Wanted: Three Point Shooters
by Jake Whitacre on Apr 26, 2009 8:07 PM EDT
in Team Analysis
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PrintEveryone knew that when Roger Mason Jr. left for San Antonio in the off-season that the Wizards were losing their best perimeter shooter. I don't think many would've forseen the Wizards finishing 29th in three-point shooting this season, hitting only 33% from deep. Only two Wizards hit more than 40% from long range; Antonio Daniels who connected on 5 of his 11 shots from deep before being traded to New Orleans (he ended up shooting 36.7% for the season) and Dominic McGuire who hit 2 of his 4 long balls. Once you eliminate those two, who shot a combined 15 three-pointers for the Wizards this season, the next best shooter from deep-range was Mike James who shot 36.7%.
Of course, part of the problem was the injuries. Without Gilbert Arenas, the team lacked a player to create drive & dish opportunities, not to mention that he's pretty good at hitting threes in his own right.. A healthy Brendan Haywood might not have sucked opposing teams into the paint in the same way that Yao Ming can, but he would've done more to give shooters a better chance of an open look than Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee did this year. Also, let's not forget that if DeShawn Stevenson was anywhere near healthy this season, he wouldn't have shot anywhere near 27.1%.
With those pieces back in place next season, there's no reason to beileve that this can't be at least an average team from outside. Still, it's hard to imagine that if everyone was healthy that anyone on the team would've had as productive of a season as Mason Jr. did this year.
What makes this all the trickier is that there aren't many options available to bring in someone to flll the role that Mason played while he was here. Juan Dixon is the only player coming off the books this season and his roster spot will presumably be filled by whoever the Wizards take with their lottery pick. Since there isn't a real dead-eye shooter available early in the first round, it makes it very hard to see a way where the Wizards end up with a consistent outside threat that makes them an elite three-point shooting team unless they make some kind of trade. That, or we have to hope that Nick Young, Javaris Crittenton, or Dominic McGuire can make the leap this off-season.
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Agree we need shooters.
If we don’t get Rubio or Griffin, then upgrades at shooting that intrigue me are Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Chase Budinger (late 1st round) and Danny Green (with our 2nd rounder).
Green
Danny Green would be a great fit for this team. He can defend multiple positions, rebounds, blocks shots and he can shoot. he does replicate what McGuire brings, except he has range. Instead of overpaying for the ‘James Posey’ types we can draft one. 20 years from now he has a chance to be the most productive career of the Tar Heels in this draft. I’d put him second behind Lawson. I think he could sneak into the late first round though.
What about
Jarvis Hayes!?
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 27, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Nick Young's usually good from deep
His percentages were down a bit this year, but he’s a good enough shooter from 18-20 feet that I’d think that all it would take for him to become a legitimate long range threat would be some work. I mean, he shot 40% his rookie year, when he had even fewer opportunities to establish a rhythm. I doubt any of the other young players will develop a consistent three point shot since they already struggle with long twos, but I could see Dom becoming respectable on the corner three this off-season, even though it’s unlikely he’d take many shots from there. Deshawn will help us a lot, too, if he comes back, since he took like five threes a game or something the last time he was healthy, too, and I think Gilbert jacked up seven or eight a game, so this problem could just take care of itself.
If we really want to make a deal, I think that our best bet would be to trade down in the draft (assuming we don’t get the number one or two pick, obviously) and pick up a shooter that way, maybe from Golden State. Drafting a player could conceivably work, but not a lot of guys come into the league with an NBA-ready three point shot. Stephen Curry and Jodie Meeks could possibly pull it off, I guess, but I’d rather just trade for Anthony Morrow or even shudder Jamal Crawford.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 26, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions
Our high 2nd rounder could come in handy to pick up a shooter
Dionte Christmas out of Temple is an option… has great range, size, and experience.
Darren Collison, if he slips that far, has to be high on our board at that point. He can shoot, and is solid on D.
Marcus Thornton from LSU is also a possibility, though he is more of a slasher type, where Christmas is a shooter.
There’s also:
AJ Price, PG from UConn
Jerel McNeal, PG from Marquette
Danny Green, SF from UNC
Josh Shipp, SG from UCLA
This 2nd round pick can nab us a shooter on the cheap cheap cheap, should be some solid guys on the board
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 27, 2009 2:07 AM EDT reply actions
The thing with the 2nd Rounder
We already have 14 players under contract next season, so unless there’s a trade to open up a roster spot we’ll have to find a way to sell the pick or use it on a player that can be stashed in Europe for a year.
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by Jake Whitacre on Apr 27, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm all for one of those ideas
But as a fan, I can’t get excited about selling a pick. If we (Abe) is committed to winning a championship, I don’t see him selling a pick with that much possible value. Basically a late first rounder in which we can guarantee part of their contract. I could live with stashing a pick in Europe for a year though, whether they are international or not.
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 27, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit
Been talking a lot of Detroit lately. One thing Dumars does with his second rounders is gauge which kids would be willing to play in Europe for a year or two before signing with the Pistons. They knew that Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington were willing to play in Europe. Ernie could try that.
Or pick a big that you know isn’t jumping into the NBA right away. Last year that guy was Sasha Kaun. They knew he was going to the Russian league for bigger money. There was no need to sell the pick. They could have selected Kaun and held his rights when he was ready for the NBA. Zero impact on the salary cap. How do we go from needing 150K to ‘dealing’ with the luxury tax? headscratcher.
Rubio
PIck him #2 and leave him over there for a year.
by MR on Apr 28, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
possible
but there’s no telling what his contract situation is for that time frame. Somtimes they have a window in one season thats closed in the next. I’d prefer him in camp asap.
His Euro contract?
I think it has a big (9mil?) buyout next year that expires the following year.
by MR on Apr 28, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
That would be ideal
I’m desperate to see him play over here, but I really worry about Gilbert’s ability to defend shooting guards. Granted, he seems to have bulked up, but I still wouldn’t want to see him covering a JR Smith or Joe Johnson.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 28, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea that is a good alternative
If we sell the pick, we get no team value for it, and if we trade it, it is almost definite that it wouldn’t have as much value in later 2nd rounds (would probably be lower).
It’s just that those high second rounders are SO cheap and are great gambles considering their contracts. I keep on thinking of how valuable guys like Mario Chalmers, Carl Landry, Glen Davis, and Paul Millsap are always available – guys who have good college experience who can step in and help right away.
Then there are the Marc Gasols who are young and inexperienced who we can wait to sign. Don’t know if there are any of those international players this year but it’s worth taking a look at.
Do we give Pesh one more look this year, or is he a lost cause already?
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 28, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Pech is a lost cause
He’s just too awkward out there. His per-40 stats are actually relatively good, and he might eventually be successful, but it’s more likely than not that he goes back to Europe within the next three years. I’d rather find a way to cut him or buy him out and sign our second round pick (who will be cheaper and most likely better). If we can just get a pure point guard who can play ten minutes every now and then or a big guy who can come off the bench and rebound and defend competently when our bigs get into trouble, it’d make the team a lot better, certainly moreso than having Pech riding the bench again.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 28, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
it seems like all he’s doing is riding the pine and taking up a roster spot. I’ve actually read stories saying that he has regressed, and that he doesn’t even want to rebound any more. We all know he’s in love with the 3 ball, and I agree that he just doesn’t look like he knows what to do at all out there except want to shoot threes.
If we
a. have no plans for him in the future/don’t plan on re-signing him
b. don’t see any progression in his game/desire to improve
then we
c. open up a roster spot with him involved
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 28, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think it would be realistic for us to buy him out?
It seems like, with the cap room we could save (if you can, in fact, save cap room by buying someone out; I really don’t know much about the process), it would make a lot of sense to just buy him out. We’d save a roster spot, he could go somewhere where he could actually play, and it would save Abe money. Seems like a win-win to me.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 28, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Hopefully
we can add him as a throw in to “make salaries work” in a trade.
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 29, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I could see Nellie having an interest in him...
Plus, he’s just crazy enough to give someone like Pech minutes over guys like Randolph and Biedrins.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 29, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Jermaine Taylor
is a guy who could get a look in the second round, especially if he improves his shot selection. He has range, he just sometimes makes poor decisions and is content to hang around the 3-point line and bomb ill-advised shots. Unfortunately, I don’t see many great shooters in this draft (especially in the second round), so I think whoever they get will have to come from somewhere else.
If we were to drop to the number 5 pick...
choosing Stephen Curry would be defensible in this draft, I think. The ESPN draft machine has him at #8 already.
The Wizards’ need for a reliable (i.e. good at crunch time) shooter cannot be overstated.
If Gilbert is going to become more of a playmaker, he needs a sure option to pass to in the corner… otherwise he will inevitably feel he has to take that shot himself, as in the past.
If we get the top pick in the draft, then finding a way to obtain Jamal Crawford might make sense. I know people will go nuts opposing this, but the guy can score from anywhere and is hungry to prove he is a winner at this point.
i read somewhere
that a doctor, after performing an MRI, recently told stephen curry that he could grow a couple more inches before he’s done growing (he was about 6’ when he first went to Davidson, and has grown to 6’3").
Who knows, but a 6’5" Stephen Curry would probably go a lot higher in the draft than 8.
by Johnnie Futbol on Apr 27, 2009 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Not saying I don't believe you
But that sounds like something Curry’s family would want to get out in order to make him go higher in the draft, regardless of whether it’s true. Like, I’m sure it’s possible, but I’ve never heard of a 21 year old of average height getting taller.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 27, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
no doubt
I read it in some scouting report on Curry at one of the draft sites, but I don’t necessarily believe it either. It very easily could be fabricated by Curry, or perhaps even more likely, the doctor may have said it but Curry is in fact done with growing.
The idea of a 6’5" Stephen Curry is interesting nonetheless.
by Johnnie Futbol on Apr 27, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Jamal Crawford can shoot, but I think we'd want someone more accurate and reliable
Even though he seems to catch fire once or twice a year and go for 50, he can be ice cold sometimes, and his 3pt% this year was only in the mid-30s, I think. He doesn’t contribute much else, and he NEVER seems to draw fouls or take it to the basket, so I don’t know that he would be worth it for us. We could probably get someone else with a lower salary who could be more reliable and play decent defense.
That said, it’s incredibly fun to watch him play, plus he’s one of the easiest players to score with in NBA 2K9, so at least he’s got that going for him.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 27, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Two free agents thoughts for LLE
Ronald Murray and the loathsome Damon Jones?
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Apr 27, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions
Don't like Flip ... too much like Crawford
His usage rates are astronomically high, and he hasn’t shot over 36 percent from three in his career.
No thanks.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
What about Bobby Simmons?
Please, no more references to Damon Jones. It makes me nauseous. And he can’t get any PT anyway.
There's gotta be some snipers out there
I don’t think the Wizards necessarily need someone to play a lot of minutes…. probably 15-20 a night would be enough…
But someone that absolutely will nail the 3-pointer if they’re open (Kapono, Posey…etc…)…. and preferably someone that wouldn’t be a defensive liability… With Arenas and Butler in the lineup… I could see a guy like that getting 3-4 wide open looks a night from the 3-point line….
A perfect guy would be Shane Battier (Career 39%) or K. Hinrich (Career 38%) – Both play great perimeter defense…. Both can absolutely knock down open 3-point shots…
What would it take to get Battier from Houston?
Heinrich still looks like the best fit, and the one player that may be easily available…. What kind of trade would it take?
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What about Keyon Dooling
At 6’3" he’s small for a SG, but he plays pretty good defense. He has match up problems against bigger guards, but he plays sound positional defense. He can knock down the open 3… and he’s not too expensive ($3M per year)….
What would it take to pry him away from New Jersey?
Expiring contract won’t work (requires Washington take back too many players)
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Yes please
another option: Matt Barnes, signed for the veterans minimum by the Suns last year.
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 27, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
you'd think
that they’d put this team together with the playoffs in mind. Veterans who want an active role on a contender would be interested… but playing with Gilbert isn’t quite the same as Nash and Shaq. Barnes’ numbers were inflated from GS last year. he’s below the Mike James line this year. Danny Green is a younger cheaper version.
Boston signed him for 2 years
With a player option for year 2…..
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm
He’s not leaving the World Champions to come play in Washington.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
so he could still be a FA
If he chooses, unlikely though.
They aren’t the World Champions as of June. They’re just another aging playoff team with huge questions marks and salaries that accelerate exponentially over the next few years. And that’s before extending Rondo.
Darius Songalia
We need to have Darius spend the offseason shooting corner 3’s from 22 feet. He has the range now perfect the shot. If Cleveland can get them out of Z and Joe Smith…
Exactly
Darius’s range this past season was about 9 inches shy of the 3 point line. That should definitely be something he works on during the off-season. He would become 5 times more effective offensively.
And how about James Harden, who will likely be available at picks 3 through 5? Please, please, please let’s not trade the #3 pick for some vet with two years left in his career.
How about Vince Carter?
Not a bad defender… especially considering his size (6’6") – Very Good 3-point shooter….
New Jersey would probably jump at taking Expiring contracts ….
Carter would be much better suited for a veteran team trying to get over the hump, like the Wizards, than for one like New Jersey that’s essentially decided to go for broke in the 2010 Free Agent market.
Expiring Contracts for Etan Thomas ($6.8M) + Mike James ($6.3M) + DeShawn Stevenson + #3 Draft Pick
for
Vince Carter
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
My dream wishlist
Kirk Hinrich – great shooter, better defender, and he can play two positions really well and is passable at a third. If the Bulls re-sign Ben Gordon, we might be able to snatch him up, since I’d think that Salmons will move to the 2 once Luol Deng is healthy.
Anthony Morrow/Azubuike/CJ Watson/Bellineli – any of these guys would do, and all are straight up snipers on decent contracts. Plus, since Golden State’s in the Western Conference, they’d be a lot more likely to deal with us than, say, the Raptors.
Mike Miller – the Wolves management is usually crazy enough to part with good players, and since he had an off year, we could probably get him for less than usual. Plus, he’s 28, and the Wolves probably want their key pieces to be older
Honorable mention
JJ Reddick – everyone I know despises him, he can’t play defense, and he’s kind of whiny, but he can shoot well enough that he’d have value coming off the bench. I hate hate hated him in college, but he’s been kind of screwed over in Orlando. For the right price, I think he could work as a floor spacer here (or anywhere, for that matter)
Lou Williams – Philly wouldn’t give him up, but he’s a great sparkplug
Battier – No way Houston trades him (Jamison for Battier would be an amazing deal for us…oh well)
I hated Reddick for being a dookie, I could care less about him as a pro. he can’t defend any position and doesn’t shoot well enough when he does get his chances. He should try to join Trajan Langdon in Moscow.
Azubuike and Turiaf for Blatche and James?
I'd do it
At least from a talent perspective, it works for us. I don’t know how I feel about us trading expiring contracts, since we’re one of those teams on the edge of the salary cap that could really use them, but the deal would work for both teams. Blatche would be great in Golden State, and they could even play him alongside Biedrins if Nellie ever decided to, you know, not play four shooting guards around a big man. Turiaf and Azubuike would definitely address both of our major needs, though.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 27, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd rather have Anthony Morrow than Azubuike
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
This should be our #1 priority in FA aquisitions
Jamison, Caron, and Deshawn’s % should increase with Gil and Haywood back, though shooting threes is not something I like seeing those guys do.
It would make Gil, Caron, and Jamison 100X more effective if we had even ONE deadly 3 point shooter to spread the floor. I look at the Cavs and how they are constructed – they are basically Lebron and perimeter shooters camping out behind the arc… think he would be able to drive that easily with defenses sagging in all the time?
Where are you ROGER!!!
Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!
by Evander holyfield on Apr 27, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions
Which Way for the Wiz
The Wiz need to decide what type of team they are. Depending on whether they get Rubio or Griffin (or someone else) , they can go Run and Gun:
C- Haywood
F – Jamison
F – Butler
G – Gil
G – Rubio (or Curry or Harden)
Or go Big:
C – Haywood
F – Griffin (or Thabeet or Hill)
F – Jamison
G – Butler
G – Gil
Stevenson is not the answer. He was mediocre and streaky even when healthy. Contracts allowing, I would also dump Songalia, Thomas, Dixon et al. and go with the youngsters, e.g. Blatche, Dom, Nick, etc. If some team wants to trade a superstar to us for some expiring contracts, I guess that would work too although we really can’t expect that. to happen.
Next year will not be the time to cross your fingers and hope that a youngster starts to “get it”.
by MR on Apr 28, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that we could get Griffin and still run and gun
Send Antawn to the bench or another team (the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of trading him, even if it means Blatche playing power forward) and put Griffin at the 4 and we become a lot faster. Especially when Javale or Blatche is on the floor with them, we’ll be one of the best fast break teams in the league.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 28, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Walter Herrmann would be an interesting pickup.
I’d absolutely love to see Ime Udoka here. Very good defender plus his shooting ability. He’d be a great addition to the bench, and he’d likely come for the minimum. Potentially an excellent signing.
I love Walter Hermann
He has kind of mediocre stats, but every time I see him play, he seems great. It wouldn’t hurt to have another combo forward on the roster, too, especially for when we want to go small.
by pantslessyoda1 on Apr 29, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
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