Will Nick Young Always be a bum?

[raptorsam]

I love dudes game... silky smooth, nice handle, huge hops.... But then in reality i realize he has no passing ability, puts his head down, can't play d ect ect... Kind of like a poor mans JR smith. Is there any hope for dude to become a legit starter? I don't see many wiz games. He seems like a pretty good 4th guard to have

[Kanyewest]

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=964020

[nate33]

He actually plays very good defense, even though he rarely gets credit for it.

Young led the team in counterpart PER in 08-09 and was second only to Caron Butler last year in counterpart PER. Young led the team in on/off differential in 08-09 and was third in on/off differential this year (behind Haywood and Butler). The team defense improved by 1.3 points per 100 possessions with Young on the floor this year. It improved by 6.9 points per 100 possessions with Young on the floor in 08-09.

Heck, the team went 8-5 (.615 pace) in games when Young started and played over 30 minutes. They were 18-51 (.260 pace) the rest of the time. For some reason, the team plays better with Young on the floor.

There is no denying that Young is a terrible rebounder and a black hole on offense. But he is a very good 3-point shooter and a very effective defender. Young needs to make the transition into being more of a role player - a designated defensive stopper and a 3-point shooter. If he can do this, he'll have a long NBA career.

I'm one of the few left on this board who hasn't given up on him. I think most would say he's a marginal player, good enough to be an instant-offense spark off the bench, but not starting-caliber.

[Ruzious]

The poor man's JR Smith is a very good comparison. Nick always shows signs, but he never puts it together consistently. However, I think he has shown a lot of improvement on his deep ball. If he becomes more of a volume 3 point threat, and he's shown he definitely can, he can be a very useful player. Catch and shoot from 23 feet, Nick. No more standing around when you don't have the ball, and limit the one on one stuff when you do have the ball.

Oh, and when he gives tv interviews, it'd be nice if he doesn't look like he's stoned out of his mind all the time.

[fishercob]

I agree with basically all of nate's post, including the bit about him being one of the few who has any interest in him being here long term. Nick's problems are between the ears. He's not a smart guy and has documented learning issues to boot. I don't see himself every "settling" for the role best suited to him, as nate lays out above. The fact that he's his size with his athleticism and rebounds as poorly as he does is bright red flag to me. That's inexcusable and an indicator -- to me, at least -- that he'll always disappoint.

[TheGreatWall]

He needs to grow up. He's like the shooting guard version of Kwame Brown. Millon dollar talent - 10 cent brain.

[MJG]

As nate said, he really has the tools necessary to be the type role player every team would love to have, with his nice outside shot and much-better-than-you'd-ever-notice-unless-you're-really-paying-attention defense. But it really does take some discipline and determination to commit yourself to that kind of niche, and it's very questionable that he has that. He just doesn't seem all there mentally a bit too often to allow you to really get your hopes up on him.

[dobrojim]

I another that hasn't given up on him.

I agree he has issues but I also feel as though he's
never really been given the kind of opportunity a
player with his gifts should be given ie 'just go out
and play kid'

[pancakes3]

i don't know about poor man's jr smith. seems pretty comparable to JR to me.

[Kanyewest]

It seems like quite a few haven't given up on Young. It'll be interesting to see what he can do under the 2nd year of Flip's system. I hope Young sees consistent minutes this season but with Wall/Hinrich/Arenas, I don't see that as a likely outcome unless young can play some minutes at small forward. Flip did play some small ball on occasion in Detroit so Young just needs to pick up his level of play.

[sfam]

^^I've given up on him. I'd say "he's a marginal player, good enough to be an instant-offense spark off the bench, but not starting-caliber." I wouldn't mind at all if we dumped Young off on some GM who believed like Nate, that Young's brain will eventually engage.

Again, nobody doubt's Young's athletic abilities - its what goes on between his ears that has us all giving up on him.

[hands11]

He needs to grow up. He's like the shooting guard version of Kwame Brown. Millon dollar talent - 10 cent brain.

This is the main issue with Nick and I has been from the start. It was never about his physical talent. Like Gil, it's about the brain muscle.

But dating back to last year, I finally saw in Nick demeanor on the court and in interviews that he was maturing (some). Nick will never be a rocket scientist. He isn't going to be Wall mentally but then again few are. But Nick can be a lot more serious and tough minded than he has been. When you start from the goof ball smiley kid that was Nick out of college, there is plenty of room to improve. He does have the potential to be a good solder which is valuable. Everyone isn't meant to be a leader. But the team Nick came to was the worst situation for someone like him. Gil, and immature Dray, DSleezy, DMAC, etc. Not a good environment for someone like Nick to mature under.

I like the idea of keeping him around another year. He got stronger over the offseason. He looks more mentally focused. I see a lot less of that stupid Jarvis/Nick Young goofy smiley thing from him. Teams that go deep in the playoffs have warrior mentalities in their players. This isn't a tea party or a photo shoot.

I believe this years team will provide Nick his best opprotunity to grow up and toughen up. Ted, EG, Flip, Sam-I-AM, and Wall are going to set the tone and I see a good tough minded supporting case in Kirk, Booker(hopefully), and cross our fingers ( Dray ). I know Dray hasn't been the most mature player over the years, but I really like what he did last summer and when given a chance to start last year he was awesome.

Under that leadership, I like Nicks chances to be better and more focused than what we have seen. I think a clear sign that we are seeing a new Nick will come from seeing him getting more rebounds and seeing a focused no smiles serious face while the game is in play. He can smile once it's in the bag. I want to see a professional basketball player, not a playground scoring side show.

This season will dictate if he is someone you would want to keep longer term. But even if he isn't, I believe he will become a better valued trade asset this year. With Nicks longer term position on the team, it's not just about the numbers. It's all about the six inches between his ears.

TIME TO GROW UP YOUNG MAN. THIS IS A MANS GAME AND YOUR MAKING A LOT OF MONEY TO PLAY IT.

[nate33]

Nick will never be a rock scientist

An unintentionally funny typo there. It's so absurd for Young to be compared to a rocket scientist that you had to aim lower and compare him to a rock scientist.

[hands11]

Nick will never be a rock scientist

An unintentionally funny typo there. It's so absurd for Young to be compared to a rocket scientist that you had to aim lower and compare him to a rock scientist.

I was still editing my post when you found that. But rockets or rocks, it still works. Rocks may be funnier though. He is a block head. Maybe a pasta scientist since he is noodles.

[tkunit]

I don't trust him on the court.

[mohammed10]

^^I've given up on him. I'd say "he's a marginal player, good enough to be an instant-offense spark off the bench, but not starting-caliber." I wouldn't mind at all if we dumped Young off on some GM who believed like Nate, that Young's brain will eventually engage.

Again, nobody doubt's Young's athletic abilities - its what goes on between his ears that has us all giving up on him.

+1 - love NY's athleticism, hate his BB IQ

Just don't think the guy will ever get it.

[Wizards2Lottery]

I think we could do a lot worse at the back up guard spot. He's good for the role he has right now on the team.

[Dat2U]

Young's defense may be decent, but he's just as likely to shoot you out of game with his horrible shot selection.

I don't trust him. I've totally given up on him but honestly I never had that much hope for him the day he was drafted. Wasn't terribly efficient in college. Didn't get to the ft line enough. Didn't rebound there either. Nothing has really changed. He's the same player he was at USC.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If Arenas stays and Hinrich is the third guard, Young's minutes will not be good this season, either.

I think the Wizards might do well to try and trade Young to Memphis along with a pick for Xavier Henry.

The Grizzlies are pretty loaded at SF. The Wizards are not.

[REDardWIZskin]

If Arenas stays and Hinrich is the third guard, Young's minutes will not be good this season, either.

I think the Wizards might do well to try and trade Young to Memphis along with a pick for Xavier Henry.

The Grizzlies are pretty loaded at SF. The Wizards are not.

I dont think the Grizz would go for that maybe they would send DaMarre Carrol but not Henry, I think N1 will be similar to JR smith one day (minus the quickness and slightly less athleticism), However that day may not be with the wizards. Both have playground style of dribble and can be erratic when it comes to shot selection. It took JR smith about 3-4 yrs to develop so it would be about time for my theory to kick in.