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Unless Grunfeld is looking for some temporary fill-in like Temple or Morris Almond, he almost never uses the d-league the way other teams do.

Vesely and Singleton should have been sent down a LONG time ago. Vesely possesses no basketball skills whatsoever--the d-league would be perfect for him to work on developing something resembling an actual basketball skill.

Singleton--terrible basketball player. He's too slow to guard mobile small forwards, and his offensive game is....offensive to watch.

I have a feeling we are seeing an ego at work--Grunfeld sending them down is admitting that he goofed that draft. Right now, neither of these players should be on a roster...it's unfair to them as well.

I think it would be nice as a struggling young player to go down, play infererior comp, and rack up some time stats against weak opponents. Marcus Morris was sent down, and he's light years better than either player.

I wrote this piece with the headline "Losing Season Puts Wizards At Epicenter Of Player Development Debate". Publication date: April 17, 2009.

The reason given by the Wizards front office then was that they weren't sending guys down because of injuries. My guess is that they're using the same reasoning with this year's group.

Nivek wrote:I wrote this piece with the headline "Losing Season Puts Wizards At Epicenter Of Player Development Debate". Publication date: April 17, 2009.

The reason given by the Wizards front office then was that they weren't sending guys down because of injuries. My guess is that they're using the same reasoning with this year's group.

Great article, Nivek (minus the damn question marks everywhere--I know that wasn't your fault). I understand the "healthy bodies" for practice thing, but how does that help these players develop? Personally, I feel it would be more productive for Vesely (and the team in general-they spent a lotto pick on the kid) to play inferior comp in the d-league and develop some confidence, rather than let him be Nene's b1tch in practice everyday. I can't see how being sent down to the league could be worse ego-wise than being destroyed in practive everyday by better players.

I don't know...seems like a shot-sighted, dumb reason to not send guys down. Bodies for practice could be filled in by anyone, I would think. Hell, sign some 10-day guys if all you need are bodies.

Because our team is a D-League team *Needs Green Font*

It has to be because they are cheap and lazy (Grunfeld), I honestly believe this. The Wizards are the only NBA team not sending recent draft picks to the D-League.

I forgot where I read it, but I saw somewhere that Vesely was promised by the Wizards that he would never be sent down to the D-League.

No: Seraphin, not Vesely.

doclinkin wrote:No: Seraphin, not Vesely.

Nah. I know I saw an article about Serpahin being promised not to be sent down, but I also saw the same thing about Vesely somewhere a month ago. If I remembered where I saw it, I'd post it here.

MikeTheKid wrote:Because our team is a D-League team *Needs Green Font*

+1,000,000

MikeTheKid wrote:Because our team is a D-League team *Needs Green Font*

Does this mean they can hire talent off the street? cause this team needs it!!

Ernie would rather comb the Euroleagues for projects, and then use draft picks on them.

I'm pretty sure this is true. Remember when Ves signed. There was a lock out. He was already signed to a team. I think in order to get him to come over, they had to promise him he would be part of the team.

I'm also pretty sure I even heard a reporter ... Buck or Phil or someone... talk about it with in the last few weeks.

Now that is not to say they couldn't work something out with Ves now. Basically talk him into the idea. He can go down. He just has to agree to it.


Anyway, it was nice to see him sink 2 from the FT line yesterday.

Links to older D-League threads.
viewtopic.php?f=35&p=28555407

and

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1158910

There is no reason Singleton shouldnt be sent down to get minutes in the d-league. He gets none here whatsoever.

At least Vesely and Booker seem to be alternating between who gets minutes from game to game.

But old Singo gets nada lately. Send him down, with some playing time I think he could develop into a nice Ariza replacement.

Something is seriously wrong here.

The guy started 51 games last year and played in 66

That was only second to Wall.

He just played a total of 24 minutes in January.

Sure would be nice if one of our reporter people would press Randy on what the hell he is thinking. Not that it would matter. But it would be nice if they asked. Singleton never get interviewed anymore either. What is his progress ? Are they looking for him to do something specific in practice ?

Why do you over-estimate the d-league? As far as actual player development goes, I can't think of many success stories personally

dangermouse wrote:There is no reason Singleton shouldnt be sent down to get minutes in the d-league. He gets none here whatsoever.

At least Vesely and Booker seem to be alternating between who gets minutes from game to game.

But old Singo gets nada lately. Send him down, with some playing time I think he could develop into a nice Ariza replacement.

Agree, you never know, Ariza could be dealt. Singleton is the only pick from that disastrous draft he that could be a defensive role-player for us if weren't rusting-away on the sidelines.