Wizards agree to terms with Eric Maynor

[montestewart]

Eric "Dutch Oven" Maynor

That could be his nickname if he goes John Williams on us.

[ShakaSmart]

Eric "Dutch Oven" Maynor

That could be his nickname if he goes John Williams on us.

John Williams was 305-320...Maynor aint close to that weight.

[AFM]

Did John Williams fart in your bed, monte?

[80sballboy]

I've been a Bullets fans since 1970. I've seen all the pg's since that time...Maynor will be the most skilled PG we've had a finding the open man in half court offense since Kevin Porter..

Finding them from his seat on the bench, you mean?

Hah!...No he'll play 15-20 minutes a game...he's better at hitting the open man now than john wall...

Guessing from your sig that you are a VCU fan so a bit of hyperbole there. Wiz have had some awful point guards since Kevin Porter. And a lot of Darwin Cook/Darrell Walker/Gus Williams/Perry Moss/Brent Price/Ennis Whatley-types. I do like Maynor and think he can make a nice impact of the bench if his knee is 100%.

But he's not Rod Strickland or even Scott Skiles but he's better than most of the dregs and combo guards we had.

[montestewart]

That's getting personal. I respect Big John's privacy.

[doclinkin]

I don't think Maynor helps or makes Vesely, Singleton & Seraphin look better.

I think he has a better chance of making them look better than does AJ Price. Maybe not better than Nate Almighty Wolters of course of course, but better.

[Kanyewest]

I don't think Maynor helps or makes Vesely, Singleton & Seraphin look better.

I think he has a better chance of making them look better than does AJ Price. Maybe not better than Nate Almighty Wolters of course of course, but better.

The dream backcourt = Wolters/Profit

[jimij]

I don't think Maynor helps or makes Vesely, Singleton & Seraphin look better.

I don't think Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, John Stockton or Jesus Christ could make those three look much better.

[doclinkin]

I don't think Maynor helps or makes Vesely, Singleton & Seraphin look better.

I don't think Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, John Stockton or Jesus Christ could make those three look much better.

Which says a great deal for John Wall since he did make all three look nice, Veseley especially, in that run at the end of their rookie season.

[payitforward]

You know what, Doc makes very good points in what he writes below. So... I take back my overblown complaints about this signing. Let it be... and go Wizards!

Lets root for Eric Maynor to be healthy and make that productivity jump you are talking about. If he is and does, then he helps build the team's future from the back of the roster -- which is what I am hoping for.

If one guy makes 4 dudes 5% better, then he's more of an asset than a guy who by himself is 10% better. My key point is that in part Veseley's numbers (and Seraphin and the rest of the crew who looked like actual NBA players at the end of the '12 season) probably suffer for lack of minutes with John Wall. And if they look turdly then how do we expect to get any sort of value for them, on court or off?

By playing next to a guy who can find utility for them, even in blow-outs, they may actually begin to get confidence and play better, or at least put up numbers that make them look less like a complete liability as deadweight ballast in a trade. For now, while we are no real contender, I'm happier to get a back-up who can make the offense work ,than I would be to get a guy who can shut down the other team's quick PG. Maynor can pass and help his teammates look prettier than they do right now. That is not a bad thing.

But, Doc, the question at hand is not whether anyone can add percentages. Whatever would give you any idea whatever that this is something Maynor can do?

And if he showed he could, then, tell me please, when he was on the court, which Trailblazer did Eric Maynor make better?

Damian Lillard, -- well at least according to Damian Lillard:

The question prompted Damian Lillard’s eyes to widen and a smile to spread wide across his face.

Has he felt a difference since Eric Maynor joined the Trail Blazers?

“I feel a huge difference,” Lillard said, beaming. “Everything has opened up. Everything has slowed down.”

Lillard had already established himself as the no-doubt Rookie of the Year favorite before the Blazers acquired Maynor at the NBA trade deadline on Feb 21. But since Maynor’s arrival, Lillard has experienced a substantial across-the-board increase in production that has only enhanced his already-high profile.

In the 14 games since Maynor joined the Blazers, Lillard’s scoring has improved by nearly three points, from 18.4 to 21.2 per game, and his shooting numbers have soared. Lillard is shooting 7.1 percentage points better from the field (41.8 to 48.9) and almost 10 percentage points better from three-point range (34.9 to 44.6 percent) with Maynor on the roster.

..., but he may not know jack about ball, I dunno. But my goodness and heaven's and land's sakes you may have to forgive me if I go by the word of the Rookie of the Year on Maynor's effect on the team more than a henhouse full of Chicken Littles and stat-addicts who borrow other people's math to decide what team to root for. The 'goodness me' act wears thin.

OK what other %'s can he raise? YOu know, aside from scoring efficiency and numbers and things that may affect wins and losses? Well quite possibly the % value of players' productive return on a trade.

Offense = value in this league. Casual fans root for, and GMs pay more for even a slight advantage in offensive numbers. There are yet more people who still root for teams based on the 'eyetest', and scouts and GMs who trust their instincts more than the spreadsheets. And fans thrive on the 'hope' you speak about, show them a box score and a highlight reel and that's all they need to be convinced to buy tickets, to be happy about a trade. Not everybody is an acolyte in the cult of professional skeptics. Many people actually work the flipside of that equation, looking for reasons why their new acquisition is a diamond in the rough. (Spoken without irony here).

Point being: Vesely, Singleton, Seraphin -- none can create for themselves, all tend to play primarily with/as back-ups and not with John Wall for the most part. We've seen the John Wall effect on the shooting percentage of Bradley Beal, Webster, and Ariza, and seen Ernie's Kids play well for a late season stretch when they were playing next to our creative pass-dishing PG.

The effect of a distributing PG is significant, and even if minimal --or negligible or hey _negative_ in the win/loss column-- if the team looks a little better on offense and if players score a little easier and the court does not bog down into a chess game of plodding careful dribbling, then players look better, and teams like the offensive box score numbers, and fans buy tickets and GMs are somewhat more likely to be buyers for our commodities.

Even Andray Blatches may turn around if sent to a new environment, how many former Wizards show up on playoff teams around the league? Our talent may have more value elsewhere, or at least let the GMs think it. Give them a glance at a glimmer of talent and they will send their Nene for our 'Shaqtin' a Fool' hal- of-shamer.

Back to Eric Maynor for a moment in specific. His first 2 years he posted a 30% assist rate, compared to AJ Price's low 20%. Players who played with him and fans who watch him say the offense moves well when he is on the floor. The ball finds the shooter, their job is made easier.

Most players who break out find their groove in their 3rd year. Maynor caught an injury early in his 3rd year. Took him a while to recover. Hell on this team we have recent evidence from John Wall to Nene to Okafor that an injury, surgery, will surely effect your game while you rehab and regain your timing. His Portland play improved on his OKC levels. Not inconceivable to think he might improve there as well, hell even AJ Price had a career year in 3pt % and assist #'s here... Maybe Maynor gets even better, if not necessarily 'good'. Never know, this may be equivalent to his 3rd year. Redshirted.

No matter what as of right now Vesely, Singleton, Seraphin bring us little in terms of oncourt positives, while they represent significant dead assets for us. If in their garbage time minutes together, a passing PG who is well liked and lauded for his effect on players offensive comfort can make them look a little better-- you know, to know-nothings like GMs, fans, and other players-- if they look even good enough to trade a high 2nd rounder for, or to sweeten a little an Ariza trade, netting us a slightly better asset than we might have gained -- well then Maynor's worth a little money.

Not saying it'll happen. Just going by anecdotal evidence extrapolated from quotes by at least one guy who knows a little bit more about the game than some on here like to pretend to.

[payitforward]

Last season's ROY seems to think Maynor helped improve his game.

"The question prompted Damian Lillard’s eyes to widen and a smile to spread wide across his face. Has he felt a difference since Eric Maynor joined the Trail Blazers? “I feel a huge difference,” Lillard said, beaming. “Everything has opened up. Everything has slowed down.”

Media, Zards. And what would you expect him to say? Players all show each other respect, as they should.

Payit, either you're missing the point being made by Lillard or simply refusing to accept an opinion of Maynor that contradicts your own...or maybe it's both. The point that Lillard is making about Maynor's ability to run the offense and make things easier--at least for him--is pretty obvious. Why would Damian make something like that up? There was no need for him to lie.

Yeah... I went a little bit around the bend. Give the guy a chance for goodness sake. My bad.

[LyricalRico]

You know what, Doc makes very good points in what he writes below. So... I take back my overblown complaints about this signing. Let it be... and go Wizards!

[payitforward]

I don't think Maynor helps or makes Vesely, Singleton & Seraphin look better.

I think he has a better chance of making them look better than does AJ Price. Maybe not better than Nate Almighty Wolters of course of course, but better.

I thought you were on the record that he'd make them each 5% better. Fine, but I'm thinking that Nate 6percent Wolters would do a little better.

[doclinkin]

Darn, I like fighting, . oh well.

Happy and go 's

[TGW]

Doc [always] makes good points, but even with that college dissertation he just wrote, I still believe if Maynor had such an amazing effect on his teammates, he'd still be on the Thunder (or the Blazers), and he'd be posting positive +/- numbers instead of negative ones.

I also think he's a downgrade compared to Price, and I think it was stupid to give him a player option next season. Whatever....his signing doesn't make or break the season. It's just a constant reminder of the weak ass front office we have here in DC.

[doclinkin]

Doc [always] makes good points, but even with that college dissertation he just wrote, I still believe if Maynor had such an amazing effect on his teammates, he'd still be on the Thunder (or the Blazers), and he'd be posting positive +/- numbers instead of negative ones.

I also think he's a downgrade compared to Price, and I think it was stupid to give him a player option next season. Whatever....his signing doesn't make or break the season. It's just a constant reminder of the weak ass front office we have here in DC.

Oh his on/off numbers aren't great. Because his defensive deficiency is a degree worse than his offensive proficiency. But I'm only talking offense here, and the offense of his teammates, and whether he can make our offense look a little more smooth with the back-ups in the game.

Offense: Pts per 100 Poss.
On 108.4
Off 106.1
Net +2.3

Effective FG%
On 50.9%
Off 49.6%
Net +1.3%

Assisted Field Goals
On 62%
Off 58%
Net +4%

at OKC '12-13:
Assisted Field Goals
On 62%
Off 55%
Net +7%

OKC '11-12
Assisted Field Goals
On 59%
Off 49%
Net +10%

...and so on back through his career. When he is on court, assist%'s increase a little and the eFG% of the team tends to increase a little. Not a great deal, but I suspect he'll look better with nice targets to kick out to at the 3FG line (Otto, Rice, Ariza) and some of our guys need all the help they can get (Ernie's Kids).

[nate33]

Yeah, my thinking is that Maynor is going to be hard to judge using on/off numbers. In OKC, he was backing up Westbrook, one of the best PG's in the game. Hard not to be a minus in that situation. And in Portland, he played on the team with most lopsided starter/bench disparity in the league. Portland's starters were rock solid and their bench was dreadful. Again, no place to pad one's on/off numbers.

[payitforward]

Darn, I like fighting, . oh well.

Happy and go 's

Oh I'm sure there'll be *plenty* of future opportunities! This is the Wizards franchise after all. And that is Ernie Grunfield sitting there looking tanned and rested in the big chair.

[thinker07]

Doc [always] makes good points, but even with that college dissertation he just wrote, I still believe if Maynor had such an amazing effect on his teammates, he'd still be on the Thunder (or the Blazers), and he'd be posting positive +/- numbers instead of negative ones.

I think OKC liked him but he got hurt and took a year+ to recover and OKC had to move on. I recall early in Maynor's tenure at OKC there was discussion that they'd have a tough decision to make when Maynor's rookie contract ended - could they afford to keep him?

Portland liked him as well. But his qualifying offer was around $3.4 mil and Portland didn't like him at that price. Then drafting CJ McCullom (someone that Portland could have very reasonably forseen would be available for their pick) made Maynor unnecessary.

And then there is Jason Reid of the Post who says everyone he talks to in other team's front offices says that Maynor is a better player than Price.

[payitforward]

Doc [always] makes good points, but even with that college dissertation he just wrote, I still believe if Maynor had such an amazing effect on his teammates, he'd still be on the Thunder (or the Blazers), and he'd be posting positive +/- numbers instead of negative ones.

I also think he's a downgrade compared to Price, and I think it was stupid to give him a player option next season. Whatever....his signing doesn't make or break the season. It's just a constant reminder of the weak ass front office we have here in DC.

Portland picked McCollum and Crabbe -- both guards. Probably didn't feel they needed Maynor. Still, if he made their rookie of the year so much better... it is a little odd they let him go.