Gortat traded to LA Clippers for Austin Rivers

[80sballboy]

those numbers coupled with his salary would make me think better to buy gortat out and just sign a g-leaguer.

Wut? I just watched an entire season with Tim Frazier and Jodi Meeks coming off the bench. If you're trying to convince me that those two are better than Rivers it's not going to happen. On the other hand, if you're saying that Rivers is also bad, please tell the player that we add instead of him. Until then, I look forward to seeing Rivers in a Wizards jersey.

Jodie Meeks sucked and still had a better season then Rivers. Thats how bad Rivers is.

That's assinine. Guessing you didn't watch Austin Rivers at all. Meeks can't defend. Meeks couldn't shoot last season. He can't hendle the ball. He was a pretty good shooter before we got him. I didn't give a f-ck what the numbers say, he was completely useless. Like I said, Rivers against backups will be fine. F-ck the numbers. Watch the games. Of course, Rivers is not perfect.

[nuposse04]

combo chucking guards almost always have a bad impact. Jamal Crawford is a career average player in his prime... and rivers isn't even as good him. Dude shouldn't be in the NBA.

[NatP4]

Yeah Meeks was completely useless lol. There is no chance Rivers is worse than that.

[TinmanZBoy]

Wut? I just watched an entire season with Tim Frazier and Jodi Meeks coming off the bench. If you're trying to convince me that those two are better than Rivers it's not going to happen. On the other hand, if you're saying that Rivers is also bad, please tell the player that we add instead of him. Until then, I look forward to seeing Rivers in a Wizards jersey.

Jodie Meeks sucked and still had a better season then Rivers. Thats how bad Rivers is.

I completely disagree. Rivers was put in a context where a ton of responsibility was put on him. On the Wizards he'll have a reduced role - i.e. 6th man. Better teammates. And he'll be playing against non-starters for a majority of the time. If all you have to make your argument is statistics then you won't convince me. Statistics are based on context. A bad player in one context can be a good player in another context. Case in point Boris Diaw. Do you have any actual basketball argument for Meeks being better than Rivers - i.e. Meeks is a better shooter, ball handler, finisher, defender - or are you solely basing your critique on statistics?

then you need to look no further... just look at Austin River's stats when he played with CP3, Blake, DJ... his numbers and efficiency were even worse... he is the type of player that if he has ball in his hands, as your first three options, he can give you decent numbers... otherwise, he is worse...

[prime1time]

When Brooks benches Sato for Rivers and even throws Brown in the doghouse for the classic Wall Beal Rivers 3 guard lineups, it won’t be much fun.

And as of now, Morris will be used at center, a lot. Which is terrible.

Brown will earn his minutes. Nothing wrong with that. Competition is a good thing. Rivers has shown the ability to improve his play which suggests great work habits. His presence should help Brown in the long run. Surrounding young players with players who grind to improve is highly important.

[nuposse04]

Wut? I just watched an entire season with Tim Frazier and Jodi Meeks coming off the bench. If you're trying to convince me that those two are better than Rivers it's not going to happen. On the other hand, if you're saying that Rivers is also bad, please tell the player that we add instead of him. Until then, I look forward to seeing Rivers in a Wizards jersey.

Jodie Meeks sucked and still had a better season then Rivers. Thats how bad Rivers is.

That's assinine. Guessing you didn't watch Austin Rivers at all. Meeks can't defend. Meeks couldn't shoot last season. He can't hendle the ball. He was a pretty good shooter before we got him. I didn't give a f-ck what the numbers say, he was completely useless. Like I said, Rivers against backups will be fine. F-ck the numbers. Watch the games.

meeks ended the season well post all star break. His defense still sucked but that doesn't make rivers defense good. Rivers is an abomination.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Basically swapped his expiring for another expiring in Rivers. It looks like they wanted him out of the locker room that badly.

Oh and look! Bovada just released futures odds for the Wizards starting center in the 2018-19 season:

-300 Dwight Howard
+150 Ian Mahinmi
+300 Nerlens Noel
+400 Robin Lopez
+500 Nikola Vucevic
+1000 DeMarcus Cousins

Bets anyone?

I think Howard will be somewhat solid. SO WIZARDS TO REACH FOR THE LOWER WRUNG OF MEDIOCRITY...

Gortat was part of their best 5-man unit, but his days were numbered when they signed Injured Mahinmi...errr, Ian. Marcin pissed off Wall and the rest is history. THOU SHALT BOW DOWN TO WALL...none of this "team win" cryptic TRUTH...because Wall's the greatest. He is the reason for the season, per most Wizards fans. Gortat to most is a scrub who gets dunked on.

I'm just happy for Gortat.

I'll get to see Clipper games...

[nuposse04]

Meeks per 36 last year:

16-4-2-1 with 1 tov per 36 on 55 ts. 0.087 ws/48, -1ortg/drtg diff and -2.8 bpm. On/off -8.3. I think Meeks was a better offensive player but obviously a wretched defender. Rivers isn't going to be some remarkable upgrade from Meeks... thats the **** part. :/

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[NatP4]

Good point CCJ, Gortat was still a big part of those 5 man lineups with Porter at the 4 that destroyed teams consistently for two years. Could be a big loss if they don’t find a guy that can set quality screens and roll hard to the basket. Underrated skill Gortat had: catching the ball mid roll and kicking it out to shooters.

For example: Nerlens Noel has absolutely no feel for the game offensively. Gortat opened up the floor for guys to get open shots with his rolling and IQ.

[nuposse04]

Good point CCJ, Gortat was still a big part of those 5 man lineups with Porter at the 4 that destroyed teams consistently for two years. Could be a big loss if they don’t find a guy that can set quality screens and roll hard to the basket. Underrated skill Gortat had: catching the ball mid roll and kicking it out to shooters.

For example: Nerlens Noel has absolutely no feel for the game offensively. Gortat opened up the floor for guys to get open shots with his rolling and IQ.

hopefully w/e we lose offensively we gain defensively. Just no morris at center. Dude sucks.

[80sballboy]

Jodie Meeks sucked and still had a better season then Rivers. Thats how bad Rivers is.

I completely disagree. Rivers was put in a context where a ton of responsibility was put on him. On the Wizards he'll have a reduced role - i.e. 6th man. Better teammates. And he'll be playing against non-starters for a majority of the time. If all you have to make your argument is statistics then you won't convince me. Statistics are based on context. A bad player in one context can be a good player in another context. Case in point Boris Diaw. Do you have any actual basketball argument for Meeks being better than Rivers - i.e. Meeks is a better shooter, ball handler, finisher, defender - or are you solely basing your critique on statistics?

then you need to look no further... just look at Austin River's stats when he played with CP3, Blake, DJ... his numbers and efficiency were even worse... he is the type of player that if he has ball in his hands, as your first three options, he can give you decent numbers... otherwise, he is worse...

Didn't his three-point numbers get better last year when he started? Is it possible, he got a little bit better? I get it. We're not getting a great player or even a good one, but it's just for a year and he'll likely be gone. So he's playing for a contract. That may not be a good thing but he's definitely looking for better numbers. And you would think if your father was one of the best defensive guards of his era, that he would be a bit better on D.

[80sballboy]

Basically swapped his expiring for another expiring in Rivers. It looks like they wanted him out of the locker room that badly.

Oh and look! Bovada just released futures odds for the Wizards starting center in the 2018-19 season:

-300 Dwight Howard
+150 Ian Mahinmi
+300 Nerlens Noel
+400 Robin Lopez
+500 Nikola Vucevic
+1000 DeMarcus Cousins

Bets anyone?

I think Howard will be somewhat solid. SO WIZARDS TO REACH FOR THE LOWER WRUNG OF MEDIOCRITY...

Gortat was part of their best 5-man unit, but his days were numbered when they signed Injured Mahinmi...errr, Ian. Marcin pissed off Wall and the rest is history. THOU SHALT BOW DOWN TO WALL...none of this "team win" cryptic TRUTH...because Wall's the greatest. He is the reason for the season, per most Wizards fans. Gortat to most is a scrub who gets dunked on.

I'm just happy for Gortat.

I'll get to see Clipper games...

I'm also sure the Clips fans will love him when they get rid of DJ and they have nobody to protect the rim.

[deneem4]

Im find with the trade because for once in a long time we got a younger player back...and it puts pressure on eg to address the front court...

[NatP4]

His RPM was 48th for PGs, I think, but now ESPN has removed him completely so I can’t double check. Meeks was 83rd for shooting guards and FAR worse.

I think his ORPM was 14th or so for point guards even despite the inefficiency, so that’s good.

[TinmanZBoy]

I completely disagree. Rivers was put in a context where a ton of responsibility was put on him. On the Wizards he'll have a reduced role - i.e. 6th man. Better teammates. And he'll be playing against non-starters for a majority of the time. If all you have to make your argument is statistics then you won't convince me. Statistics are based on context. A bad player in one context can be a good player in another context. Case in point Boris Diaw. Do you have any actual basketball argument for Meeks being better than Rivers - i.e. Meeks is a better shooter, ball handler, finisher, defender - or are you solely basing your critique on statistics?

then you need to look no further... just look at Austin River's stats when he played with CP3, Blake, DJ... his numbers and efficiency were even worse... he is the type of player that if he has ball in his hands, as your first three options, he can give you decent numbers... otherwise, he is worse...

Didn't his three-point numbers get better last year when he started? Is it possible, he got a little bit better? I get it. We're not getting a great player or even a good one, but it's just for a year and he'll likely be gone. So he's playing for a contract. That may not be a good thing but he's definitely looking for better numbers. And you would think if your father was one of the best defensive guards of his era, that he would be a bit better on D.

he has all the green light to shoot... did a lot jab step, step backs threes... hit in a decent rate.... well... knowing your dad has your back and playing time regardless... you can do that way...
I am not sure Scott Brooks will encourage him to do those things...

[keynote]

Taking off my homer shades, John "Wallet Watcher" Wall and Austin Rivers might make for a fairly unpopular guard rotation with opposing fanbases. This team has long tried to embrace the heel role with varying levels of success ("Death Row DC," "Wolf Season," etc.). Perhaps taking a silver spoon Dukie will help them make the full turn.

[80sballboy]

Morris at center is going to happen because teams go small nowadays unless we get one of those cheap power forward/center types. That might be a better option than Mahinmi, but only for 5-10mpg. We need Noel or godforbid Howard. Anybody athletic to start so the other two options play limited at the 5.

[nuposse04]

howard would help against joel but noel might be fine enough too. Morris at 5 was bad....but he is in contract year...so maybe he gives a ****?

[Skybox]

Send Austin home to Orl for Vuc. Both expiring. We'll give Austin a go at PG with a lot of young length behind him on D and he can draw and kick or lob all night...Vuc is way underrated, he's a walking double double.