GT #42: Bullets @ LA Lakers 10:30 PM (MonSportsNet/980 AM)

[penbeast0]

Going into the year, Bub looked the best of the youngsters but he hasn't developed at all. George also started out well, though at a lower level, and hasn't developed offensively much; I've been just dropping in for spots so I can't speak of either's defensive ability or improvement with any authority. Coulibaly's shooting has remained shaky but his playmaking is better. Sarr has shown the ability to hit 3's, even if not with NBA consistency yet, which was a real question after his miserable summer league play. The only other NBA level skill he's shown is his ability to move well and get blocks though his defensive assignments seem to be able to score easily against him when he's involved directly.

Couple that with Kuzma's performance (not quite down to the level of Poole's last year but a big drop off from what many of us already saw as questionably valuable stats), Kispert's continued inability to do much other than shoot 3's (he's gone backwards in terms of attacking the basket from last year), and Champagnie and Butler's not showing much of a distance game though both attack the basket well, plus Brogdon has continued to be injury prone and you have the shaky and disappointing season we have in front of us.

Poole and JV are having very good years but neither are the kind of long term pieces I want to build around. The hope is primarily in having a high draft status this year and next year and then seeing which of the young guys develop into supporting pieces (and Bilal and the rooks are very young). I give credit to the team for embracing the tank even if it means they won't play my favorite Wizard (Butler) much. That does give me hope.

[TGW]

This team is so boring to watch. Slow, unathletic, soft, and sloppy with the basketball. There is no one on this team worth turning the game on to see. At one point, it was Bilal, but he's not that guy. The young players on this team....yawn.

I remember someone posting that this season was the most excited he has been in years to watch a Wizards team. Holy ****.

Its more about hope for the future than the actual product on the court. We are the worst team in the league by a mile and I'm actually wondering whether we will win ten games... all I'm looking for is flashes. And honestly, I see plenty of those: from Alex, Bilal, and Kyshawn especially. Lots of nice plays, blocks, and effort sprinkled in with the expected terrible overall play. If you squint you can imagine the ratio of good to bad shifting for these guys from 20-80 to 80-20, and that would be a lot of fun. However, I do worry about Bub. Not worry really, just that I feel less excitement for his skillset. But he isn't even 20 so you know, a lot can change...

What hope for the future? They've put all their eggs in the Cooper Flagg basket, and the chances of getting him are probably less than 10%. So they are essentially banking on a winning lottery ticket to get them out of this mess.

I said awhile ago that tanking without developing a culture is a useless exercise. If you're going to tank, you need to do it with a purpose. This team is just losing just to amass ping pong balls. I don't think any of the young players are learning anything about playing winning basketball. It's just glorified pickup games at this point.

I'll say it again...I am not impressed at all with this front office. They get a failing grade from me so far.

[Despy]

How long did you think the rebuild would take? Yeah this team is worse than any grunfield team. And you know what? Thank god.

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612764/seasons?dir=D&sort=YEAR

I really dont long for the gunfield days were 35 wins was the average and 45 the ceiling

[GoneShammGone]

What hope for the future? They've put all their eggs in the Cooper Flagg basket, and the chances of getting him are probably less than 10%. So they are essentially banking on a winning lottery ticket to get them out of this mess.
...

You really have written off Sarr, Bilal and George? Three years from now do you think that they will still be bad players?

If so, OK, but I'm still optimistic.

[dobrojim]

You didn't ask me but it seems like the most likely scenario would be for a mix of results
by 2026-7 among our 3 FRPs this year. Because chaos happens.