Should Wizards be Concerned with Alex Sarr

[tsherkin]

Well he has played as many NBA games as everyone posting on this threads, so perhaps it would be prudent to umm wait until he plays an actual game before being concerned.

You never know he could blossom at the right time lol.

That was my point, yes.

[Blame Rasho]

I think that it's a little unfair to be ragging on Sarr this early. Bigs take longer than smalls, traditionally speaking, and he's playing off others... which isn't awesome on Washington's current roster, right? So he's gonna take a minute even if he's pretty good. It seems like things are starting to come together enough that we can see the flashes and some of his ability and potential are showing through.

The usual mantra of "sample size, sample size, sample size" applies. He's 19. We haven't even hit the RS. And the Wizards were a 15-win team last season, so it's not like he's hitting a talent-rich environment with a high-end winning culture. I don't mean to rag on Washington too hard, more setting context for the rookie's performance.

He needs the All-Star break before we have any real idea. Even Kwame eventually turned into a semi-reasonable NBA journeyman. Obviously well worse than his draft slot, la la la, but like, environment matters a lot. Sarr has potential and while he hasn't been lighting it up, he's young, he's mobile, he seems to be putting in the work. And he doesn't seem to have hands of granite... So he needs a minute.

Well he has played as many NBA games as everyone posting on this threads, so perhaps it would be prudent to umm wait until he plays an actual game before being concerned.

You never know he could blossom at the right time lol.

[cgf]

I think that it's a little unfair to be ragging on Sarr this early. Bigs take longer than smalls, traditionally speaking, and he's playing off others... which isn't awesome on Washington's current roster, right? So he's gonna take a minute even if he's pretty good. It seems like things are starting to come together enough that we can see the flashes and some of his ability and potential are showing through.

The usual mantra of "sample size, sample size, sample size" applies. He's 19. We haven't even hit the RS. And the Wizards were a 15-win team last season, so it's not like he's hitting a talent-rich environment with a high-end winning culture. I don't mean to rag on Washington too hard, more setting context for the rookie's performance.

He needs the All-Star break before we have any real idea. Even Kwame eventually turned into a semi-reasonable NBA journeyman. Obviously well worse than his draft slot, la la la, but like, environment matters a lot. Sarr has potential and while he hasn't been lighting it up, he's young, he's mobile, he seems to be putting in the work. And he doesn't seem to have hands of granite... So he needs a minute.

Well he has played as many NBA games as everyone posting on this threads, so perhaps it would be prudent to umm wait until he plays an actual game before being concerned.

You never know he could blossom at the right time lol.

I think that may have been that poster's point

[tsherkin]

[
I think that may have been that poster's point

That was precisely my point, yes xD

[AFM]

I have been pleasantly surprised with how he looks so far

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5835490/2024/10/11/alex-sarr-nba-scouts-evaluation/

[Frichuela]

Sarr defensive flashes plus his seemingly improved 3 pt shooting (+50% in preseason after 3 games) make him a worthwhile pick for a team like the Wizards that is building pretty much from scratch and has the time to bet on upside.

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[hippesthippo]

I'm not a fan of his instincts on offense, but his flashes on defense have become more common which is certainly positive news. A player who can be a legit rim protector and also defend the perimeter like a small forward is obviously a valuable asset.

If he can find a way to become a positive contributor on offense outside of the dunkers spot, maybe he starts dropping some of the outside shots he's in love with, or maybe his passing acumen levels up... He has a chance to live up to his draft slot. I'm not sure if the usual move to give a big man more DHO touches and easy reads is going to work with someone of his slight stature.

Can anybody here speak to Sarr's ability as a screener? Right now I just struggle to envision his role on offense.

[nate33]

Can anybody here speak to Sarr's ability as a screener? Right now I just struggle to envision his role on offense.

He is a horrible screener. One of the worst I've ever seen. With him at center, none of the offensive sets could work because the defense blew up every screen he was involved in.

I think Sarr has talent and he may pan out to be a good player in the long run, but he is a major project at the moment. He can do virtually none of things that teams expect from their centers (set screens, rebound, defend the 2-on-1 window when dropping in a pick-and-roll). He might be able to reliably stretch the floor from the PF position, but he can't put the ball on the floor and attack a closeout or run secondary pick-and-roll or anything, so he is going to bog down the offense at the PF position as well.

The bottom line is that he cannot be a plus player until he gets a lot stronger. Maybe that will happen, maybe it won't. But I guarantee that he won't be a positive player in his rookie season. His only above-average talent at the moment is his ability to defend one-on-one in space. He's okay as a weakside rim protector but not really exemplary. He appears to be a good spot-up shooter in a limited sample size, but I'm not buying it yet.

[Godymas]

just like Jayden Daniels, Washington will have won the draft again at #2

[ballzboyee]

Can anybody here speak to Sarr's ability as a screener? Right now I just struggle to envision his role on offense.

He is a horrible screener. One of the worst I've ever seen.

Most screens in the current 2-man game are horrible anyway. The players just go through the motions because they don't want get beat up setting a 50 high ball screens a game. Having Sarr setting a bunch of physical try hard screens for Washington's backcourt is a complete waste of talent and will just end up being counterproductive for his development.

[Maf]

Breaking news: 19 years old basketball center isnt finished product.

[hippesthippo]

Can anybody here speak to Sarr's ability as a screener? Right now I just struggle to envision his role on offense.

He is a horrible screener. One of the worst I've ever seen. With him at center, none of the offensive sets could work because the defense blew up every screen he was involved in.

I think Sarr has talent and he may pan out to be a good player in the long run, but he is a major project at the moment. He can do virtually none of things that teams expect from their centers (set screens, rebound, defend the 2-on-1 window when dropping in a pick-and-roll). He might be able to reliably stretch the floor from the PF position, but he can't put the ball on the floor and attack a closeout or run secondary pick-and-roll or anything, so he is going to bog down the offense at the PF position as well.

The bottom line is that he cannot be a plus player until he gets a lot stronger. Maybe that will happen, maybe it won't. But I guarantee that he won't be a positive player in his rookie season. His only above-average talent at the moment is his ability to defend one-on-one in space. He's okay as a weakside rim protector but not really exemplary. He appears to be a good spot-up shooter in a limited sample size, but I'm not buying it yet.

Talented piece, but an awkward fit. I'm not sold on his shot yet either. The only thing I've seen him do with any consistency is mirror players on the perimeter (which he is a really good at). If I'm Washington I'd be trying to develop his game on the short roll.

[One_and_Done]

He's showing some flashes, and it's early. That said, if you're a Wizards fan you're probably feeling pretty annoyed they didn't just take Castle.

[Special_Puppy]

He's showing some flashes, and it's early. That said, if you're a Wizards fan you're probably feeling pretty annoyed they didn't just take Castle.

Before the draft I'd rank the prospects as

1. Reed
2. Sarr
3. Clingan
4. Castle

so I think their bigger mistake was not just taking Reed at 2

[One_and_Done]

He's showing some flashes, and it's early. That said, if you're a Wizards fan you're probably feeling pretty annoyed they didn't just take Castle.

Before the draft I'd rank the prospects as

1. Reed
2. Sarr
3. Clingan
4. Castle

so I think their bigger mistake was not just taking Reed at 2

And right now Castle arguably looks like he should have gone #1.

[nate33]

And right now Castle arguably looks like he should have gone #1.

I don't see that at all.

I would have taken Reed Sheppard, but I can live with the Sarr gamble. Sarr is a project, but the potential upside could be a JJJ type of player. It's worth a gamble when your team has no star to build around.

Castle looks like a role player to me. Maybe he'll be a real good role player, but a role player nevertheless. I think he would have been a reach at #2.

[JRoy]

Give him some time.

He doesn’t look like a star prospect but no reason he can’t be a solid pro if he can iron out his offense.

[Special_Puppy]

He's showing some flashes, and it's early. That said, if you're a Wizards fan you're probably feeling pretty annoyed they didn't just take Castle.

Before the draft I'd rank the prospects as

1. Reed
2. Sarr
3. Clingan
4. Castle

so I think their bigger mistake was not just taking Reed at 2

And right now Castle arguably looks like he should have gone #1.

I don't think you should update your prior that much based on summer league and pre-season

[One_and_Done]

And right now Castle arguably looks like he should have gone #1.

I don't see that at all.

I would have taken Reed Sheppard, but I can live with the Sarr gamble. Sarr is a project, but the potential upside could be a JJJ type of player. It's worth a gamble when your team has no star to build around.

Castle looks like a role player to me. Maybe he'll be a real good role player, but a role player nevertheless. I think he would have been a reach at #2.

It's early as I said. But Sarr looks like a role player too, even if he develops. This wasn't a star draft, and I've seen more star flashes from Castle than Sarr. I liked Reed too, but so far he hasn't looked better than Castle. If Castle can't shoot 3s then that changes.

[Jamaaliver]

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