Should Wizards be Concerned with Alex Sarr

[GSWFan1994]

Bad game last night, but by the way things are going, I think he's the favourite to win the ROY award.

[doogie_hauser]

He has been very impressive, including a memorable 34/6/5 performance against Joker in the
WIz's astonishing win away to Denver.

His confidence is rising and will only get better from here. He has so much upside/potential.

The Wizards made the right call (unbelievable I know) with this selection
.

[Jamaaliver]

Sarr has played well of late.

But I wonder now, as I did last summer:

Is Alex Sarr really that much of a better prospect than Kel'el Ware?

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[AFM]

We get it. You love Risacher and feel the need to tear down Sarr (the entire purpose of this thread that you started in SEPTEMBER of his rookie season).

Like you said, we should have drafted Reed Sheppard. Great call.

[shi-woo]

Sarr has played well of late.

But I wonder now, as I did last summer:

Is Alex Sarr really that much of a better prospect than Kel'el Ware?

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Ware is a year older and has 40 pounds on him. He should be playing better as a rookie from the states that went to college. Ware was also the #6 recruit, and would go higher in a redraft today,.He's a solid player.

I think Ware playing with a team full of vets also makes it easier on him, as he has an ANBA big guarding his back on defense, and AS in Wiggins and Herro on the perimeter. Much easier than having Kuzma and Val as your guys. It should be no surprise that as WAS added more stable vets and got rid of Kuz and Val his performance and role have improved.

I've always liked Ware, but I think Sarr is still the better prospect. He's still only 19, and we've seen flashes of what he will be able to do on both offense and defense. He's a 3 level scorer with legit ball skills that can run the floor better than 99% of bigs, and looks like Ibaka on the weak side. His ceiling is much much higher than Wares.

Right now I view Ware as a Deandre Ayton level prospect, and think he's a similar player. Sarr is looking like he can create a game similar to what Jaren Jackson Jr is doing this year, or Chet.

I expect Sarr to look like the much better prospect on both sides of the ball once he fills out, and has actually good team mates to play off of.

[Jamaaliver]

Spoiler:

Sarr has played well of late.

But I wonder now, as I did last summer:

Is Alex Sarr really that much of a better prospect than Kel'el Ware?

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Ware is a year older and has 40 pounds on him. He should be playing better as a rookie from the states that went to college. Ware was also the #6 recruit, and would go higher in a redraft today,.He's a solid player.

I think Ware playing with a team full of vets also makes it easier on him, as he has an NBA big guarding his back on defense, and AS in Wiggins and Herro on the perimeter. Much easier than having Kuzma and Val as your guys. It should be no surprise that as WAS added more stable vets and got rid of Kuz and Val his performance and role have improved.

I've always liked Ware, but I think Sarr is still the better prospect. He's still only 19, and we've seen flashes of what he will be able to do on both offense and defense. He's a 3 level scorer with legit ball skills that can run the floor better than 99% of bigs, and looks like Ibaka on the weak side. His ceiling is much much higher than Wares.

Right now I view Ware as a Deandre Ayton level prospect, and think he's a similar player. Sarr is looking like he can create a game similar to what Jaren Jackson Jr is doing this year, or Chet.

I expect Sarr to look like the much better prospect on both sides of the ball once he fills out, and has actually good team mates to play off of.

^Now this is some damn good analysis...thanks for this.



In your opinion:

Would Sarr benefit more from getting a veteran big man of his own moving forward or should the Wizards still just prioritize adding more youthful talent to the front court?

[AFM]

I'll answer less like a dick this time. Sorry. I mean Sarry.
We had signed Valuncunas for that very reason. But first you have to ask yourself what position Sarr even projects to play long term. Is he a C? Like Shi-Woo said, on offense he has legit guard skills. And seems to prefer the 3 ball. In the paint he's more likely to go to a hook shot or a turn around jumper. Some think he can just gain weight and play more like a traditional C but I don't think that's the case. He's more like a 7' forward on offense. On defense, I don't have a crystal ball, but it wouldn't surprise me if he wins DPOY later in his career. He has remarkable shotblocking instincts.

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[Jamaaliver]

I'll answer less like a dick this time. Sorry. I mean Sarry.

We had signed Valuncunas for that very reason. But first you have to ask yourself what position Sarr even projects to play long term. Is he a C? Like Shi-Woo said, on offense he has legit guard skills. And seems to prefer the 3 ball. In the paint he's more likely to go to a hook shot or a turn around jumper.

Some think he can just gain weight and play more like a traditional C but I don't think that's the case. He's more like a 7' forward on offense. On defense, I don't have a crystal ball, but it wouldn't surprise me if he wins DPOY later in his career. He has remarkable shotblocking instincts.

1. No worries, man. The question itself was a bit inflammatory.

2. I appreciate you taking the time to craft such a detailed response.

3. It was the lack of strength and physicality that really set off alarms in my initial scouting of Sarr last summer. I do believe he ends up more of an PF in the NBA - allegedly part of the reason Sarr was reluctant to work out for the Atlanta Hawks during the draft process.



This leads me to wonder what happens to Sarr if the Wizards do luck into Cooper Flagg?

[shi-woo]

Spoiler:

Sarr has played well of late.

But I wonder now, as I did last summer:

Is Alex Sarr really that much of a better prospect than Kel'el Ware?

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Ware is a year older and has 40 pounds on him. He should be playing better as a rookie from the states that went to college. Ware was also the #6 recruit, and would go higher in a redraft today,.He's a solid player.

I think Ware playing with a team full of vets also makes it easier on him, as he has an NBA big guarding his back on defense, and AS in Wiggins and Herro on the perimeter. Much easier than having Kuzma and Val as your guys. It should be no surprise that as WAS added more stable vets and got rid of Kuz and Val his performance and role have improved.

I've always liked Ware, but I think Sarr is still the better prospect. He's still only 19, and we've seen flashes of what he will be able to do on both offense and defense. He's a 3 level scorer with legit ball skills that can run the floor better than 99% of bigs, and looks like Ibaka on the weak side. His ceiling is much much higher than Wares.

Right now I view Ware as a Deandre Ayton level prospect, and think he's a similar player. Sarr is looking like he can create a game similar to what Jaren Jackson Jr is doing this year, or Chet.

I expect Sarr to look like the much better prospect on both sides of the ball once he fills out, and has actually good team mates to play off of.

^Now this is some damn good analysis...thanks for this.



In your opinion:

Would Sarr benefit more from getting a veteran big man of his own moving forward or should the Wizards still just prioritize adding more youthful talent to the front court?

I think they should be doing both, and this offseason. I'm higher on their young core than most, and think they are going to walk away with another solid piece this draft no matter where they pick. They need another scorer, as I don't think Bilal is that, and Bub looks more like a Derrick White player to me than anything else. What I do like about their young guys is that they are all interchangible and can move up and down the roster, so they should be able to draft BPA no matter what.

Flagg is the dream, as he slates to be a 4/3 wing at the next level, and is a good defender, but after that there is a huge difference between the talent of the guards/wings of this draft and the big men. They most likely aren't drafting a big with their lotto pick, and they will be giving the first pick or so of the 2nd round to the Celtics. They have 2 more picks in the 2nd, so they will have some ammo, and I would certainly dangle those 2nds and one of my auxillary young guys/cap space to get one of OKC or UTH's late 1st this year.

I like Amari Williams from KY, Kalkbrenner from Creighton, and Maluach from Duke as prospects they could realistically get with one of those picks if they traded for it. Those guys all can be stable backups, and potentially can start. This team needs size on it, and getting a cost controlled prospect can only help moving forward.

Going forward though, I think it's in the Wiz best interest to bring in a defensive minded vet while Sarr fills out. He's def the center of the future there, but like every big its best to pair them with another big till their bodies can handle it, or even to play it out if they perform at the 4. They are the worst defense in the league rn, and size would help there down low.

The Wiz have a bunch of expirering tradable contact, so I would look to make a trade with one of those and a protected pick/a to bring in a guy to just be a solid body for a few years. Ayton would be a solid candidate to try out at the 5 for a few years, and ironically enough Gafford is also on the trading block this summer and would be a solid pick up.

WCJ/Goga, Lopez, Turner, Adams, Poeltl, Capela, Nance, and a few others would all be solid options to be that bridge guy for the next 2-3 years.

Even if the guy doesn't start they have the option of going two big, which right now they only have Holmes who doesn''t play often, and is small even for todays 5. We saw how having Adams with JJJ in his early days helped him maxamize his skills, and I would be looking to do the same with Sarr. this coming season

[Jamaaliver]

In your opinion:

Would Sarr benefit more from getting a veteran big man of his own moving forward or should the Wizards still just prioritize adding more youthful talent to the front court?

I think they should be doing both, and this offseason.

They most likely aren't drafting a big with their lotto pick, and they will be giving the first pick or so of the 2nd round to the Celtics. They have 2 more picks in the 2nd, so they will have some ammo, and I would certainly dangle those 2nds and one of my auxillary young guys/cap space to get one of OKC or UTH's late 1st this year.

I like Amari Williams from KY, Kalkbrenner from Creighton, and Maluach from Duke as prospects they could realistically get with one of those picks if they traded for it. Those guys all can be stable backups, and potentially can start. This team needs size on it, and getting a cost controlled prospect can only help moving forward.

Going forward though, I think it's in the Wiz best interest to bring in a defensive minded vet while Sarr fills out. He's def the center of the future there, but like every big its best to pair them with another big till their bodies can handle it, or even to play it out if they perform at the 4. They are the worst defense in the league rn, and size would help there down low.

Even if the guy doesn't start they have the option of going two big, which right now they only have Holmes who doesn''t play often, and is small even for todays 5. We saw how having Adams with JJJ in his early days helped him maximize his skills, and I would be looking to do the same with Sarr. this coming season.

NOTED

[Thaddy]

He would look better at PF. A stretch big like Maluach next to him would develop a very strong defence for the Wiz over the next ten years.

Maluach
Sarr
Flagg
Coulibaly
Carrington

Next year would be rough but they can draft for more depth.

[The-Power]

A stretch big like Maluach

Say what now?

[canada_dry]

A stretch big like Maluach

Say what now?

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

[AFM]

In your opinion:

Would Sarr benefit more from getting a veteran big man of his own moving forward or should the Wizards still just prioritize adding more youthful talent to the front court?

I think they should be doing both, and this offseason.

They most likely aren't drafting a big with their lotto pick, and they will be giving the first pick or so of the 2nd round to the Celtics. They have 2 more picks in the 2nd, so they will have some ammo, and I would certainly dangle those 2nds and one of my auxillary young guys/cap space to get one of OKC or UTH's late 1st this year.

I like Amari Williams from KY, Kalkbrenner from Creighton, and Maluach from Duke as prospects they could realistically get with one of those picks if they traded for it. Those guys all can be stable backups, and potentially can start. This team needs size on it, and getting a cost controlled prospect can only help moving forward.

Going forward though, I think it's in the Wiz best interest to bring in a defensive minded vet while Sarr fills out. He's def the center of the future there, but like every big its best to pair them with another big till their bodies can handle it, or even to play it out if they perform at the 4. They are the worst defense in the league rn, and size would help there down low.

Even if the guy doesn't start they have the option of going two big, which right now they only have Holmes who doesn''t play often, and is small even for todays 5. We saw how having Adams with JJJ in his early days helped him maximize his skills, and I would be looking to do the same with Sarr. this coming season.

NOTED

Yeah he needs to add serious weight. To put it in context, he's actually taller than Jokic, but weighs 80 lbs less. It's not a coincidence that Jokic's previous career high was against the Wizards. He dropped 56 on Sarr.
On the flip side, Sarr's career high was against Denver--he dropped 34/6/5 on Jokic. He is just too athletic and has legit 3 point range.

[nate33]

The blueprint for Sarr is Evan Mobley, Holmgren or JJJ, albeit probably only about 80% as good on offense.

Earlier in his career, he will probably play some PF to reduce the wear and tear on his slight frame. He looks like he'll be a reliable enough shooter and a mobile enough defender to get away with it, but he won't really be all that much of a plus offensively at that spot.

His ultimate upside will depend on how much stronger he can get. I don't ever see him as a difference-maker at PF because his offensive skill set is too limited, but if he can fill out enough to be a full-time 5, then he can have a borderline All-Star caliber impact. One of the rarest commodities in the NBA is a switchable 5 who can also space the floor from 3-point range.

To me, the real question is rebounding. He is a pretty bad rebounder for a big at the moment. If that doesn't improve, the Wizards will be consistently beat on the glass.

[Jamaaliver]

Yeah he needs to add serious weight.

To put it in context, he's actually taller than Jokic, but weighs 80 lbs less.

[Upperclass]

Players like Sarr only look like capable NBA players on teams such as the Wiz where they can play their type of game, unstructured. He isnt an awful player but he's like a Cauley Stein where he may want to use his skills a specific way and where a good team may want to use his skills might not align.

Those percentages with that type of athletic ability and size usally point to a player that doesnt know how to play basketball and its tough to learn that on a team where they dont teach good basketball.

He wouldve fit MUCH better at pick 3 on the Spurs and Castle wouldve been a good fit on the Wiz.

Also if the Wiz draft Flagg, he immediately has no value on the floor, as he doesnt fit next to that type of player schematically.

[nate33]

Players like Sarr only look like capable NBA players on teams such as the Wiz where they can play their type of game, unstructured. He isnt an awful player but he's like a Cauley Stein where he may want to use his skills a specific way and where a good team may want to use his skills might not align.

Those percentages with that type of athletic ability and size usally point to a player that doesnt know how to play basketball and its tough to learn that on a team where they dont teach good basketball.

He wouldve fit MUCH better at pick 3 on the Spurs and Castle wouldve been a good fit on the Wiz.

Also if the Wiz draft Flagg, he immediately has no value on the floor, as he doesnt fit next to that type of player schematically.

I disagree with nearly everything in this post.

There's nothing wrong with the Wizards developmental staff. This isn't the Ernie Grunfeld era. Avdija developed nicely. Kispert developed into pretty much what one would expect him to be. Bilal was a raw project his first season and already looks much better in Year 2. And the 3 rookies (Sarr, Carrington and George) all look like they'll pan out to be pretty good NBA players in a lousy draft.

I don't think Sarr would be a better fit on San Antonio, and Castle wouldn't have been that great of a fit in Washington. The Wizards need a true first option or second-option scorer at guard, not a defensive role player. The Wizards already have defensive wings in Bilal and George (and probably Carrington, once he fills out).

The only point where I might find some common ground is the argument that player Sarr wants to be probably isn't aligned with his actual skillset. But even that is mostly a short-term view. Sarr may not be that successful yet as a Chet Holmgren type of face-up scorer, but given his very young age, he might get there. And ultimately, that could be a better outcome than him merely being a Derrick Lively tier rim runner.

[AFM]

The beast from Bordeaux. STOP SLEEPING ON THE KID!!!!

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[Karate Diop]

The beast from Bordeaux. STOP SLEEPING ON THE KID!!!!

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I mean... He got bullied by Drew Timme who doesn't really have any vert...