Juan Dixon gone?

by Rook6980 on Oct 9, 2008 2:13 PM EDT

I think Dermarr Johnson, at 6'9", will make the roster instead of Juan Dixon….

And here’s why:
Juan Dixon only brings one thing to the Wizards; scoring off the bench. Dermarr brings much more. He can score (including hit the 3-point shot), but he also can defend, play multiple wing positions, and rebound. In a pinch, he could even play PF against certain teams. Dermarr has had a good Training Camp and two nice exhibition games. Juan has been injured.

Juan is a 6-year vet ($998,398 minimum salary), Dermarr is a 7-year vet ($1,070,118 minimum salary)- so the minimum salaries are about the same…. although keeping Dermarr would cost about $70K more per year… so if the Wizards are THAT close to the Luxury Tax, it could sway the decision to Juan.

The question comes down to: Where is the greatest need…. and where are there question marks…?

I think that, with Gilbert out, there was a question about who could be Antonio’s backup at PG… Juan has some PG skills, and could probably help bring the ball up the court - but I think that Dee Brown has resoundingly answered the question as to who will backup Antonio.

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good points

I get the feeling Juan will still win out because he knows the system better and because Eddie and Gilbert like him better, but I’m not convinced that it’s the right move.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by Jake Whitacre on Oct 9, 2008 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

Once I get my comp back and working

This will be a longer post, but I want DerMarr on the team instead of Juan for many of the same reasons you mention.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Oct 9, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

Juan Gone

After reading about Dee Brown’s performance in Training Camp, watching him live in the scrimmage, watching one Preseason game (Detroit) and listening to another (Memphis) – I think he’s earned a roster spot. – and that does not bode well for Juan Dixon.

If, indeed, Dee Brown has won a spot, that leaves only 1 roster spot open for:
Linton Johnson
Dermarr Johnson
Juan Dixon

Dixon may have the edge, because of his familiarity with the Princeton Offense, and the fact that Gilbert spoke up for him in the off-season… but Dermarr Johnson has outplayed Juan in Training camp.

Dermarr has also done extremely well in the two Preseason games…
9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in 17 minutes against Detroit
11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 23 minutes against Memphis
Those sound like quality stats for a guy that could be backing up Caron Butler at SF, and playing minutes at the SG position.

Whereas Juan Dixon has not played in the Preseason (injured calf).

We all know that both Dixon and Johnson could help the Wizards by bringing bench scoring, but Dermarr Johnson brings some things that Juan Dixon cannot. He’s 6’9". He can play multiple positions (SG and SM, and in certain situations PF). He rebounds well, and plays solid perimeter defense. (Juan gambles). They can both stroke from three – both have remarkably similar 3-point shooting percentages, 2-point % AND Free Throw percentages…. but Dermarr Johnson has a better career PER (18.0 vs 11.25 for Juan).. and a higher True Shooting Percentage (57% vs 51% for Juan).

Dermarr Johnson, at 6’9" can post up smaller guards, whereas Juan Dixon will be POSTED up by larger guards.

If McGuire continues to shoot poorly during the Preseason, it would make another strong point in the case for releasing Juan because Dermarr Johnson can play the Small Forward position and could backup Caron Butler.

If Nick Young doesn’t take the next step, does Eddie really want 6’0" Dee Brown and 6’2" Juan Dixon as his second team guards? Perhaps ANOTHER reason to keep Dermarr.

In the end, I think he’ll make the final roster decision very hard on Eddie.

by Rook6980 on Oct 10, 2008 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

edit

SM = SF

by Rook6980 on Oct 10, 2008 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought Juan was a good pickup since Dee looked less than stellar in Vegas. However Dee’s apparent good play makes the ball handling/ability to backup PG of Juan less critical.

Tossup.

by MR on Oct 10, 2008 2:28 PM EDT reply actions