The Javale McGee Appreciation thread - part deux

[Dat2U]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/ ... s-deadline

The Blazers are positioning themselves to have tons of cap room this summer and they don't want to do anything to eliminate their space as they try to rebuild around LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. The Blazers continue to shop the rest of their roster, particularly Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby and Jamal Crawford

Wizards angle: Unless we offer something ridiculous, Batum may not be a realistic item. Portland seems intent on keeping him.

The Blazers recently offered Crawford to the L.A. Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, but the Clippers were not interested. While they like Crawford, they are concerned about his ability to opt out of his contract after this season (which Crawford definitely will do, sources say), and they feel that Bledsoe will have great value at draft time because there are few point guards in the draft.

Wizards angle: Nick Young could still potentially be in play since he's an FA, but the Clips don't seem interested in moving Bledsoe. A 2nd rounder might be all we could hope for.

Golden State's preference was to trade Stephen Curry instead of Monta Ellis but several teams that previously liked Curry better than Ellis changed their stance recently, in part because of Curry's persistent ankle injuries.

Wizards angle: Too bad the Bucks already traded for Bogut b/c I'd have loved to get in on a McGee/Curry swap. Curry's injuries are concerning, but I'd have no problem shutting him down for the rest of the season to get healthy. With his value depressed due to his ankle, I wonder if we could steal him away for some combo of Ves, Booker, Singleton and filler while eating Biedrins deal.

Dorell Wright was upset that he was not traded along with Ellis. Wright is dying to get out of Golden State.

Wizards angle: Low cost aquistion at a position of need. If he wants out, I'd take a look at what he can be had for.

Atlanta is listening to trade offers for Josh Smith, who reportedly wants out. But sources say the Hawks aren't likely to make a move before the deadline and instead may attempt to move one of their top three players -- Joe Johnson, Al Horford or Smith -- in the summer.

Wizards angle: This is deal I would go after hard. I'd offer Atlanta any young player on the roster, sans John Wall and see if they would bite. McGee + Vesely or Singleton or Booker... it doesn't matter. I'd do anything but offer a 2012 1st to make it happen.

[Halcyon]

My guess is he gets laughed at with that $14 mil, and he signs the QO like Young did.

[penbeast0]

McGee and Young could go as a pair . . . for just 23 million dollars, your team could be as good as the Wizards of 2011/12.

[dangermouse]

14 million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These clowns are off their heads. (Nick and Javale)

He thinks he is worth more than DeAndre Jordan. That is borderline all-star money. I dont care how deeply the centre position is in drought currently, I would only pay him half that. Flat.


Actually I wouldnt pay him at all. Let the clown walk and some other team take a flyer on his upside. Id be happy to start Seraphin and get Vesely to hit the weights to play his backup next year. I guarantee it increases our wins.

[ty123]

I thought guys on here wanted to pay him Deandre Jordan type of money. This guy has no spot on a winning team.

[Dat2U]

Geez people! Who cares about what his agent demands?! It's all a part of negotiating and attempting to set the market. It really means nothing! He's not getting $14 mil. I'm not sure why this is even an issue.

[Saqs]

Well.....at least he didnt lowball himself.... lol

[ty123]

Geez people! Who cares about what his agent demands?! It's all a part of negotiating and attempting to set the market. It really means nothing! He's not getting $14 mil. I'm not sure why this is even an issue.

This guy doesn't even deserve half that money.

[closg00]

Took this from Mike Prada.

"Dray won't be moved due to a lack of interest," one person with knowledge of the situation said on Wednesday. According to an ESPN.com report, the Wizards tried to pair JaVale McGee with Blatche to get teams to budge, but the same source said that package "doesn't get it done."

So Ernie is so-desperate to unload Dray that he was willing to dump McGee right along with him. No takers yet. This again might show what the potential value of McGee might be out-there....not THAT high.

[Rafael122]

I think this is also telling us Ernie probably isn't looking to re-sign him to a long term deal. This team is gonna look very different next season.

[Bickerstaff]

Geez people! Who cares about what his agent demands?! It's all a part of negotiating and attempting to set the market. It really means nothing! He's not getting $14 mil. I'm not sure why this is even an issue.

Exactly. People are so over the top with negativity lately, reacting to every tiny thing like it's the end of the effing world, and getting furious when they can't have constant instant gratification. Reading fan comments about the wizards has become as tiring (and tiresome) as reading comments after political articles. People's lack of patience and flexibility is stunning to me. Really wish we all held ourselves to the same standards to which we hold our Famous People.

[Rafael122]

Lack of patience? McGee is still the same player he was when he came into the league!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think this is also telling us Ernie probably isn't looking to re-sign him to a long term deal. This team is gonna look very different next season.

If Ernie is the one assembling the team it will look different, but Grunfeld will end up just getting a new set of deck chairs for the Titanic.

[Bickerstaff]

Lack of patience? McGee is still the same player he was when he came into the league!

He very clearly isn't, unless you choose to only focus on his worst aspects--which, even though they do still exist, are generally not as bad as they used to be. And even if he is the same player, that's not a terrible thing. Not a $14M/yr thing, but people are acting like the team would be better off just cutting him (the same way I'm guess they'd gladly cut off their noses to spite their dumb faces).

Anyway, I'm not defending Javale McGee so much as calling today's modern Wizards fans a bunch of unpleasant babies. Which is fine. Knock yourselves out. Most sports fans are mean-spirited creeps. Hell, I live in New York. The fans here are disgusting. There is no hell hot enough for these sickos. But Bullets/Wizards fans used to be a cut above, and it's a real disappointment to me that this is what it's turned into, people freaking out because of a rumor about the kind of contract Javale wanted (which, not that anyone cares, was quickly refuted by his reps). I wish some people would worry about fixing the Wizards less and fixing themselves more.

[Johnny Kilroy]

javale mcgee is the funniest player i have ever seen. if he can keep doing those idiotic things on the court, he's worth the $14 mil .

[Rafael122]

Lack of patience? McGee is still the same player he was when he came into the league!

He very clearly isn't, unless you choose to only focus on his worst aspects--which, even though they do still exist, are generally not as bad as they used to be. And even if he is the same player, that's not a terrible thing. Not a $14M/yr thing, but people are acting like the team would be better off just cutting him (the same way I'm guess they'd gladly cut off their noses to spite their dumb faces).

Anyway, I'm not defending Javale McGee so much as calling today's modern Wizards fans a bunch of unpleasant babies. Which is fine. Knock yourselves out. Most sports fans are mean-spirited creeps. Hell, I live in New York. The fans here are disgusting. There is no hell hot enough for these sickos. But Bullets/Wizards fans used to be a cut above, and it's a real disappointment to me that this is what it's turned into, people freaking out because of a rumor about the kind of contract Javale wanted (which, not that anyone cares, was quickly refuted by his reps). I wish some people would worry about fixing the Wizards less and fixing themselves more.

He doesn't box out, he doesn't know how to play pick and roll defense. He doesn't know how to set screens. Quite simply, the man doesn't know how to play basketball. Period. He knows how to jump and dunk. And you guys want to pay him $8 million a year? The things I mentioned he's not all of a sudden going to pick up. Not here, not anywhere. He is who he is, take the goggles off

[montestewart]

I've been a Bullets/Wizards fan since the 70s. I'm used to losing. They got to the 2nd round only once in 30 years (only to be swept). That's not negativity. That's reality. I've got all the patience in the world.

McGee has world class natural ability, but much like a high usage scorer that does little else, his numbers and amazing leaps make him look better than his overall play, and create an illusion--for him, his agent, and for some fans--that he's a better addition to the team than he really is.

At the right price, it won't so horrible a risk to keep him, and maybe he actually takes steps in the right direction under the right coach. If the Wizards pay too much and he never progresses or even regresses, it could set the franchise back years.

Really wish we all held ourselves to the same standards to which we hold our Famous People.

I expect famous people to be famous, and I expect the same from myself. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying.

[WizarDynasty]

I love what McGee could have become with the right general manager. As of now, he shows absolutely zero leadership skills on the court. He isn't the player that leads by example and gets mad at his team mates when they don't perform at a certain level. If he did that, i would show more appreciation.

[Bickerstaff]

I've been a Bullets/Wizards fan since the 70s. I'm used to losing. They got to the 2nd round only once in 30 years (only to be swept). That's not negativity. That's reality. I've got all the patience in the world.

McGee has world class natural ability, but much like a high usage scorer that does little else, his numbers and amazing leaps make him look better than his overall play, and create an illusion--for him, his agent, and for some fans--that he's a better addition to the team than he really is.

At the right price, it won't so horrible a risk to keep him, and maybe he actually takes steps in the right direction under the right coach. If the Wizards pay too much and he never progresses or even regresses, it could set the franchise back years.

I agree, but then again, you're a reasonable person and therefore an aberration.

As for Javale, I don't think he's a very good player, but that's not the same thing as him being a horrible player, as many here like to believe. I would rather see him let go outright than get some giant contract, but I'm also willing to not freak out yet about a contract that doesn't even exist. The flip side to people wanting to see the hometown players as better than they are are people who want to undervalue every player who doesn't reach his ceiling. Just because a player doesn't turn into the player we wanted him to become doesn't mean he sucks. (And honestly, it's the plethora of "Sucky" threads that's turned me against this place. It was funny when it was just Chucky Atkins, but when it becomes EVERY SINGLE PERSON involved with the team, it just feels gross.)

[Bickerstaff]

I love what McGee could have become with the right general manager. As of now, he shows absolutely zero leadership skills on the court. He isn't the player that leads by example and gets mad at his team mates when they don't perform at a certain level. If he did that, i would show more appreciation.

So instead, you use your sig to vent about how much everyone sucks. To each his own. I love what you could have become with the right... (Somebody else fill in the blank.)