Tracking Former Wizards 3.0

[verbal8]

My guess is the reaction will be pretty "meh." They did not leave on bad terms, they were never bad guys, and they gave decent effort on the court, so I doubt there will be animosity. I don't think they were fan favorites either. I'll mainly curious to see how they're performing now and what they're paid.

McGee will probably get a big contract and be starting somewhere. I think he will probably get a little bit of a cheer when he is introduced. I think Nick Young likely is the 1st or 2nd sub, so he won't be introduced. I don't think any player will get much reaction during the game.

[Ironpanthr]

What will be the atmosphere in the "phone booth" when they make their first return? Will the fans be as harsh on them as they've been known to be on returning former players who they felt underachieved (ex., Juwan Howard and Kwame Brown)? Gave it to Blatche pretty good all season and though both Young and McGee managed to escape the same jeers that Blatche couldn't, I thought they were just as deserving. McGee's head wasn't always in the right place but at least he tried to assert himself the best way he knew how, Young on the other hand seemed only concerned with the limelight and shooting (easily my least favorite Wizard of all-time).

Whenever I've read an article where the two are responding to questions concening their time in Washington versus their new playing spots it always reads like they're subtly tying to throw dirt on the Wizards organization like they didn't have ample opportunity to help in reversing its fortunes; as if they played no part in the position it was left in as they headed for greener pastures. It really gets to me when I read or hear it.

For any sports team I root for, whenever a longtime player leaves for another team, I still cheer them on because that connection to the player remains, I swore this would be the case for both McGee and Young. Nope. Don't get me wrong, I feel a sense happy pride when I see McGee making a difference in Denver, it's like 'wow, he's finally putting it together', but it's not comparable to the way I root for Gilbert Arenas in Memphis or Caron Butler. With Nick Young, oh boy. Wrong, but I sit back wishing for all his shots to clang off the rim.

Whoever the guard, whether Jordan Crawford or Bradley Beal, I hope fifty gets dropped on Nick Young on his return to the Verizon Center; no real animosity towards McGee but I still hope Kevin and Nene back him down relentlessly for twenty apiece.

For the record, I do hope one day my feelings towards Young subsides.

I share your same sentiment about it being hard to root for players who bad mouth the organization after they leave, which is why I'm surprised to see you say you still cheer on Caron Butler. I'm guessing you didn't see him on TNT with Stevenson and Haywood after the Dallas trade, laughing with Chuck and Kenny about how it was "nice to be back in the NBA." Yeah, I don't root for Caron Butler.

[hands11]

Well the Wizards ( I mean the Clippers ) are out of the playoff after getting swept by SA 4-0

Should be interesting to see what happens with Nick and McGee now.

I dont see where either posted numbers good enough to get their asking price on long term deals but both showed they can be useful bench players on playoff teams. I think both with a few more years under their belt could grow to be quality starters. But who knows. Nick showed to be a good 3 pt shooter posting over .500% from 3 range in the playoffs. At his height, length and age, that should yield him 5-7M a year on a 3 year deal.

As for McGee, if he really believes in himself, he should go for a two year deal unless someone wants to take the risk of overpaying him. I can see him getting 6-7M offered for 3 years but he should consider declining that offer and signing for only 2 year. By then I think he could be a legit 10+ M player who can start on a good team. That is if he puts in the work.

[closg00]

Vladimir Veremeenko signed a 2-year contract with Unics Kazan his current team. I know everyone was awaiting the outcome of the contract discussions.

[fishercob]

Vladimir Veremeenko signed a 2-year contract with Unics Kazan his current team. I know everyone was awaiting the outcome of the contract discussions.

perfect fit for him.

[closg00]

Living Social special, Roger Mason Jr. Basketball camp at Good Council HS in August.

[fishercob]

This makes me so happy:

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2012/05/3 ... um=twitter

[tugs]

hey guys. any news on Larry Hughes?

[closg00]

Say good-bye to the Grotto. I wonder where Govan and the kids are at?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... --nba.html

Gilbert! You left your Scarface poster.

[fishercob]

FASCINATING.

When I saw a week or two ago that Mike Brown had hired old foe Eddie Jordan as an assistant, I thought EJ would just bringing some additional perspective, perhaps adding some Princeton principles to the overall offensive gameplan.

Rather, it appears that Brown is turning the entire offense over to EJ and that the Lakers will run the Princeton. What an opportunity for EJ (and for his old buddy Antawn) with Nash, Gasol (the perfect Princeton big) and Bynum.

Woj with the details here. It's going to take a good half season for the Lakers to find their rhythm, but wow, they are going to be fun to watch.

[OffTheWall2]

Jordan was a terrible coach here I expect him to crash & burn with those Lakers worse than Brown did this year for sure.

[Kanyewest]

Jordan was a good offensive coach. I can't see the Lakers doing worse offensively especially with the addition of Steve Nash.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Jordan was a good offensive coach. I can't see the Lakers doing worse offensively especially with the addition of Steve Nash.

The Princeton offense seems like a bad fit for a team with a great, bounce heavy pg like Nash.

[Kanyewest]

It worked well in New Jersey with Jason Kidd- so we'll see.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

FASCINATING.

When I saw a week or two ago that Mike Brown had hired old foe Eddie Jordan as an assistant, I thought EJ would just bringing some additional perspective, perhaps adding some Princeton principles to the overall offensive gameplan.

Rather, it appears that Brown is turning the entire offense over to EJ and that the Lakers will run the Princeton. What an opportunity for EJ (and for his old buddy Antawn) with Nash, Gasol (the perfect Princeton big) and Bynum.

Woj with the details here. It's going to take a good half season for the Lakers to find their rhythm, but wow, they are going to be fun to watch.

That is terrific news. I am happy for Eddie Jordan, a coach I have the utmost respect for.

All he did was take the team to the playoffs year after year. For all who say he can't coach, they must not have noticed the year that Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, and Roger Mason Jr. took the Wizards to the playoffs as the only healthy guards. All through EJs tenure, he experienced injuries to his key players. Butler was often injured at the most inopportune times. EJ was fired 12 games after making the playoffs with those guards, with Gilbert hurt and with Haywood hurt. He started Javale McGee as a rookie IIRC.

Jordan will do fine in LA, where he was on one of the Laker championships. That Mike Brown, the same guy who beat him with Lebron James in the playoffs year after year hired EJ, shows the respect that Jordan has in the coaching profession.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jordan was a terrible coach here I expect him to crash & burn with those Lakers worse than Brown did this year for sure.

Kanyewest is right. EJ was a good offensive coach.

EJ as Wizards coach: http://www.basketball-reference.com/coa ... ed01c.html

25-57, 45-37, 42-40, 41-41, 43-39, 1-11

The year EJ got fired, he was forced to start Butler, Jamison, Stevenson, Etan Thomas, and Juan Dixon. Gilbert, Brendan Haywood, and even Antonio Daniels were out with injuries. Eddie was a bad defensive coach but when your frontline is Butler, Jamison, Thomas with Blatche and Songalia off the bench you are in serious trouble. When Dixon is your PG you don't struggle because of bad coaching.

EJ made the playoffs 4 straight season and did a LOT better than Flip in this regard: Players were not thrown under the bus. The coach did not place blame on others while failing to man up. EJ dealt with player issues in house, quietly, behind the scenes. Jordan did not deflect blame. Jordan was inflexible as a defensive coach, but he was never adamant about sticking with what did not work (except when he didn't like Haywood).

I like Eddie Jordan.

Flip Saunders coaching record with the Wizards is not nearly as good.

[nate33]

It worked well in New Jersey with Jason Kidd- so we'll see.

No it didn't. New Jersey had the 17th and 18th ranked offense in Jordan's two years as assistant coach. And that offensive production was boosted by their fast break attack. They probably ranked in the 20's if you looked at half court offense alone.

New Jersey won on the strength of their defense.

[nate33]

Jordan was a terrible coach here I expect him to crash & burn with those Lakers worse than Brown did this year for sure.

Kanyewest is right. EJ was a good offensive coach.

EJ as Wizards coach: http://www.basketball-reference.com/coa ... ed01c.html

25-57, 45-37, 42-40, 41-41, 43-39, 1-11

The year EJ got fired, he was forced to start Butler, Jamison, Stevenson, Etan Thomas, and Juan Dixon. Gilbert, Brendan Haywood, and even Antonio Daniels were out with injuries. Eddie was a bad defensive coach but when your frontline is Butler, Jamison, Thomas with Blatche and Songalia off the bench you are in serious trouble. When Dixon is your PG you don't struggle because of bad coaching.

EJ pushed to have that front line because he needed uniquely talented offensive bigs to run his system. Unfortunately, the type of big man who can pass well and shoot from 18 feet is also typically a poor defender. EJ was overrated as an offensive coach because his system required everyone on the floor to have high offensive aptitude. Good offensive coaches can make things work with 3 good players plus two defensive specialists.

EJ's first three winning seasons were based on riding Gilbert Arenas. I don't think much offensive genius was required there. The only season I give him much credit for was that 43-39 year without Arenas. And in that season, EJ was fortunate that Etan was hurt so that he had no choice but to play Haywood for 28 minutes a game. I firmly believe our record would have been worse if Etan was healthy.

[fishercob]

I remember hearing Mike Brown talk about how much he hated playing against the EJ Wizards because of how hard it was to prepare for their offense. He said EJ called a brilliant offensive game and that he had counters for every adjustment Brown made defensively.

The execution of any offensive system is dependent on personnel and talent. EJ now has the best talent he has ever had -- by a huge margin -- to run his offense. He has the best backcourt he's ever had. He has the best two bigs he's ever had. He has three super high basketball IQ guys in Kobe, Nash and Gasol. He has a respect vet in Jamison who is experienced in his system and can help the rest of the team pick it up faster.

EJ's system was great at creating favorable matchups and getting guys the ball in spots in position to exploit them. The Lakers are going to be fun to watch and very good offensively.

Their problem could be defense. They were near-elite under Jackson and dropped to 13th last year. Without improving that, they aren't getting out of the West, maybe not even to the WCF.

[DMVleGeND]

Does anybody know what the hell Othyus Jeffers is up to these days? It's like he just fell into the abyss when he gut hurt...