Predict Wiz Opening Day Roster 2010

[dnk]

C - McGee (24) / Armstrong or Seraphin (12) / Blatche (12) McGee's minutes will vary wildly based on fouls and matchups

The way McGee jumps through the roof on every hint of a pump-fake, I think we'll see Booker get 12-14mins at C.

Jokes aside, I'd hate to go this route, but I think Blatche will have a role taking minutes at C. We just dont have anyone else. The upside to this is Booker getting PF mins, and I like his quicks/toughness/defense that he brings. Going small-ball run and gun could be a good thing. We probably wont win a lot but we will sure be fun to watch and garner a lot of attention.

Wall might be more effective in a small ball line-up that can push the pace and take advantage of transition opportunities. I think where he will struggle is in the half-court when defenses have a chance to get set. I also think that McGee and Booker will be far more effective in transition rather than 1/2 court.

And if Wall struggles in the half-court (which I'm not sure will happen, he might just be able to drive and dish; we'll see how that strategy works against legit NBA teams), that's what Gil's there for.

The more I think about Hinrich, the less I like it. Hopefully I'll be eating these words in a few months, but right now, I can't help but think I'd rather have a cheaper option coming off the bench for 15 minutes a game to give Wall breathers. That way, Young could get a real shot, as Gil's primary backup and getting a few minutes here and there at the 3. I think Young will be (is, from summer league?) fantastic with Wall.

[Spence]

My dark horse at QF...Cartier Martin.

Decent size and can shoot 3-pointers.

[MJG]

I think Young is going to get a lot more minutes than many of you think. I think Young will prove to be a more effective player than Hinrich at SG and he'll get a lot of minutes at SF.

I think this is a case of "what should happen" versus "what will happen." I just cannot picture Hinrich playing 16-18 MPG while Young is getting 22-24 MPG. I think if N1 gets up that high in the MPG, it'll be almost entirely at SF, and it'll be because Booker isn't handling the position well enough to get regular minutes there, and we need someone to be backing up Thornton, even if he's a tad out of position..

[nate33]

I think Young is going to get a lot more minutes than many of you think. I think Young will prove to be a more effective player than Hinrich at SG and he'll get a lot of minutes at SF.

I think this is a case of "what should happen" versus "what will happen." I just cannot picture Hinrich playing 16-18 MPG while Young is getting 22-24 MPG. I think if N1 gets up that high in the MPG, it'll be almost entirely at SF, and it'll be because Booker isn't handling the position well enough to get regular minutes there, and we need someone to be backing up Thornton, even if he's a tad out of position..

I agree that it won't happen right away because Young won't be given the opportunity. But sooner or later, due to injury or happenstance, Young is going to get a shot and play well. Something about his demeanor in the Summer League looks different this year. He is finally serious now. It's probably because he's a free agent next year, but it may also because he feels hope now that a real PG is running the show.

I think Young will shoot over 42% from 3-point range. Flip is going to have to play him if he shoots like that.

[LyricalRico]

I don't really see N1 playing any SF. But I do agree that there's no way Young plays more minutes than Hinrich. There are 96 minutes to give out and here's how I see it playing out:

Gil 30mpg
Wall 30mpg
Hinrich 26mpg
Young 10mpg

We'll be small enough with Gil/Hinrich at SG. Also having Young at SF just makes us too small IMO.

[dnk]

I don't really see N1 playing any SF. But I do agree that there's no way Young plays more minutes than Hinrich. There are 96 minutes to give out and here's how I see it playing out:

Gil 30mpg
Wall 30mpg
Hinrich 26mpg
Young 10mpg

We'll be small enough with Gil/Hinrich at SG. Also having Young at SF just makes us too small IMO.

I remember some really impressive runs happening with Young at the 3 on the floor last year. I think one was Arenas, Foye, Young, Thornton, and Singleton. Sometimes with the first four and Blatche. It was crazy but it worked for a short stretch.

I'd like to see a surprise lineup of Wall, Arenas, Young, Booker, Blatche/McGee lineup every now and then.

[verbal8]

I don't really see N1 playing any SF. But I do agree that there's no way Young plays more minutes than Hinrich. There are 96 minutes to give out and here's how I see it playing out:

Gil 30mpg
Wall 30mpg
Hinrich 26mpg
Young 10mpg

We'll be small enough with Gil/Hinrich at SG. Also having Young at SF just makes us too small IMO.

I remember some really impressive runs happening with Young at the 3 on the floor last year. I think one was Arenas, Foye, Young, Thornton, and Singleton. Sometimes with the first four and Blatche. It was crazy but it worked for a short stretch.

I'd like to see a surprise lineup of Wall, Arenas, Young, Booker, Blatche/McGee lineup every now and then.

I think the line-up works better with Blatche at PF rather than Booker. It gives you two long bigs that should be able to help out if the undersized perimeter players are posted up. Both Blatche and McGee run the court well for their size.

If another team is playing small ball, then I would see the line-up you mentioned matching up well defensively while having a size advantage at Center.

[pancakes3]

i really want hinrich on the court for more than 20mpg but i just don't see how that's going to happen unless young is glued to the bench. i guess that's a good problem to have...

better than our, "i DON'T want mcgee to be playing MORE than 20mpg" problem on the frontcourt side of things.

[fishercob]

I don't really see N1 playing any SF. But I do agree that there's no way Young plays more minutes than Hinrich. There are 96 minutes to give out and here's how I see it playing out:

Gil 30mpg
Wall 30mpg
Hinrich 26mpg
Young 10mpg

We'll be small enough with Gil/Hinrich at SG. Also having Young at SF just makes us too small IMO.

I remember some really impressive runs happening with Young at the 3 on the floor last year. I think one was Arenas, Foye, Young, Thornton, and Singleton. Sometimes with the first four and Blatche. It was crazy but it worked for a short stretch.

I'd like to see a surprise lineup of Wall, Arenas, Young, Booker, Blatche/McGee lineup every now and then.

Those guys were never on the active roster at the same time.

As to Nick, take a look at his game logs: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2010/

He only started getting big minutes on March 31. Remember, Foye got hurton 3/26, and Gee got scooped up by SA on 3/27. Nick was getting those big minutes because we were out of bodies. After the Arenas suspension up until the injuries in late March he was still only playing in the mid-teens per night.

Unless Nick's metamorphasized this summer, I don't see Flip playing him more than spot minutes at the 2 with Gil and Hinrich in front of him. He's going to have to earn his minutes at the 3.

[closg00]

BR ranks our starting 5 23rd.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4193 ... ing#page/9

[dnk]

Those guys were never on the active roster at the same time.

As to Nick, take a look at his game logs: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2010/

He only started getting big minutes on March 31. Remember, Foye got hurton 3/26, and Gee got scooped up by SA on 3/27. Nick was getting those big minutes because we were out of bodies. After the Arenas suspension up until the injuries in late March he was still only playing in the mid-teens per night.

Unless Nick's metamorphasized this summer, I don't see Flip playing him more than spot minutes at the 2 with Gil and Hinrich in front of him. He's going to have to earn his minutes at the 3.

Hm. I said I thought. But I definitely remember Young at small forward and Thornton or Howard at power forward. I think I might just be wrong on Arenas (wishful thinking he was out there?).

Nobody else remembers a small ball line up like this during one of the first games after the big trades?

[hands11]

Hmm, lets count heads.

Wall, Kirk
Gil, Nick
AT, Booker,
Dray, Yi
McGee, Hilton, Seraphin ?

Hamady making the 12 man, may have something to do with if we get Seraphin here. Maybe not. Seems like if Seraphin is here, there would be a very low chance he makes the 12 team. Without Seraphin, slightly better chance. I see him in D League hopefully because Seraphin is here.

So do you bring back Singleton or Martin if Seraphin is here. With those two as cheap options, it seems less likely we bring back Howard. I'm thinking Singleton since he is so tough and a hard worker and can play some PF and you don't have to play him and he would be ok, but when he did, he would ball. We are still weak in vet experience strong tough post players. Since Kirk can back up the 2 if needed and Nick could play some SF there is less of a need for Martin though he can be in the D league ready to be called up. Singleton would be a good vet to go along with Booker to teach him the ropes.

So the easy additions would be
Singleton
Martin
Howard


Wall 6-4, Kirk 6-3
Gil 6-4, Nick 6-7
AT 6-8, Singleton 6-8, Booker 6-7
Dray 6-11, Yi 7-0
McGee 7-1, Hilton 6-11, Seraphin 6-9

Plenty of muscle at the SF to defend a LaBron type.

Actually, I think I like the roster like that. Sign Singleton. He has proven himself to Flip. I like the continuity of keeping him from last year. We need another vet to round out this team. And the guy is all heart and grit. Just a tough dude. That is a pretty tall, long, young, athletic team right there. I could see some Ws coming out of that group. Hilton better be hitting the Beefcake2000 though. 235 isn't enough in the trunk. I want to see 245.

[nate33]

I love Singleton but he's redundant with Booker. Our need for another spot-up-shooter swing man is much greater than our need for another "crash SF". If we bring back Singleton, it'll only be after we bring back Cartier Martin (or an equivalent jump-shooting 2/3).

[WizStorm]

After Summer League, here is an updated swag...
PG: John Wall
G: Gilbert Arenas
SF: Al Thornton
F/C: Andray Blatche
C: JaVale McGee

Bench:
G: Kirk Hinrich
G/F: Nick Young
G/F: Cartier Martin
F: Trevor Booker
F/C: Yi Jianlian
F/C: Kevin Seraphin
F/C: Hilton Armstrong

Reserve:
PG: Lester Hudson
C: Hamady Ndiaye (NBDL)
OPEN


Be real interesting to see just how raw Kevin Seraphin is against NBA players. There is definitely an open roster spot for an inside banger that he could fill. But if he's raw enough, I could easily see him either left in Europe for a year or maybe start the year in the NBDL. That would leave an opening for James Singleton.

Another unanswered question is if the Wizards are serious in wanting to bring back Josh Howard. I think that would all but put an end to Cartier Martin's hope for an active roster spot.

[doclinkin]

Hmm, lets count heads.

Wall, Kirk
Gil, Nick
AT, Booker,
Dray, Yi
McGee, Hilton, Seraphin ?

Hamady making the 12 man, may have something to do with if we get Seraphin here. Maybe not. Seems like if Seraphin is here, there would be a very low chance he makes the 12 team. Without Seraphin, slightly better chance. I see him in D League hopefully because Seraphin is here.

Hamady is an upside player, having played only 6 years, noted as a hard worker, bright, coachable. He'll come cheap, the team can write any sort of escape clauses into his contract. A low-risk high reward player.

You can never have enough bigs (especially in a conference with Dwight Howard, and while JaVale is still such a foul-happy liability). Hamady's genial nature and willingness to be coached ought to influence McGee in part, if N'Daiye shows a good-natured willingness to improve his fundamentals, and it makes a difference when guarding McGee etc, then he may chip away at McGees stubborn reluctance to see himself as a Big. OR anyway give him a rabbit to chase, some company in drills, someone else to watch other than Dray.

Also I've said from the beginning, this communications major speaks French. He'll serve double duty as a translator for the other French-speaking African on the team Kevin Seraphin.

As a dedicated defender, I don't think it's a bad thing to have 6 more hard fouls to lay the smack on LeBron and let him decide to defer to DWade in attacking the basket. I suspect N'Daiye sticks. They knew he was a project when they took him, they'll give him time to improve.

[hands11]

I love Singleton but he's redundant with Booker. Our need for another spot-up-shooter swing man is much greater than our need for another "crash SF". If we bring back Singleton, it'll only be after we bring back Cartier Martin (or an equivalent jump-shooting 2/3).

Could happen that way. But with GA, NY and Kirk playing SG, what kind of minutes would Martin get?
Having him available for call up is good enough in my book.

Singleton while redundant to Booker is a great veteran presence and he is tough. Something this team needs. Booker may or may not have a smooth transition. He may foul a lot. I would feel more comfortable with Singleton on the team to help mold it. If Booker proves he is that good that the is reliable in that slot, then let him earn it. You then can make Singleton inactive and bring on whoever is needed.

Singletons presence should not be underestimate on such a young team.

[verbal8]

I love Singleton but he's redundant with Booker. Our need for another spot-up-shooter swing man is much greater than our need for another "crash SF". If we bring back Singleton, it'll only be after we bring back Cartier Martin (or an equivalent jump-shooting 2/3).

If Seraphin comes over I think Singleton would be nice to have. If Seraphin does not, then I think Singleton(or a similar rebounder is necessary).

If Young is a terrible rebounder(basically the same 36 min as Boykins) and McGee has decent numbers but his form is bad. Yi and Blatche are adequate, but nothing special. If Young is playing significant minutes at SF, there needs to be a very good rebounder at PF.

[hands11]

I love Singleton but he's redundant with Booker. Our need for another spot-up-shooter swing man is much greater than our need for another "crash SF". If we bring back Singleton, it'll only be after we bring back Cartier Martin (or an equivalent jump-shooting 2/3).

If Seraphin comes over I think Singleton would be nice to have. If Seraphin does not, then I think Singleton(or a similar rebounder is necessary).

If Young is a terrible rebounder(basically the same 36 min as Boykins) and McGee has decent numbers but his form is bad. Yi and Blatche are adequate, but nothing special. If Young is playing significant minutes at SF, there needs to be a very good rebounder at PF.

Why Jessssszzzzz. We are seeing the same thing. Singleton is still important.

Man it would be awesome if Nick would rebound. I really hope someone can get through to him. Cuz if he doesn't do some rebounding this year, he has to realize he won't be as valuable to any team moving forward.

[Hoopalotta]

One factoid of dubious utility:

Over the last two seasons, Vinny Del Negro would constantly refer to Kirk Hinrich as "Kurt". This was particularly sweet as he'd do it while complimenting him and voicing how integral to overall operations he was, what a good example he set, his leadership, his tradition with the franchise, his selflessness and so on. He was so important that it was almost worth getting his name right. Almost.

I have taken this to mean that we should carry on with that model and work very liberal interpretations of his name throughout the season.

Kirby. Kurt. Kurtis. Etc.

Heinzerlick. Hinriki. Hienker. Etc.

There is no wrong here, just various forms of right.

I have nothing else to offer at this time.

[montestewart]

One factoid of dubious utility:

Over the last two seasons, Vinny Del Negro would constantly refer to Kirk Hinrich as "Kurt". This was particularly sweet as he'd do it while complimenting him and voicing how integral to overall operations he was, what a good example he set, his leadership, his tradition with the franchise, his selflessness and so on. He was so important that it was almost worth getting his name right. Almost.

I have taken this to mean that we should carry on with that model and work very liberal interpretations of his name throughout the season.

Kirby. Kurt. Kurtis. Etc.

Heinzerlick. Hinriki. Hienker. Etc.

There is no wrong here, just various forms of right.

I have nothing else to offer at this time.

Kertchup Heinzrich. Is number 51 available?