Alex Sarr

[9 and 20]

I'm watching and it's hard not to be worried about how he looks, even considering the number of rebounds. He looks pretty good controlling the paint, guarding smaller players on the perimeter, and protecting the rim on defense, but that's about it. On the boards, he looks soft. On offense, he looks soft.

I really like watching Gaff play - clearly was giving his all, even if he had limitations. I don't see that at all when I watch Sarr play.

You mean the 22 year old Gafford who came to us after nearly flaming out of the league in Chicago. In Chicago he was averaging less than 5 points a game and under 4 rebounds. When he got a 2nd chance he re-dedicated himself to the game and started to play with full effort. Still never was a superior rebounder. Much as I question Sarr's game I still figure he deserves a chance to grow and improve before I will say he has no chance to get better.

Agree with all - deserves a chance to improve no doubt. Hope it doesn't need to wait until he's 22 and on his second team though for us to see it.

[barelyawake]

This meditation is helping me. Passing on in case it helps others. Think of Sarr not as a star PF (which will be hell to develop) or a rebounding/blocking center (which will also be a different hell to develop), think of him as a 3-d SF. That way he can spot shoot threes and roam on defense defending five positions. And his rebounding and distribution come as bonuses.

Bub
Coolbaby
Sarr
Flagg
Clingan(type)

Dominant on the boards and moving the ball. Most of the offense is Bub and Flagg, with Kispert, Coolbaby and Sarr draining from three and putbacks.

[nate33]

This meditation is helping me. Passing on in case it helps others. Think of Sarr not as a star PF (which will be hell to develop) or a rebounding/blocking center (which will also be a different hell to develop), think of him as a 3-d SF. That way he can spot shoot threes and roam on defense defending five positions. And his rebounding and distribution come as bonuses.

Bub
Coolbaby
Sarr
Flagg
Clingan(type)

Dominant on the boards and moving the ball. Most of the offense is Bub and Flagg, with Kispert, Coolbaby and Sarr draining from three and putbacks.

As I said in another thread, you trade skill for size as you move up a position. Point guards are the most skilled guys on the roster and the shortest, Centers are the least skilled guys on the roster, and the tallest.

The distinction between a small forward and a power forward is that the small forward is more offensively skilled, but at a cost of defensive size. You need your small forward to have some ball skills and shooting - preferably at least a Kyle Kuzma type of skill and versatility. If he can't do that, you are putting your team at a massive disadvantage on offense. The power forward can be more limited on offense - mostly just a catch-and-shoot from the corner guy.

Sarr cannot remotely be considered a small forward. It's a big stretch to even consider him a power forward at the moment in terms of offensive skill. Let's hope he can even develop a PF's skillset before we start talking about him becoming a small forward.

[barelyawake]

Your definitions of small forward and PF are antiquated. His problems are he can’t post-up PF and centers because he’s too thin/soft. But, he’s quick enough to guard one through five. You’d rather him posting up SFs or spot shooting over them, than trying to bang with players he shies away from. You’d also dominate the boards, as I said, which acts to start the fast break, and you have fast thin players to take advantage of that.

[nate33]

Your definitions of small forward and PF are antiquated. His problems are he can’t post-up PF and centers because he’s too thin/soft. But, he’s quick enough to guard one through five. You’d rather him posting up SFs or spot shooting over them, than trying to bang with players he shies away from. You’d also dominate the boards, as I said, which acts to start the fast break, and you have fast thin players to take advantage of that.

If you played him at "small forward", the other team would still guard him with their "power forward", which would still expose him to all the problems of physicality that you are trying to avoid.

The only way you could get Sarr into a favorable matchup against an opposition's SF is if you played Sarr alongside a big burly PF big enough that the other team had to guard that PF with their PF. If, for example, we acquired a guy like Aaron Gordon or Naz Reid, you could play Sarr at "small forward" as you desire, but the offense would bog down because there wouldn't be enough skilled offensive players on the floor.

[AFM]

It's more likely the position you play is the position you defend, no?

[nate33]

It's more likely the position you play is the position you defend, no?

It doesn't matter what we label him.

My point is that if he is playing the "small forward" role on offense, it implies that he is playing alongside at least two players who have less ball-handling/shooting/passing skills than he does on offense. And if Sarr is our third best ball-handler/passer/shooter on the floor, our offense will be a train wreck.

[barelyawake]

Their best defender is going on Flagg. And Sarr’s main problem currently is he wants to develop into KD with none of his mid-range skills, and also shying away from larger players. Telling him his job on offense is threes and crashing the boards would help considering those are the skills he has somewhat developed already, rather than the “I want to expand my game” journey we are about to undertake.

And again, Flagg is a generational player. And everyone in my lineup is a good passer.

Anyway… you disagree… fine…

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

[9 and 20]

Watch on YouTube

Oppenheimered. Mostly deserved for how poop he played in that game.

The thing that drives me crazy about KAT is he's so damn big but doesn't use it enough (at all) on offense or on defense. Instead launches 3's all day. Sarr reminds me of that.

[closg00]

That video was some brutal truth, send Alex to basketball camp to learn some basics.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Yeah I've seen enough. Dawkins is ****. Sarr 100% cannot play and it's obvious. Zero BBIQ, soft, and unskilled. He might just be worse than Shep or even Ernie.

[payitforward]

Watch on YouTube

Oppenheimered. Mostly deserved for how poop he played in that game.

The thing that drives me crazy about KAT is he's so damn big but doesn't use it enough (at all) on offense or on defense. Instead launches 3's all day. Sarr reminds me of that.

So, you're saying Sarr will be as big a "bust" as KAT? Is that it?

[payitforward]

Yeah I've seen enough. Dawkins is ****. Sarr 100% cannot play and it's obvious. Zero BBIQ, soft, and unskilled. He might just be worse than Shep or even Ernie.

The well-founded frustration of a long-time Wizards fan!

Alex Sarr is a kid. He just turned 19! & he was extremely successful in a tough pro league. & Dawkins has pointed out that he'll start out strong on defense & have to develop on the offensive end!

& Dawkins is certainly not **** (whatever you mean to imply beneath the asterisks)! He had a good off season last year, & he just had what looks like a very promising draft.

OTOH, after many years of frustration, I guess no one can be blamed for skepticism!

[closg00]

Watch on YouTube

[badinage]

This is what I’ve learned from Summer League.

If a guy looks great, it doesn’t mean anything. Cf, Glen Rice, Jr.

If a guy looks so-so, it doesn’t mean anything. Cf, Bradley Beal.

If a guy looks awful, it means something. Not that a guy will bust, but that you’re most likely looking at — if you’re lucky — a contributor. Not a game-changer. Not a primo piece. Cf, Otto Porter — and that’s the charitable example.

[DCZards]

Sarr struggled mightedly offensively during SL, but he played well defensively. His defensive versatility will be his initial calling card. Hopefully, he improves offensively.

[DukeLecker]

Sarr struggled mightedly offensively during SL, but he played well defensively. His defensive versatility will be his initial calling card. Hopefully, he improves offensively.

Watch that YouTube video breaking down Sarrs play in summer league and you’ll see instance after instance of really poor defensive fundamentals. Bad stance and footwork. No physical presence in sealing out his man, drifting instead of finding the offensives threats, poor rebounding effort and boxing out. Really bad awareness on the perimeter. Alarming to me. He got some blocks because he’s tall. Hey, how bout that.

[DCZards]

Sarr struggled mightedly offensively during SL, but he played well defensively. His defensive versatility will be his initial calling card. Hopefully, he improves offensively.

Watch that YouTube video breaking down Sarrs play in summer league and you’ll see instance after instance of really poor defensive fundamentals. Bad stance and footwork. No physical presence in sealing out his man, drifting instead of finding the offensives threats, poor rebounding effort and boxing out. Really bad awareness on the perimeter. Alarming to me. He got some blocks because he’s tall. Hey, how bout that.

Yeah…but you’ll also see a fluid athlete who moves seamlessly from guarding guys on the perimeter to protecting the rim…who uses his length to disrupt ball handlers looking to penetrate.

Others may disagree, but I love the 19 yr old Sarr’s defensive upside.

[gambitx777]

The kids already a good defender. He can already contribute there. On day one. So he really isn't a bust. He needs to learn. He needs to eat steak and learn what "protein powder" every one else takes, oear how to life for function and not just for form so he can get big jacked and strong.

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