Paris41 wrote:payitforward wrote:In short, what are you -- & the rest of you complainers -- moaning about? Please explain. I just don't get it.
You do get it. I and several other posters have repeatedly given you substantive responses. The issue is that none of it seems to matter, because you refuse to view the current front office through even a slightly critical lens.
You cannot even acknowledge what the overwhelming majority of the board already has: Carrington was a bad pick. Instead, you characterize any mildly critical comment about him as “picking on” him, then try to turn every criticism of the pick into some straw-man argument about the Deni trade.
Winger never had final say on basketball decisions with the Clippers. Lawrence Frank was President of Basketball Operations and had final authority.
So let’s look at the actual record.
Was it a good move to trade five draft picks for an often-injured 33-year-old star who has publicly expressed skepticism about the team, has yet to play a game for Washington, and is now seeking a long-term extension?
Was it smart to sign Trae Young — a player acquired for essentially nothing five months earlier — to a four-year, $212 million contract when Zach Lowe has reported that Washington was not bidding against any other teams?
Do you think trading Deni Avdija for Carrington plus a likely mid-2029 first was a good trade?
Did you have AJ ranked above Boozer and Peterson as a prospect? What about Caleb Wilson?
Do you think Tre Johnson was a better pick than Collin Murray-Boyles? I am on record having CMB over Tre.
Do you think Carrington was a better pick than Jared McCain? I am on record having McCain over Bub.
Watkins and George look to be future quality rotation NBA players, great. TBD on Sarr & Coulibaly. Fortunately, they were able to convince Sarr to avoid Atlanta, otherwise….the draft record would likely take a major hit.
Obviously, the Wizards are intentionally rebuilding. That is why they are 50-196 over the last three seasons. Wins and losses are not a fair indicator of success right now.
But if we cannot evaluate wins and losses yet, then we have to evaluate process, asset management, draft decisions, and prior track record. So can you point to where Winger or Dawkins had a proven track record of success as the top executive over a franchise before Washington?
I'm not interested in arguing w/ you, compadre. It's not the right moment. I just can't figure out what has got you so exercised at this particular moment.
As well, I have no intention of, no interest in, discussing Will or Winger's past. I could care less. Happy to acknowledge the obvious fact that Will's job was a promotion for him.
As to Bub, you're right; I don't think he was a bad pick. Tell the truth you can't give me a solid reason for me to think so. When I say "a solid reason," btw, I mean numbers not rhetoric. There's no doubt that Ware or Missi have been terrific, but we'd just picked Alex at the 2d pick in the draft; we weren't picking another big.
I assume, btw, that you do think Alex was a good pick? &, for that matter, I suppose you also regard Kyshawn as having been a good pick. Seems likely to me that you would also view Jamir Watkins as a terrific value at his spot in the draft. As well I'm guessing you might consider Will Riley as quite a good grab at #21. Since AJ was overwhelmingly projected to go at #1, & given he has played an NBA minute, I imagine you aren't voicing an objection to him.
Back to Bub: one notable fact is that he leads all players out of the '24 draft in minutes played. Only Castle is even within 20% minutes-wise. I wonder, as a matter of fact, whether any 19-year-old rookie has ever played 2458 minutes.
Wait, I found one -- he played 2606 minutes, & his rookie numbers were no better than Bub's overall, maybe a little worse. His TS% was lower, he got fewer rebounds, he had more assists but also more turnovers. His name was John Wall.
In truth, your attitude towards Bub (not yours alone of course) can't be separated from your attitude towards the Deni trade, even though they are not interdependent issues.
Overall, I feel more excited, hopeful & happy as a Wizards fan than I have god knows how many years. That's enough for me, & I suppose that, overall, my puzzlement amounts to no more than a lack of understanding of why it's not enough for others.
OTOH, I am in no position to dictate anyone else's attitude, & I have no interest in doing so. You in particular have contributed some of the most interesting posts & points of view of all of us, hence in particular I have no reason to seek conflict with you. & anyway, heat rarely produces light! Peace.