Trevor Booker

[Dat2U]

If you watched Dom McGuire in his first summer league he looked like a player. He was much more impressive than Nick Young. He had enough handle to take guys off the dribble & get into the lane. The jumper was shaky but he made a couple. You saw enough raw tools there to think that he was a solid upside pick. All he had to do was tighten up that handle & work on that J of his. At 21 that seemed like a decent possibility. Of course that hard working Dom developed neither came and he's now on his 3rd team as a 3rd stringer in Charlotte.

With the 23 yr old Booker, I don't even see that level of potential. Offensively he's pretty much a train wreck. There's no discernible skill. When your best offensive attribute is setting picks, your entering the Jarron Collins, Michael Ruffin level of offensive futility. He's got no jump shot to speak of and I don't think he's made a jumper yet this year. He has no handle. He can catch & finish on the break so I guess that separates him from Ruffin but he struggles mightily to finish in traffic. Unless he's having an otherworldly impact on the defensive end of the court he's not going to be a useful rotation player.

Right now I see him as a deep bench reserve who can be used in certain spot situations or match up against certain players. Maybe 5-10 minutes one night and none the next two nights. I don't see any real upside. Guys like that are a dime a dozen. James Singleton, Richard Hendrix or even a Stefan Lasme can give you more than what Booker brings to the table.

I guess in the big scheme of things though, most guys drafted 23rd or later don't become key contributors. But the pick was disappointing at the time and looking back on it in hindsight, I understand what EG was going for but I'd rather have taken two swings at 30 & 35 than trading up for a guy that amounts up to a very marginal prospect.

Go ahead and bash away.

[Hoopalotta]

Aside from the picks, I think he's at least shown that he has respectable passing instincts and can follow the plays we're calling well for a rookie. I don't see "train wreck". I also don't think he's such a bad finisher in traffic - I mean, on his worst shot attempts, yes it's bad, but he's shooting .46% from the field without a jumper strictly due to the interior shots (he's well above the league average). His best attribute there is that gets up right quick with respectable agility, so that's what he's gotta go with as far as attacking.

I can certainly accept that he was not the upside pick and have said on a number of occasions that I'm sure some guys picked later will outperform him. I can easily accept the trade up (didn't really like the 30 somethings), but the argument that the guards which went right after Booker would have been smarter picks is strong.

But we didn't take them, we took Booker, so I'm looking at him in isolation and not draft night. I'm not talking about a massive ceiling here, I'm talking about him working into being an 8th man. Failing that, the 4th big. Of course Booker will always be measured against the guys picked after him and we can go over the 2010 draft again too, but that's not exactly the same discussion as "How will/can Booker develop?"

[verbal8]

I think the closest player to Booker is Ronaldo Balkman. A 15 mpg undersized defensive specialist. I think Booker has a little more offensive potential, but will not be quite as good a rebounder. Another guy who has some similarities is Rodney Carney.

[Hoopalotta]

I think the closest player to Booker is Ronaldo Balkman. A 15 mpg undersized defensive specialist. I think Booker has a little more offensive potential, but will not be quite as good a rebounder. Another guy who has some similarities is Rodney Carney.

Yeah, I can see Balkamn, though Booker is thicker, but without the long arms.

I recall reading from the Nuggets guy who previously wrote on Hoopsworld that Karl basically came to give up on Balkman due to his not being interested in figuring out the Denver playbook. Supposedly, that's what did in old Renaldo.

To be wildly unrealistic for a moment, the guy I'd love to see Booker watch some tape of would be Cedric Ceballos. That guy had to be about the least sophisticated 20 a game scorer I ever saw. Of course he had a lot more guard skills than Booker, but aspects of that approach would be the ticket for Trevor.

[dobrojim]

to the earlier post pining that we could have had Singleton for
the MINIMUM. Not true. Singleton turned down the min to play
overseas for more $$$.

[nate33]

to the earlier post pining that we could have had Singleton for
the MINIMUM. Not true. Singleton turned down the min to play
overseas for more $$$.

We were in position to offer Singleton as much as $2.5M without impacting our ability to regnegotiate with Blatche.

[AnotherFinn]

Anyone know how much he is making in China?

[Ruzious]

to the earlier post pining that we could have had Singleton for
the MINIMUM. Not true. Singleton turned down the min to play
overseas for more $$$.

We were in position to offer Singleton as much as $2.5M without impacting our ability to regnegotiate with Blatche.

That's a Hoover - looking at things in a vacuum. You never know when that money could be used elsewhere. I appreciated Singleton's contributions here in his half-season with the Wiz, but signing him for 1 year would not have impacted significantly on what the Wiz are trying to do - rebuild.

[closg00]

Anyone know how much he is making in China?

It is highly likely that Singleton is making far less than the NBA vet minimum because he is not a former NBA star (check-out the link)
http://www.nbainchina.com/chinese-baske ... alary-cap/

Singleton gave his situtation the best spin possible on his way to China. Mike Lee wrote:

Singleton said the Wizards were like several NBA teams that expressed interest in signing him to the league minimum. He wouldn't give the terms of the deal but hinted that his contract in China was much more lucrative.

Thus the myth was created that Singleton had contract offers. There are no other articles, sources etc about teams wanting to sign him, this is Singleton's word only. I understand, the dude has his pride.

I admit to missing on Singleton's value to the team, Dat and Nate were on it early. It wasn't until the season was underway that it became obvious that Singleton was indeed needed very badly on this team that lacked toughness.

Booker (for now) is a downgrade from Singleton who I hope does not go the way of Dominic McGuire in a few years.

[nate33]

Don't get me wrong, Ruzious. I can live with the decision not to sign Singleton. I figure they didn't do it because they thought Booker could assume his role - and I think they are more or less accurate in that opinion.

All I'm saying is that cap room was not a limiting factor in the decision. After all of the significant offseason transactions (Yi, Hinrich, signing our picks), we still had about $8M in cap room - more than enough to regnegotiate Blatche AND sign Singleton. We chose not to do so for reasons other than financial ones.

[nate33]

It just dawned on me that Alonzo Gee is a better version of Booker; only he didn't cost us a draft pick.

[BanndNDC]

It just dawned on me that Alonzo Gee is a better version of Booker; only he didn't cost us a draft pick.

I had the same thought a couple games ago and i bet we wouldnt have drafted him if gee hadn't signed with san antonio last year. then i thought it best to try and forget that so i wouldnt get upset and start think about what we could have done.

[Hoopalotta]

It just dawned on me that Alonzo Gee is a better version of Booker; only he didn't cost us a draft pick.

I had the same thought a couple games ago and i bet we wouldnt have drafted him if gee hadn't signed with san antonio last year. then i thought it best to try and forget that so i wouldnt get upset and start think about what we could have done.

Dominique Jones and Jordan Crawford will probably be good names not to think about.

[manifested]

bump.

Dude played well last night against the Lakers bringing energy and toughness off the bench. I'd been disappointed in his play but that player looked like he might be worthy of the late first round pick.

He also showed why he should maybe be getting more minutes at PF (not SF). Even without a lot of polished post moves, he can use his quickness, hustle, and strength to finish inside. Especially when our PG is attacking the basket.

Can we please see more of him close to the basket rather than camped out beyond the foul line?

[tontoz]

bump.

Dude played well last night against the Lakers bringing energy and toughness off the bench. I'd been disappointed in his play but that player looked like he might be worthy of the late first round pick.

He also showed why he should maybe be getting more minutes at PF (not SF). Even without a lot of polished post moves, he can use his quickness, hustle, and strength to finish inside. Especially when our PG is attacking the basket.

Can we please see more of him close to the basket rather than camped out beyond the foul line?

Agreed. His standing reach of 8'10" compares just fine with Blake Griffin (8'9") and Al Horford (8'11").

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-dra ... os=0&sort=

Looking at his build and game he is a pure 4 in my view.

[Dat2U]

Someone hand me a fresh plate of crow please!

Booker played like a MAN last night. The only thing I was right about was that he is definitely a PF. His ability to finish in traffic was eye opening. And the energy level he played with is what I've been begging for since he was drafted. And he even made a friggin jumpshot!

When Blatche is healthy, Booker should be his backup and Yi shouldn't see another minute unless it's garbage time or someone gets hurt.

[nate33]

According to his DX measurements, Booker has the wingspan and standing reach to play PF. He also has incredible leaping ability. What I'd really like to see is for him to integrate his jumping ability into his offensive repetoire. Right now, he can finish well on the break because of his jumping ability, but it rarely helps him in the half court set. I'd like to see him develop a jump hook or a turnaround jumper a la a young Antonio McDyess. Or maybe work it into a more complex serious of spin moves and baseline drives a la Blake Griffin. Obviously, he also needs to hone his jumper.

My dream scenario is for Booker to make a huge leap this offseason and come back next year to seriously challenge Blatche at starting PF. I'd like to see a Booker/McGee combo starting, followed by a Blatche/Seraphin combo off the bench. That would work well because Booker and McGee would run with Wall better in the starting unit, whereas Blatche could be a primary offensive threat in a more half-court oriented second unit.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm not calling for Booker to start over Blatche right now. His offensive game in the half court is still terrible.

[manifested]

Agreed. His standing reach of 8'10" compares just fine with Blake Griffin (8'9") and Al Horford (8'11").

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-dra ... os=0&sort=

Looking at his build and game he is a pure 4 in my view.

Hadn't looked at his draft profile in a long time. Last night was the first time I really thought his athleticism showed. The guy's got speed, quickness, and a three foot vertical. Easy to forget that stuff when he's playing in unfamiliar spots on the court.

Because he's exuded the tough, muscular guy persona since he got here, I got it stuck in my head that he was a good rebounder in college. Looks like he wasn't really a standout in that respect as a senior (not bad, just not that good).

[Ruzious]

I think what sets him apart from guys like Dom McGuire and others in that mold is his intensity - not to criticise Dom at all - it's just that Booker is exceptional in that regard. I was watching him sitting on the bench in the 1st quarter when it looked like the Lakers were going to blow out the Wiz. It looked like there was a slow boil happening inside of him. It was like - even though these Lakers are the best team in the world, they are NOT going to embarrass my team. Put me in, and I'm gonna bash some Laker heads in. We're used to guys sitting on the bench relaxing and joking around. He's looking like an angry beast, and I like it.

[GoneShammGone]

Booker is the anti-Blatche. He is as raw as Blatche is skilled, as explosive as Blatche is sedentary, and as instense as Blatche is lazy. I'm starting to enjoy watching Book play was much as I'm frustrated watching Blatche. Question is which scenario is more likely: Blatche developing some of the intensity/toughness of Book? Or Book developing some of the skills of Blatche? Can we hope for a little of both? Either way I want to see Book on the court and Yi on the bench.