Summer 2012 Free Agents Thread - Part III

[hands11]

Why would you say they don't like him.

They drafted him. They played him last year. They have been trying to teach him how to be a PG which he is going to have to be if he is going to stick around in this league.

They haven't moved him yet and still might not.

But it was clear they needed to upgrade at PG after watching the team last year. Mack has a few more games to prove he deserves a spot. But if they decide on bringing in another player like Livingston, I have no problem with that either.

Mack is a bread and butter type back up. Thats not a bad thing. They just might want a little more. The downside risk of letting Mack go doesn't seem to be very high. I would imagine they could get him back pretty easy. Its a hard call. Not sure exactly what they should do. They have a few more games to figure it out. But time is running out.

[payitforward]

...it was clear they needed to upgrade at PG after watching the team last year. Mack has a few more games to prove he deserves a spot. ...Mack is a bread and butter type back up. Thats not a bad thing. They just might want a little more. The downside risk of letting Mack go doesn't seem to be very high. I would imagine they could get him back pretty easy. Its a hard call. Not sure exactly what they should do. They have a few more games to figure it out. But time is running out.

I don't really follow this. We "...needed to upgrade" and brought in Price and Pargo. So far, without question, Mack has outplayed Price and Pargo. So far, in other words, minutes to to Price and Pargo aren't an upgrade over Mack but the opposite.

That's no surprise, since Mack posted better overall numbers than either of those guys last year -- as a rookie who had no Training Camp, no work with the team, and was switching from SG to PG. Overall, if anything, he was a little better than Shaun Livingston as well last year. Livingston is a good story, and I'm glad to see him back in the league. But he's not the guy he was when young.

If we were to let Mack go, we'd be releasing the best player we have available at the position. Given that we guaranteed both Price and Pargo, it'd be hard to let either of them go. So, we're probably stuck. And once Wall is back, it makes little difference. He's going to eat up 35 minutes a game at PG, no? Probably not the place to be putting extra effort.

[P'Oed]

Would Josh Smith make this team a playoff team?

[Nivek]

...it was clear they needed to upgrade at PG after watching the team last year. Mack has a few more games to prove he deserves a spot. ...Mack is a bread and butter type back up. Thats not a bad thing. They just might want a little more. The downside risk of letting Mack go doesn't seem to be very high. I would imagine they could get him back pretty easy. Its a hard call. Not sure exactly what they should do. They have a few more games to figure it out. But time is running out.

I don't really follow this. We "...needed to upgrade" and brought in Price and Pargo. So far, without question, Mack has outplayed Price and Pargo. So far, in other words, minutes to to Price and Pargo aren't an upgrade over Mack but the opposite.

That's no surprise, since Mack posted better overall numbers than either of those guys last year -- as a rookie who had no Training Camp, no work with the team, and was switching from SG to PG. Overall, if anything, he was a little better than Shaun Livingston as well last year. Livingston is a good story, and I'm glad to see him back in the league. But he's not the guy he was when young.

If we were to let Mack go, we'd be releasing the best player we have available at the position. Given that we guaranteed both Price and Pargo, it'd be hard to let either of them go. So, we're probably stuck. And once Wall is back, it makes little difference. He's going to eat up 35 minutes a game at PG, no? Probably not the place to be putting extra effort.

You lack understanding for how to properly evaluate basketball players. Here are the principles to help you understand the error of your thinking:

1. If the Wizards acquired a player, he is good. Otherwise, the Wizards would not have acquired him.
2. If the Wizards acquire a veteran player who turns out not to be good on the floor, the acquisition was actually for said player's leadership. That player is helping change the culture or is teaching the young players how to become winners in the NBA.
3. All the Wizards youngsters have bright and spectacular futures in the NBA (see #1). If you properly understand the front office's Plan, you'd see the genius in their draft choices and trades. Their improvement is inevitable.
4. The Wizards must be careful about adding too much talent at this delicate stage in their rebuild. Far better to add established NBA players to provide certainty. And, of course, see #1.

There are almost certainly additional principles to aid in understanding the Wizards front office. These truths will be revealed to you over time.

[payitforward]

...additional principles to aid in understanding the Wizards front office ...will be revealed to you over time.

I think we both know what will be "revealed over time" -- pretty soon too. It's been revealed repeatedly. I only hope that this time it's revealed to Ted Leonsis too!

[Nivek]

Another principle:

5. If the Wizards pursue a player, but don't sign him, he never would have been successful with the Wizards anyway.

[DCZards]

I'm surprised at you, Nivek. You said you were tired of the bickering over whether or not the Zards were following "the plan." Instead, you've sunk to belittling the opinions of those that you disagree with. That's uncharacteristic of you.

[Nivek]

I'm just kidding around. I find the exuberant optimism of the preseason kinda amusing, that's all.

[DCZards]

I'm just kidding around. I find the exuberant optimism of the preseason kinda amusing, that's all.

I agree on the "exuberant optimism" about the preseason...that's why I've held off on chiming in. I do love what little I've seen of our top pick though.

[Nivek]

I agree with you on Beal. I liked him a lot before the draft, and I think he's going to be really good in time. He had good comps in my draft database.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

...it was clear they needed to upgrade at PG after watching the team last year. Mack has a few more games to prove he deserves a spot. ...Mack is a bread and butter type back up. Thats not a bad thing. They just might want a little more. The downside risk of letting Mack go doesn't seem to be very high. I would imagine they could get him back pretty easy. Its a hard call. Not sure exactly what they should do. They have a few more games to figure it out. But time is running out.

I don't really follow this. We "...needed to upgrade" and brought in Price and Pargo. So far, without question, Mack has outplayed Price and Pargo. So far, in other words, minutes to to Price and Pargo aren't an upgrade over Mack but the opposite.

That's no surprise, since Mack posted better overall numbers than either of those guys last year -- as a rookie who had no Training Camp, no work with the team, and was switching from SG to PG. Overall, if anything, he was a little better than Shaun Livingston as well last year. Livingston is a good story, and I'm glad to see him back in the league. But he's not the guy he was when young.

If we were to let Mack go, we'd be releasing the best player we have available at the position. Given that we guaranteed both Price and Pargo, it'd be hard to let either of them go. So, we're probably stuck. And once Wall is back, it makes little difference. He's going to eat up 35 minutes a game at PG, no? Probably not the place to be putting extra effort.

Thanks, payitforward. You said it better than I could have. My response would have been divisive. I would have tried to show the numbers that show Mack was better than those two.

I was upset with both acquisitions, Price and Pargo. They seemed like reflexive, we-need-a-veteran-but-we-cannot-tell-who-can-really-play moves. Too often the Wizards go with tried-and-true names rather than emerging talent. For some time it has been apparent to me the Wizards decision makers really don't properly project which players will excel. In fairness, I'm glad Washington drafted Beal, because I would have been wrong about Drummond and Barnes. I didn't want either but both dudes can play. It is easy for me to criticize the Wizards.

Instead of getting Pargo or Price the Wizards IMO should have waited to see which other FAs get caught up in numbers games for other teams. There are some really talented players being released.

Kelenna Azubuike may not be back to the player he was prior to hurting his knee, but that guy tore up the D-League and was a big-time scorer years back.

[payitforward]

I'm just kidding around. I find the exuberant optimism of the preseason kinda amusing, that's all.

I agree on the "exuberant optimism" about the preseason...that's why I've held off on chiming in. I do love what little I've seen of our top pick though.

Oh yes, Beal looks like a guy who can be very, very good. His game at 19 years old kind of amazes me.

[closg00]

Anybody been following/watching Eddy Curry, yeah that's-right, Eddy Curry. If SAS don't keep Curry at the vet minimum, is a perfectly acceptable vet-minimum Center. If Kevin is out for a while, I'd consider adding Curry for depth, at-least hecwn body up against the larger NBA centers. Flame away

[verbal8]

Anybody been following/watching Eddy Curry, yeah that's-right, Eddy Curry. If SAS don't keep Curry at the vet minimum, is a perfectly acceptable vet-minimum Center. If Kevin is out for a while, I'd consider adding Curry for depth, at-least hecwn body up against the larger NBA centers. Flame away

Yeah San Antonio looks like they have a ton of depth. They basically have one spot for Devin Brown, WItherspoon or Curry.

I think they may keep Eddy Curry. The thinking would be they can find a D-League player to replace Brown or Witherspoon, but NBA Centers don't exactly grow on trees. However if they need an injury replacement they may have to release Curry.

[BigA]

Anybody been following/watching Eddy Curry, yeah that's-right, Eddy Curry. If SAS don't keep Curry at the vet minimum, is a perfectly acceptable vet-minimum Center. If Kevin is out for a while, I'd consider adding Curry for depth, at-least hecwn body up against the larger NBA centers. Flame away

I don't think I want to touch it.

[queridiculo]

Would Josh Smith make this team a playoff team?

People don't really seem to like Josh Smith as a max to near max player primarily because of his lazy jumpers, but I happen to think that he makes up for it with his rebounding and tenacity on defense.

What worries me about Smith is the amount of mileage he has on his wheels. Despite only turning 27 this year he's entering his 9th season having topped 20,000 minutes for his career so far.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think the smartest thing the Wizards could do would be to try and swing a deal involving Josh Smith and Emeka Okafor, even if Smith won't stay with the Wizards beyond this season.

[llcc25]

I wish we would've attempted real hard to upgrade our backup PG position this summer by attempting to sign Aaron Brooks when he became unrestricted before the Kings signed him. Going into summer league and assuming Mack would be a viable backup this year was a big mistake by Ernie. With Wall out, I think we will struggle immensely first 2 months of season. That's ok with me b/c I think ultimately, this will lead to Ernie finally being canned by Leonsis this year.

[hands11]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... sty_Boozer



Bulls Most Likely To Eventually Amnesty Boozer

[queridiculo]

Btw, can we start the 2013 free agency thread already?