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fishercob wrote:Whatever success Blatche experiences would be a testament to him finally growing up and in no way an indictment of this organization. That Blatche needed to face the specter of being out of the NBA to actually show up in shape is absurd.

This organization drafted him when nearly no one else would. They signed him to two contract extensions, the second of which was clearly undeserved, and in doing so made him rich beyond most of our imaginations. They gave him responsibility that belied an underlying trust and belief .

He paid them back by being a complete turd -- a fat, out of shape, entitled turd, who couldn't keep his mouth shut and was hellatiously bad on the court. He stole money from ownership and paying customers. The investment the team made in him, the patience, the saga, and ultimately the use of the amnesty all represent significant opportunity cost. Dray hurt this organization and the fan base. While I'm for second (fifth? eighth?) chances in the abstract, I cannot honestly say that I'm rooting for Blatche to succeed when he acted like such a **** here.

nate33 wrote: The Wizards tried that too. They traded away Jamison, Butler and Haywood and thrust Blatche into the primary option role while giving him a $30M extension. What did we get?

Neck fat.

GhostsOfGil wrote:

DMVleGeND wrote:I was on record for saying we should've kept Dray for at least one more yr. I still don't think he's in peak shape, but he's definitely in better shaped than he was last yr. He's running the floor better, and has look musch more energetic on the boards and on defense. Knowing this city, he's going to become great like every other young player on the Bullets/Wizards that was traded too early while young SMDH.

There's no guarantee Blatche would have put it together this year. Being amnestied was the motivator that seemed to have started "project zero"

And lets be honest, even if he's motivated, theres absolutely no way he will sustains this level of play once he gets his next contract.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think he's got to mature and will do so with time. Lamar Odom is the best comparison I can think of to Blatche. Odom is more physically gifted but he has a similar work ethic IMO. If Blatche is around a Kobe-type leader he will follow and work hard IMO. I think Andray is going to be compelled to grow as a player. Environment matters a lot. As with Odom, I would only expect Blatche to do well under favorable circumstances to him. He's predictable IMO.

DMVleGeND wrote:I think he was motivated before he was amnestied though. Like dlts20 said, he had hit rock bottom - he got benched, was constantly being booed by his home fans, and was asked to take a leave for being out of shape. He started working out w/ John Lucas before he was amnestied. I think he would've been just as motivated if we kept him to show the fans that he's a changed man.

jivelikenice wrote:

DMVleGeND wrote:I think he was motivated before he was amnestied though. Like dlts20 said, he had hit rock bottom - he got benched, was constantly being booed by his home fans, and was asked to take a leave for being out of shape. He started working out w/ John Lucas before he was amnestied. I think he would've been just as motivated if we kept him to show the fans that he's a changed man.

Absolutely disagree. Dray has shown no mental toughness in his career. What do you think the result would have been the first time he was boo'd by the Verizon Center crowd? He would have thrown in the towel and sulked. Dray needed a fresh start and he seems like he's doing ok. Do I think he'll make us regret the move? No. He's doing a lot of damage against players like Shavlick Randolph (who has no business on an NBA court). He'll benfit slightly by playing next to vets not doubt, but the main thing is over there he know he has to accept his role. He's not a primary option over Deron and JJ. Over here he would have tried to do too much on the perimeter and he'd be the same player.

keynote wrote:Agree with the Blatche/Odom comparison. But note that Odom *still* isn't that mentally tough. In the right circumstances (i.e., HOF SG leader, uber-talented front court teammates, one of the best coaches of all time - *and* making Hollywood $ from a reality show), he did well. The minute he was moved to another team (and not a dysfunctional team, mind you; a championship team with a good coach and solid, professional teammates - well, and Vince Carter), he fell apart. He's that fragile.

I think Blatche is, too.

"Death always seems to be around me," Odom said in a low tone. "I've been burying people for a long time. When I had to bury my child, I probably didn't start grieving until a year and a half later.

"I think the effects of seeing [my cousin] die and then watching this kid die, it beat me down. I consider myself a little weak. I thought I was breaking down mentally. I'm doing a lot of reflecting."

Odom said he didn't eat much for "eight or nine days" after the events. All the while, thoughts of dark moments in his life consumed him.

His mother, Cathy Mercer, died of colon cancer when he was 12. His grandmother Mildred Mercer, who reared him, died in 2004. His son Jayden, not quite 7 months old, died of sudden infant death syndrome in his crib in 2006.

There are aunts, cousins and friends, Odom said, all of them "taken away from me."

As he began to soul-search yet again, Odom concluded, "I may need to see a psychologist."

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

keynote wrote:Agree with the Blatche/Odom comparison. But note that Odom *still* isn't that mentally tough. In the right circumstances (i.e., HOF SG leader, uber-talented front court teammates, one of the best coaches of all time - *and* making Hollywood $ from a reality show), he did well. The minute he was moved to another team (and not a dysfunctional team, mind you; a championship team with a good coach and solid, professional teammates - well, and Vince Carter), he fell apart. He's that fragile.

I think Blatche is, too.

keynote, Odom had a couple deaths to deal with as well as being traded by the Lakers.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/02 ... t-20110803


When your kid, your close cousin, a pedestrian you watch die, your mom, and your grandmother who raised you all die--and you're married to a Kardashian but traded mid-tv ratings-- you might have a lot on your mind.

A lot of people judge, but a few actually take the time to empathize. I'm not perfect by a LONG shot, but I try to think of why people act the way they do.

His mom died when he was 12. I think Odom is a heck of a success story, all things considered.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think he's got to mature and will do so with time. Lamar Odom is the best comparison I can think of to Blatche. Odom is more physically gifted but he has a similar work ethic IMO. If Blatche is around a Kobe-type leader he will follow and work hard IMO. I think Andray is going to be compelled to grow as a player. Environment matters a lot. As with Odom, I would only expect Blatche to do well under favorable circumstances to him. He's predictable IMO.

Avery Johnson is a great coach for Blatche. Fiery and supportive, always in your face-type coach. He will put the slightest drift to the right or left by Blatche on blast. Also, the guys Andray has to go against in practice are straight up beasts! Kris Humphries, Reggie Evans, Gerald Wallace all seem like they'd be at home in the WWE if they weren't ballers. Teletovic is an aggressive scorer, too. All those guys are going to bring out the best in Blatche, because one thing I do know is Blatche doesn't back down. As long as he is healthy he will do well in Brooklyn.

I think the Wizards focused on his faults in work ethic without considering their own lack of professional development and roster development. That young man is definitely shaky and flaky but what about the Wizards?

Whoever said give Blatche another year would have been a good idea, I agree. We saw his best and worst. He got in shape one time before and came back as Seven Day Dray. Seems to me with Nene his job would have been easier … and it would have become easier to trade Blatche once his image were rehabilitated. Instead, the Wizards forced a showdown, got no takers in trade because they played their hand, and per usual lost what might have been an asset for nothing.

I'm not saying Blatche isn't a bum at times at all ...

hands11 wrote:

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think he's got to mature and will do so with time. Lamar Odom is the best comparison I can think of to Blatche. Odom is more physically gifted but he has a similar work ethic IMO. If Blatche is around a Kobe-type leader he will follow and work hard IMO. I think Andray is going to be compelled to grow as a player. Environment matters a lot. As with Odom, I would only expect Blatche to do well under favorable circumstances to him. He's predictable IMO.

Avery Johnson is a great coach for Blatche. Fiery and supportive, always in your face-type coach. He will put the slightest drift to the right or left by Blatche on blast. Also, the guys Andray has to go against in practice are straight up beasts! Kris Humphries, Reggie Evans, Gerald Wallace all seem like they'd be at home in the WWE if they weren't ballers. Teletovic is an aggressive scorer, too. All those guys are going to bring out the best in Blatche, because one thing I do know is Blatche doesn't back down. As long as he is healthy he will do well in Brooklyn.

I think the Wizards focused on his faults in work ethic without considering their own lack of professional development and roster development. That young man is definitely shaky and flaky but what about the Wizards?

Whoever said give Blatche another year would have been a good idea, I agree. We saw his best and worst. He got in shape one time before and came back as Seven Day Dray. Seems to me with Nene his job would have been easier … and it would have become easier to trade Blatche once his image were rehabilitated. Instead, the Wizards forced a showdown, got no takers in trade because they played their hand, and per usual lost what might have been an asset for nothing.

I'm not saying Blatche isn't a bum at times at all ...

As someone who held out hope for Dray, here is the problem CCJ. That year for him to do it was last year. That was his audition. It was the make or break year for him to be a core player for the Wizards. He was given the green light. A starting slot. A captain spot and a microphone.

He didn't get it done. They held onto him and tried to get something in return. There were no takers. At some point, you just have to move on.

Wall and Beal are their core now and they wanted/needed to start surrounding him with a more mature team. Dray had his chance. They ran out of time waiting for him to get it while he was here.

Dray may be better where he is. But so are the Wizards. Same with the McGee trade.

The Wizards are now built more like the type of mature team they can bring in someone elses Dray or McGee types where they can get a fresh start. So far, its looking like Webster is one of those types. There will be more down the road.

payitforward wrote:Anyone ready to speak up for Dray? So far, in @ 17-18 minutes/game, he's playing at a level much higher than he ever has in the league.

Above all his offensive rebounding and getting to the line. Still not a lot of minutes of course, so not necessarily enough to be confident it'll continue. Worth mentioning all the same.