Otto Porter

[tontoz]

Your argument makes zero sense.

Why wouldn't you consider players that are a) under contract, and b) have a reasonable expectation of resigning?

Because UFAs are free leave.

And you shouldn't be taking role players into account when making a top 5 pick anyway.

Webster wasn't under contract at all and Ariza had only a year left. There was absolutely no reason to take them into account. None

[queridiculo]

Lol, ok then tontoz, if you say so it must be true.

Making long term decisions on projections and existing relationships apparently is completely unreasonable.

I also like how you completely and utterly failed to address the concern of having considerable resourced tied up in wing players, while neither addressing the short term needs of increasing front court depth, and adding a future replacement for Nene.

[tontoz]

Lol, ok then tontoz, if you say so it must be true.

Making long term decisions on projections and existing relationships apparently is completely unreasonable.

I also like how you completely and utterly failed to address the concern of having considerable resourced tied up in wing players, while neither addressing the short term needs of increasing front court depth, and adding a future replacement for Nene.

We had minimal resourses tied up at the 3. All we had was a 1 year expirer. Are you really trying to deny this?

There were only 2 players that we should have taken into accout on draft day, Wall and Beal. Taking into account any other player wouldn't have made any sense.

Taking into account a UFA who has never had a PER above 14 in 8 years is ridiculous.

[Wizardspride]

http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball ... -play-week

Wake-up call: Porter could play this week


Today the Wizards are off, but rest assured players will be at Verizon Center to get up shots and treatment to heal their sore muscles. While Bradley Beal and Al Harrington are still out, rookie Otto Porter is on the cusp of getting his first game action vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Porter, the No. 3 overall pick in June, returned to practice last week after being out since Sept. 13 with a right hip flexor strain. He has been practicing, though the Wizards haven't had much time on the court after playing four games in five days last week.

The lingering question is about Porter, who the Wizards have avoided talking much about since he went down before training camp. That coach Randy Wittman is now attaching a possible timetable to his return is significant. He has until Friday to assess Porter's fitness and grasp of his system.

[mohammed10]

According to J. Michael of CSN Washington, Otto could return as soon as this Friday.

Thanks for posting this news, Raf! I just saw the same on another website...

[Dark Faze]

I just want to know what happened to everyone I was arguing with in regards to Porter vs Bennett.

I know Porter hasn't played yet, but I fully intend on making a thread regarding " Hindsight: Looking back at last years draft arguments".

I demand accountability from guys like sam who vehemently argued that we draft that tweener.

By draft day, Noel was my first choice but I had Bennett over Porter. Looks like I was wrong about that one.

to be fair, I wanted to trade Javale and our pick to move up and get Derrick Williams a couple of years ago lul

i'm not sure if that would be a good or bad move knowing what we do now because on one hand javale has proven to suck and it would have saved us from the monstronsity that is Ves, but on the other I think we all prefer Nene to either of those

[nuposse04]

Shouldn't be too difficult for Porter to out compete his draft class, especially since he can play within himself with our roster.

I look at guys like Cody Zeller, who has been awful in every sense of the word and feel better about Porter even with the plethora of wing play we have at the moment.

[tontoz]

Just imagine how tough it has been to be a Bobcats fan. Since they came into the league in 2004 their winning percentage is 35%, roughly 29 wins a season.

And it isn't like there is a light at the end of the tunnell. Their roster is garbage. They dont really have a potential star to build around.

[Hidden Eye]

Next season they are gonna go back to the hornets and color scheme you know the wizards should change back to Bullets but you know that's gonna take a full year to change name .

[nuposse04]

Just imagine how tough it has been to be a Bobcats fan. Since they came into the league in 2004 their winning percentage is 35%, roughly 29 wins a season.

And it isn't like there is a light at the end of the tunnell. Their roster is garbage. They dont really have a potential star to build around.

they're the new bucks...which should be even more mortifying to them.

[mohammed10]

Shouldn't be too difficult for Porter to out compete his draft class, especially since he can play within himself with our roster.

I look at guys like Cody Zeller, who has been awful in every sense of the word and feel better about Porter even with the plethora of wing play we have at the moment.

IIRC, there were more than a few on this board calling for us to draft Zeller.

The point is that this team has the chance to bring along Otto in a fairly controlled way. No need to rush him, as Webster and Ariza have been playing very well. He can stay behind them, learn from them and ease into the lineup. Any one of the three-headed small forward monster would be a boon for our anemic bench.

[Induveca]

Shouldn't be too difficult for Porter to out compete his draft class, especially since he can play within himself with our roster.

I look at guys like Cody Zeller, who has been awful in every sense of the word and feel better about Porter even with the plethora of wing play we have at the moment.

IIRC, there were more than a few on this board calling for us to draft Zeller.

The point is that this team has the chance to bring along Otto in a fairly controlled way. No need to rush him, as Webster and Ariza have been playing very well. He can stay behind them, learn from them and ease into the lineup. Any one of the three-headed small forward monster would be a boon for our anemic bench.

Zeller has been utter garbage. He is playing much like Seraphin, just 3 or 4 steps behind everyone mentally and physically. Extremely happy we didn't draft this kid. He's playing much like his brother did in Cleveland year one.

That being said, I was sold on Bennett. He had a few flashes in preseason, but wow....he's looking like a Kwame level bust. You've made me feel better about Porter. For now.

[hands11]

Can't wait to see Porter play the 2.

Why would he do that ?

[hands11]

On another board, I wanted us to trade the pick for a big... but they correctly pointed out that EG would have traded for someone useless.

I am thinking we won't know how good Porter is until near the end of the year.

Maybe

But I think we will get a good feel for what he could be almost immediately.

You can tell who has game and who doesn't. Even if they aren't hitting on all cylinders.

First thing I will look for is, does he play like he belongs or played scared. That's a skill.
From there, will he take the open shot and can he hit them. He is 6-9. He should be able to get open looks. Specially when on the floor with Wall.

If Randy is smart, he will give him his first minutes with a little run with the starters. That way the game has form and he can get a feel for what things should look like. I would do that first before putting him out there with more 2nd line players where the offense struggles more.

Pull Trevor A a little early in the first and let Otto run some with them. Or pull Webby and move Trevor A to the 2. Either way, he gets some quality run and you bring back Webby or Trevor A early in the 2nd.

Once Otto gets his legs we will be able to run more S4 line ups and you can put him out there with the 2nd line players more. But keep in mind, when healthy that second line will have one of Beal/Webster and one of Nene/Gortat so it shouldn't totally such.

S4 lines ups
Wall, Webster/Beal, Otto, Trevor A, Nene/Gortat

So indirectly, the extra body of Otto should allow us to rest Nene more. And clearly it helps Webster, Trevor A and Beal to not need to play so many minutes.

[hands11]

According to J. Michael of CSN Washington, Otto could return as soon as this Friday.

Thanks for posting this news, Raf! I just saw the same on another website...

Wow, when the Wizards put someone in the witness protection program, they really lock them up.

Then poof. They magically appear and a week later they are ready to play.

They did the same with Singleton. This much be a mandate from the top. Keep the focus on the players that are playing. Injured players are put in witness protection. They are not the focus. Win with what you have.

For example, Beal was a rising star. He got injured and poof, off to witness protection. No interviews. Nothing. Like he doesn't exist.

Its an interesting approach. Can't say I really disagree with it. Shine the light on what you have and go win.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

According to J. Michael of CSN Washington, Otto could return as soon as this Friday.

Thanks for posting this news, Raf! I just saw the same on another website...

Wow, when the Wizards put someone in the witness protection program, they really lock them up.

Then poof. They magically appear and a week later they are ready to play.

They did the same with Singleton. This much be a mandate from the top. Keep the focus on the players that are playing. Injured players are put in witness protection. They are not the focus. Win with what you have.

For example, Beal was a rising star. He got injured and poof, off to witness protection. No interviews. Nothing. Like he doesn't exist.

Its an interesting approach. Can't say I really disagree with it. Shine the light on what you have and go win.

Beal was interviewed during one of the last few games.

[montestewart]

^
Yeah, and BB is some dresser too.

[dckingsfan]

On another board, I wanted us to trade the pick for a big... but they correctly pointed out that EG would have traded for someone useless.

I am thinking we won't know how good Porter is until near the end of the year.

Maybe

But I think we will get a good feel for what he could be almost immediately.

You can tell who has game and who doesn't. Even if they aren't hitting on all cylinders.

First thing I will look for is, does he play like he belongs or played scared. That's a skill.
From there, will he take the open shot and can he hit them. He is 6-9. He should be able to get open looks. Specially when on the floor with Wall.

If Randy is smart, he will give him his first minutes with a little run with the starters. That way the game has form and he can get a feel for what things should look like. I would do that first before putting him out there with more 2nd line players where the offense struggles more.

Pull Trevor A a little early in the first and let Otto run some with them. Or pull Webby and move Trevor A to the 2. Either way, he gets some quality run and you bring back Webby or Trevor A early in the 2nd.

Once Otto gets his legs we will be able to run more S4 line ups and you can put him out there with the 2nd line players more. But keep in mind, when healthy that second line will have one of Beal/Webster and one of Nene/Gortat so it shouldn't totally such.

S4 lines ups
Wall, Webster/Beal, Otto, Trevor A, Nene/Gortat

So indirectly, the extra body of Otto should allow us to rest Nene more. And clearly it helps Webster, Trevor A and Beal to not need to play so many minutes.

I guess we will find out... I don't think we will be able to tell immediately - I think the game will just move too fast for him. And I don't think he will get a lot of minutes initially to get used to the speed. And that will set back his conditioning... rinse/repeat.

I hope you are right that we see immediate returns - but I am not holding my breath especially because of what I saw in SL.

[stevemcqueen1]

It took Beal several games to adjust and he had the benefit of training camp and practice and preseason and a well defined role in the starting line up. Otto is a similar type to Beal. I think he'll spend some time adjusting and grow progressively more comfortable throughout the season until he starts to show his promise towards the end of the year like Beal did.

[pancakes3]

If all we care about is getting Porter acclimated to the NBA game (which I am, I don't know about you guys) I say just give him the green light with the 2nd unit. Nobody on the bench can make a play worth a darn anyway. Just make it the Otto Porter show for 12-18 mpg and see what happens.