Anthony Gill -- the man with no thread....

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The Wizards signed Anthony Gill when... last November? Yet, he has no thread to his name. Given his play recently, especially against the Cavaliers last night in a must-win game, I'm happy to fix the problem.

His signing seemed like non-news. & he hasn't played much. In fact, his 22 minute outing last night represents just over 10% of his total minutes this season.

Yet, overall, he's been quite good.

Gill is posting a .597 TS% -- & that's despite the fact that he hasn't made 3's at a high clip, which I believe was one of the things he was supposed to be able to do. But, he's .639 on two-point shots, & he's .813 from the line.

So, he's not a big-time scorer -- but, he helps more than you'd expect, because he's very efficient at turning possessions into points.

Gill is also good at getting possessions for the team -- he's an adequate rebounder, & if you add up his rebounds & steals, then subtract his turnovers you see that he gets 8.9 possessions for the team in 36 minutes. For context -- NOT to compare the 2 players, which would be unfair b/c Gill is 28 & doesn't start -- Rui gets his team 5.7 possessions in the same time.

Again, just for context & to appreciate Gill's positive value, Rui also uses 3 more possessions than Gill on offense in that same 36 minutes (i.e. more FGAs/FTAs than Gill). Overall, with Gill on the floor instead of Rui for 36 minutes, the team has 6.2 more offensive possessions. OTOH, with Rui on the floor, the team gets something in return for giving up those 6.2 possessions -- it gets the extra 2.2 points Rui scored over the points Gill scores.

Again -- & this is important -- I'm not comparing the players: Rui's a young guy with comparatively little professional basketball experience, & he plays against the opponent's starters, while Gill is a 28-year old veteran with 100's of games under his belt.

What I'm doing is giving some relevant context that makes it clear how effective Gill has been in the minutes & situations in which he does play for the Wizards.

To me at least it seems obvious that we should pick up his $1.5m option for next year. & that he deserves more minutes. &, if he keeps playing well next year, we should pick up the option for year 3 of his contract.

Thoughts...?

[NatP4]

Extremely useful role player. Would like to see him get more and more minutes at the 4 with Rui shifting down to the 3.

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[Ruzious]

Gotta admit, I didn't think he could play. He didn't look good when he started out here, and then he sat for a couple of months. Then injuries happened, and he got his shot - and he's made the most of it. He's become dependable - both on O and D - which is all we can ask for. Typical UVA player - smart, can shoot some, and plays defense. Same thing with Diakite - signed by Milwaukee.

[WallToWall]

The Wizards signed Anthony Gill when... last November? Yet, he has no thread to his name. Given his play recently, especially against the Cavaliers last night in a must-win game, I'm happy to fix the problem.

His signing seemed like non-news. & he hasn't played much. In fact, his 22 minute outing last night represents just over 10% of his total minutes this season.

Yet, overall, he's been quite good.

Gill is posting a .597 TS% -- & that's despite the fact that he hasn't made 3's at a high clip, which I believe was one of the things he was supposed to be able to do. But, he's .639 on two-point shots, & he's .813 from the line.

So, he's not a big-time scorer -- but, he helps more than you'd expect, because he's very efficient at turning possessions into points.

Gill is also good at getting possessions for the team -- he's an adequate rebounder, & if you add up his rebounds & steals, then subtract his turnovers you see that he gets 8.9 possessions for the team in 36 minutes. For context -- NOT to compare the 2 players, which would be unfair b/c Gill is 28 & doesn't start -- Rui gets his team 5.7 possessions in the same time.

Again, just for context & to appreciate Gill's positive value, Rui also uses 3 more possessions than Gill on offense in that same 36 minutes (i.e. more FGAs/FTAs than Gill). Overall, with Gill on the floor instead of Rui for 36 minutes, the team has 6.2 more offensive possessions. OTOH, with Rui on the floor, the team gets something in return for giving up those 6.2 possessions -- it gets the extra 2.2 points Rui scored over the points Gill scores.

Again -- & this is important -- I'm not comparing the players: Rui's a young guy with comparatively little professional basketball experience, & he plays against the opponent's starters, while Gill is a 28-year old veteran with 100's of games under his belt.

What I'm doing is giving some relevant context that makes it clear how effective Gill has been in the minutes & situations in which he does play for the Wizards.

To me at least it seems obvious that we should pick up his $1.5m option for next year. & that he deserves more minutes. &, if he keeps playing well next year, we should pick up the option for year 3 of his contract.

Thoughts...?

He has filled his role on the team reasonably well. I would not be opposed to picking up his option. But are there better options in free agency to sign? We do need some size in the middle and he's got that.

We should have a discussion on the other wizard players who will be out of contract next season, and who we want back. Neto, etc. I believe we are only returning 9 players for next year.

[NatP4]

Over the last 15 games, Gill actually has the highest net rating of anyone besides Deni (only played 40 minutes before injury) at a ridiculous +12.3. Solid sample size as well at 116 minutes.

Gafford is actually 2nd at +7.0. The wizards seem to have found a really good frontcourt pairing in the last month of the regular season.

[payitforward]

(Gill) has filled his role on the team reasonably well. I would not be opposed to picking up his option. But are there better options in free agency to sign? We do need some size in the middle and he's got that....

I'd say he's filled his role far better than "reasonably well." Especially given the minimal expectations. He has played extremely well. It's not a big enough sample size to draw any real conclusions -- but we really couldn't have asked more of the guy than he's delivered!

OTOH, he doesn't have "size" to speak of. He's 6'7" -- small to play the 4. I've been wondering whether he could play some 3. He'd have to start hitting the three-ball.

...We should have a discussion on the other wizard players who will be out of contract next season, and who we want back. Neto, etc. I believe we are only returning 9 players for next year.

For sure -- & we started it in the cap projections thread.

Only 7 players have guaranteed contracts for next year: Beal, Westbrook, Bertans, Bryant, Rui, Deni & Hutchison. We'll have at least 1 rookie as well. So make that 8.

Aside from Gill, we also have options on Gafford, Mathews, & Bonga. At least the first 3 will be back. Assuming we don't cut new deals with any of them, that will take us to @ $124.5m for 11 players (i.e. w/o Bonga & assuming @$3m for our R1 pick rookie).

That leaves us @$12m under the tax with 4 open roster spots. Obviously we'd hope to have Neto return & at least one of Lopez/Len. There's not going to be much $$ available to go after any FAs other than vet minimum players or maybe slightly above. I'd expect us to have more than one rookie, btw, though maybe that guy would be a 2-way player.

All this would seem to make it a no-brainer to pick up Gill's low-cost option -- does that make sense?

[dobrojim]

If Neto can’t go, or Beal, I would start him tomorrow.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Gafford and Gill are complementary front court players. Gill can play inside or out. He boxes out well and can pick up the smaller of the opponents’ bigs.

The hustle and energy, not to mention the rebounding when Gill, Gafford and Russ are in is really good.

Along with this, I like Rui against the other teams’ back ups. Let him and Lopez go to town against guys who don’t match up physically.

For the playoffs, although he’s been ok, I’d like to see Len just getting spot minutes. Ride Gafford and Rolo.

Russ Neto
Beal
Matthews Bertans
Gill Hachi
Gafford Rolo

[dckingsfan]

Gafford and Gill are complementary front court players. Gill can play inside or out. He boxes out well and can pick up the smaller of the opponents’ bigs.

The hustle and energy, not to mention the rebounding when Gill, Gafford and Russ are in is really good.

Along with this, I like Rui against the other teams’ back ups. Let him and Lopez go to town against guys who don’t match up physically.

For the playoffs, although he’s been ok, I’d like to see Len just getting spot minutes. Ride Gafford and Rolo.

Russ Neto
Beal
Matthews Bertans
Gill Hachi
Gafford Rolo

Do you think this is what Brook's will go with? I guess you never know with Brooks. I kind of think he is going to start Bertans.

I think at guard until Neto is fully 100% healthy we are going to see Ish instead of Neto?

I do think we will continue to see the 5 headed monster in the FC, all three Cs + Gill and Rui.

[NatP4]

Gill and Mathews won’t play at all. The above rotation is pretty spot on for what we should be rolling with. Rui/Bertans play the 3/4 with Mathews and Gill backing them up, rotate Beal/Westbrook/Neto/Ish however, and let Gafford and Lopez handle the C position.

[dckingsfan]

Gill and Mathews won’t play at all. The above rotation is pretty spot on for what we should be rolling with. Rui/Bertans play the 3/4 with Mathews and Gill backing them up, rotate Beal/Westbrook/Neto/Ish however, and let Gafford and Lopez handle the C position.

Can you clarify this?

[NatP4]

Gill and Mathews won’t play at all. The above rotation is pretty spot on for what we should be rolling with. Rui/Bertans play the 3/4 with Mathews and Gill backing them up, rotate Beal/Westbrook/Neto/Ish however, and let Gafford and Lopez handle the C position.

Can you clarify this?

I just meant that I don’t think Brooks is going to play Gill or Mathews in the playoffs. Maybe 5 minutes here and there for Mathews, but certainly not Gill.

[payitforward]

Nat wants Rui & Bertans to start at the 3 & 4 with Mathews & Gill backing up the 2 spots.

That's something we've never done, obviously, but it's an interesting idea. As opposed to the 3-guard starting lineup we've been going with.

[nate33]

NatP4's idea really does make a lot of sense against a very large Philly front line.

[J-Ves]

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welcome back

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

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welcome back

This is good news. He’s solid. He contributes even when he’s not playing.

[payitforward]

Definitely a positive signing at his low cost!

[Dat2U]

I don't understand the need to keep a 5th PF and cut Mathews but maybe I'm in the minority on this.

[payitforward]

2 separate, unrelated decisions. A good one & a bad one.

[Dat2U]

2 separate, unrelated decisions. A good one & a bad one.

Keeping your 5th PF (out of 6) is a good idea? Where exactly do think he gets minutes at? SG? C?