Also yesterday, the Wizards signed Utah Jazz restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an...

Also yesterday, the Wizards signed Utah Jazz restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an offer sheet for a two-year, partially guaranteed deal. Utah has one week to match the offer.

Post. From my limited read on Brown, he's a good playmaker who couldn't shoot the ball into the Potomac River. Basically, he's a younger Mike Wilks. This better be for the minimum though...

4 months ago Pradamaster Comment 24 comments 0 recs |

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He spent last year in Turkey...

...so it seems unlikely that Utah will match given he wasn’t on their roster.

Minimum salary is $712k, I think. It may be $798k if his year away counts.

by RamVA on Jul 10, 2008 12:00 AM EDT 0 recs

Hmm...

So that gives us like 2.6 million under the tax. Hello, LLE!

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

by Pradamaster on Jul 10, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

Dee Brown 6′0″ 185 Point Guard. He played 4-years at Illinois University, and his Senior year was named Second-Team All-American. Drafted by the Utah Jazz #46 (Second Round) in 2006. His nickname is "The One Man Fast Break".

Played the 2006-07 season with Utah, averaging 9 minutes per game with 1.9 ppg (33% shooting), and 1.7 apg.

I see Dee Brown as a potential replacement for Antonio Daniels in a couple of years.

He showed some potential in 2006-07, but suffered a neck injury in the first round of the Playoffs that year – Utah, subsequently picked up Ronnie Brewer and Jason Hart to back up Deron Williams at the Point.

Brown played for a team in Turkey in the 2007-08 season.

You can learn more about him at his web site:

http://www.deebrown11.com/

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 12:33 AM EDT 0 recs

So Perhaps

Maybe, Ernie is going to fill the roster?

We still need a veteran Small Forward to give Butler some rest…

By signing Brown as the “injury Insurance” Point Guard, Ernie has probably left enough room under the Lux Tax to sign Barnes (or another SF).

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 12:35 AM EDT 0 recs

Curious.....

I’m assuming the Wiz play Brown in the summer league, maybe even bring him into camp, but don’t commit to him at all.

Thing is…with all the talk about getting a backup for Caron at SF (which I agree with doing), I’m still concerned that the only guards on the roster are Gil, AD, Stevenson, and Young.

But a non-shooter? Hmmmmm…..

Funny that at Illinois, I remember him getting a lot more attention during their tourney runs than Deron Williams or Luther Head.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Jul 10, 2008 12:39 AM EDT 0 recs

Signed

The report I saw says the Wizards “signed” Dee Brown to an offer sheet…. That means it has to be a guaranteed contract for at least 2 years; so they have already “committed” to him…

If Utah does not match – Dee Brown will be a Wizard for the next 2 years.

His web site ( under the Blog section dated June 29th ) says he will be playing for either the Detroit Pistons or Washington Wizards in the Summer League.

Since the Wizards just signed him, I assume he’ll be playing for the Wizards.

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

So why did the Post use the language, "partially guaranteed deal"?

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Jul 10, 2008 9:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

YES!!

Why has that been bugging me for so long??? That was a good squad that made the NCAA run with Deron Williams, Dee Brown, and Luther Head. I always thought Dee Brown was going to be the next Allen Iverson (extreme hype but something remotely similar to him). And then Deron Williams left him in the dust and became a star. Can Dee Brown become our Earl Boykins off the bench??

Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!

by Evander holyfield on Jul 10, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

Absolutely

In 2006-07 he had 83 assists with just 31 turnovers… so he’s a dependable guy that doesn’t turn the ball over.

Definately a pass-first PG… Not a very good shooter, especially from 3-point land; but a VERY good assist guy… and pesky on Defense. He hustles, and works hard. Bad shooting can be fixed with coaching (Dave Hoopla)… but Desire, hustle and hard work can’t be coached…

Not a bad guy to have on the end of the bench for an emergency, and to groom as a replacement for the backup PG position.

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 1:24 AM EDT up 0 recs

And another thing

I know that I’m hogging all the posts here… but by signing Dee Brown to the offer sheet almost guarantees he will be a Wizard this year. Utah already has 3 Point Guards, and let Brown play in Turkey last year rather than pay him to sit on the bench. He is obviously not in their plans.

If the Wizards signed Brown to a minimum contract, it would only be about $736K for the first year. Because they gave him an offer sheet, at a minimum the contract will be guaranteed for at least 2-years.

But that means the Wizards should still have somewhere around $2 – $2.5 Million under the Luxury Tax to sign a SF to back up Butler…

Perhaps the Wizards WILL field a full 15 man roster this year !

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

Either that

Or they’re dumping O-Pec to clear even more room under the tax.

Well, that’s my hope anyway. My biggest concern is that Ernie will do this and then call it an offseason. With Butler being so injury-prone, that’d be a huge mistake.

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

by Pradamaster on Jul 10, 2008 1:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

betting

I think Ernie is betting that he can get an inexpensive wing for cheap. The NBA world is full of G/F’s who can do a little bit of everything. A premium is paid for championship experience, 3 point shooting and exceptional defense. Given that, does it really matter that we only have 2+Mil instead of 3? Not to me. There won’t be a tremendous drop off from 3 to 2. We can still get Devin Brown for that. Might be able to get Barnes or Evans for that if its 3 years with raises.

We should also be keeping an eye on players who competed overseas last year. The Mavs just signed James Singleton. Alan Anderson and PJ Tucker have played well over there.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 10, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

Ernie is a diamond in the rough guy….not an over-spender on potential.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Jul 10, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

Link

Link to Dee Brown’s web site:

http://www.deebrown11.com/

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2008 12:56 AM EDT 0 recs

I'll say this

I like Dee Brown a lot more than I like Donnell Taylor.

I’m beginning to warm up to this signing. As a third PG, he comes cheap, and he’s pesky enough to be a decent change of pace. Kyle Lowry’s better, but Lowry’s also more expensive and has a guaranteed contract.

This seems like a cheaper alternative.

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

by Pradamaster on Jul 10, 2008 1:34 AM EDT 0 recs

Great Move

I’ve been a big Dee Brown fan since his first year at Illinois. He is perfect as our 3rd PG. Super Quick, Always Plays Hard, Nice Court Vision, Great Guy and as a bonus he has a rap CD, “Unwritten” with guest appearances from Deron Williams, Luther Head, Derek Fisher and more… Underrated pickup by Ernie.

by DT711 on Jul 10, 2008 8:51 AM EDT 0 recs

As good as THIS Dee Brown?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoQ-QI08qDw&feature=related

Sorry, somebody had to say it.

by Unselds on Jul 10, 2008 9:00 AM EDT 0 recs

Nobody will ever be as good as that Dee Brown

Respect.

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by JakeTheSnake on Jul 10, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Provided that we still get a backup SF, I love this signing*

~~I loved him back in 1991 when he won the Slam Dunk Contest and he had those sweet Pump sneakers.~~

Like most everyone else, I loved him at Illinois and I liked what I saw of him at the Rocky Mountain Revue (from this top 10 countdown) last season. I’m guessing Ernie would be signing him with the intent of sending him to the D-League and calling him up whenever AD gets banged up.

*- Unless, of course, Taser makes the jump and fills all of our needs for a backup SF.

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by JakeTheSnake on Jul 10, 2008 9:18 AM EDT 0 recs

Ha

Just the other day I mentioned in the summer league thread that I would have preferred Dee Brown over Guyton. I got my wish.

From what I remember Brown wanted more than the standard 2nd year non guaranteed money that Utah was offering. His agent got him a guaranteed deal in Turkey. He took it. I don’t see Utah matching and tying up money in another backup. Nice move Ernie.

Brown is ‘the spark’. Also nice insurance if Gilbert needs time early in season to get his wind back.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 10, 2008 9:29 AM EDT 0 recs

Good signing

I like Dee Brown, I actually though he’d be better in the NBA than he’s been, maybe he’ll surprise us. Yeah, he can’t shoot, but he doesn’t turn the ball over and despite his size he’s good harassing defender.

For the minimum, me likey.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Jul 10, 2008 9:52 AM EDT 0 recs

I Like This

I like that Dee Brown is a winner. He played in a tough, big-time collegiate conference and helped his team compete at the highest levels of NCAA basketball. He’ll turn 24 in August, so he’s still got upside to him. Also, I think the Wizards’ style of play will complement his talents a lot more than Utah’s did.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Jul 10, 2008 11:03 AM EDT 0 recs

From a Jazz fan

We’ll trade Hart straight up for him. The only reason he’s not still with the Jazz is that Larry H Miller (owner) didn’t like his influence on Deron Williams. He thought he was a bad influence.

Dee might not have been even a backup PG, but at worst he was a cheap third-stringer that knew the Jazz offense. He was a good locker room guy and Deron’s best friend FWIW. He also didn’t do anything at the Rocky Mountain Revue either that would wow anyone. He didn’t really do anything to hurt his stock, just nothing that put him over the top. But no one else signed him after the Revue either. So it wasn’t only the Jazz.

He’s easy to root for and will be a fan favorite. And Larry Miller will now have to worry when the Jazz are in DC.

http://slcdunk.com

by Basketball John on Jul 10, 2008 1:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Thanks

I’ve read that Brown is/was one of the nicest guys around. The writer was covering Utah at the time.

Not sure what you meant by no one else picking him up after the Revue. What year was that? How could anyone pick him up if he was the property of the Jazz? They still own his NBA rights.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 10, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs