I wasn’t especially thrilled after the first game, and it’s not like we’ve set the world on fire since then, but various things have improved my outlook.

First, Andray Blatche has looked a lot better. He’s looked a lot smarter in the last couple of games, using his size to good advantage. Yes, I wish he were a workout monster who spent the summer getting huge and improving his conditioning, but I can live with the fact that he’s playing smarter and using his considerable natural gifts more effectively. He’s still only 22, he’s getting better (slowly, but surely) and we have him signed to a very reasonable long-term deal. If he keeps improving, he should be a very valuable player in the last few years of his contract.

Second, the concern about the selection of JaVale McGee perfectly reasonable, since there’s no way he’s gonna help us any time soon, but if he gets stronger and learns how to play, he is going to be an absolute monster. Look at how many blocks he has now, when he’s got no clue how to play. His size and physical talent is just HUGE. He’s got an unbelievable ceiling. Will he work hard physically and mentally to reach that ceiling? I don’t know (Kwame Brown never did, but there are plenty of players who have), but if he does, that pick will pay off in spades.

Third, I’m not especially worried about Dee Brown. I think I would like Aaron Miles better, but Brown is pretty obviously skilled and talented enough that if we throw him on the court as the third PG, the game’s not gonna go all to hell.

Taser has been the most intriguing summer league player in each of the past two seasons. He proved he had NBA talent last year, and I guess we’ll find out if he now has an NBA game. Can he be a lockdown perimeter defender and not a Michael Ruffin-like dead spot on offense? I think so. He put his versatility on display with one nifty play last night when he pulled down a defensive rebound and brought the ball upcourt himself until met by the defense a little bit outside the foul line. He kept his dribble alive, spun into the lane and dropped it off to a cutting Blatche for an easy hoop (nice timing and cut by Blatche as well).

I’d be more concerned about Nick Young if he wasn’t so miserable last summer then so promising during the regular season. His three-point shot looks better to me now—a lot more effortless and pure. It’d be nice to bring a 3-point threat off the bench who also has some athleticism.

V V will have a fine career in the various European leagues. He looks like he’s not an awful player, but no part of his game appears NBA-ready to me.