Summer 2012 Free Agents Thread - Part II

[Hoopalotta]

We just used #3 on Beal, he better be able to create his own shot.

Yeah, I forgot about Beal when I first argued in favor of Crawford. The more I think about it, the more I think Crawford is probably expendable. I'd prefer to give Beal a season to acclimate to the NBA before relying on him to create, but I'm sure he'll figure it out either way.

If Crawford were just a little bit less "full on" with his situational blinders and shamelessness, I would see things more in the way you were phrasing them before, but Jordan just strikes me as likely being irredeemable. I can certainly accept the logic of having "that other guy who can create a shot" in principle.

[DCZards]

While many of us would like to see Crawford gone as soon as possible, I have a gut feeling that the Zards FO, coaches and players think more highly of Jordan and what he contributes to the team than most of us do. I'm sure they'd like to see Jordan rein in his chucking (and accept coming off the bench), but I fully expect to see Crawford on the Zards roster next season...unless the team gets an offer for him that they can't refuse.

[GhostsOfGil]

According to TAI, Washington has priotized their FA targets to James "20 PER" Singleton, and Cartier Martin with possible offers to Rog and Mo.

[nate33]

According to TAI, Washington has priotized their FA targets to James "20 PER" Singleton, and Cartier Martin with possible offers to Rog and Mo.

I'm pleased with this decision, though I doubt we can get Singleton given our log jam in the front court.

I still say the roster balance would be better if we could trade Okafor for a starting-caliber wing with 3-point range.

[nuposse04]

According to TAI, Washington has priotized their FA targets to James "20 PER" Singleton, and Cartier Martin with possible offers to Rog and Mo.

I'm pleased with this decision, though I doubt we can get Singleton given our log jam in the front court.

I still say the roster balance would be better if we could trade Okafor for a starting-caliber wing with 3-point range.

I see a trade coming up if they are serious about bringing singleton back. Booker is the odd man out IMO, pains me to say that too. Unless they believe J. Singleton can actually play the 3 spot.

[DCZards]

I still say the roster balance would be better if we could trade Okafor for a starting-caliber wing with 3-point range.

I say we wait and see if either Ariza or Singleton can fill the role of a starting wing with 3 pt. range before we trade our best rebounder--Okafor. Beal should also give us 3 pt. shooting..

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sev, I stopped worrying about the Okaforiza deal when it dawned on me those guys are still tradeable assets. EG took them on and if the Wizards do better they will be associated with success. Things change quickly. Okafor could come in healthy and Ariza motivated. Trades bring opportunities. Nene really impressed in DC after his image had taken a few hits in Denver.
.

Even if Ariza and Okafor suck, they are going to have value next year as trade chips. I would expect two, truly expiring contracts would bring back better than what we got for Lewis.

Make no mistake about how I feel. It was a bad deal. IMO they paid way too much for what they acquired talent-wise. The Wizards could have done a lot better than what they did. I am just done with it and looking forward.

The hope I have is for an improved team where Okafor and Ariza provide adequate to good play, veteran leadership (Okafor any way), and that the Wizards have quality depth to withstand injuries. I hope Wittman's coaching is again good like it was this past season. The trade will become a distant memory if they win.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ok, more seriously, I can see Nate's point in general, but it just seems to me that Jordan is just a little too far gone into chuckerhood to where I'm not hopeful about his potential for redemption. Also, I worry about how he's going to feel about a diminished role and team chemistry.

Just for clarity. I'm not saying I like Crawford. I'd like to see him replaced with a better player. Certainly, if Beal demonstrates the ability to create his own shot with some reasonable efficiency, then I'd be comfortable cutting the cord with Crawford.

All I'm saying is that we need more than one guard who is capable of creating off the dribble. For now, the only guy besides Wall that can do that is Crawford. If he plays on the 2nd unit, and can be reeled in a bit (bench him every time he shoots with more than 15 seconds on the shot clock unless it's a layup), he's the best we've got for the time being. Dumping him and replacing him with Cartier Martin is going to cause some offensive problems.

I disagree. Anybody can chuck shots. There are times when Jordan Crawford is electrifying and exciting with the basketball in his hands. More times than that he is mortifying and confounding in the shots that he takes. I would rather see Martin or Almond at SG than Crawford.

Take a look at the list of names on this link from top to bottom. http://www.82games.com/1112/1112WAS.HTM

The top six who finished Wizards: Nene, Almond, J. Singleton, Martin, Wall, Seraphin
The bottom six (worst listed first): Blatche, C. Singleton, Lewis, CRAWFORD, Vesely, Evans

Take a look at Crawford's on/off: -6.9 points per 100 possessions
http://www.82games.com/1112/11WAS2.HTM

Points over Par and Wins produced during Randy Wittman's coaching has a bottom three: Young, Blatche, and Crawford. Top seven: J. Singleton, Nene, Booker, Wall, Almond, Vesely, Martin

http://www.nerdnumbers.com/splits?team= ... F30%2F2012

Cartier played more SF than SG, but I would take Martin or Morris Almond (who played SG and SF pretty evenly in minutes) over Jordan Crawford at SG.

[payitforward]

I'd be happy to sign Almond or Martin, but I wouldn't be so quick to kick Crawford off the team. Crawford is the only guy besides Wall who has shown any ability to create a shot off the bounce. Wall can't play 48 minutes.

Who cares? He *misses* those shots; he turns the ball over; he is way below average for an nba 2 in virtually everything except number of shots he takes; he takes @ 40% more shots than an average 2 guard. Given his shooting percentages, that's not a good idea.

I like John Lucas III as a backup PG.

I've heard this from a few others. I don't get it. He didn't have a good season. Overall, he wasn't as good as Mack -- not all that close really. And he has no upside at all -- turns 30 in November.

[truwizfan4evr]

I really hope we go after steve Novak i like the way he shoots. would anyone like Lester hudson as are back up point guard? He really played well for the cavs.

[payitforward]

I don't understand the "Jordan can create his own shot" statement. Of the people who qualified, he ranked second to last in points per play. Yes, he can get his shot off at any time, but he does so at a historically inefficient rate. I'd rather anyone (sans Ves) force a 15 footer than JC "create." His poor shot selection overshadows his ability to get his shot off.

I don't think it's quite so cut and dry. Yes, he is an inefficient player and we should not design an offense where Jordan Crawford consistently "creates shots" in one-on-one coverage. But that doesn't mean that his shot creation skills are completely unhelpful. There will be times when the offense breaks down, or when they are holding for a last shot, when it helps to have a guy create on his own. I'd rather Crawford take that shot than, say, Chris Singleton.

But but but... the fact that Crawford took and missed all those shots earlier in this made-up example is why this one is so critical! And *what* makes you think he'd be more likely to make *any* shot than Singleton (not that Chris is a good shooter).

Jordan Crawford wasn't good in college, and he's not good in the league. He didn't make his shots in college, and he doesn't make them in the league. If he went back to college, he'd miss his shots, and coming back to the league this year he'll miss his shots.

You like his "street-fighting" competitiveness -- fine, let him go out on the street and find a fight. Out on an NBA court, he shoots his team out of games.

[7-Day Dray]

I really hope we go after steve Novak i like the way he shoots. would anyone like Lester hudson as are back up point guard? He really played well for the cavs.

Novak is a great shooter no doubt, but I'm not sure I want to give a long-term deal to a one-dimensional player. I'd rather just bring back Cartier and Money Ma$e on economical contracts.

Not sure how I feel about Hudson. He's really not a PG at all and was a terrible floor general when we had him. I'd rather go after Hinrich or Lucas III.

[payitforward]

I don't think it's quite so cut and dry. Yes, he is an inefficient player and we should not design an offense where Jordan Crawford consistently "creates shots" in one-on-one coverage. But that doesn't mean that his shot creation skills are completely unhelpful. There will be times when the offense breaks down, or when they are holding for a last shot, when it helps to have a guy create on his own. I'd rather Crawford take that shot than, say, Chris Singleton.

I'd rather the team just run its offense or a set play to get a shot than give the ball to Crawford and ask him to "create."

Amen, brother. And I don't see what could be more "cut and dry" than FG%. In case you haven't looked, nate, his is extremely low. When you "create" a shot that you miss, yes, that is "completely unhelpful" -- by definition.

[payitforward]

Ok, more seriously, I can see Nate's point in general, but it just seems to me that Jordan is just a little too far gone into chuckerhood to where I'm not hopeful about his potential for redemption. Also, I worry about how he's going to feel about a diminished role and team chemistry.

Just for clarity. I'm not saying I like Crawford. I'd like to see him replaced with a better player.

Of course you want to replace him with a better player -- you can make that statement about pretty much everyone in the league, Nate.

But Crawford is bad enough that if you just take him off the team we are a better team. I can name 5 guys taken in this year's round 2 that I'd rather have than Crawford -- a lot rather. Hell, I'd rather have the $1.2m in cap space and bring up a D League player. Or sign Almond; he may not be particularly good, but he'd have to work hard to be as bad as Crawford.

[payitforward]

According to TAI, Washington has priotized their FA targets to James "20 PER" Singleton, and Cartier Martin with possible offers to Rog and Mo.

They do need James Singleton -- and I hope they have the sense to give him 2 years and an option for a 3d.

[GhostsOfGil]

I like John Lucas III as a backup PG.

I've heard this from a few others. I don't get it. He didn't have a good season. Overall, he wasn't as good as Mack -- not all that close really. And he has no upside at all -- turns 30 in November.

JL3 was definitely more productive than Mack... In pretty much every statistical category. In fact Lucas was one of the most productive back up guards in the NBA last season. Also, I'm not sure "upside" should be a weighing factor. Wall is our point guard for the foreseeable future.. upside is somewhat irrelevant with his position locked in.

[truwizfan4evr]

I really hope we go after steve Novak i like the way he shoots. would anyone like Lester hudson as are back up point guard? He really played well for the cavs.

Novak is a great shooter no doubt, but I'm not sure I want to give a long-term deal to a one-dimensional player. I'd rather just bring back Cartier and Money Ma$e on economical contracts.

Not sure how I feel about Hudson. He's really not a PG at all and was a terrible floor general when we had him. I'd rather go after Hinrich or Lucas III.

How are Lucas 111 play making ability? If we could get Hinrich back that would be a very good signing. We had him with wall and Gilbert when flip was doing the three guard line up witch failed to work especially on the defensive end. I would love to have Kirk back I'm sure he's very pricey to bring back.

[DCZards]

I know this might sound like heresy to some of you...but I think Crawford has the potential to get better. I think he has the ability to become a more discipline and efficient shooter.

That might sound like a tall order, but the kid is 23 years old and going into what is really only his second full season getting PT. And, while some might be dismissive of Jordan's street tough attitude and swag, I'll take a baller with a little toughness and fight anytime.

In comparison, Cartier Martin and Morris Allmond are 28 and 27 years old respectively and, imo, we've seen the best they have to offer. I don't think that either one has Jordan's upside, and they certainly haven't shown the fight and grit that I've seen from Jordan pretty much everytime he steps on the court, especially late in games.

[truwizfan4evr]

I know this might sound like heresy to some of you...but I think Crawford has the potential to get better. I think he has the ability to become a more discipline and efficient shooter.

That might sound like a tall order, but the kid is 23 years old and going into what is really only his second full season getting PT. And, while some might be dismissive of Jordan's street tough attitude and swag, I'll take a baller with a little toughness and fight anytime.

In comparison, Cartier Martin and Morris Allmond are 28 and 27 years old respectively and, imo, we've seen the best they have to offer. I don't think that either one has Jordan's upside, and they certainly haven't shown the fight and grit that I've seen from Jordan pretty much everytime he steps on the court, especially late in games.

I agree DCzards i think are own fans underrating Crawford he show flashes in games last year that he can make some nice passes. He can be very good off the bench he can create for himself and his teammate i think he can be very valuable to the wizards off the bench.

[7-Day Dray]

I know this might sound like heresy to some of you...but I think Crawford has the potential to get better. I think he has the ability to become a more discipline and efficient shooter.

That might sound like a tall order, but the kid is 23 years old and going into what is really only his second full season getting PT. And, while some might be dismissive of Jordan's street tough attitude and swag, I'll take a baller with a little toughness and fight anytime.

In comparison, Cartier Martin and Morris Allmond are 28 and 27 years old respectively and, imo, we've seen the best they have to offer. I don't think that either one has Jordan's upside, and they certainly haven't shown the fight and grit that I've seen from Jordan pretty much everytime he steps on the court, especially late in games.

Usually people that have a certain mentality when they come into the league stay like that throughout their entire careers. It would be a very tall order for him to become more disciplined and efficient.

The kid just has too many bad habits in his game that'll will take yrs to weed out, if ever.