Bean Burrito / Nick Young Appreciation Thread.

[nate33]

Afflalo just got 5 years, 43 million.

Horrible deal. This guy has had 1 year with a PER over 11 and you pay him over $8 million a year? W T F

Easily the craziest signing of the offseason. A shooting guard who averaged less than 13 points a game... and sure he's a good defender, but... Put it this way - last offseason, Portly gave Wes Matthews a contract I thought was way too high - at 5/27. In comparison, he's a better all-around player than Afflalo, and he's significantly cheaper.

There has been a lot of crazy money being thrown around this offseason. It's a combination of three phenomena: teams cleared cap because of fear of the new CBA, the amnesty clause, and the losers of the free agency bonanza of last year still have cap room.

This is temporary. Teams are making some dumb signings now and they won't be able to save themselves with the amnesty clause in the future. Also, the luxury tax is going up in 2013.

The Wizards will be in a very good position next year. All they really need is for John Wall to demonstrate that he is a top tier PG that people want to play with.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

At this point of the year, every rookie looks promising. We'll see.

So true. Even with the rookies that look horrible, were told it's early, give them time.

I've said this like a broken record lately, but a lot of conclusions are being jumped to with very little data. Wow, Marshon Brooks scored 10 pts in 13 minutes of a preseason game, everyone better watch out!

Trevor Booker scored in double figures (3 times in his first 39 games)
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2011/

James Anderson scored 10 points in his debut(that was the only time last season)
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2011/

While I think James Anderson has potential to be a good NBA player, it is clear that Booker had a far better rookie season.

Anderson struggled because he was injured last season.

Also, how many minutes was Anderson expected to play with the likes of Manu Ginobili, Gary Neal, and Richard Jefferson (huge contract) in front of him? He also had to practice against those guys. Booker didn't even play until Blatche was injured, but he had a much easier time getting minutes.

Heres what was said about James Anderson recently:

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1728/player?r=1

Tony Parker said Tuesday that swingman James Anderson has been the surprise of Spurs training camp, and that he's expecting big things.
Anderson actually started for Parker at point guard last March, but can play other positions as well. If you're in a real deep league, this is the type of blurb you'll want to stash away in your memory, as Anderson could turn out to be a sleeper pick this season

Anderson will turn out to be a good player iMO. That is why I suggested the trade above. I like to buy low and sell high. Right now, Anderson hasn't done a thing as a pro and he may not pan out at all. I just think he will in a big way. I have seen this happen with guys like Marcus Thornton and Kelenna Azubuike, prior to his injury.

[verbal8]

Anderson will turn out to be a good player iMO. That is why I suggested the trade above. I like to buy low and sell high. Right now, Anderson hasn't done a thing as a pro and he may not pan out at all. I just think he will in a big way. I have seen this happen with guys like Marcus Thornton and Kelenna Azubuike, prior to his injury.

I think the Spurs might be expecting a lot from their 2nd year guys this year. It may not be unreasonable, remember how bad RJ looked his first season with the Spurs. That is the only justification I can see for making so few changes over the off-season, with their window closing rapidly.

[hands11]

Well Nick, you wanta get paid, you know what to do.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wi ... ory_1.html

Would I have liked to signed him long-term? Yeah, but I think it’s a matter, there are certain things Nick has to do to get to where he wants to get from a financial standpoint, and if he does what we think he might be capable of doing, then he can get paid.”

Saunders believes that Young turned a corner last season to become a more reliable scorer but still needs to improve on his consistency, making plays for his team and becoming a better defender off the ball. “A lot of the little things that come as you mature,” Saunders said.

Saunders has also called on Young to approach the game with a serious attitude, on and off the court, criticizing him and McGee for attempting to eat spoonfuls of cinnamon on a popular YouTube video.

Young heard the complaint and said he would adjust.

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Things to work on:
Team D
Driving
Passing
Rebounding
& stay away from stupid.

Nick has to talent to get paid what he was asking, Right now he can score from the outside. Now he has to round out his game and become a solid well rounded basketball player.

With back to back years of making solid improvement, he can get that 9M level.

There are a lot of aging SG in the league while Nick is at a prime age.

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/playe ... ing-guards

[hands11]

Nick Interview

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2011/1 ... mv-1939932

[Rafael122]

Hollinger's thoughts on the deal which echos what many here have said:

You see, this is how you're supposed to play the restricted free-agency game. Washington and Detroit (with Rodney Stuckey) were able to retain good players without breaking the bank or taking the risk of a half-decade-long deal, because they knew the game was rigged in their favor.
Young took the qualifying offer and will try again as an unrestricted free agent a year from now, but in the meantime the Wizards get a good scorer on an inexpensive contract and another year to see if he can mature beyond blind gunning and add defense and the occasional pass to his repertoire

[tontoz]

Will the Wizards still have his Bird rights in the summer?

[nate33]

Will the Wizards still have his Bird rights in the summer?

No. But it is irrelevant because the Wizards have cap room.

[tontoz]

Will the Wizards still have his Bird rights in the summer?

No. But it is irrelevant because the Wizards have cap room.

I was just curious. I didn't think they would but i wasn't sure since guys don't take the QO very often. Thanks

[verbal8]

Will the Wizards still have his Bird rights in the summer?

No. But it is irrelevant because the Wizards have cap room.

I was just curious. I didn't think they would but i wasn't sure since guys don't take the QO very often. Thanks

Yeah the examples I have seen mentioning it happening approximately 10 times.

[hands11]

Nick 16 minutes 4 rebounds.

I think he got the message.

[tontoz]

Nick 16 minutes 4 rebounds.

I think he got the message.

Or maybe there were just a lot of missed shots in that game.

[Illuminaire]

Nick actually went up in traffic to pull down two of those. They're were good rebounds.

That said... let's see him do that for a non-contract season before saying he's suddenly added a new dimension to his game.

[hands11]

Look at his stats last year. Rebounding is not something new. He did it last year. He just didn't do it consistently enough. Look at his Dec and Jan numbers. He was at about 3.5 a game. If he didn't have a few 0, 1, 2 rebound games, he would have averaged 4+ and that is good for a SG.

Then he was hurt.

Last year was Nicks first year starting and he adjusted and produced very well.

So he is top 8 in scoring for SGs coming into his prime.
If he simply rebounds more consistently, that will help establish him at a true top 8 SG.

What Nick needs to add is easily with in his reach.

[willbcocks]

Look at his stats last year. Rebounding is not something new. He did it last year. He just didn't do it consistently enough. Look at his Dec and Jan numbers. He was at about 3.5 a game. If he didn't have a few 0, 1, 2 rebound games, he would have averaged 4+ and that is good for a SG.

Then he was hurt.

Last year was Nicks first year starting and he adjusted and produced very well.

So he is top 8 in scoring for SGs coming into his prime.
If he simply rebounds more consistently, that will help establish him at a true top 8 SG.

What Nick needs to add is easily with in his reach.

Oh give me a break with the selective statistics: if you discounted his best shooting days, he'd be shooting a poor percentage from the field. You can't discount what you want to discount!

Nick had a two game stretch (lol) where he had 8 and 6 boards. After people were talking about his rebounding improving, I tracked his rebounds in those two games, and literally he wasn't moving or putting himself in good position, he was just the recipient of lucky bounces. But should I exclude these games from the stats? No, they count too. But even with them, his stats have consistently told the same story for years: he doesn't rebound well.

[tontoz]

My big gripe with Nick is that he settles for that pullup J when he could easily drive past his man. I would like to see him use that little floater that he hit last game more often. He clearly isn't comfortable taking it all the way to the rim in traffic.

Joe Johnson is like that. He makes a lot of those floaters/running jumpers instead of taking it all the way in. He pulls up short because he can't jump. Nick just doesnt seem to like contact plus he isn't great at making the last second decisions on how to finish at the rim.

[Wizardspride]

My big gripe with Nick is that he settles for that pullup J when he could easily drive past his man. I would like to see him use that little floater that he hit last game more often. He clearly isn't comfortable taking it all the way to the rim in traffic.

Thats not it at all.

Flip has gone on record saying he doesn't want Nick to drive.

The less dribbling the better as far as he's concerned.


Personally, I think it limits Nick to reduce him to Rip Hamilton.

He has much more ability than that imo.

[hands11]

My big gripe with Nick is that he settles for that pullup J when he could easily drive past his man. I would like to see him use that little floater that he hit last game more often. He clearly isn't comfortable taking it all the way to the rim in traffic.

Joe Johnson is like that. He makes a lot of those floaters/running jumpers instead of taking it all the way in. He pulls up short because he can't jump. Nick just doesnt seem to like contact plus he isn't great at making the last second decisions on how to finish at the rim.

No doubt. Taking it to the rim more would be huge for Nick. And that would get the team pumped up and put him on the line. Nick has made some great moves to the hoop in the past. Player do tend to get banged up doing that though. Not something you want to do a ton of in a contract year when you are still trying to establish yourself as a starter.

Nick knows he has to add something if he wants to be a 9M player. I expect that will be more rebounding first. That is easier mentally for him over passing since he mostly thinks about how to score. Driving is more risky. I hope he does it more though.

[willbcocks]

My guess is that if NY think he needs to do more to earn that contract, he will try to score more the same way he always has.

[hands11]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

Young again led the Wizards in scoring with 21 points off the bench, and while he said he’s still only “90 percent” after missing all of training camp, he appears set to take the starting shooting guard spot from Crawford as soon as he’s ready to handle more minutes

Young scored from all over, completing a four-point play and a three-point play, with a high-arcing jumper in the second half. “I think I’m there. I think a good day of practice tomorrow, get some more running in, I think I should be good,” Young said, adding that the team can’t be successful falling into the early holes. “We can’t let them get up like that. It’s hard, but it’s no excuses. You’ve got to come out with that fire, and come out ready to play.”


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Nick sounds like he wants to start as soon as next game.