nate33 wrote:I gotta say, Hands11 makes a pretty compelling argument. EG was trash for a long time, but he has steered the ship very well over the past 3 years. If he can land a starting-caliber stretch four in this draft, I might become a believer.
Seems the most important decisions they made was around investing fully in Wall and them rightfully selecting Beal. Remember, they could have selected Cousins another great physically skilled players that needed an investment in maturing properly.. Cousins.
Look at the path Kyrie was on before LeBron came home.
Wall was a really raw young talent with amazing physical abilities that needed great mentoring to mature properly. It was not a given he would develop into the player and person he is today. The team gets a lot of create for their decisions to foster his development. Washington did much better with Wall then SAC has made out with Cousins.
The Wizards made huge investments in Wall. They made a clear decision back when they started bringing in players like Nene, Okafor and Trevor A, that everyone wasn't going to make it. Everyone isn't equally important. Everything become about building around Wall and getting him to the playoffs. Specially once they landed Beal who was the perfect pick to go next to him. Not just because of his shooting but his personality, drive and clean God centered family demeanor. I think those two have complimented, pushed, and grown as young men together.
Wall struck me as someone that could go the way like a Gil or AI. Super talented players that didn't mature properly. But instead, because of the players and coaching they have put around him, he has matured in a much better professional mature direction in my book. Now they added Paul which was an amazingly good move for Wall, Beal and Otto and even the other vets. Just a great acquisition for the franchise as a whole. But you don't just get a Paul Pierce after sucking for as long as the Wizards did without having done a lot of right things first.
Anyway, about Wall, from what I recall, Wall's upbringing was more like Gils or a Mike Tyson. He had a rough go of things. Father in prison and died of cancer when he was young. That's tough stuff to deal with. Putting him in a no non sense professional environment where he was both supported and held accountable was really important to get the best out of him and develop him into WallStar. And oddly enough, Randy was actually a really good coach for him in style and demeanor. Randy is more like the stern father type that makes you do yard work and eat your veggies. His all in focus on defense has really helped Wall become a complete two way player. Adding Gortat helped him learn PnR. It been a 5 year process getting that young raw John Wall to become the players he is today.
Its actually turned out about as well as we could have hoped for Wall. He easily could have become on of the petulant brat spoiled NBA star types. Instead, he is well on his way to becoming a legit super talented mature focused NBA professional superstar man. Which is why I really want Paul Peirce back one more year. Paul can continue to mentor him in that direction. Beal and Otto as well.
You get that part right, and you have set your franchise up for years of success. That's stuff team like SAS have. Its hard to get but once you have it, its gold. I hope this team continues to bring in players like Truth after he leaves. Even if they are off the bench. I would love to have a year of an old Dirk here at some point. Keep in mind. If Paul played one more year, when he leaves, Wall will be only 26, Beal just 23 and Otto 23. They will still be very young men. Always good to have HOF vets around to mentor super talented players. Even players like Rasual are important. Having A Miller was great for Wall. And I'm sure Sam helped a lot as well.
Point is. They went all in on Wall to help turn his raw talent into who he is becoming. It was by no means a given he would be who he is today.
And since this is a league of superstars. Getting that right was HUGE.
And you know what's sick.. Wall and Beal aren't even all the way their yet and Otto is just getting started. Paul one more year would be huge. He can guide them there. He might even be able to set them on course to be future HOFers themselves. But to get their, he has to have an opportunity to continue to mold their minds. That what separates great talents from super stars/HOFers.
Come on back Paul. You got a little more work to do. Besides, we got some ECF games to play and it you get them there....
Why not use ?
Those of you who liked Muscala over Rice Jr or Wolters were more right than EG and I. 
