JaVale McGee

[nate33]

With McGee playing much better than expected this early in his career, the question must be asked, what happens to McGee's role when Brendan comes back? What about Brendan's role?

I think McGee could play some power foward next to Brendan when the matchups are there. But when the other team has a quicker, more perimeter oriented PF I don't think so. With that said, I'd like to see McGee's primary role be to back up Brendan, assuming Brendan comes back fully healthy. However, I just see Eddie having Etan back up Brendan with McGee getting very limited minutes.

What will Eddie do? Will should Eddie do?

For now, I think Eddie should go with 28 minutes of Haywood and 20 minutes of McGee. Haywood takes the brunt of the defensive duties against opposing team's best big men, and he gets the late-game minutes because he won't make defensive mistakes. McGee can get in there and play at full speed and not worry about fatigue or fouls. I don't think they should play alongside each other yet because I don't think McGee is quite ready for PF duties. He has the potential, but it's going to take a while. Let him concentrate on playing defense at the pivot for now.

Maybe next season, they can play alongside each other for stretches.

The real question is what happens in two years or so if McGee gets to be better than Haywood and reaches the point where he deserves 32-36 minutes a game. Do we trade Haywood?

It would be a nice "problem" to have, I guess.

[pancakes3]

I think McGee could play some power foward next to Brendan when the matchups are there. But when the other team has a quicker, more perimeter oriented PF I don't think so.

I think McGee definitely has PF potential. Like i said in the Utah game thread, he has the potential to be like Chris Bosh, only BIGGER. He's got the footspeed to keep up with almost every PF in the game. I don't see any perimeter oriented PFs out there that can take him off the dribble except for maybe Amare and Bosh, but those two are the best in the business.

Also, if McGee can be converted to our starting PF, that means that either AJ or Blatche can be moved to provide us with more depth. One example would be to deal AD/Thomas/Blatche to the bobcats for Felton/Wallace/Gray

Arenas/Felton
NY/DS
Butler/Walace
McGee/AJ
Haywood/Gray

which is a very competitive roster.

[JWizmentality]

AD/Thomas and Blatche aint getting us Wallace and Felton. Then again, MJ is running the show.

[yungal07]

McGee is a center. He's not a power forward, and I wouldn't want him to play the 4 either. He's more effective playing in the paint. If he plays the four, that means he's going to be taken away from the basket, nullifying his shotblocking ability.

We're going to be enticed to play him and Haywood together, but I think it would be a mistake.

[spaceman_E]

After tonight's performance I'd just like to pat myself on the back and give a nice, big "I told you so." to all you draft night haters.


"by spaceman_E on Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:20 pm

There was no one that would have helped this year! No SF would have played over Mcguire and any PG would have been the 5th guard! Arthur is a 215lb PF = NOT READY, plus he would have been about 4th string PF. I'm officially starting the Javale Mcgee fan club. Members = 1."


Time stamped and everything!

[keynote]

Muresan, on McGee (courtesy of Mike Wise):

"He is best draft choice by this organization in last 10 years," said 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan in halting English. The native Romanian was once the NBA's most improved player in Washington and is now the world's tallest community-relations guest at halftime in the luxury boxes. "He has energy. He work very hard." Laughing, he added, "He might be the best draft choice for a big man since me."

But, Peter John Ramos? "McGee is not lazy," Muresan added.

Man, Ghitza; what did Party John do to you?

[realfung]

lol

[tkunit]

I say still start etan and bring this beast of a kid off the bench, just give him the majority of the mins.

[BigA]

Muresan, on McGee (courtesy of Mike Wise):

"He is best draft choice by this organization in last 10 years," said 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan in halting English. The native Romanian was once the NBA's most improved player in Washington and is now the world's tallest community-relations guest at halftime in the luxury boxes. "He has energy. He work very hard." Laughing, he added, "He might be the best draft choice for a big man since me."

But, Peter John Ramos? "McGee is not lazy," Muresan added.

Man, Ghitza; what did Party John do to you?

I remember Muresan challenging PJR to a 1 on 1 match at one point and Party John declining.

[LyricalRico]

McGee is a center. He's not a power forward, and I wouldn't want him to play the 4 either. He's more effective playing in the paint. If he plays the four, that means he's going to be taken away from the basket, nullifying his shotblocking ability.

We're going to be enticed to play him and Haywood together, but I think it would be a mistake.

THANK YOU!!!!

The only thing worse than playing Blatche at SF is playing McGee at PF. People, stop looking at the Wiz roster like you look at lineups on NBA Live 2009. This isn't a video game and those crazy lineups don't work in real life.

McGee is a center. End of discussion.

[Soup's Uncle]

He's gotta be put in the starting lineup. Etan Thomas blows (sorry, I can't stand him). Give the kid with potential some minutes!

[fishercob]

I dont think it matters whether or not he starts -- just that he gets enough minutes and is on the court during crunchtime , as he was last night.

[Ruzious]

^^^^ Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

crunch crunch crunch millerboy!! Want some hotsauce on that bird.

LOL I was right behind you with Ruzious. Draft night had me pissed...everyone dumping on the kid without even seeing him step a foot on the court.

It's damn good to see some crow being eaten. And big ups to CCJ...he's a man if I've ever seen one.

The thing that's surprised me is his demeaner. Some scouting reports said he was a whiner, and I was afraid Blatche would have a negative impact on him. But even when close calls go against him, he's mature about it. And it may turn out that he turns out to be the positive impact on Blatche - more than the reverse opposite... That'd be sumpin to see - if they can play well together. If they show they are a dynamic duo this season and for years to come, then the season will be a success, imo.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

McGee is a center. He's not a power forward, and I wouldn't want him to play the 4 either. He's more effective playing in the paint. If he plays the four, that means he's going to be taken away from the basket, nullifying his shotblocking ability.

We're going to be enticed to play him and Haywood together, but I think it would be a mistake.

THANK YOU!!!!

The only thing worse than playing Blatche at SF is playing McGee at PF. People, stop looking at the Wiz roster like you look at lineups on NBA Live 2009. This isn't a video game and those crazy lineups don't work in real life.

McGee is a center. End of discussion.

When Haywood returns I can envision Javale playing next to him, at least for limited minutes, and being real effective. He and Brendan both move their feet well on defense

Don't know which one would be the C and I don't think it matters a whole bunch.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

crunch crunch crunch millerboy!! Want some hotsauce on that bird.

LOL I was right behind you with Ruzious. Draft night had me pissed...everyone dumping on the kid without even seeing him step a foot on the court.

It's damn good to see some crow being eaten. And big ups to CCJ...he's a man if I've ever seen one.

The thing that's surprised me is his demeaner. Some scouting reports said he was a whiner, and I was afraid Blatche would have a negative impact on him. But even when close calls go against him, he's mature about it. And it may turn out that he turns out to be the positive impact on Blatche - more than the reverse opposite... That'd be sumpin to see - if they can play well together. If they show they are a dynamic duo this season and for years to come, then the season will be a success, imo.

Ruz, they played together last night and looked damned good IMO.

[MJG]

For those that like the PER stat: McGee is 4th among rookies, 7th among centers, and 48th among all players in the league. Yea, we're early, but still, not too shabby.

[nate33]

When Haywood returns I can envision Javale playing next to him, at least for limited minutes, and being real effective. He and Brendan both move their feet well on defense

Don't know which one would be the C and I don't think it matters a whole bunch.

The problem I see is on offense. EJ's system requires the PF to move around on the perimeter and sometimes handle the ball, while staying alert to make good passes. Haywood definitely can't do this and I don't think McGee is ready yet.

I also don't think McGee's defensive fundamentals are good enough for forward. He's still pretty lousy as a one-on-one defender in space. He's MUCH better as a weakside help defender. (I suppose Haywood could guard PF's though.)

I could see them getting away with McGee at PF is limited situations next season once McGee is more comfortable in the system and polishes his fundamentals in the offseason. But for now, I don't want to confuse the guy too much. Let's teach him to play center before we worry about teaching him to play forward.

[nate33]

For those that like the PER stat: McGee is 4th among rookies, 7th among centers, and 48th among all players in the league. Yea, we're early, but still, not too shabby.

LOL.

The team leader in PER is Nick Young at 20.3.
Second is McGee at 19.1
Third is Butler at 19.0
Fourth is Jamison at 17.8
Fifth is Dixon at 16.3

If anybody predicted that at the start of the season, they would have been laughed off the message board.

[MF23]

I've got to really say he's better than I originally thought. His motor is really good and that makes a lot of difference for me. That play vs Utah where he caught the blocked shot and stuffed it in one motion was a Ralph Sampson, K.A.J. type of play.

[Benjammin]

When Haywood returns I can envision Javale playing next to him, at least for limited minutes, and being real effective. He and Brendan both move their feet well on defense

Don't know which one would be the C and I don't think it matters a whole bunch.

The problem I see is on offense. EJ's system requires the PF to move around on the perimeter and sometimes handle the ball, while staying alert to make good passes. Haywood definitely can't do this and I don't think McGee is ready yet.

I also don't think McGee's defensive fundamentals are good enough for forward. He's still pretty lousy as a one-on-one defender in space. He's MUCH better as a weakside help defender. (I suppose Haywood could guard PF's though.)

I could see them getting away with McGee at PF is limited situations next season once McGee is more comfortable in the system and polishes his fundamentals in the offseason. But for now, I don't want to confuse the guy too much. Let's teach him to play center before we worry about teaching him to play forward.

I don't see EJ's system as being the problem because he wouldn't be the coach. Haywood generally guards the opposition's better offensive post threat which includes PFs. I would be concerned that McGee would pick up a lot of fouls quickly out on the perimeter until he is more disciplined and plays better position defense rather than reaching and lunging.