 9.3 PER .472 TS% 28.7 AST% 20.4 TO% 96 ORTg .008 WS/48 (64 games)
'11-'12: 9.1 PER .466 TS% 24.1 AST% 21.3 TO% 96 ORTg .037 WS/48 (9 games)
'10-'11: 11.7 PER .485 TS% 30.3 AST% 17.7 TO% 104 ORTg .061 WS/48 (82 games)
'09-'10: 11.8 PER .478 TS% 31.5 AST% 17.5 TO% 103 ORTg .071 WS/48 (81 games)

A.J. Price
'12-'13: 12.4 PER .501 TS% 26.4 AST% 12.7 TO% 105 ORTg .084 WS/48 (57 games)
'11-'12: 11.5 PER .454 TS% 23.9 AST% 14.5 TO% 100 ORTg .063 WS/48 (44 games)
'10-'11: 10.7 PER .454 TS% 22.7 AST% 13.0 TO% 95 ORTg .020 WS/48 (50 games)
'09-'10: 14.0 PER .530 TS% 20.5 AST% 13.2 TO% 102 ORTg .065 WS/48 (56 games)

[LyricalRico]

I'm agnostic on this. Maynor has ability but because of injuries or perhaps he's just not that good, he's been a disappointment in his career. I think keeping Price would have been easier. I never thought they would spend significant money on a backup PG. I do think the contract structure with Maynor getting the option in year two is good for him, but if he actually plays well not good for the Wizards. As much as I love to bash EFG I just can't get that worked up about this move.

Thank you for this rational, level-headed post.

Go Wiz!

[doclinkin]

I'm just curious -- for the dozen or so commenters who say "well, obviously he's better than Price..." On what basis are you making that statement?

That to casual fans cautious safe ball protection and defense are deathly dull to watch when you have no creative scorers on the floor. Therefore an uptick in dynamic offense, with better ball movement and flashy handling look more worth the price of the ticket. Also it increases the apparent value of better known and compensated players who are not known for their creative offense but who can hit shots if you can get them the ball: Bradley Beal, Webster, Otto Porter, Ariza with the kick-out three, maybe now the rookie Bad Boy off the bench. The improved defense we get and more judicious shooting doesn't look as good as making sure our stars and starters get the ball where they like it.

Too: it just MAY increase the trade value (or on-court value) of underwhelming underperforming frontcourt players who have NO ability to score unless spoonfed, but who can look spectacular a couple plays a game if they are led to the watering hole. I like Wittman, his emphasis on defense and personal accountability is nice, but he's never cited as an offensive Thelonius Monk. Useful to have a player who can take 2nd trumpet and not fill his mouth piece with spit or blow flat when sharp is where its at, Cat.

If Maynor makes Vesely worth a nice piece in trade, or hits his perimeter gunners in rhythm and suddenly the sport looks fun to play as well as watch, well then he has earned his value this year, and gets the right to hang on for another year if he opts in.

[closg00]

FWIW
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1260202

[AFM]

I'm just curious -- for the dozen or so commenters who say "well, obviously he's better than Price..." On what basis are you making that statement?

Eric Maynor
'12-'13: 9.3 PER .472 TS% 28.7 AST% 20.4 TO% 96 ORTg .008 WS/48 (64 games)
'11-'12: 9.1 PER .466 TS% 24.1 AST% 21.3 TO% 96 ORTg .037 WS/48 (9 games)
'10-'11: 11.7 PER .485 TS% 30.3 AST% 17.7 TO% 104 ORTg .061 WS/48 (82 games)
'09-'10: 11.8 PER .478 TS% 31.5 AST% 17.5 TO% 103 ORTg .071 WS/48 (81 games)

A.J. Price
'12-'13: 12.4 PER .501 TS% 26.4 AST% 12.7 TO% 105 ORTg .084 WS/48 (57 games)
'11-'12: 11.5 PER .454 TS% 23.9 AST% 14.5 TO% 100 ORTg .063 WS/48 (44 games)
'10-'11: 10.7 PER .454 TS% 22.7 AST% 13.0 TO% 95 ORTg .020 WS/48 (50 games)
'09-'10: 14.0 PER .530 TS% 20.5 AST% 13.2 TO% 102 ORTg .065 WS/48 (56 games)

Oh god.

[MJG]

That player option we gave him is annoying me. It's lose-lose for us. If his fifth year plays out like his previous four, then we're stuck the following year paying a couple of million to someone who shouldn't be in the regular rotation. If he proves to be a solid backup, then our reward for taking a chance on signing him for two years is him opting out.

It reminds me so much of us throwing our second round pick in with the Okafor/Ariza deal last year. What word is the opposite of "shrewd"? That's us in a nutshell.

[AFM]

Honestly, his stats are bad but every team he's played for likes him and thinks he's a quality back up.
From SI:

GRADE: B. This is exactly the right price for the Wizards to pay, and Washington appears to be the right opportunity for Maynor to maintain a solid rotation role on a team that is looking for its first postseason berth since 2008. The only thing lacking here is home run potential, but both team and player surely enter this agreement with managed expectations. Maynor’s impact will be felt immediately — when compared to last season’s most desperate moments — and he should enjoy the comfort that comes with not being in a perpetual dogfight for minutes.

[DCZards]

This is my basic take on Maynor and why I think he’s a better fit for the Zards than Price or some of the other free agent PGs. Of course, he has weaknesses as well—defense, long-range shooting, etc.

From Sports Illustration NBA online:

“The strength of Maynor’s game lies in his ability to run a halfcourt offense in a controlled fashion. A pass-first point guard, Maynor is adept at moving the ball, operating in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations, finding shooters after breaking down a defense, and generally keeping his wits about him.”

“Even if he doesn’t provide a “wow” factor, Maynor will ensure that the Wizards don’t fall completely off a cliff on offense and he will serve as a nice set-up man for rising sophomore Bradley Beal when they play together. The ugly, grinding play and contested jumpers late in the shot clock that defined Washington’s early struggles last season should be a thing of the past.”

[DCZards]

After the draft the biggest need on the roster was a quality backup for Wall. EG addresses this need with Eric Maynor on the 1st day of free agency while other much better options are unsigned.

So what free agent PGs would you have preferred that the Zards sign? Who are those better options?

[Kanyewest]

Why are we not going after Bledsoe somehow...he would be a perfect 3rd guard. I want an attacker as our backup point guard...one who can score and attack the rim. Not a broke down facilitator who can't defend.

Why not Bledsoe? Because the Wizards would have to give up something to get something in this case. The Clippers value Bledsoe and they have tiltle aspirations. The Wizards would have to give up something that would actually help the Clippers make a title run.

[pancakes3]

After the draft the biggest need on the roster was a quality backup for Wall. EG addresses this need with Eric Maynor on the 1st day of free agency while other much better options are unsigned.

So what free agent PGs would you have preferred that the Zards sign? Who are those better options?

I like Maynor but I think Aaron Brooks and Calderon are both available.

[tontoz]

After the draft the biggest need on the roster was a quality backup for Wall. EG addresses this need with Eric Maynor on the 1st day of free agency while other much better options are unsigned.

So what free agent PGs would you have preferred that the Zards sign? Who are those better options?

Nate and Collison top the list. Brooks and Calderon are worth a look as well. I don't think teams were chomping at the bit to sign Maynor.