Alex Sarr

[nate33]

Sarr is also a prime candidate to play PF his entire rookie deal like Mobley & JJJ did. Summer league may be only time he sees extended time against Cs.

Obviously, we have JV to bang against the bigger starting centers in the league. But when we go up against teams with smaller centers, or teams who like to play small ball, then that should provide Sarr with an opportunity to get more reps at center.

It's fine for him to continue to work on his face-up game and his shooting, but I also want him to get plenty of experience as a roll man and playing center in drop coverage. If Sarr is ever going to be a true difference maker at some point in his career, it will be as a center. He needs to learn the position.

What are you basing this off of? Sarr will be a 4 who plays center when he has to. Like KD or AD.

KD? I knew KD! And let me tell you something, Sarr is no KD!

(Sorry, that was an old political reference, Lloyd Benson, I believe.)

Seriously though, comparing Sarr to KD should be completely off the table at the moment. I agree that AD, or better yet, Mobley or JJJ are reasonable comps. And in all 3 cases, their team fares better when they play center.

[Dat2U]

Obviously, we have JV to bang against the bigger starting centers in the league. But when we go up against teams with smaller centers, or teams who like to play small ball, then that should provide Sarr with an opportunity to get more reps at center.

It's fine for him to continue to work on his face-up game and his shooting, but I also want him to get plenty of experience as a roll man and playing center in drop coverage. If Sarr is ever going to be a true difference maker at some point in his career, it will be as a center. He needs to learn the position.

What are you basing this off of? Sarr will be a 4 who plays center when he has to. Like KD or AD.

KD? I knew KD! And let me tell you something, Sarr is no KD!

(Sorry, that was an old political reference, Lloyd Benson, I believe.)

Seriously though, comparing Sarr to KD should be completely off the table at the moment. I agree that AD, or better yet, Mobley or JJJ are reasonable comps. And in all 3 cases, their team fares better when they play center.

JJJ had the best stretch of his career next to a legit C in Steven Adams.

Mobley struggled defending Cs his first few years.

For a guy being viewed as a total project and pushover atm, its interesting to see the positive impact he had in the NBL, a league known for its physicality, where nearly every young player struggles. Yet Sarr was 3rd I believe on the team in their plus/minus metric (I can't find the article).

I don't think it matter where he plays, its where his impact is the largest. He's a better perimeter defender and weak-side shot blocker than post defender right now. He may be the first legitimate 7-1 free roamer on defense. Put him on the weakest defender and let him create havoc on the chess board.

[doclinkin]

Of note is that the coaching staff also wants to see him dial up his aggression.

The best teams have people who can dominate a game.

Unearthing a few of them is the task for most rebuilding teams, especially for the Washington Wizards, who are starting close to rock bottom. Right now, the Wizards would be happy simply to identify young building blocks who at least have the guts, and the confidence, to try to bend a game through the force of their will.

This, perhaps, was an undercurrent to a fascinating answer by summer-league coach Cody Toppert when he was asked Friday morning what he wanted to see from rookie Alex Sarr in the 19-year-old’s Wizards debut Friday night.

“He’s got such a high-character disposition about him,” Toppert said. “He cares about his teammates. I think we want to see a little bit of a killer come out on the court. We want to see a guy who is bringing an aggressive mentality on both sides of the ball, a level of physicality on defense that’s going to establish a baseline for what he’s going to be in the future. And then on the offensive side, it’s got to be a level of aggression. We don’t want him to hide on the offensive end. We want him to hunt action.”

And comments from Dawk in game 1, stating they want to see him be more aggressive on the glass. A project, but an interesting one. The thing that strikes me as interesting is that when he is under the basket he really seems to have no idea what to do down there, so he looks for someone anyone to pass to to bail him out. Scouts are going to sniff that out. JV will be a good big brother for him, but we also really need a big man coach dedicated to building him some basics in footwork, moves, countermoves, Mikan drill, Dream shake, baby hook, Duncan off the glass fundamentals, anything.

[dckingsfan]

What are you basing this off of? Sarr will be a 4 who plays center when he has to. Like KD or AD.

KD? I knew KD! And let me tell you something, Sarr is no KD!

(Sorry, that was an old political reference, Lloyd Benson, I believe.)

Seriously though, comparing Sarr to KD should be completely off the table at the moment. I agree that AD, or better yet, Mobley or JJJ are reasonable comps. And in all 3 cases, their team fares better when they play center.

JJJ had the best stretch of his career next to a legit C in Steven Adams.

Mobley struggled defending Cs his first few years.

For a guy being viewed as a total project and pushover atm, its interesting to see the positive impact he had in the NBL, a league known for its physicality, where nearly every young player struggles. Yet Sarr was 3rd I believe on the team in their plus/minus metric (I can't find the article).

I don't think it matter where he plays, its where his impact is the largest. He's a better perimeter defender and weak-side shot blocker than post defender right now. He may be the first legitimate 7-1 free roamer on defense. Put him on the weakest defender and let him create havoc on the chess board.

This. Sarr just needs to be Sarr and the coaching staff has to put him in the right position to be him.

That means we let him play 3/4 on D against the weakest forward. His offensive isn't there yet but I am thinking he will develop most quickly there.

He is going to be good for the tank for the next two years, IMO. But, he could be a valuable asset if developed correctly.

[queridiculo]

Of note is that the coaching staff also wants to see him dial up his aggression.

The best teams have people who can dominate a game.

Unearthing a few of them is the task for most rebuilding teams, especially for the Washington Wizards, who are starting close to rock bottom. Right now, the Wizards would be happy simply to identify young building blocks who at least have the guts, and the confidence, to try to bend a game through the force of their will.

This, perhaps, was an undercurrent to a fascinating answer by summer-league coach Cody Toppert when he was asked Friday morning what he wanted to see from rookie Alex Sarr in the 19-year-old’s Wizards debut Friday night.

“He’s got such a high-character disposition about him,” Toppert said. “He cares about his teammates. I think we want to see a little bit of a killer come out on the court. We want to see a guy who is bringing an aggressive mentality on both sides of the ball, a level of physicality on defense that’s going to establish a baseline for what he’s going to be in the future. And then on the offensive side, it’s got to be a level of aggression. We don’t want him to hide on the offensive end. We want him to hunt action.”

And comments from Dawk in game 1, stating they want to see him be more aggressive on the glass. A project, but an interesting one. The thing that strikes me as interesting is that when he is under the basket he really seems to have no idea what to do down there, so he looks for someone anyone to pass to to bail him out. Scouts are going to sniff that out. JV will be a good big brother for him, but we also really need a big man coach dedicated to building him some basics in footwork, moves, countermoves, Mikan drill, Dream shake, baby hook, Duncan off the glass fundamentals, anything.

Alarm bells typically go off when I hear those kind of quotes about a player.

Can you really coach up somebody's demeanor on the court?

In my experience it's always been an either you got it or you don't, having to convince somebody to be aggressive seems like a tall order.

[Dark Faze]

Not really, but guys have been effective despite a less than stellar reputation in that regard. Look at Gobert for example.

[payitforward]

Yeah... that's the problem. I mean it's well known that guys never improve. At least not if they are already 19 years old when they're drafted. No chance -- what a terrible pick! So Wizards.

I mean... same with Carrington. After all, when's the last time a guy picked as low as 14 had any kind of impact in the league? Never happens.

What a mess!! There's no hope.
Might as well re-hire Ernie.

[dckingsfan]

I think it is fine to comment on a players weaknesses, how they would need to be coached to improve and what type of players that they should be surrounded by... not sure why this is falling into the sky is falling category. The discussion has been pretty reasonable.

Maybe we should have a negative comment ban?

[Dat2U]

Of note is that the coaching staff also wants to see him dial up his aggression.

The best teams have people who can dominate a game.

Unearthing a few of them is the task for most rebuilding teams, especially for the Washington Wizards, who are starting close to rock bottom. Right now, the Wizards would be happy simply to identify young building blocks who at least have the guts, and the confidence, to try to bend a game through the force of their will.

This, perhaps, was an undercurrent to a fascinating answer by summer-league coach Cody Toppert when he was asked Friday morning what he wanted to see from rookie Alex Sarr in the 19-year-old’s Wizards debut Friday night.

“He’s got such a high-character disposition about him,” Toppert said. “He cares about his teammates. I think we want to see a little bit of a killer come out on the court. We want to see a guy who is bringing an aggressive mentality on both sides of the ball, a level of physicality on defense that’s going to establish a baseline for what he’s going to be in the future. And then on the offensive side, it’s got to be a level of aggression. We don’t want him to hide on the offensive end. We want him to hunt action.”

And comments from Dawk in game 1, stating they want to see him be more aggressive on the glass. A project, but an interesting one. The thing that strikes me as interesting is that when he is under the basket he really seems to have no idea what to do down there, so he looks for someone anyone to pass to to bail him out. Scouts are going to sniff that out. JV will be a good big brother for him, but we also really need a big man coach dedicated to building him some basics in footwork, moves, countermoves, Mikan drill, Dream shake, baby hook, Duncan off the glass fundamentals, anything.

Alarm bells typically go off when I hear those kind of quotes about a player.

Can you really coach up somebody's demeanor on the court?

In my experience it's always been an either you got it or you don't, having to convince somebody to be aggressive seems like a tall order.

I assume you never watched Anthony Edwards at UGA. That was a case study in guy going through the motions and only kicking it into gear when he felt like it. Some guys turn it on and off.

I've also seen plenty of examples of guys who had a motor that ran hot until the moment they got paid.

[badinage]

Sorry, just not seeing it. I want to see it. Dearly, dearly want to.

He strikes me as a player who could, with work, become a nice piece to have.

But I don't see a guy to build around. I don't see a Garnett. I don't see a killer. I don't see an All-NBA guy. I don't see a multi-year all-star.

Sure, it's VERY early. He seems great, a guy you'd like to be part of the culture. He has some skills, and those can be developed, I hope. The court awareness is pretty good, the passing, the weakside shot-blocking. Maybe the jumper becomes a thing.

But this is a rebuild, and we need to create a core. And I'm not seeing -- so far -- a core piece.

We just dealt a guy because he was deemed to not be a core piece. And now it looks -- again, early -- but it LOOKS as though we are going to be saddled with a not-core piece that they invest in and develop, only to find out, years later (my very early prediction, in July 2024) that he is a 4th-man, 5th-man.

[TGW]

Sorry, just not seeing it. I want to see it. Dearly, dearly want to.

He strikes me as a player who could, with work, become a nice piece to have.

But I don't see a guy to build around. I don't see a Garnett. I don't see a killer. I don't see an All-NBA guy. I don't see a multi-year all-star.

Sure, it's VERY early. He seems great, a guy you'd like to be part of the culture. He has some skills, and those can be developed, I hope. The court awareness is pretty good, the passing, the weakside shot-blocking. Maybe the jumper becomes a thing.

But this is a rebuild, and we need to create a core. And I'm not seeing -- so far -- a core piece.

We just dealt a guy because he was deemed to not be a core piece. And now it looks -- again, early -- but it LOOKS as though we are going to be saddled with a not-core piece that they invest in and develop, only to find out, years later (my very early prediction, in July 2024) that he is a 4th-man, 5th-man.

Yep I'm in agreement with this. Like I said on page 1 of this thread, "He's just a guy." The Wizards have no successful track record properly developing a player like Sarr. He's soft and unskilled. Measurables through the roof, but he doesn't have any dog in him. I wouldn't be surprised if Reed Sheppard averages more rebounds in his career than Sarr.

Right now, I have a sideeye on this rebuild. I am not impressed with the direction they've decided to go. Carrington and Coulabily are decent young players, but the rest of the roster is a complete disaster.

[payitforward]

Suggesting that Sarr is not "a guy to build around" is irrelevant unless you mean that he wasn't the right pick -- in which case, you gotta opine as to who was the right pick!

After all, at #2 in the draft, as at any other position, you should simply take the best player available -- as far as you are able to tell. If Alex was the best bet on the board at 2, then obviously he was the right pick at 2.

Of course, there's no knowing with complete certainty. Not in advance. After all, in a pair of SL games, Reed Sheppard looked like that guy. Hell, he looked like a first ballot HOFer! & if he'd sailed into the future along that trajectory we'd look like utter idiots to have passed on him. As would Atlanta for having passed on him at #1. &... he may! Despite going 6-17 & turning the ball over in his 3d game.

What in the world does any of the above have to do with trading Deni?

It's empirically possible that trading Deni will turn out to have been a mistake. It's empirically possible that trading Deni will turn out to have been a positive move. Or a wash.

We don't know any of that yet. We can opine, but we don't know. But no matter how it turns out, it will have had nothing whatever to do with Alex Sarr!

[doclinkin]

LOL I'm even skeptical of Coulibaly.

The only player they've picked up I have confidence is going to be a solid 2 way player in short order is Bub Carrington. And I'm not seeing a sure-fire all-star there, either. Just damn good and reliable at least. A starting guard who is not a liability.

That said this draft I think most people were thinking 3rd and 4th option guys were the best of what you were likely picking. Why they said the #1-5 player this year would be #6-teens any other years.

We came out of this draft cycle with 1 project forward, 1 potential starting guard, 1 wild upside swing on a 3pt shooter, 1 future first rounder, 2 second rounders. Two useful vets on short term or tradeable contracts. One cheap low-risk flier on an injured young prospect.

We lost a solid developing 4th or 3rd option glue guy.
And a Laundry Hamper.
(please take credit for the nickname, I forget who said it).

We did not come out with a franchise guy. We are shooting to get him next year or the year after. Or both.

[9 and 20]

Of note is that the coaching staff also wants to see him dial up his aggression.



And comments from Dawk in game 1, stating they want to see him be more aggressive on the glass. A project, but an interesting one. The thing that strikes me as interesting is that when he is under the basket he really seems to have no idea what to do down there, so he looks for someone anyone to pass to to bail him out. Scouts are going to sniff that out. JV will be a good big brother for him, but we also really need a big man coach dedicated to building him some basics in footwork, moves, countermoves, Mikan drill, Dream shake, baby hook, Duncan off the glass fundamentals, anything.

Alarm bells typically go off when I hear those kind of quotes about a player.

Can you really coach up somebody's demeanor on the court?

In my experience it's always been an either you got it or you don't, having to convince somebody to be aggressive seems like a tall order.

I assume you never watched Anthony Edwards at UGA. That was a case study in guy going through the motions and only kicking it into gear when he felt like it. Some guys turn it on and off.

I've also seen plenty of examples of guys who had a motor that ran hot until the moment they got paid.

I don't think Sarr is hopeless or anything, but Anthony Edwards among a handful of exceptions. I think it's probably right that most of the time, you have that fight or you don't.

There''s things the Wiz can do to help the guy, for sure. The only thing we know we can't do is hire MJ to yell at this kid. I've seen that movie, and even though it ends with all timer YouTube rants, I'm not sure I'm ready to watch it again.

[closg00]

LOL I'm even skeptical of Coulibaly.

The only player they've picked up I have confidence is going to be a solid 2 way player in short order is Bub Carrington. And I'm not seeing a sure-fire all-star there, either. Just damn good and reliable at least. A starting guard who is not a liability.

That said this draft I think most people were thinking 3rd and 4th option guys were the best of what you were likely picking. Why they said the #1-5 player this year would be #6-teens any other years.

We came out of this draft cycle with 1 project forward, 1 potential starting guard, 1 wild upside swing on a 3pt shooter, 1 future first rounder, 2 second rounders. Two useful vets on short term or tradeable contracts. One cheap low-risk flier on an injured young prospect.

We lost a solid developing 4th or 3rd option glue guy.
And a Laundry Hamper.
(please take credit for the nickname, I forget who said it).

We did not come out with a franchise guy. We are shooting to get him next year or the year after. Or both.

If Alex is our PF, what position does Bilal project to be? I understand the position trajectory of the entire young group except Bilal.
Side comment - We still don’t have a go-to bucket getter in the young group, Bub could be that guy in the future, and George is a willing last shot taker.

[doclinkin]

If Alex is our PF, what position does Bilal project to be?

Our back-up forward behind Alex Sarr and Cooper Flagg.

[closg00]

If Alex is our PF, what position does Bilal project to be?

Our back-up forward behind Alex Sarr and Cooper Flagg.

[payitforward]

...Like I said (of Sarr) on page 1 of this thread, "He's just a guy."...

Respectfully (& I mean that sincerely), how would you (or I for that matter) have the slightest ability to opine meaningfully along these lines? Obviously, either of us can have a casual "take." Based on... I don't know... one or another favorite player? Be great if Alex Sarr resembled Kevin Garnett a little more! No one can disagree with that!

But, really, do your words -- "just a guy" -- mean anything. I can't see how.

......He's soft and unskilled. Measurables through the roof, but he doesn't have any dog in him....

Rinse & repeat.

...I am not impressed with the direction they've decided to go.....

"I am not impressed" -- ?? Doesn't that give the impression of someone who has a significant basis from which to judge whatever "direction" Michael Winger & Will Dawkins have in mind in rebuilding the Wizards? & sufficient data to render judgment?

I know that I don't have near enough to work with to render such a judgment, that's for sure -- &, hey, no one is more opinionated than I am! Still, it's your right -- & history supports negativity about the Wizards, that's for sure!

All the same, I don't really understand it. I'm not even sure what they might have done to create that impression on your part. Or what you would have had them do differently. I suppose that would tell the story -- so... what would you have done differently?

[AFM]

Any chance this guy was hung over from bastille day

[NatP4]

The summer league coaching staff/organizational approach with Sarr has been questionable at best. They are basically having him play like he’s Giannis, just letting him go 1 on 1 from the top of the key. He’s not playing with a true playmaking PG. There’s been no sets for him to get an easy layup or lob finish, deep post positioning etc.

In the NBL, he was exclusively a 3rd/4th option bench player, that pick and popped or ran the floor in transition/scored on hustle plays/putbacks. I understand trying to explore and maximize potential, but they are essentially completely misusing him, and very likely crushing his confidence in the process.

Why no early back screen for a touch around the basket, or an off ball screen for a catch and shoot 3 to start the game? Sarr is Jaren Jackson/Nic Claxton/(maybe) Evan Mobley, not Kevin Durant/Giannis. Not a shot creator/isolation guy.