Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:JWizmentality wrote:Has there ever been a time where we had a full squad where we liked everyone on the team? There are no sucky threads and every player contributes when they get the opportunity.
No.
This is the first time I can recall where everyone on the team is a contributor. Not in the Wall era or the Arenas era did we ever have a balanced roster with size, defense, and athletic players rounding out elite guards.
The Webber era Wizards were plagued with young/immature leaders and not great guard play.
The Wizards right now are one player away. If they had Trevor Ariza from five years ago they’d be legit title contenders IMHO. The lack a killer three and D SF.
The other thing that will ultimately hold this team down is hero ball Beal or Russ. They would rather isolate than feed the post or dish to Bertans in clutch time. The percentage of wins goes down with Beal playing hero. Ironically, Westbrook is the better option late as long as he’s not jacking early jumpers.
I think we need a thread for Tommy Sheppard. Feel free to move this, Nate, and let it kick that discussion off.
He made a shrewd move to nab Bertans -- stole him, basically, from one of the best organizations in the game (in all of sports, to put it into proper perspective).
He made a similarly low-key, under-the-radar move to steal Thomas Bryant from the Lakers.
Both pick-ups at almost no cost.
Getting Westbrook for Wall -- again, he went in on a team in flux. In this case, a Houston team imploding because of that self-regarding blowhard moneybag owner Tillman Fertitta (may he go down in flames). Historically, this franchise has come out on the losing end of these kinds of trades, so it was kind of understandable that people would be very skeptical of 'brook when he got here. And he was injured. Injured -- not damaged goods. We see what he is -- a smaller Lebron. WIth a will just as big. It's an incredible privilege to be able to watch him perform. Whoever is not inspired by him does not have a pulse.
The Gafford trade: a total heist. And the exact right trade this team needed at the exact right time. And for what? A wing who lacked aggression and was not getting playing time. The Hutchison part of the deal could yet bear fruit. As is, he's been a nice piece and contributed in a couple of games. If he could continue to develop, he could really help.
The drafting of Deni. Already, at 20, a savvy defender and he'll only get better on offense as he grows stronger and learns the NBA game. An extremely tantalizing player, if you ask me, simply because I think ultimately he ends up as a 4. And so we'd have a point-power forward. I know there is sentiment out there for Haliburton, and he's been very good this year. But Deni is not the wrong pick.
The signing of Lopez -- and at the price Sheppard got him for? A steal. He's been a revelation. And his positioning on D hasn't been talked about nearly enough.
Neto. Who doesn't love the guy? Another canny get.
Hachimura. I know the room is mixed on this, but I like him -- like what he's becoming, and especially under 'brooks' tutelage. More aggression. More fire.
Finding Mathews. Any undrafted player who makes the squad -- that's a remarkable thing. And this one's gotten starter's minutes. Another one for TS.
Len. Who thought he would be playing like this? He's been a significant contributor. And again, TS swooped in to get him. Another canny, on-the-margins move that pays off big. It's precisely these moves that GMs should be judged on.
Ish Smith. When healthy, he's a real spark, as he's been showing. Yes, shoots too much at times, dribbles too much at times -- but he's a third guard. You can say that about a lot of third guards in the L. I like Ish. And he seems to be well-liked by his teammates, too.
Bonga hasn't become what some of us hoped he might, but he cost nothing; a worthwhile gamble.
Cassius Winston. TBD.
All in all, that's a pretty effing phenomenal rebuild -- I'm going with PIF's word here; he's right -- in two years. And WITHOUT major assests/resources like massive cap space, Top 5 picks, etc.
