Jan Vesely Part II: He a Bust

[FAH1223]

There should be no reason the Wizards pick up his option for 2014-2015.

$4.2 million for WHAT?

[sfam]

So given the evidence that Vesely was a productive player in the not so distant past, do we try to rehab him in the hopes of getting some contributions out of him or at least upping his trade value ? Or do we just chalk it up to a sunk cost, not pick up his option and bury him on the bench next year? I'm leaning towards the latter.

I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't do all they could over the offseason and next year to rehab Vesely's potential. I'd be really surprised if EG hasn't already been lobbying Wittman for more minutes for Vesely. Its EG's mess - it only makes sense that he's try to shine that turd up somehow.

I almost hope they have given up on Vesely though. If so, that might mean Ted may be considering giving up on EG.

[FAH1223]

I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't do all they could over the offseason and next year to rehab Vesely's potential. I'd be really surprised if EG hasn't already been lobbying Wittman for more minutes for Vesely. Its EG's mess - it only makes sense that he's try to shine that turd up somehow.

I almost hope they have given up on Vesely though. If so, that might mean Ted may be considering giving up on EG.

Explains why Nene is out. I bet you Nene could play but they are going to shut him down so Vesley gets minutes.

[sfam]

I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't do all they could over the offseason and next year to rehab Vesely's potential. I'd be really surprised if EG hasn't already been lobbying Wittman for more minutes for Vesely. Its EG's mess - it only makes sense that he's try to shine that turd up somehow.

I almost hope they have given up on Vesely though. If so, that might mean Ted may be considering giving up on EG.

Explains why Nene is out. I bet you Nene could play but they are going to shut him down so Vesley gets minutes.

That makes a lot of sense. Perhaps they instructed the team to take the Derrick Rose philosophy of coming back: "Not until you're 100% ready and you've received a personal sign from God should you come back..."

[Rafael122]

If Ernie picks up Ves' option, he is clearly delusional. He saw the writing on the wall for OPEC and he was gone after 2 years. There's no reason he should pick up his 4th year, which is set at like $4 million. You can find 2 or 3 guys for that amount. Hell, Webster cost what...$1.7 mil?

[FAH1223]

If Ernie picks up Ves' option, he is clearly delusional. He saw the writing on the wall for OPEC and he was gone after 2 years. There's no reason he should pick up his 4th year, which is set at like $4 million. You can find 2 or 3 guys for that amount. Hell, Webster cost what...$1.7 mil?

Exactly. If anything, I'd rather pay a 28 year old Martell Webster $4 million in Vesley's place.

[Liverbird]

For those with knowledge and access to statistical websites I have a question/request:

What does Vesely's PER look like when playing in a lineup with Nene, Ariza/Webster, Beal, and Wall? I understand the limited sample size.

Confidence is such a fickle mistress. Yes, Veseley clearly looks like he's regressed and a lot of that has to do with his confidence. Certainly he's not developed any semblance of a jumper and continues to struggle on the free throw line. But for me, it's hard to imagine he's lost those intangibles we loved so much last season. He's still a very smart player, passes well, and can be defensively effective with his length and athleticism. My theory is that Vesely can be most successful playing with players that 1) have the ability to facilitate (IE good passers) and 2) have good/very good BBIQ. Since he's such a self-check on offense, he'll need to play with players that have great awareness and can provide that killer outlet pass. Playing with the second unit sparingly IMO limits his effectiveness.

He needs to develop his shot - no doubt. He needs to regain some confidence. I think he still has an opportunity to be a very good glue type player that all winning teams need. The question is can the organization develop and exploit a very unique skillset.

Just a thought.

[daSwami]

I know it's been only 2 seasons, but the most frustrating thing--and probably the biggest indictment of EG's competence--is that Vesely is arguably the WORST first-round pick in one of the WEAKEST drafts ever. That means that there were at least 23 players (not counting 2nd rounders) picked AFTER him that are better players. (I suppose cases could be made that that Nolan Smith or JaJuan Johnson are worse, but they were taken 21st and 27th, respectively, so expectations weren't nearly as high for them.) And when you consider that Vesely was filling a position of need, playing time was his for the taking.

[Kanyewest]

It appears to be easier to add productive swingmen than bigs that are Vesley's size. I'm curious who the Wizards could target worthwhile that will be a free agent that will come to the Wizards that will be worth the MLE. BTW, there is any precedence for a team not picking up a player option and re-signing them for less money?

[Ruzious]

I mentioned this article on Vesely in another thread, but it belongs here. http://broomonthewarpath.sportsblog.com/

[closg00]

Stouffer is reporting that Ves will playing for his country at EuroBasket so we won't see him at Summe league.....not that it matters.

[fishercob]

Stouffer is reporting that Ves will playing for his country at EuroBasket so we won't see him at Summe league.....not that it matters.

Saw that. I wonder if Veseley may have lots of countrymen, scouts and coaches in his ear to return to Europe. Maybe it's a Rudy Fernandez or JCN type of situation where the NBA just wasn't the right fit for him.

[nate33]

Stouffer is reporting that Ves will playing for his country at EuroBasket so we won't see him at Summe league.....not that it matters.

Saw that. I wonder if Veseley may have lots of countrymen, scouts and coaches in his ear to return to Europe. Maybe it's a Rudy Fernandez or JCN type of situation where the NBA just wasn't the right fit for him.

Whatever the reason, I think it's a good thing. Maybe he'll regain his confidence in Europe and come back here a better player. Or maybe, he'll like it in Europe so much more that he'll choose to stay there. I'm not sure, but I think it would mean that we wouldn't have to pay him but we would retain his rights. If he improved enough and wanted to come back here a few years down the road, he'd probably just finish out the final 2 seasons of his rookie contract.

[fishercob]

Our good buddy Ilyasova played a year with the BUcks, then two in Turkey and then came back to the Bucks -- but I don't think there was any overlap in the contracts, so I am not sure.

[nate33]

Josh Childress went to play in Europe during the lockout. I'm not sure if the situation was analogous. I think it was after his rookie contract expired. And to retain his rights, Atlanta had his cap hold eating a hole in their salary. I'm not sure what happens if a player wants to leave during the middle of his contract. Is it even possible? Or do both parties have to agree to terminate the contract first (making Vesely a UFA)?

[Nivek]

In my weekly stat update, Vesely's PPA rose from 6 to 13. Of course, league average is 100, but we're talking a 116% improvement in a week!

[hands11]

To start the year there wasn't any PG for him to run with and now that there is, Randy doesn't play him because he had better options like Nene. And when Nene isn't in there they need a stronger rebounding body so they play Booker. Or there are other injuries and they need shooting range so they play Trevor A at PF or Singleton. Or they need a post scoring game so they go with Kevin S.

Yes, this explains the problem exactly, only not really in the way that you meant it. The problem with Vesely is that other people on the team do basketball things better than he does. Therefore, there is no role for him.

Actually it was in the way I meant it.

Ves does do some basketball things better then the others just like they do some things better then he does. He is a better passers and he has better length. Its just that what he does better didn't out weigh what they needed more and so the opportunities wasn't presented for him to get it going on the court.

Not saying a lot of this isn't his own fault. Had he worked harder to improve in those other areas, he would have gotten more opportunities. Hell, if he could just hit a FT or even show signs that he was getting better, that would have helped. If he could hit a mid range, that would have helped a ton.

So that is what he needs to get worked out this summer. If he could do those two things he would avail himself of more opportunities to get out there. Glue guy just isn't enough if you can't hit FTs, a mid range or be a dominate rebounder/shot blocker. You have to do something from that other group as well. Once he has that, his will be opportunities to build confidence and grow more.

If they didn't have a solid vet like Nene and three other young players at the same spot, he would have gotten more opportunities regardless. But given the situation, he needed to do more to earn it. Maybe he misread the situation and thought he would get more opportunities since he was a 6th pick.

If that is what he did, he was dead wrong.

If he wants to make it in this league, he better get real serious this summer working on his FTs and mid range. He needs to put in a Wall like effort. He will be a 3rd year player just like Wall was. Time to get it done.

[hands11]

I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't do all they could over the offseason and next year to rehab Vesely's potential. I'd be really surprised if EG hasn't already been lobbying Wittman for more minutes for Vesely. Its EG's mess - it only makes sense that he's try to shine that turd up somehow.

I almost hope they have given up on Vesely though. If so, that might mean Ted may be considering giving up on EG.

Explains why Nene is out. I bet you Nene could play but they are going to shut him down so Vesley gets minutes.

You would hope that is the case. What is to be gained by playing Nene nursing injuries that need rest when you aren't making the playoffs this year vs giving Ves minutes so he can end the season on an up note going into a big off season for him ?

Ves is not a complete turd. Given minutes, he gets in a better grove and does more positive stuff out there.

Hell, his shooting form doesn't even look like total suck. But he has the same problem Wall did. He doesn't have a consistent release point and he majorly lacks confidence.

Wall was able to fix his J. Ves needs to follow Walls program and do the same.

[pineappleheadindc]

In my weekly stat update, Vesely's PPA rose from 6 to 13. Of course, league average is 100, but we're talking a 116% improvement in a week!

The very definition of damning with faint praise.

[hands11]

Wow. Ves had a ORtg of 104 last year.

Gotta hope its just a Sophomore slump.