Wiz Sign Hilton Armstrong (and celebrity condolences)

[Bickerstaff]

This thread has taken some morbid turns.

RiP Steinbrenner

You too, Rue McLanahan.

[dobrojim]

snip

snip

I commented where none was necessary.

I take at face value kavu's statement that he had not
heard the news.

Good points CCJ.

[LyricalRico]

^ Yeah, the last two pages are pretty much about that. LOL

That's why I changed the title of the thread.

[dobrojim]

so how many folks agree with CCJ that N'diaye wasn't going to make the team?

stats aside, I thought he looked solid in the first game. I mean come on,
it was his first summer league (pro) game.

now if it does turn out that we stash him in the D-league, I'll trust
mgmt's judgement that that was the right call. I don't mind him as
an end of the bench type guy. He can come in and foul Howard a
few times.

[Rafael122]

I said it in the thread about him that I'm not expecting any type of production from this guy. Like ever. I doubt he makes the team.

[nate33]

I think N'diaye will make the team but I don't think he'll make the 12-man active roster unless there's injuries. I'd like to see him sent to the D-League and then called up later on when there's an injury or if it's late in the season and it no longer makes sense to play Armstrong.

[Firewall]

N'diaye will be used in tank time only or in games that have been decided if he is on the active roster this season.

[kavu]

N'diaye will be used in tank time only or in games that have been decided if he is on the active roster this season.

So you are expecting him to get regular PT then...

[hands11]

jim, I don't think N'Diaye is going to make the squad.

Your concern is what my thought is as well. I don't like Hilton getting the guaranteed deal at this point because I'm pretty sure he's a dime-a-dozen type player. I would have rather seen the Wiz bring back Paul Davis or given the spot to N'Diaye than sign Armstrong.

That said, maybe this is the year of reclamation projects paying off. Maybe Yi or Armstrong or, if he's signed, Morrison, one of them might see the light and realize the potential scouts saw in them when they were drafted. I can only hope so, any way.

I'd just prefer to go with the rookies, however, than some of the names EG's coming up with lately.

Hey, it worked out with us adding Livingston. Gee worked out from the D league till we let him go and now we may be keeping Martin.

If nothing else, this is an athletic team that can run run run. Who is the slow player on the team ?

So we add another defensive player who is athletic 6-11 and can dunk is always good. I know it is a highlight reel but he shows some good foot work and uses his body well. I would like to see him with another 10 lbs on that frame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEtKjACpQEg

[willbcocks]

Ndiaye showed me absolutely nothing. HE IS DEAD TO ME.


ETA: Wow, talk about ironic. I hadn't read the previous pages with the accidental insenstive comments and then I accidentally write the above.

[hands11]

To expect anything out of a late 2nd round pick who wasn't even expected to be drafted and hasn't even gotten much burn in the Summer League is not reasonable. If he makes the team, he likely goes to the Develompmental League for the season. If he ever makes an impact in the NBA, it'll likely be several years down the line.

Armstrong was signed to be a body - probably the 5th big man - and won't play any significant minutes unless someone gets injured or - in Blatche's case - suspended. People are saying he's going to be the backup C. No, he's 4th string. McGee, Blatche, and Seraphin... maybe even Yi... would play C before he would.

I wouldn't be so sure of that 4th string. Lets see what happens in mini camp first. Sure Dray can play center but for the first time in his career, he may not need to and the coaches may decide to play him and rest him at PF. Hell he could even get some spot duty at SF.

We know McGee cant defend the post and we dont even know if Seraphin is going to be here. I would call it a stretch at this point to put him as a definite 4th string.

[hands11]

so how many folks agree with CCJ that N'diaye wasn't going to make the team?

stats aside, I thought he looked solid in the first game. I mean come on,
it was his first summer league (pro) game.

now if it does turn out that we stash him in the D-league, I'll trust
mgmt's judgement that that was the right call. I don't mind him as
an end of the bench type guy. He can come in and foul Howard a
few times.

Hmm, lets count heads.

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

It 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 change the 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 or both. Maybe that needs to be another thread. I'm thinking Singleton since he is so tough and a hard worker and can play some PF. Kirk can back up the 2 if needed and Nick could play some SF. Singleton would be a good vet to go along with Booker.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with this pick up. He's a versatile acquisition...he can sit pretty much anywhere on the bench.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

i think Ndyiaye is a great deep bench player for practice. the guy is hungry. He is 4 year college graduate and was an ACC defensive player of the year. He is going to be great body for developing McGee and he also is a great translater for Kevin Seraphin. He also has a great body language on the court and will contribute greatly to the culture of this team. Especially the Bigman culture of this team. He is a huge upgrade as far as personality from the days of haywood. No he probably won't be a regular rotational player but you aren't going to find an acc defensive player of the year in the d-league that also has all the personality intangibles you need to rub off on the maturity of your young bigs. N'Diaye serves in the same function as Hinrich.

Bringing in young fresh talent and N'Diaye defensive fundamentals are even more advanced than mcgee's and mcgee's already been here 2 years going on 3. So yes, we know N'Diaye isn't going to beat out anyone athletically that we already have on this roster, but you can't calculate how important his commitment to defense will rub off on our young franchise bigs. He also has the athleticism and length to challenge Blatche and McGee's shots in practice, he has an upbeat and polished personality from being in college for 4 years and he also speaks french which means he can quickly bring seraphin into washington's young Bigman Culture. there is always a bigman leader and a guard leader. N'Diaye attitude toward defense fundamentals fills the void that we thought Haywood would enforce even though Haywood didn't show the dedication to making his young bigman team mates better.

WD, good reasons for N'Diaye to stick. Lots of intangibles working in his favor.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

so how many folks agree with CCJ that N'diaye wasn't going to make the team?

stats aside, I thought he looked solid in the first game. I mean come on,
it was his first summer league (pro) game.

now if it does turn out that we stash him in the D-league, I'll trust
mgmt's judgement that that was the right call. I don't mind him as
an end of the bench type guy. He can come in and foul Howard a
few times.

Hmm, lets count heads.

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

It 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 change the 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 or both. Maybe that needs to be another thread. I'm thinking Singleton since he is so tough and a hard worker and can play some PF. Kirk can back up the 2 if needed and Nick could play some SF. Singleton would be a good vet to go along with Booker.

Two guys that need to make the team are Martin and Lester Hudson. They are decent role players. Unfortunately for Lester, there is no room at the inn for him at either guard spot. But Martin can be a decent swing man off the bench.

Martin being brought back with N'Diaye (for the reasons WD pointed out) are what I'd like to see.

hands, I think Yi should get a look at SF. Why not? Wall, Arenas, Yi, Blatche, McGee would be sick on the boards and hard to defend. Yi has been a starter and I think he's probably got more potential than Thornton or Booker. If Yi is at PF it cuts into Seraphin's minutes, if he plays in the NBA this season. Yi at SF would give the Wizards a different look and roster rotation. (I alternatively could see Yi at C)

I just don't see the Hilton Armstron signing, though.

[rockymac52]

http://twitter.com/btrthnwilthilt

Please note: this is obviously not actually Hilton Armstrong. But it's hilarious either way, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[LyricalRico]

RIP Lorenzen Wright

[verbal8]

RIP Lorenzen Wright

Yeah it sucks about his murder.

[MJ7]

Good I guess, Hilton will play a good one year role here, glad to see our franchise is planning for the future.

[hands11]

Here's a DraftExpress writeup on Armstrong from about a year ago:

Overview: An athletic forward-center who is a legitimate backup at this point. Not very tall for a center, but compensates with a 7-4 wingspan. Extremely well built, and has added some bulk since his college days. Could stand to continue adding weight. Not a late bloomer physically, but is the definition of the tag from a basketball perspective. Averaged roughly 10 minutes per game in his first three seasons at UConn. Blew up as a senior, primarily on the defensive end. Named Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. Showed enough promise offensive to propel himself into the lottery. Hasn’t been a major impact player in the NBA, and needs to have a similar spike in production to avoid being labeled an underachiever. Turnovers, an aversion to rebounding and his inability to stay out of foul trouble have all been major issues for him thus far. Will need to work hard to earn his minutes behind former UConn teammate Emeka Okafor and faced competition from Ike Diogu. Consistency and focus will be the name of the game for him moving forward. Question marks abound regarding his physical and mental toughness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEtKjACpQEg


Hard to image a guy who can make all these moves not having some potential. I know it's a highlight reel but the kid is capable. He makes a couple a strong beast moves to the basket in there. Some nice footwork on some post moves. Nice blocks. A smooth stroke here and there. Lots of put back and transition dunks. Diving on the floor. He looks strong and doesn't shy away from contact.

It looks like his problems are more mental or consistency than physical. He looks like he has a strong body and strong base.

I know we aren't supposed to expect anything from this kid but coming into year 5 and playing for his NBA life, maybe he can contribute some power in the post. Not like we have an abundance of it on our team right now. He doesn't have to be an All Star for him to be useful.