John Wall is the best PG in the East right now

[dobrojim]

lots of documentation that more than one NBA coach/player/front office person
believes that Wall is NOT a low IQ player who just gets by on athleticism - snipped

good job on digging all that stuff up

+1

[tontoz]

Wall has a career average of 8 assists on some teams that were seriously lacking scorers. He definitely has good court awareness and is willing to look for the open man. He also has the ability to break down the defenses to give his teamates good opportunities.

His problem is that, similar to Josh Smith, he seems to lack self awareness at times. He needs to realize that he is not a good enough shooter to be taking pullup 20 footers in transition. That is not ok. Taking 7 jumpers in the 3rd quarter last game was like a mental meltdown.

[Ruzious]

And really, he's not even going to be a true max player. There are 3 levels of max contracts - 25% of the cap, 30%, and 35%. He's going to be at the 25% level.

This one doesn't work for me. It's true that Wall is at the 25% max level, BUT the Wizards have agreed to pay him the maximum amount they're permitted to pay him under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. He's a maximum salary player, period.

And you're entitled be wrong. But it's not worth arguing about - just like your definition of talent.

[pbj]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

[dobrojim]

too many ill-advised longish but not 3 pt jumpers too early in the shot clock

sub par job shutting down penetration by opposing guards leading to
defensive breakdowns

[nuposse04]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

He's taking a lot of long 2 pt jumpers and not attacking as much as he should. Everything else I don't really have an issue with. Defensively he's been better the last few games but he started out really weird IMO. Gambling way more then he ought to. Same can be said of Beal.

[pbj]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

He's taking a lot of long 2 pt jumpers and not attacking as much as he should. Everything else I don't really have an issue with. Defensively he's been better the last few games but he started out really weird IMO. Gambling way more then he ought to. Same can be said of Beal.

Is this a new development? Didn't have that problem when he came back last season?

[nuposse04]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

He's taking a lot of long 2 pt jumpers and not attacking as much as he should. Everything else I don't really have an issue with. Defensively he's been better the last few games but he started out really weird IMO. Gambling way more then he ought to. Same can be said of Beal.

Is this a new development? Didn't have that problem when he came back last season?

eh depends. He "got it right" in the last 2 months of last season. His mid range jumper looked remarkably better last season in the 2 month stretch. Was very aggressive in his attacking, and I thought he KNEW WHEN to attack, and not to. I think his playmaking has been fine this season but he simply isn't driving enough. His 3 pt shot, however does seem to be legit. If he can keep it around 35% and get back to his shot selection from last season most of the concerns should go away. I'm more puzzled by the defense he was playing to start the season, Beal as well. They were leaving the bigs in bad situations I thought.

[Dark Faze]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

not being aggressive in the right ways offensively

[pbj]

Thanks guys, appreciate it

[TGW]

Get used to Jonathan Joseph showing up after wall has a bad game, and him disappearing for extended periods when Wall plays well.

[jivelikenice]

^LOL...Have to say it was fun to see the re-appearance. I had called him out on this before and he said work got in the way. I guess his work schedule cleared up this past Wednesday night. hahaha

[tontoz]

Hey Wizards fans.. I need some insight on Wall's recent struggles. Can you guys save me a lot of time and break it down for me in a few sentences?

Another bad start to a season, taking too many long 2s instead of driving. Basically that's it.

He obviously worked on his J and wants so show it. Shooting 3s is fine. Shooting long 2s in transition, not fine.

Historically he plays better later in the season.

[tontoz]

He's The Guy, according to the folks who run the team. I think it's perfectly fair for fans to expect him to perform like The Guy.

But we know the guys who run the team are clueless. We shouldn't be basing our expectations on their stupidity. We should have our own expectations of him based on his past play and our knowlege of the game.

[Nivek]

He's The Guy, according to the folks who run the team. I think it's perfectly fair for fans to expect him to perform like The Guy.

But we know the guys who run the team are clueless. We shouldn't be basing our expectations on their stupidity. We should have our own expectations of him based on his past play and our knowlege of the game.

That's fine. Personally, I didn't expect him to be an MVP candidate this season, though I did expect him to be very good. I'm just saying that it's not unreasonable for fans to see a guy with his tools get the kind of endorsement he got from his team and expect that he play at an elite level.

And my point is that it's sophistry to say he's not a max player yet. It's all committed and guaranteed. As you may recall, I thought it was a bad idea to give him that deal when the Wizards gave it to him. But, it's done now. They're committed, he's committed. The Wizards are going to pay him every penny they possibly can. That's a max player.

Given his age and potential, I'm personally feeling patient with him. I'd like to see continued improvement, which he showed last year. But I can understand those fans that see a guy in his fourth year, who's signed to a maximum contract, who see the team starting 2-6, and want better play from him.

[Ruzious]

He's The Guy, according to the folks who run the team. I think it's perfectly fair for fans to expect him to perform like The Guy.

But we know the guys who run the team are clueless. We shouldn't be basing our expectations on their stupidity. We should have our own expectations of him based on his past play and our knowlege of the game.

That's fine. Personally, I didn't expect him to be an MVP candidate this season, though I did expect him to be very good. I'm just saying that it's not unreasonable for fans to see a guy with his tools get the kind of endorsement he got from his team and expect that he play at an elite level.

And my point is that it's sophistry to say he's not a max player yet. It's all committed and guaranteed. As you may recall, I thought it was a bad idea to give him that deal when the Wizards gave it to him. But, it's done now. They're committed, he's committed. The Wizards are going to pay him every penny they possibly can. That's a max player.

Given his age and potential, I'm personally feeling patient with him. I'd like to see continued improvement, which he showed last year. But I can understand those fans that see a guy in his fourth year, who's signed to a maximum contract, who see the team starting 2-6, and want better play from him.

And I don't disagree with you very much on expectations. Keep in mind my comments before were to someone who had already labeled Wall a bust and made a point of emphasizing that - and said flat out that the Wiz will never win a playoff series with him. That was the context from where I was coming from. I probably went a little too far in an effort to distance myself from his views.

[tontoz]

He's The Guy, according to the folks who run the team. I think it's perfectly fair for fans to expect him to perform like The Guy.

But we know the guys who run the team are clueless. We shouldn't be basing our expectations on their stupidity. We should have our own expectations of him based on his past play and our knowlege of the game.

That's fine. Personally, I didn't expect him to be an MVP candidate this season, though I did expect him to be very good. I'm just saying that it's not unreasonable for fans to see a guy with his tools get the kind of endorsement he got from his team and expect that he play at an elite level.

And my point is that it's sophistry to say he's not a max player yet. It's all committed and guaranteed. As you may recall, I thought it was a bad idea to give him that deal when the Wizards gave it to him. But, it's done now. They're committed, he's committed. The Wizards are going to pay him every penny they possibly can. That's a max player.

Given his age and potential, I'm personally feeling patient with him. I'd like to see continued improvement, which he showed last year. But I can understand those fans that see a guy in his fourth year, who's signed to a maximum contract, who see the team starting 2-6, and want better play from him.

I agree that argument is lame. We gave him most he could possibly get. We are married to Wall for better or worse.

But my expectations of him have not changed just because he got resigned. The difference now is that there is much more downside risk if he underperforms. I expect him to improve on the problem areas that you have pointed out time and again. He just isn't doing it as quickly as I'd like.

[jivelikenice]

^We've seen his past floor, which can be very bad. What I'm hoping is that this level of play is now his floor, which all things considered wouldn't be terrible. I also don't think he's been terrible at all these 8 games, its just that the second half of the SA game and the end of the OKC game has left a bad taste.

[hands11]

This "Wall doesn't get the max until next year so he shouldn't have to carry the burden until next season" argument doesn't make much sense to me. He already signed the extension, and the Wizards have committed to him as its franchise player. I don't think it's unfair to expect him to begin performing like a franchise/max-worthy player beginning this season. He's The Guy, according to the folks who run the team. I think it's perfectly fair for fans to expect him to perform like The Guy.

He's young, but this is his fourth season. He's producing about like he's been producing the past couple years, albeit with even worse shooting from 2pt range. Rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers -- all right in line with his aggregate numbers for the past two seasons. Which a) isn't worth a max salary; and b) (if they remain steady) suggest that what we see is what we're going to get. What Wall has done the past couple years isn't bad -- it would make him a solid starting PG. But not a franchise player. And that would be bad for the Wizards.

It would be in the team's best interest for Wall to start producing at a higher level. The sooner the better.

Sorry if you don't get it but it goes like it. I think its pretty simple.

He gets an annual contract to perform. This year, he is on his rookie contract and making 7.4M

Singing him now with plans of paying him next year at $13,701,250 is planning. So by this time next year he should be look like a $13,701,250 player. That's if they decide no to trade him before them.

vs

Him making the exact same amount right now and them playing all year and going into the offseason with question regarding their commitment to him. One vs the other was already talk about endlessly. I'm not saying one was better then the other. I'm saying he doesn't have to play like a max contract player right now. What he has to do is play like a player on his rookie contract who is the starting PG. One that will grow into a max contract player worth $13,701,250 by next year. This year and next year are not the issue. He is getting paid good value this year and fair value next year. Its the 3 years following that are the issue, and he has two years to answer that question. Me personally, I don't want to pay a PG 15M or more a year. I would build a team with other priorities. I think a PG making that much tends to try to do to much and that hurts the team. Parker makes $12,500,000 this year and next. That's more then enough for a really good PG. Westbrook will get overpaid in his contract. So will Wall. But he isn't right now. Me, I would want more money allocated to the other positions. Specially a stud SF or PF.

Not sure where what he makes is debatable. Those are the facts. Wall makes $7,459,924. He is a good value this year. Latter years I expect he won't be overpaid. But over the corse of this year and his next contract, it probably all averages out to a decent deal. 13.6M/year over 5 years. Not terrible. Not a bargain either. The downside is locking into an average deal at best vs being able to find a bargain. So they basically locked into Wall for the next 5 years.

Let hope he keeps getting better and that he stays focused on wins vs his own stats.

[hands11]

And really, he's not even going to be a true max player. There are 3 levels of max contracts - 25% of the cap, 30%, and 35%. He's going to be at the 25% level.

This one doesn't work for me. It's true that Wall is at the 25% max level, BUT the Wizards have agreed to pay him the maximum amount they're permitted to pay him under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. He's a maximum salary player, period.

Starting next year