Wizards in the Media Thread

[nate33]

Did a Wiz board member write this article (Kevon?) I think I may have an email from Kevon.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/5357 ... unders-job

It's a pretty accurate article. It's an interesting theory about our team lacking "pure" players at each position. Arenas isn't a catch-and-shoot SG. Gee doesn't have the ball skills of a true SF. Blatche likes to play outside too much for a PF. McGee doesn't have enough junk in the trunk to be a pure center.

Ideally, we trade Hinrich for a stopgap "pure" PF and then get Howard back. If we could trade Hinrich for, say, Carl Landry; and then start Nick Young at SG, our lineup would look like this:

PG Wall/Arenas
SG Young/Arenas
SF Howard/Thornton
PF Landry/Blatche
C McGee/Blatche

It's kind of odd to bring two of our better players off the bench, but at least everyone is a perfect fit for their role. I'm not saying this is a perfect lineup, nor is that trade really realistic; just that we're really only one move away from having a more stereotypical NBA basketball team.

[Dat2U]

Landry is a nice player but he wouldn't solve our rebounding woes. He's a poor rebounder himself. Landry is an ideal 6th man in my opinion.

Starting Young over Arenas like starting Hinrich over Arenas makes no sense to me but I won't beat a dead horse with that one.

[Nivek]

Kevon lost some credibility with this one:

Although you have to consider that it is almost a 100 percent guarantee that the Wizards offered Gilbert Arenas to all 32 NBA teams.

Really? All 32?

[fishercob]

Interesting takes from ESPN Insider's "Fixing Eastern Conference Lottery Teams."

Washington Wizards
Statistical weakness: Shooting (29th)
Weakest positions: SF

John Wall makes any horizon brighter. Yes, Rashard Lewis' exorbitant contract through 2012-13 will put a damper on the team's rebuilding plans, but there's so much raw talent on the Wizards that it's hard not to prefer their long-term outlook over those of a dozen other teams in the league. Between Wall, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, the Wizards have three pieces that have All-Star ceilings. The question is whether Blatche and McGee ever raise their basketball IQ high enough to realize that almost limitless potential.

This team needs a little bit of everything, but sharpening its shooting proficiency should remain the top priority. They were just about the worst squad at putting the ball in the basket, but Wall should naturally improve that ugly 42.7 effective field goal percentage as he develops his game. Moreover, it's worth convincing Blatche that the long 2 is the worst shot in the game. The team needs him on the block, not shooting four 20-footers a night at 30 percent efficiency. In this draft, Kawhi Leonard looks like a good fit at the No. 6 slot, but they need to reinforce him with an efficient shooter on the wing. Don't be blinded by the lofty point totals: Jordan Crawford is really good at shot-taking at this point, but not shot-making. Restricted free agent Marcus Thornton should be a target here, as well.

I know a few people here that will be thrilled that Tom Haberstroh thinks Dray has an all-star ceiling. I certainly did at one point.

[LyricalRico]

I've probably brought this up before but does anybody on TV/radio know LESS about the NBA than Jay Glassie? This guy is possibly the worst "expert" I've ever heard.

[7-Day Dray]

I've probably brought this up before but does anybody on TV/radio know LESS about the NBA than Jay Glassie? This guy is possibly the worst "expert" I've ever heard.

+1

[cwb3]

I've probably brought this up before but does anybody on TV/radio know LESS about the NBA than Jay Glassie? This guy is possibly the worst "expert" I've ever heard.

But. . .but, he is "classy" Jay Glassie! At least that's what Coach and Doc always call him!

[no D in Hibachi]

I've probably brought this up before but does anybody on TV/radio know LESS about the NBA than Jay Glassie? This guy is possibly the worst "expert" I've ever heard.

I was gonna bring this up a couple days ago so I'm glad someone else mentioned this. He must have the most miserable life ever. Whenever he talks about the Wiz all he does is mope, cry, complain, and refuse to acknowledge even a glimmer of interest/hope. He's the most negative nancy I've seen in sports reporting. I was a little pleased to see Kawhi Leonard drop out of the lottery when him, Sheen, and someone else on the 980 NBA Draft Preview said the Wiz should take Leonard at 6, but are too stupid to do it. I don't care much for Sheen either, by the way.

[Wizardspride]

Glassie comes across as being extremely arrogant when it comes to his knowledge of the game.

Its pretty much, "I'm an expert and you're not....so there!"

Basically the sum total of his "expertise" can be summed up like this, "Lebron James, Dwayne Wade etc. are great!" Everybody else is a role player and sucks".


He lost me when he said that Nick Young wasn't "worthy" to be on the floor with Wall.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[keynote]

Here's a silly Wilbon-McGee twitter feud.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/7/20/2 ... on-twitter

SMH at McGee who instantly takes the "I'll insinuate that Wilbon is gay" route.

[montestewart]

Here's a silly Wilbon-McGee twitter feud.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/7/20/2 ... on-twitter

SMH at McGee who instantly takes the "I'll insinuate that Wilbon is gay" route.

So now McGee is Pierre? That sounds like a sure winner. I like seeing Wilbon taken down a notch, but Pierre's not the man for the job. Pierre? Lucky Pierre? Unlucky at cards, lucky in love? Pierre! Jeez!

[Nivek]

At least McGee knows what's important. First to have Gucci 3D glasses! Now THAT'S an accomplishment.

[montestewart]

At least McGee knows what's important. First to have Gucci 3D glasses! Now THAT'S an accomplishment.

Why isn't he winning more best dressed Wizard awards?

[Bickerstaff]

At least McGee knows what's important. First to have Gucci 3D glasses! Now THAT'S an accomplishment.

It will be great when we finally have the technology where robots can play sports, and then we won't have to worry about all these pesky human foibles.

[Nivek]

It will be great when we finally have the technology where robots can play sports, and then we won't have to worry about all these pesky human foibles.

To paraphrase Crash Davis:

If McGee becomes an All-NBA center, then he can buy 50 pairs of Gucci 3D glasses and everyone will think he's colorful.

[fishercob]

Mike Lee on Why the Wiz should Wait to Amnesty Rashard Lewis

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is going to have to pay Lewis at least $32 million no matter what. So, would he rather pay Lewis to play for him or simply pay him to leave to join the contending team of his choice? Lewis was plagued by injuries last season and won’t ever return to his all-star form of three seasons ago. But he is healthy again, still has some game left, and could provide a veteran presence for a team that otherwise has Andray Blatche – or Young, if he comes back – as the oldest player on the roster.

And, if you haven’t noticed, this is not necessarily the best summer to have a lot of salary cap space, with a less-than stellar free agent class featuring unrestricted free agents Tyson Chandler, Nene, David West, Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince and Jamal Crawford and restricted free agents Marc Gasol, Jeff Green, Thaddeus Young and Rodney Stuckey. No need for the Wizards to overpay for somebody who isn’t going to put them over the hump and possibly place the franchise in the same troubles that forced other owners to push for this current lockout.

My sense is that I like Rashard more than most around these parts. Yet, I completely disagree with Lee here. This is a situation where spending money in the short term can really lay the ground work for long term success. Amnesty Rashard ASAP (probably currying some favor with his agent in the process), and use the cap space on Nick Collison type contracts that create serious cap room in the out years.

We've spent pages and pages debating what Nick Young is worth. Well if we can give him $10M in year one and $10M over the subsequent 3 years, for instance, it would be a great deal for the Wizards. Same with McGee. With such a young core it is imperative to have some guys signed cheaply long term for when we want to re-up Wall, go after big FA's etc.

Amnesty Shard and I'll start the appreciation thread. He's been nothing but a good solider in a tough situation. I hope he signs in SA or Dallas and wings a ring.

[Illuminaire]

Excellent thoughts, Fish. I can't agree more.

[mhd]

What a stupid article. You don't have to spend cap space. However, its better having it than not having it. If you need a vet SF, then resign Mo Evans on the cheap.

[closg00]

What a stupid article. You don't have to spend cap space. However, its better having it than not having it. If you need a vet SF, then resign Mo Evans on the cheap.

+1

[Zonkerbl]

The problem is, those kinds of contracts only make sense from this end. Once you are in year four of a contract and earning only $3 million when you could earn $5 million a year from someone else, you lose your sense of loyalty real fast.

In other words in year four, the $10 million you get in the first year is irrelevant. It's sunk.

Also if your next contract is limited to some percentage change from what you got paid in your previous contract, last thing you'd want to do is have the last year be low.