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you sure do seem intent on throwing the discussion off shaun livingston as a backup point guard. I think there is another thread related to Grunfeld extension. But yes, if he does succeed in getting Shaun as cornerstone backup point guard, the culture change here will be dramatic. Grunfeld has shown that he couldn't do it the first time around. Leonsis has the step in and use his charm to get things done and stabilize this team basketball iq foundation at the point guard position for years to come.

I don't know if its the #1 priority (firing Ernie would be #1) but I would be ok with having him on a short multi-year deal as the backup PG.

WizarDynasty wrote:you sure do seem intent on throwing the discussion off shaun livingston as a backup point guard. I think there is another thread related to Grunfeld extension. But yes, if he does succeed in getting Shaun as cornerstone backup point guard, the culture change here will be dramatic. Grunfeld has shown that he couldn't do it the first time around. Leonsis has the step in and use his charm to get things done and stabilize this team basketball iq foundation at the point guard position for years to come.

My apologies for sidetracking the conversation. Dunno what came over me. Maybe that landing was harder than I thought.

Livingston clearly is The Solution to everything that ails the Wizards because of that all-important backup PG role. Just look at the profound culture changes he's made with each of his 6 NBA teams.

NO i am not promoting actual violence, just feel this team has a ton of potential to be unlocked or can be unlock alot of hidden potential. Put to jumpstart, the wizards have historically had low iq at the point guard even from the gilbert days. Wall is a low iq point guard with amazing heart, great leadership ability and work ethic. Any hope of future success involves addressing his weaknesses. Stabilizing the point guard position with high basketball IQ to complement Wall's intangibles is how you build intellectual foundation of your team.
the only way Leonsis can guarantee that livingston and Wall establish a mutual is bond "off the court and game planning for the next 70 plus games and beyond for next season" is to make livingston a core member of the wizards as quick as possible, not tag Singleton as one year rental auditioning for other teams. Even if livingston get hurt, his true value is that he has Jason Kidd like point guard mental ability and coaching ability. If Leonsis can succeed in getting Livingston to agree to multi year deal in the upcoming days or even menth, i would consider that move to be greatest move of leonsis career as a wizard owner. That would truly transform this teams culture season to season. A wall livingston combination with each complementing each other day to day, week to week, season to season, gives me hope that this organization will finally get it.
But if you think that having talented players on your roster for one year rentals while they raise their price tags to benefit another team next year is successful, then EG clearly has not learned from his lessons and needs to be relieved of his duties. EAch day i come into the office if I am Leonsis, i am already assessing the future value calculatons of how much i have to go over the cap to ensure that the IQ foundation of my team continues to grow after the season ends. We are fortunate that Livingston is back---he was with six other teams, but none of the other teams has been devoid of a low iq backup point guard for a decade combine with a low iq but off the charts intangible superstar starting point guard. Leonsis has to get this done now based---Leonsis has alot more invested in this team than Grunfeld. Grunfeld may be looking to keep his job from year to year but we as fans plan to be wizard fans for decades to come while Grunfeld is out looking for his next gig. Havng Livingston retire has a wizard should be view point of an owner who plans to not sell his team for a decade or for fans who don't plan on switching teams because the team is doing badly. Grunfeld won't see an immediate improvement and Grunfeld's priority is to show his stock holders now that the company is doing good to keep his job. But short term gains now like signing a great point guard to a one year deal, don't build the longterm value of your team. I as stockholder am interested in the longterm value of our team, not short sighted numbers like....
wow i signed a player for a short period below his true value...even though his true value can only be captured based on growing over mulitple season's with the team. The rule of thumb is that you always sign Hi IQ basketball players for longer than one season no matter what because the team begin the crash after this season once you allow the high iq player to go to a higher bidder You pay extra to make sure that this scenario doesn't happen. Yet the wizards are exactlly in this scenario at this moment in time. After livingston transforms this culture temporarily, we will allow him to bolt to the highest bidder again, and the IQ culure of the organization will come crashing down. The quicker he is signed to a multi year deal, the more at ease shareholders can feel about eh future of the team. It's that simple people. TEd and the Fans are interested in the longterm value of this organization beyond this season and we should pay extra to ensure that fragile iq of this change of culture in DC isn't disrupted when the season is over. The likelihood of the wizards experience a huge drop in IQ after having shaun be here temporarily for 70 plus games is high likely as of 11/21/2012. Let's hope Leonsis doesn't keep this cloud of doubt about positive change a season from now in doubt for much longer. It's always worth it to pay a little more for security, and unlike arenas, who has a low basketball iq and drop of in value when he was hurt, this isn't the case with having a player of jason kidd's iq on the sidelines interacting with your franchise players for the next few seasons. I hope leonsis get's it because its all up to him. none of the fans or even grunfeld have the power teh secure the wizard's iq foundation future. HIring the san antonio assistant was a great move but signing livingston will be even greater. There is my argument for disrupting group think for the wizards. I guess i am still a believer if Ted the SAvior.

I'd give SL another year at $2M - $3M. I like him and agree his IQ is pretty decent. Love his in the paint 14 foot jump shot and size defensively.

Oh I agree -- we need to tie this guy up (contractually I mean) -- who cares whether he can play productively.

Surely we all understand that we need to build a great team on some level other than wins and losses, where we don't seem to be able to make much headway. We can be great on the basketball IQ front. Ok, someone needs to come up w/ a test for bball iq that takes place somewhere other than the floor and at some time other than during a game.

Whatever test we come up with, I'm counting on Shaun to ace it. Be great, Shaun. Be great, Wizards.

WizD you are probably my favorite poster. I don't even think you know how funny your posts are.

Not to hijack this thread, but I wonder how many of you realize that the Celtics just waived Darko Milicic.

This may be one of the few highpick-busts still out there for the Wizards. I think we need him and bad. Today.

Dunno about his test-taking skills, however....

Only to see who among us could at this point somehow get excited about Darko, and indignant that he isn't being used properly. Basically an avenue to self-disgrace, that's what he brings to the table.

I think Darko has untapped basketball IQ. He just needs a long-term contract along with the chance to play alongside Livingston.

Nivek wrote:I think Darko has untapped basketball IQ. He just needs a long-term contract along with the chance to play alongside Livingston.

Darko considers the prospect with contemptuous indifference, as he does life generally.

I need an excuse to wear my Darko Pistons jersey. Do it up, Ernie!

Nivek wrote:I think Darko has untapped basketball IQ. He just needs a long-term contract along with the chance to play alongside Livingston.

... and to have Hands explain how good he is?

11/25 continuing to monitor the progress of intellectual foundation of the backcourt players. Leonsis, livingston should be your personal consultant for anything related to basketball. That alone is worth his contract.

Well, ever since Wall got here and Hinrich and Arenas left, we have been crying for a veteran back-up PG.

SL is probably the best we'll get, might as well lock him in for a couple of seasons.

Don't know about you, but I'm blown away with Livingston's hoops IQ so far. Small sample size, but it's not just the .417 efg, 96 ortg, or 3.8 assists per 36 minutes -- it's the way he's getting them. WOW!

Now now Kevin, do you want another surface to air missile?

Why would WizD fire on me (again)? I'm supporting his contention with cold, hard, statistical facts. It takes the finest hoops IQ of a generation to post career numbers like Livingston's .462 efg, 5.5 assists per 36 minutes, and an ortg of 100. And again, it's not just the numbers themselves that make observers say WOW, it's the way he gets them.