BIRCH thread

[Knighthonor]

Birch seem like another skilled player that the Wizards could develop.
What's your thoughts on him?

[AFM]

Develop? Brutha we got The Truth. Just give him the ball.
Brb 40 ppg on step back jumpers
Brb irrational swag
Brb backs up said swag anyway
Brb wizards 2015-2020 world champions
Brb brb

[hands11]

Birch seem like another skilled player that the Wizards could develop.
What's your thoughts on him?

My thought are that we have already been talking about this in the off season thread and summer games threads.

Have you missed that ?

[nuposse04]

Birch seem like another skilled player that the Wizards could develop.
What's your thoughts on him?

My thought are that we have already been talking about this in the off season thread.

Have you missed that ?

Nothing wrong with us consolidating opinions regarding him Hands

Regarding Birch, I think outside of the two obvious guys, Porter and Glen, he's the most intriguing store. Deonte has been kinda bad IMO thus far, defense is nice but offense seems off. Birch definitely has good defensive instincts sans the fouling. With about 10-15 lbs of muscle added, he could probably prove some worth mid way through the season. He already looks like a better defender then Booker. He'll be 22 by seasons start, so he is still relatively young. I want him on the roster moving forward.

[hands11]

Birch seem like another skilled player that the Wizards could develop.
What's your thoughts on him?

My thought are that we have already been talking about this in the off season thread.

Have you missed that ?

Nothing wrong with us consolidating opinions regarding him Hands

Regarding Birch, I think outside of the two obvious guys, Porter and Glen, he's the most intriguing store. Deonte has been kinda bad IMO thus far, defense is nice but offense seems off. Birch definitely has good defensive instincts sans the fouling. With about 10-15 lbs of muscle added, he could probably prove some worth mid way through the season. He already looks like a better defender then Booker. He'll be 22 by seasons start, so he is still relatively young. I want him on the roster moving forward.

Well he was one of 4 or so names I listed a while ago in the draft thread. We started talking about him back then as a potential last 2nd pick and we ended up with him on the summer roster and a few million to boot.

I like his as the 14th player.

http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball ... on-wizards

“Guys who have energy always find a way to have a job in this league,” Wizards summer league head coach Sam Cassell said of Birch following Washington’s opening win over Atlanta.

--

So yes, they have taken notice.

Draft Xpress
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Khem-Birch-5793/

After entering college basketball as the 11th ranked high school recruit in the class of 2011, Khem Birch surprisingly transferred from Pittsburgh to UNLV only ten games in to his freshman season.

As a sophomore, Birch showed an intriguing combination of physical tools and defensive versatility and entered his junior year considered as the second best returning NBA prospect playing in a non-BCS conference. UNLV ultimately underachieved, however, and Birch did not develop as much as scouts would have liked, but he nevertheless won Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in two consecutive years while averaging a double-double as a junior. Now having decided to enter a loaded 2014 NBA Draft, scouts must determine whether Birch can reach the significant potential that many believed he had in high school

[J-Ves]

Porter Rice Birch. The new big three.


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[hands11]

http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/khem-bi ... ype-player

Khem Birch hopes to become a 'Joakim Noah-type player'

This is your energy Booker replacement, except he plays defense and would have no problem knowing his role off the bench. Gortat would put him under his wing and turn him into a beast.

http://kluc.cbslocal.com/2014/03/10/con ... -the-year/

Congrats Khem Birch, MWC Defensive Player Of The Year

[popper]

http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/khem-birch-hopes-become-joakim-noah-type-player

Khem Birch hopes to become a 'Joakim Noah-type player'

This is your energy Booker replacement, except he plays defense and would have no problem knowing his role off the bench. Gortat would put him under his wing and turn him into a beast.

http://kluc.cbslocal.com/2014/03/10/con ... -the-year/

Congrats Khem Birch, MWC Defensive Player Of The Year

I see him more as a Dennis Rodman type of player. He will need to get stronger of course and log some DL time before he can be counted on. Great instincts but too weak to hold defensive position down low. I like him and think he deserves a training camp invite.

[rockymac52]

What I LOVE about Birch is that he seems like he genuinely enjoys playing defense. Defense first. He knows his role. He's intriguing athletically, and looks like he can continue to add on weight in the coming years.

I also really like his offensive game. He's not a guy who's going to make a living posting up. Maybe one day, but not any time soon. But he's excellent at cutting to the basket, and that has shown already in 2 games. With Otto running the offense from the baseline, there have been tons of opportunities for Khem to score cutting to the basket.

This kid deserves a minimum contract and a chance to develop as our 14th or 15th man, as our 5th or 6th big man. He could prove to be an incredible value. Take advantage of the situation of him being so close to the NBA but so far away at the same time. He's desperate to achieve his dreams and play in the NBA. Sign him to a 2-4 year deal, with all years at the minimum and years 2-4 all fully unguaranteed so we can cut him at any time. No harm to us, but potentially a lot of value. And he'll just be happy to be here and have the opportunity to prove he belongs.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Watched most of the past two games.

Honestly, not seeing it from Birch.

Not sure he is skilled enough, big enough or athletic enough to make a real impact once he gets on the floor with real NBA players... plus he seems to be a hacking machine.

[rockymac52]

Watched most of the past two games.

Honestly, not seeing it from Birch.

Not sure he is skilled enough, big enough or athletic enough to make a real impact once he gets on the floor with real NBA players... plus he seems to be a hacking machine.

Obviously the fouls are a concern. No defending 9 fouls in one game. But he has looked like a very capable defender otherwise.

So far the guy he's defending has only scored 3/11 FG. To be fair, lots of missed open jumpers. That's my main concern. If he's not going to defend centers down low, then he needs to be able to be mobile enough to defend stretch 4s. He's been lucky they're missing open shots so far in that regard. But he's got a lot of talent. He wouldn't play for the pro team immediately, he might even be sent down to D League, but he's worth having on the roster and developing.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

I haven't watched any of the summer league games but took a quick glance at his number thus far: 8.5 pfpg and only 3 rpg.... what am I missing? Only thing that stands out is 3 bpg, which I think is somewhat negated by that high foul rate.

[rockymac52]

How about 60% from the field?

[mohammed10]

Porter Rice Birch. The new big three.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Yeah...but off the bench

[hands11]

I haven't watched any of the summer league games but took a quick glance at his number thus far: 8.5 pfpg and only 3 rpg.... what am I missing? Only thing that stands out is 3 bpg, which I think is somewhat negated by that high foul rate.

He can rebound better. Sam is instructing him to stay focused on that.

Looking forward to this game tonight and I expect him to have at least 8 rebounds.

[FAH1223]

he's too small

[hands11]

I haven't watched any of the summer league games but took a quick glance at his number thus far: 8.5 pfpg and only 3 rpg.... what am I missing? Only thing that stands out is 3 bpg, which I think is somewhat negated by that high foul rate.

He can rebound better. Sam is instructing him to stay focused on that.

Looking forward to this game tonight and I expect him to have at least 8 rebounds.

http://www.nba.com/games/20140715/MIAWAS/gameinfo.html

Mission accomplished.

11 rebounds 4 on the offensive side.

I think he can make the Wizards roster. Specially with Booker now gone.

[Rafael122]

This is the type of guy you sign to a 2 or 3 year deal and develop. Maybe offer him a little more than what you would offer a 2nd rounder, but do what it takes to keep him on the roster.

[Severn Hoos]

This is the type of guy you sign to a 2 or 3 year deal and develop. Maybe offer him a little more than what you would offer a 2nd rounder, but do what it takes to keep him on the roster.

Agreed - and the best part is, it's a lot easier to send him to the D-League for extended periods. Anyone who is, has been, or expects to be a current rotation player tends to chafe at being sent down. But a guy like Birch - who would be happy with the security that a 2 or 3-year deal brings would be much less likely to complain or sulk. In fact, I bet he'd welcome it as a chance to play and prepare, rather than sitting on the bench in street clothes.

Of course, the Wiz haven't been too effective in using the DLeague, so I won't get my hopes up. But then, they hadn't previously been too effective in preparing for the future, and we've seen a lot of that this summer, so maybe there's a glimmer of hope there?