Davis Bertans "the Latvian Laser"

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Every player is available in a trade -- it all depends on what's on offer. Tommy is saying what you should say. His words translate to, "If you want Davis Bertans, then you better come prepared to pay a high price for him."

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Read on Twitter

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Definitely worth listening to the interview with Tommy. 3 key takeaways:

1. We have a plan, & we're on plan.
2. Patience is key.
3. We want to be better next year.

#s 1 & 2 are the high order bits. As to his saying "we want to be better next year," who doesn't?

Would you expect a GM to say, "we want to be worse next year?" &, unless his team just won the title, would you expect a GM to say, "we want to be the same next year as we are this year?"

Words like that aren't a declaration of strategy, any more than saying "we intend to keep him" means we'll keep Davis Bertans.

[DCZards]

Read on Twitter

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Definitely worth listening to the interview with Tommy. 3 key takeaways:

1. We have a plan, & we're on plan.
2. Patience is key.
3. We want to be better next year.

#s 1 & 2 are the high order bits. As to his saying "we want to be better next year," who doesn't?

Would you expect a GM to say, "we want to be worse next year?" &, unless his team just won the title, would you expect a GM to say, "we want to be the same next year as we are this year?"

Words like that aren't a declaration of strategy, any more than saying "we intend to keep him" means we'll keep Davis Bertans.

I think you underestimate takeaway #3. When Tommy talks about Wall and his rehab (around the 5 minute mark) and having Wallstar back next year with Beal--and the development of Rui, Bryant & Brown--it sounds pretty obvious to me that he's talking about a short-term rebuild, for better or for worse, and not some 3-plus year plan.

I agree with those who've suggested that when Beal signed an extension he did so with the belief that Shepherd & Co. were going to be patient yet, at the same time, focused on building a contending team around the Wall-Beal combo while they're in their prime...which means sooner rather than later.

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I don't disagree with that, Zards. I just don't think they'll trade young players or future assets to do it. Or, if they did that, I think it'd be a big-time mistake -- an Ernie-style mistake. & I think that, tho unstated, get thee behind me, ernie may be the biggest single strategic principle at present!

Whether "a contending team around the Wall-Beal combine" is possible is another question altogether. So far, there has been nothing resembling a contending team based on them.

Still, if Wall comes back at his best, & we can afford to retain Bertans, & all the young'uns develop optimally... why not? Just don't trade any draft picks for veterans who are going to "help us now."

[Kanyewest]

Isn't there going to be a lot of money in 2020, given that all the bad contracts signed in 2016 are set to expire? Isn't this free agency class very weak meaning Bertans is likely to get paid? I am for bringing back Bertans but not at an unfriendly contract. Then again maybe the Wizards get a few assets for him in a sign and trade but probably not as much as they would get at the trade deadline.

[pcbothwel]

Isn't there going to be a lot of money in 2020, given that all the bad contracts signed in 2016 are set to expire? Isn't this free agency class very weak meaning Bertans is likely to get paid? I am for bringing back Bertans but not at an unfriendly contract. Then again maybe the Wizards get a few assets for him in a sign and trade but probably not as much as they would get at the trade deadline.

A couple teams have quite a bit of cap space, but Bertans really is an odd fit for those teams. Outside of maybe ATL, I dont see them being interested in the 15M per range.
Also, Declining viewership and the China market showing issues, I think teams will be tepid about commiting money to non-stars/ high end starters.
We shouldnt hesitate to offer a front loaded 3 year deal at 40M.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

How great was that to have Bertans on our side and 'Splief on the other team. Even with Morris' early scoring, I just knew that at some crucial moment, he'd be goaded into doing something stupid that hurts his team's chances down the stretch. And, bingo.

[Illmatic12]

Sounds like the interest in staying is mutual. Interview from Bertans' agent (also the agent of Wizards' Latvian center Pasecniks)

"Tommy [Sheppard] has done an incredible job of putting together this staff, team, and the players feel super cared about. It's been an all-around great experience," Kalnitis said in a phone interview last week. "After Davis' first two weeks with the team, he called me and said, 'This is great.'

"Davis is super confident in Washington and this situation really allows him to showcase his abilities. If he stays in D.C. next season they'll have an even more interesting dynamic with John [Wall] healthy. Davis truly believes they can be a force in the East so I'm sure that will be a strong point for him," Kalnitis added. "Winning is important."

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/winning-important-davis-bertans-agent-his-future-dc

[pcbothwel]

Sounds like the interest in staying is mutual. Interview from Bertans' agent (also the agent of Wizards' Latvian center Pasecniks)

"Tommy [Sheppard] has done an incredible job of putting together this staff, team, and the players feel super cared about. It's been an all-around great experience," Kalnitis said in a phone interview last week. "After Davis' first two weeks with the team, he called me and said, 'This is great.'

"Davis is super confident in Washington and this situation really allows him to showcase his abilities. If he stays in D.C. next season they'll have an even more interesting dynamic with John [Wall] healthy. Davis truly believes they can be a force in the East so I'm sure that will be a strong point for him," Kalnitis added. "Winning is important."

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/winning-important-davis-bertans-agent-his-future-dc

Agreed. Only the Suns, Blazers, and Grizzlies have cap space, arent waiting until 2021, and have a good roster... I think Davis picks us over them all things being equal

[payitforward]

Sounds like the interest in staying is mutual. Interview from Bertans' agent (also the agent of Wizards' Latvian center Pasecniks)

"Tommy [Sheppard] has done an incredible job of putting together this staff, team, and the players feel super cared about. It's been an all-around great experience," Kalnitis said in a phone interview last week. "After Davis' first two weeks with the team, he called me and said, 'This is great.'

"Davis is super confident in Washington and this situation really allows him to showcase his abilities. If he stays in D.C. next season they'll have an even more interesting dynamic with John [Wall] healthy. Davis truly believes they can be a force in the East so I'm sure that will be a strong point for him," Kalnitis added. "Winning is important."

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/winning-important-davis-bertans-agent-his-future-dc

Agreed. Only the Suns, Blazers, and Grizzlies have cap space, arent waiting until 2021, and have a good roster... I think Davis picks us over them all things being equal

That's great. I read something from him a couple of weeks ago saying that he'd "give up a couple of millions" to be playing a lot -- i.e. to be a key member of a team.

It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

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Happily, even after going 6-28 in the last 2 games, Davis is still scoring more points more efficiently this season than last, overall. Per 36 minutes, he's producing just under 5.2 more points than he did in SA last year on just over 3.9 more possessions.

His scoring efficiency bump from last year to this year is quite small: his TS% is up from 63.2% last year to 64% this year. But... that's on a 37% jump in usage, so it's definitely significant -- impressive, in fact.

The rest of his numbers this year are almost exactly the same as last year & the year before. & those numbers are significantly sub-par for an NBA 4.

Until this year in fact, Davis was a significantly sub-par NBA 4 -- despite his shooting prowess. That's why he was available for a TPE (or, to put it another way, that's why SA preferred to sign Marcus Morris rather than keep Bertans).

Increasing both his usage & his TS% has moved Davis Bertans overall numbers up to just about average for an NBA 4.

[nate33]

Happily, even after going 6-28 in the last 2 games, Davis is still scoring more points more efficiently this season than last, overall. Per 36 minutes, he's producing just under 5.2 more points than he did in SA last year on just over 3.9 more possessions.

His scoring efficiency bump from last year to this year is quite small: his TS% is up from 63.2% last year to 64% this year. But... that's on a 37% jump in usage, so it's definitely significant -- impressive, in fact.

The rest of his numbers this year are almost exactly the same as last year & the year before. & those numbers are significantly sub-par for an NBA 4.

Until this year in fact, Davis was a significantly sub-par NBA 4 -- despite his shooting prowess. That's why he was available for a TPE (or, to put it another way, that's why SA preferred to sign Marcus Morris rather than keep Bertans).

Increasing both his usage & his TS% has moved Davis Bertans overall numbers up to just about average for an NBA 4.

Again, your evaluation does not account for Bertans' gravity. He's valuable not just because he scores efficiently. He is valuable because of where and how he scores efficiently. He makes life much easier for his teammates because the lane is less crowded and defenders can't hedge off of him when he sets screens.

"Just about average" PF's don't post on/off differentials of +14.5.

[trast66]

It’s an open question whether his effectiveness or body can stand up against starters and/or 30 minutes per game. I have my doubts. What do you pay a guy to come off the bench for 20 minutes to shoot lights out and free up open space for whole team (and be a liability on defense)? He’s a perfect fit for the Lakers or Sixers, he could be the addition to put them a round further in playoffs. For the 2020-2021 Wizards, I’m not sure he is difference between 8th and 10th seed.

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Happily, even after going 6-28 in the last 2 games, Davis is still scoring more points more efficiently this season than last, overall. Per 36 minutes, he's producing just under 5.2 more points than he did in SA last year on just over 3.9 more possessions.

His scoring efficiency bump from last year to this year is quite small: his TS% is up from 63.2% last year to 64% this year. But... that's on a 37% jump in usage, so it's definitely significant -- impressive, in fact.

The rest of his numbers this year are almost exactly the same as last year & the year before. & those numbers are significantly sub-par for an NBA 4.

Until this year in fact, Davis was a significantly sub-par NBA 4 -- despite his shooting prowess. That's why he was available for a TPE (or, to put it another way, that's why SA preferred to sign Marcus Morris rather than keep Bertans).

Increasing both his usage & his TS% has moved Davis Bertans overall numbers up to just about average for an NBA 4.

Again, your evaluation does not account for Bertans' gravity. He's valuable not just because he scores efficiently. He is valuable because of where and how he scores efficiently. He makes life much easier for his teammates because the lane is less crowded and defenders can't hedge off of him when he sets screens.

"Just about average" PF's don't post on/off differentials of +14.5.

Now, nate... read my concluding sentence again, please!

[nate33]

Now, nate... read my concluding sentence again, please!

I did. You stated that Bertans superb play this year has moved him up the ranks of PF's so that he can now be characterized as "just about average".

I'm saying he's better than an average PF.

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Nah... I said on the season "his overall numbers" were "up to just about average." -- whereas in previous years, they had been below average. &, I pointed out, that overall improvement was despite his last two awful shooting games (which, after all, added 10% to his season minutes!).

I also observed that before those two games his overall numbers were well above average. Now, I hope you don't think I'm dumb enough to imagine that Davis Bertans actually became a worse player over the 3 days in which those games took place!

I also mentioned, & lauded, the fact that his shooting improvement this season has been on a 37% jump in usage: "definitely significant -- impressive, in fact." Nor do I expect him to go 6-28 in 2 successive games again any time soon!

Davis is having an outstanding season.

[Ruzious]

Lol, I wanted a Pif translator for Christmas. Kidding - maybe. Happy holidays - definitely!

[closg00]

Lots of interests in the Laser
https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/01/06/denver-boston-reportedly-among-teams-seeking-davis-bertans-trade/

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Lots of interests in the Laser
https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/01/06/denver-boston-reportedly-among-teams-seeking-davis-bertans-trade/

"...Sixers, Hawks and Lakers, ...Celtics and Nuggets have emerged as suitors..."

If there's real competition to land Bertans at the deadline, that will significantly increase what we would be able to get for him. The Sixers, Lakers & Nuggets

The Celtics have 3 R1 picks next year -- their own (@#26-28 -- ?), the Grizzlies' (in the lottery), & Milwaukee's (#29-30 --?). Hard to imagine Boston trading that lottery pick for Davis. But, no way are they bringing on 3 rookies again, as they did last year. It's not inconceivable that they'd give 1 or both of the low R1 picks for Davis.

The Hawks have the Nets pick (probably @ #17) in addition to their own. I can imagine them moving the Nets pick for Bertans. Or... am I dreaming?

The Pelicans have the #5 pick in R2 -- right now, that'd get us Tylor Bey. Would they give Josh Hart plus that pick?

These are all deals I would do in a minute! I'm keeping in mind the fact that it's not a lock that we'll be able to re-sign Davis Bertans.

[Ruzious]

That's the thing - no guarantee we re-sign him, and if they do sign him - what will be his price?

Trade deadline is a month away - 2/6/20.

In the meantime, a significant Injury to a playoff teams could up the demand for him.