Sato at PG

[Dark Faze]

come back and bring vesely with you

[dckingsfan]

Could Tomas Satoranksy play as a SF? He's 6'7 in shoes. He's got something of a 3 pt shot - 39% on limited attempts (2/game). He obviously has a handle and passing skills. To my mind, the question is defensively - would he get overpowered or outsized (particularly wingspan)? Can he board well enough?

It would depend on the defensive scheme. He isn't a particularly good rebounder - basically, he rebounds like a guard.

He is a very good 3 point shooter and would do well in the SA offensive scheme. Pop would just need to get him to pull the trigger more often.

I really think he is more suited for being a PG.

[payitforward]

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?s=21

This dates from early January.

You'd expect there to be a deal by now. & maybe there is but it's simply not being talked about.

[dckingsfan]

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?s=21

This dates from early January.

You'd expect there to be a deal by now. & maybe there is but it's simply not being talked about.

No GM?

[payitforward]

I don't think it has anything to do with it. Tommy Sheppard is running things right now. Plus it was 3 months after this report that Ernie was fired.

[DCZards]

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?s=21

This dates from early January.

You'd expect there to be a deal by now. & maybe there is but it's simply not being talked about.

I don’t believe free agent deals can be signed—or at least publically announced—until July 1.

[gravytrain24]

I may be in the minority but what's the rush to sign Sato once FA opens, i believe the wiz can match any deal, so lets see what offers he gets, see what happens in the draft and plus, i like Randle's game.

[Eli Babak]

Randle shoots 3s and that's it. He's a 3rd string PG at best.

I'd offer Sato 3y/24M at the start of FA and hope he takes it. It's possible that eventually a desperate team like Chicago offers him a huge contract and matching would be tough.

[dckingsfan]

What is interesting is that the draft has three PGs that will go high and there are a bunch of UFA PGs. It might be that other teams will be very distracted with both the draft and the UFAs before them come back around to Sato.

UFA PGs by age

Isaiah Whitehead
Elfrid Payton
Trey Burke
T.J. McConnell
Michael Carter-Williams
Ricky Rubio
Cory Joseph
Tim Frazier
Kemba Walker
Shelvin Mack
Derrick Rose
Isaiah Thomas
Jerryd Bayless
Ishmael Smith
Patrick Beverley
Jeremy Lin
Darren Collison
Rajon Rondo
Jose Barea
Raymond Felton
Devin Harris
Jose Calderon

[nate33]

You'd expect there to be a deal by now. & maybe there is but it's simply not being talked about.

I didn't expect a deal. Sato thinks he can get the full MLE or more. The Wizards think he'll cost less. Neither side has any motivation to budge from their opening offer.

[Kanyewest]

Randle shoots 3s and that's it. He's a 3rd string PG at best.

I'd offer Sato 3y/24M at the start of FA and hope he takes it. It's possible that eventually a desperate team like Chicago offers him a huge contract and matching would be tough.

Sato is better than Randle. Randle is a decent scorer including at the rim at 60%. His EFG% is at 52.5%. Problem of course is that he doesn't get to the free throw line at a high rate and he shoots sub 70% from the free throw line (and his rebounds #s are pretty poor, although maybe that improves if the 2nd unit he plays with plays better defense). I think he is actually a good complement to Sato but I wouldn't break the bank to keep Randle either.

[pcbothwel]

Randle shoots 3s and that's it. He's a 3rd string PG at best.

I'd offer Sato 3y/24M at the start of FA and hope he takes it. It's possible that eventually a desperate team like Chicago offers him a huge contract and matching would be tough.

Sato is better than Randle. Randle is a decent scorer including at the rim at 60%. His EFG% is at 52.5%. Problem of course is that he doesn't get to the free throw line at a high rate and he shoots sub 70% from the free throw line (and his rebounds #s are pretty poor, although maybe that improves if the 2nd unit he plays with plays better defense). I think he is actually a good complement to Sato but I wouldn't break the bank to keep Randle either.

Ehhh... I like Randle, but wouldnt pay almost anything over the Min.

Sato's skill-set is really a "Greater than sum of parts" sort of deal. His ability to initiate the offense and defend multiple positions without shot jacking allow you to play him with an undersized combo guard and not have the offense grind to a hault.
He would thrive next to a guy like Lou Will.

Its the same reason I really like Troy brown as well. High IQ guys that are Jack of all trades type players are very malleable and allow specialist to thrive without sacrificing overall team effectiveness.
Now, very rarely do they ever end up on All star teams or get max contracts... but they are usually always part of winning organizations.
Its also why Brandon Clarke will be a really good player in the league. he can play the 4 next to a Big/skilled Centers that can shoot 3's. Thomas Bryant, Cousins, Brook Lopez, etc... Clarke allows them to spread the floor while he gets mop up duty.

[nate33]

Randle shoots 3s and that's it. He's a 3rd string PG at best.

I'd offer Sato 3y/24M at the start of FA and hope he takes it. It's possible that eventually a desperate team like Chicago offers him a huge contract and matching would be tough.

Sato is better than Randle. Randle is a decent scorer including at the rim at 60%. His EFG% is at 52.5%. Problem of course is that he doesn't get to the free throw line at a high rate and he shoots sub 70% from the free throw line (and his rebounds #s are pretty poor, although maybe that improves if the 2nd unit he plays with plays better defense). I think he is actually a good complement to Sato but I wouldn't break the bank to keep Randle either.

Ehhh... I like Randle, but wouldnt pay almost anything over the Min.

I would only pay him the minimum. The only conciliation I would offer would be that I might give him a 2-year deal at the minimum.

[FAH1223]

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[FAH1223]

Listening to Katz on Wizards After Dark, Tommy better have lock up Sato early. Can't get Otto Porter'd.

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[Ruzious]

Re Sato - I just don't see him being a very attractive free agent outside of Washington, because he's looked at as a relitively bland player, and he's not a high volume 3 point shooter. What may change that perception is if he goes off in the FIBA World Cup and shows a quicker release on his 3.

[nate33]

Re Sato - I just don't see him being a very attractive free agent outside of Washington, because he's looked at as a relitively bland player, and he's not a high volume 3 point shooter. What may change that perception is if he goes off in the FIBA World Cup and shows a quicker release on his 3.

Agreed. I don't think many teams consider Sato a true PG. He's a ball handler who can get a team into sets, but he needs to play alongside a playmaking wing who can bend the defense and create for others. A team like Orlando in need of a PG wouldn't want Sato.

Sato would look great at PG alongside someone like James Harden, Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic or Giannis. But all of those teams don't have massive cap room sitting around waiting to be spent on a 5th option starter or backup guard like Sato. Fortunately for us, Sato also looks great alongside a playmaking wing like Beal.

Looking around the league, the only team in need of PG, that has cap room, and that also has a playmaking wing is Indy. I could see them kicking the tires on Sato but probably not. They've got to pay Bogdanovic a ton, and they've got to keep future cap room available for Sabonis' extension next summer.

Most other teams that have interest in Sato would only use the MLE, not cap room. Therefore, I think it's a pretty sure bet that Sato will cost no more than the MLE, and probably a bit less.

[FAH1223]

Re Sato - I just don't see him being a very attractive free agent outside of Washington, because he's looked at as a relitively bland player, and he's not a high volume 3 point shooter. What may change that perception is if he goes off in the FIBA World Cup and shows a quicker release on his 3.

Agreed. I don't think many teams consider Sato a true PG. He's a ball handler who can get a team into sets, but he needs to play alongside a playmaking wing who can bend the defense and create for others. A team like Orlando in need of a PG wouldn't want Sato.

Sato would look great at PG alongside someone like James Harden, Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic or Giannis. But all of those teams don't have massive cap room sitting around waiting to be spent on a 5th option starter or backup guard like Sato. Fortunately for us, Sato also looks great alongside a playmaking wing like Beal.

Looking around the league, the only team in need of PG, that has cap room, and that also has a playmaking wing is Indy. I could see them kicking the tires on Sato but probably not. They've got to pay Bogdanovic a ton, and they've got to keep future cap room available for Sabonis' extension next summer.

Most other teams that have interest in Sato would only use the MLE, not cap room. Therefore, I think it's a pretty sure bet that Sato will cost no more than the MLE, and probably a bit less.

I think 3 years $21M-$24M will get it done, IMO.

His qualifying offer is $3.9M. He was making $3M last year.

[FAH1223]

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[GimmeDat]

What are the chances you think he's back?