Jan Vesely

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

While It has only been 1 year, what other information are you going to go on other than Vesley/Morris's rookie season? Of course time will tell but I'm not the one who is claiming already that Grunfeld "screwed up the pick". It is good that you bring up Morris because that was a realistic option and based on most mocks since those were the players that were available, but I don't think he will be any better than Vesley.

Morris didn't even get to lift his a$$ off the bench last year so he's clearly a better option than Vesely? Gimme a break. Vesely was chosen based on potential, not immediate impact. He already looks like he's made good improvement this offseason, but I don't expect a huge jump till next year - EG was fairly upfront about this when Ves was drafted. Morris was apparently chosen because he doesn't fart too much while occupying the bench. Morris may be great in a year or tow, but not if he can't figure out how to get on the court. Good thing for Morris Houston only has 5 other guys playing his position now, ey

Oh wow. Morris can't be the better prospect because he didn't crack the lineup his rookie year. If I didn't know better I would crown Vesely. Yeah, that's what I'd do. Because he tore it up his rookie year!!! Blistering four point average for the SIXTH overall pick!!!

Marcus Morris would've been better for the Wizards and it has nothing to do with who played more minutes in their rookie season and everything to do with him being the better all-around player. Morris' college play kills Vesely's Summer League play. Morris' skillset kills Vesely's skillset.
Hell, I can remember watching North Carolina this season and going 'that's the white guy the Wizards need right there'. Was referring to Tyler Zeller of course. Vesely isn't better than him either, but you wouldn't know that based on draft position.

Nobody cares how clear or upfront Grunfeld was about why he selected Vesely. It's not like this would be the first time Grunfeld made a selection that he probably thought was ingenious before it was proven to be wrong.

Really hoping this whiny, pouty nature that Vesely's been displaying is just a Summer League thing.

[go'stags]

I think its a little silly to be arguing over who was better last year between 2 rookies who weren't very good at all.

That being said, if Houstons forward situation does mean hes riding the pine hard again I would love to buy low on him. He seems to have found a bit of quickness that I didn't see at Kansas. That said, its just summer league, but that's why it's buying low.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

I think its a little silly to be arguing over who was better last year between 2 rookies who weren't very good at all.

That being said, if Houstons forward situation does mean hes riding the pine hard again I would love to buy low on him. He seems to have found a bit of quickness that I didn't see at Kansas. That said, its just summer league, but that's why it's buying low.

I agree. My argument isn't about their rookie seasons, it's about who's the better overall prospect; who I felt should've been taken versus who was taken and who I believe will prove to be the more productive prospect. Much like many argue against Satoransky's selection at 34, I'm just arguing against the value Grunfeld went with that year in selecting Vesely despite there being better value available at other positions of need.

Believe it or not, I like many things about Vesely's game. However, I will never like where he was selected or Grunfeld's reasoning behind it. It also gets annoying when people begin to go overboard with optimism concerning Vesely as a complete player. He's limited, admit it, accept it.

[omegatronic3]

i havent seen much from him to impress me other than a nice up and under move against the Grizzlies.

Didnt do anything particularly well. To me hes a carrer stiff unless he puts ins some serious work.

I hope he does and hes not Kwame Brown god aweful but hes just not impressive enough for a #6 pick.

Veseley need to just focus .

If im the wiz I start Seraphin and Nene and bring Vess and Okafor off the bench

Front line of Nene, Seraphin, Singleton should be pretty solid.

[hands11]

I missed the game. What was the Ves injury.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

I missed the game. What was the Ves injury.

Ankle injury.

[closg00]

Didn't he have an ankle injury when we first drafted him? IIRC, he had to sit for a bit before playing.

[Dat2U]

How I feel about Vesely right now. -______-

I'd be seeking all trade avenues for the kid right now. Nice guy. Might develop into a useful role player but unless we have a string of injuries or make some trades, he's going to rot on the bench for the next two years. He's not better than Nene, Seraphin, Okafor or Booker.

[willbcocks]

Vesely played well (actually well, had something like a 17 per) for the last month of the season, and the consensus was, even among his doubters, that he'd be a solid player if he came back bigger and with a jump shot.

He came back bigger and with a jumpshot. What more could we have hoped for out of summer league?

[DMVleGeND]

Didn't he have an ankle injury when we first drafted him? IIRC, he had to sit for a bit before playing.

Hip injury.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Vesely played well (actually well, had something like a 17 per) for the last month of the season, and the consensus was, even among his doubters, that he'd be a solid player if he came back bigger and with a jump shot.

He came back bigger and with a jumpshot. What more could we have hoped for out of summer league?

Offensive assertiveness.

Dominance on the boards would've been nice too.

[jazzfan1971]

I'm kinda sad to see you guys so down on Vesely. When I saw him play, by my eye, he is a player. I'm not sure that he needs to be offensively assertive, if he can just not be a liability on that end he'll be fine. But, I liked his length, mobility, and motor when I saw him play. Maybe he just looked good against the Jazz but, I doubt it. The things I saw don't tend ot come and go, like scoring does.

I think you folks have a player on your hands. An energy player to be sure, but, a good one. I think you'd be regretting it if you moved him now for pennies on the dollar.

JMHO.

[nate33]

People need to realize that we are closer to the end of last season than we are to the beginning of next season. Summer League took place 10 weeks after the last game of last season - and most players take a few weeks off after the season to rest their minds and bodies. Vesely has probably had just 5 or 6 weeks to work on his game. We shouldn't expect to see THAT much improvement already. Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised to already see a tangible improvement in his jumper.

There are another 16 or so weeks until the start of the next season. I think there is reason to believe that Vesely will be a much improved player over what we saw last year.

[montestewart]

^
I pretty much agree, jazzfan1971, and if he wasn't picked #6, he might be given more of a break. So far this year, I've only seen him collect 10 fouls to foul out of a summer league game, but I liked enough of what I saw last year, when he was usually far and away the best defender on the floor, worked hard, and always looked like he gave a crap. Given his length, that seems like a decent package to start with, and see what develops. Maybe a better shot. Maybe learning a little (a little) bulk and learning how to use it. Besides, it's not like we can trade him in for another #6 at this point.

[JonathanJoseph]

I'm kinda sad to see you guys so down on Vesely. When I saw him play, by my eye, he is a player. I'm not sure that he needs to be offensively assertive, if he can just not be a liability on that end he'll be fine. But, I liked his length, mobility, and motor when I saw him play. Maybe he just looked good against the Jazz but, I doubt it. The things I saw don't tend ot come and go, like scoring does.

I think you folks have a player on your hands. An energy player to be sure, but, a good one. I think you'd be regretting it if you moved him now for pennies on the dollar.

JMHO.

This is a good post.

I haven't been up on the posts during summer league but I'm sure if you go back a few pages and see my posts on Vesely during the end of the regular season...I was sold.

I saw the same improvement from Vesely over summer league. At times he was a man amongst boys. Vesely is a "player" and a difference maker. Vesely is also a winner. Other than that, he's got a mediocre offensive game and he can't figure out how to set a pick.

But don't let that fool you, Jan Vesely does the things that win games and he's 22. By the time Vesely is 25, he could be a really really good player. Many of you had chalked up Vesely to another Grunfeld Euro bust but you may have a lot of crowe to eat. I think Grunfeld hit at least a double with Vesely.

[Darren]

Mavs fan here, will you guy trade him for Carter, right to Benard James and a 2nd? I bet he won't get any minutes behind Okafor and Nene. Carter can bring veteran presence and help you guys a bit for playoff run.

Benard James is solid in SL, managed to near double-double with 3 blocked shots. I guess he can help you out a bit. As for Dallas, they may trade Marion by the end of the season. We'd logically look for a cheaper replacement or a trade brait for future deal.

You can have all-SL league team, Dominique Jones, as well. Despite solid performance, I don't think he'd actually get PT with Dallas longjam at swingman position. We would actually let go the former late 1st for cash and small TE; or for the right of 6-8 PG.

I wonder if you guy would give it a go for that.

[Ed Wood]

Wouldn't consider it actually. I've no great hopes for Vesely but Vince Carter holds very little attraction at this point in his career. The Wizards are still fundamentally a young team, a team which will, we have to hope, reach its apogee based upon the improvement of that youth and without relying upon its current veteran contingent. The team really isn't going to be all that good in the short term, better than it has been granted, but there's so much ground to make up that a "final piece of the puzzle" move like this is wildly premature. If it requires the sacrifice of any fraction of the team's future hope then it's doubly senseless.

And frankly any puzzle that Vince Carter is currently the final piece of is a pretty stupid puzzle, wouldn't be worth having all the pieces to anyway.

[Brenice]

Mavs fan here, will you guy trade him for Carter, right to Benard James and a 2nd? I bet he won't get any minutes behind Okafor and Nene. Carter can bring veteran presence and help you guys a bit for playoff run.

Benard James is solid in SL, managed to near double-double with 3 blocked shots. I guess he can help you out a bit. As for Dallas, they may trade Marion by the end of the season. We'd logically look for a cheaper replacement or a trade brait for future deal.

You can have all-SL league team, Dominique Jones, as well. Despite solid performance, I don't think he'd actually get PT with Dallas longjam at swingman position. We would actually let go the former late 1st for cash and small TE; or for the right of 6-8 PG.

I wonder if you guy would give it a go for that.

Nope. I think Vesely will end up being an outstanding 7ft glue guy with great instincts. Able to run with Wall and finish, defend multiple positions, all while not having to be a starter.

[closg00]

Gregg Popovich envisions Kawhi Leonard as the future cornerstone of the Spurs.

“I think he’s going to be a star. And as time goes on, he’ll be the face of the Spurs I think. At both ends of the court, he is really a special player,” said Popovich, who has been the Spurs' coach since 1996. “And what makes me be so confident about him is that he wants it so badly. He wants to be a good player, I mean a great player. He comes early, he stays late, and he’s coachable, he’s just like a sponge. When you consider he’s only had one year of college and no training camp yet, you can see that he’s going to be something else.”

Reading this tonight was like a dagger through the heart

[Dat2U]

I think Popovich is engaging in a bit of hyperbole. Leonard was excellent as a rookie and certainly has some room for improvement. But star? I'm not ready to go that far yet. He was a very low usage role player last season (13.1% - 51 out of 63 SFs who played 500 mins or more). I'm not sure if he has shot creation skills to be as effective in a higher usage role.

But I've been wrong on him before so what do I know, lol.