Andray Blatche - Resurgence Thread ( Merged )

[hands11]

Other than limiting his turnovers and playing a bit smarter, the one big thing I want Andray to do is to develop another move he can go to when backing a guy down. If his behind the back move doesn't work and can't get separation for a jump shot, or a fadeaway, he generally turns the ball over or is stifled. I think if he developed some sort of a hook for when he's backing a guy down and is 4-5 feet out, his offensive game would be nigh unstoppable.

While this may be true, I think the best improvement Dray can make is not physical. He needs the right players around him. I think he will get better at the fading shot but what he needs is the next piece. Dray is showing a lot, but even KG needed more then he could do alone.

If we are talking a good team, that can be lots of players. But if we want to win a championship in the near future, that mean getting Melo.

There will only be a handful of players who will be on the next few championship teams.
Kobe, Dirke, Melo and LeBron head the list. Duncan is fading. So is KG - so if Boston. Wade is border line since he is more of just a SG and not enough of a SG/SF. Durrant is getting close and could join that top group.

Haywood would be one of those other pieces a great team would need since you need a top defensive player and center is a great place to have that player. To bad we lost him.

So while Dray can mature with his game and his mind, I think what needs to happen most is beyond Dray except for the fact that he needs to lead to take other like McGee along with him. I think McGee could have a huge impact but even that won't be enough.

Best improvement Dray can make is to make McGee and others better and continue to grow up.

Beyond that, we need Melo.

We will have to see how the playoffs work out this year. Maybe we can get Rondo or Nash.

Right now, I'm just going to enjoy watching Blatche and McGee develop.

[dangermouse]

Why has Wade got to be a SG/SF to win a ring? Im pretty sure he already has one, too. Sure he had Shaq, but he was the main factor. (and the refs i guess).

[Dat2U]

I don't think EG is a genius for getting Blatche into that contract. Blatche hurt his value by soliciting a prostitute with his friend or something like that when he was free agent.

That's true, but Grunfeld has always known and believed in Blatche's upside and he did lock up Blatche for FIVE years at about $3M per. In fact, Blatche had so little value on the market that Grunfeld might have insisted on 5 years at $3M. Even if Blatche were still posting 10/5, that's still a bargain for a 6'11'' guy who can play 4 and 5.

But you can't withhold the credit due to Grunfeld here. For all of the injuries he could not have forseen and that somehow talent wouldn't translate into chemistry, you can't criticize Grunfeld for that without giving him as much due credit on Blatche.

I don't know bro. Blatche killed his own FA value with his late night pursuits. That offseason, Dallas showed interest but decided on Brandon Bass instead. There was really no market for him. Many at the time questioned his level of motivation going forward if he had gotten a long term deal.

I think EG was blessed with incredible luck & timing on that one.

And EG definitely didn't know what he had in Blatche. If he had any inkling Blatche would produce like this as a starter he'd have traded Antawn Jamison a long time ago.

[JonathanJoseph]

I don't think EG is a genius for getting Blatche into that contract. Blatche hurt his value by soliciting a prostitute with his friend or something like that when he was free agent.

That's true, but Grunfeld has always known and believed in Blatche's upside and he did lock up Blatche for FIVE years at about $3M per. In fact, Blatche had so little value on the market that Grunfeld might have insisted on 5 years at $3M. Even if Blatche were still posting 10/5, that's still a bargain for a 6'11'' guy who can play 4 and 5.

But you can't withhold the credit due to Grunfeld here. For all of the injuries he could not have forseen and that somehow talent wouldn't translate into chemistry, you can't criticize Grunfeld for that without giving him as much due credit on Blatche.

I don't know bro. Blatche killed his own FA value with his late night pursuits. That offseason, Dallas showed interest but decided on Brandon Bass instead. There was really no market for him. Many at the time questioned his level of motivation going forward if he had gotten a long term deal.

I think EG was blessed with incredible luck & timing on that one.

And EG definitely didn't know what he had in Blatche. If he had any inkling Blatche would produce like this as a starter he'd have traded Antawn Jamison a long time ago.

Yes, Blatche killed his own value and Grunfeld played the market correctly (by holding out on an offer) and then, despite there being no market, got Blatche to sign for FIVE years at a reasonable contract. Five years.

Grunfeld is getting all-star production from a big man for 2.5 years at $3M per. You can't discount luck because on the whole Grunfeld's career in DC has been marked by bad luck.

[hands11]

Why has Wade got to be a SG/SF to win a ring? Im pretty sure he already has one, too. Sure he had Shaq, but he was the main factor. (and the refs i guess).

Not a have to. Just harder. And yes, he had a young Shaq who many would call the most dominate powerful big man to ever play the game. But at least he made the list.

[ErikChowbay023]

I think Blatche could be a "Great" player in the NBA.. not just good but great.

With a little more time to let his body catch up to the minutes he`s playing, (Little more conditioning) he will be Great.

Do you all share the same sentiment? How good do you think he can be? Can he be Duncan,KG great?

[DaRealHibachi]

I think Blatche could be a "Great" player in the NBA.. not just good but great.

With a little more time to let his body catch up to the minutes he`s playing, (Little more conditioning) he will be Great.

Do you all share the same sentiment? How good do you think he can be? Can he be Duncan,KG great?

I agree, I'd put his ceiling a lil lower though... At best, he'll be as (or almost as) good as CB4 I would say... And it'll be awesome if he truly becomes that good, being a 49th pick and all...

[ErikChowbay023]

CB4???

[montestewart]

I think Blatche could be a "Great" player in the NBA.. not just good but great.

With a little more time to let his body catch up to the minutes he`s playing, (Little more conditioning) he will be Great.

Do you all share the same sentiment? How good do you think he can be? Can he be Duncan,KG great?

Keeping my expectations in check, I'd be quite happy if, as you suggest, he increase his conditioning to bear the increased wear on his body, and continue on the path he seems to be on now. If he keeps it up, I could easily see him being an all-star and main contributor to a contending Wizards.

By next year, he might be better than Duncan and Garnett, but that might be just as much due to their declines as to his development. For now, I'm just happy he's finally a featured starter, showing what he's got.

[ErikChowbay023]

Thing is he hasnt reached his prime, and he still has so much to improve on.. And he`s only 23

[Halcyon]

CB4???

Chris Bosh

His ceiling is definitely high, he'll never be an elite athlete so his ceiling is limited to a certain extent, but the array of moves and the feel he has for the game at some points is really fun to watch.

[nate33]

Another positive about Blatche is that he doesn't rely on athleticism. Furthermore, he doesn't get hurt often (he's missed just 11 games in 3 years). I think Blatche is going to have a long, injury-free career (knocks on wood) and will continue to get better well into his late 20's.

Guys like Bosh and Amare are heavily dependent on athleticism and one wonders if they're already poised to start their decline.

[closg00]

AB is certainly playing his was into a heft and well-deserved pay-day.

For Rico - Locking-up Andray Blatche on the deal that he did was one of the best things that Ernie has done here. There, I said something nice about Ernie Grunfeld

[LyricalRico]

For Rico - Locking-up Andray Blatche on the deal that he did was one of the best things that Ernie has done here. There, I said something nice about Ernie Grunfeld

And in response to that - looks like I was on the wrong side of the Blatche issue. He's feeding me mad crow on that one.

[hands11]

I think Blatche could be a "Great" player in the NBA.. not just good but great.

With a little more time to let his body catch up to the minutes he`s playing, (Little more conditioning) he will be Great.

Do you all share the same sentiment? How good do you think he can be? Can he be Duncan,KG great?

Hard to tell his ceiling. He does have some limited leaps. That's why I called him KG Jr. If he is lucky he will be a blend of KG and Dirk. Dirke has some physical limitations also but he has had developed his game around his height by becoming an amazing shooter. Blatche is already a better defender then Dirk was.

Dray has an interesting blend of shooting ,power and finesse. Again.. some combo of KG and Dirk

So if you want to see what we need to do to help Dray, look at Dallas and Boston.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Here's what I'd do to build the team around Blatche.

Overpay slightly to bring Haywood home. 4 years, 50 million. Something along the lines of the Jamison deal. McGee can be our 3rd big for a few seasons, and a Haywood/Blatche full-time frontline will be NASTY defensively.

Trade for Andre Kirilenko with our free cap space. Maybe get their lower pick in return. Or a future unprotected, or something. Either way, Haywood/Blatche/AK47. That is the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA.

Hope we get a shot at Evan Turner. Basically, we need to get a top 3 pick. If we get that, then our defense becomes ridiculous real fast. We keep Gil around unless we get a good offer (picks and prospects) for him. No dumping him for nothing. If we don't get a top 3 pick, deal the pick for Collison and their pick, and move Arenas to SG.

Haywood/McGee
Blatche/McGee/Singleton
AK47/Thornton/Singleton
Arenas/Young
Collison/Arenas

With Ross and draft picks in the mix.

[no D in Hibachi]

Haywood is a good defender, but 4 year 50 mill is overpaying by about 18 mill. With the new CBA coming up, which will probably make a hard cap, you simply cannot overpay for players like Haywood. I'm also not convinced that Arenas would play well as a SG with a ball dominate PG. Like the AK47 pick up though.

[missionSF]

I picked up Blatche in my fantasy league after the trade went through, and I just want to say...wow. He has been absolutely incredible. I was expecting solid production but nowhere near what he's doing night in and night out.

[DaRealHibachi]

Let's create a new RealGM bandwagon... I call it the "AB for MIP" bandwagon, jump on it while there's still room...

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CB4???

Chris Bosh

His ceiling is definitely high, he'll never be an elite athlete so his ceiling is limited to a certain extent, but the array of moves and the feel he has for the game at some points is really fun to watch.

Now the question isn't is Andray better than Antawn Jamison. It's HOW MUCH BETTER is Andray than Antawn? His passing and the way he scores, along with his total game just makes Blatche a great baller.

Today, with 36/15/4/2/2, I'm thinking Blatche could be ... better ... than Bosh!

I'm thinking for FAs, the Wizards might want to throw their money at Wade and (less) at Joe Johnson and (much less) at Ray Allen. The Wizards have a PF. Man they have a PF!