Wiz Workout Ben Uzoh & Blake Ahearn

[closg00]

Ben Uzoh Works Out For Wizards
Dec 09, 2012 4:52 PM EST


NBA Development league guard Ben Uzoh worked out for the Washington Wizards on Sunday, according to a league source.

Uzoh is averaging 17.8 points for the Springfield Armor.

With both John Wall and A.J. Price out for an extended period of time, the Wizards lack depth at point guard. Shaun Livingston is the lone natural point guard as of now, although Jordan Crawford has spent considerable time at the position this season.

Price suffered a broken right hand on Saturday and will miss four to six weeks.

The easiest thing to do would be to bring-back Mack which is still a possibility, but the fact that they worked-out Uzoh probably means he will be coming-in as a call-up. Uzoh was cut by the Nets.

Edit: we worked-out Ahearn also.

Uzoh stats
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/b ... stats.html

[DMVleGeND]

What I remember from Uzoh as a Raptor last yr: he's athletic, has good physical tools, and competes on defense, but he's not a talented offensive player. Mediocre handle, isn't a great shooter, and isn't much of a playmaker.

[hands11]

Call up a SG or a Center 7-0.

But they will do neither because a SG will put more pressure on Beal and a Center won't matter because they will play Okafor anyway.

Start Crawford at PG. Let Livingston back him up.

They don't need to call up a PG.

[nate33]

They don't need to call up a PG.

If Wall comes back by Christmas, then it makes more sense to just let Crawford and Livingston hold down the fort until then. Unfortunately, this sounds like an indication that Wall won't be back for quite a while.

[Knighthonor]

They don't need to call up a PG.

If Wall comes back by Christmas, then it makes more sense to just let Crawford and Livingston hold down the fort until then. Unfortunately, this sounds like an indication that Wall won't be back for quite a while.

when is Wall's last season?

Seem like Wizards are getting him ready to be traded.

[Nivek]

What I remember from Uzoh as a Raptor last yr: he's athletic, has good physical tools, and competes on defense, but he's not a talented offensive player. Mediocre handle, isn't a great shooter, and isn't much of a playmaker.

Let's see: good athlete, not very productive (rated a 71 in my rating system last season where 100 = average and 60 = replacement level)...seems like the guy for Grunfeld.

I wonder how many positions he can defend.

[pineappleheadindc]

Sign him. NOW.

[truwizfan4evr]

How will this guy help is lets be serous? we should go after Jonny Flynn or West.

[payitforward]

What I remember from Uzoh as a Raptor last yr: he's athletic, has good physical tools, and competes on defense, but he's not a talented offensive player. Mediocre handle, isn't a great shooter, and isn't much of a playmaker.

Let's see: good athlete, not very productive (rated a 71 in my rating system last season where 100 = average and 60 = replacement level)...seems like the guy for Grunfeld.

I wonder how many positions he can defend.

...or how long Ernie has had his eye on him?

Comparing Uzoh's WS40 to other point guards, he's average or better overall. Reasonably good assist guy, good rebounder, doesn't turn the ball over much.

But, man he cannot shoot. Not even FTs!! And absolutely no 3-pointer.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ahearn is a beast in the D-League. He's a 95.7% FT shooter and a 40.4% 3Pt shooter, as well as the career leader in points scored. Yet, he's not been in many playoff games and he's a terrible scorer at the NBA level.

I hope they give Josh Akognon at tryout. He's quicker and will score on anyone.

Uzoh's not the answer, pif, but I bet that's who they sign.

What's Morris Almond up to? They were undefeated with him in the lineup.

[pancakes3]

I know there are a few on this board that's advocated ahearn before. I think he deserves a shot. He's been absolutely killing the d-league for years and the only chances in the NBA he's had is in spot minutes. I guess he doesn't practice well. His shooting percentages are out of this world.

[closg00]

Yup, I advocated giving Ahearn a try-out, he shoots the trey and FT's well and is very crafty.... A poor mans Jose Barrera. I just don't think you can have him on the floor for too-long due to his size.

[TGW]

Unleash the A-hole (Ahearn).

Seriously, let that guy get a chance. He's pretty nice in the d-league.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

How can anyone make 1011 of 1057 FTs? In any sort of game conditions, how is that possible? No, in any conditions that is remarkable.

Go to a gym and try to make 101 out of 106 FTs.

Ahearn has done that ten times over in D-League games.

[hands11]

How can anyone make 1011 of 1057 FTs? In any sort of game conditions, how is that possible? No, in any conditions that is remarkable.

Go to a gym and try to make 101 out of 106 FTs.

Ahearn has done that ten times over in D-League games.

Great. So we go from Run n Jump McGee to Stop, Dribble 3 times and Shoot.

BRING IN NO ONE.

STOP THE MADNESS.

PLAY WHAT YOU HAVE

I agree wtih CCJ. If anything, bring back Almond.

LET BIG BALLS CRAWFORD LEAD THIS DANCE.
PUT FRENCH BOY OUT THEIR WITH HIM FOR POST POINTS FROM PF AND TELL HIM TO Fing REBOUND
Then line up the supporting cast. Beal, Martin or Webster at SG
Singleton, Martin or Webster at SF
And someone who will rebound and defend at center.

Crawford, Webster, Singleton, Kevin and one of Nene, Barron or Okafor, with Beal, Martin and Livingston in support could win some games. Can we just try the obvious for once. Even with the injuries this team still has some talent. If they would only use it correctly.

[closg00]

Funny, I just ran into Leonsis Jr getting lunch (I work in Chinatown). He is a nice kid. After identifying myself as a Wiz fan he immediately said "we have to get John back", it was canned response, but I appreciated it. I also asked him if he knew if were signing anyone to a 10-day, he said that he did not.

[Ed Wood]

Well I guess I'll just chime in to say I feel basically the opposite(edit: not of closq, this is what happens when you type slowly). This is not a strong roster and I think it's silly to rail against altering the dynamics or disrupting the chemistry of a roster that's unlikely to win more than four out of every ten games it plays anyway. There isn't really a position on the team so overflowing with talent that we'd be doing more harm than good by at least considering potential alternatives.

Neither Ahearn nor Uzoh is much of a point guard anyway, so even in some other world with some other roster that is totally set at the position neither would be infringing on any particular player. And honestly if Crawford is going to be the team's point guard for the immediate future he probably needs another player who can effectively defend smaller guards to complement him, because he doesn't seem to be able to.

Anyway, I'm not overwhelmed by either Uzoh or Ahearn (though if the two were somehow combined into a single player he'd be pretty good, each does well what the other does terribly) but I don't see why we shouldn't progress to "see if it sticks" based on how the season is going.

[pancakes3]

Taking a stand on 10-day contracts is not picking your battles wisely. The big picture moments where we should "see what we have" was when we drafted both Vesely and Singleton or when we signed both Ariza and Webster. Bringing in Ahearn or Uzoh is negligible.

[GhostsOfGil]

CCJ/Hands, I agree. I would much rather see the Wizards bring Almost back and let Crawford play the 1. Based off production by position at 82games.com, Crawford is significantly more productive at the lead guard position.. in pretty much every statically category.

[BruceO]

hell i'll bite. bring blake in, might be fun to see a new player in costume. With a name like blake he may be the european blake griffin.. no wait we already have one of those