Wizards Summer League Team

by Jon L on Jul 1, 2009 9:32 PM EDT

Editor's Note: Confirmed on the Wizards official blog. I guess this confirms it: James Lang is our fifth big man! </sarcasm> -Mike

I'm not sure if this has been officially-officially announced yet, but in tracking down Summer League info for RU I came across a full list of the players on the Wizards' Summer League team. Remember James Lang? Also, NY was listed as a G/F for some reason. Sadly (for me anyway), no D-Leaguers who could've actually helped the team.

Alade Aminu 6'10" F, Georgia Tech
Ryan Ayers, 6'7" G/F, Notre Dame
Jimmy Baron, 6'3" G, Rhode Island
Javaris Crittenton, 6'5" G, Georgia Tech
Jon Edwards, 7'0" C, Kent State
Josh Heytvelt, 6'11" F/C, Gonzaga
James Lang, 6'10" C, Central Park HS
Dominic McGuire, 6'9" G/F, Fresno State
JaVale McGee, 7'0" C, Nevada-Reno
Tywain McKie, 6'2" G, Coppin State
Tyrese Rice, 6'0" G, Boston College
Jason Rich, 6'3" G, Florida State
Alex Ruoff, 6'6" G, West Virginia
Diamon Simpson, 6'7" F, St. Mary's
Kyle Spain, 6'5" F, San Diego State
Brandon Wallace, 6'9" F South Carolina
Nick Young, 6'6" G, Southern California

I've also heard that the Wizards are going to have a "mini-camp" for these guys for a few days before heading to Vegas, but I'm working on confirming that.

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.

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Wait

Are we not excited about Josh Heytvelt?

Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!

by Sean Fagan on Jul 1, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Should we be?

I haven’t been all that impressed while reading about him, though I know Rook has mentioned his name, so maybe there’s something I’m just missing.

Also, Lang was mostly a reserve with Utah (in the D-League) last year, but he did grow a Freeway beard at some point towards the end of the season, which I always like to see.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.

by Jon L on Jul 1, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was

i think he has some upside…. but he probably couldn’t help the Wizards THIS year. Another project big man.

He was supposed to be drafted in the high-second round. Perhaps the drug charges in his Sophomore year (hallucinogenic mushrooms) turned off some teams. He’s also had some problems with injuries to his feet.. Before the injuries, he was a very athletic big. Able to elevate with the best of them.

Nice mid-range shot. Good finisher around the basket. He ran the floor well. Blocked some shots. Not a very good one-on-one defender – but a better help defender. Hedged on the PnR pretty well.

But in the games I watched, he took some ill-advised shots… and he didn’t seem to be a very good rebounder. He finished some of the games in double-digit rebounds, but it seemed more like they fell into his lap – instead of him going after them aggressively. He also got pushed around in the post when he was playing against more physical players.

I think it’s good to bring him in for a look.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jul 2, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like a Wizard

by disgrunted on Jul 2, 2009 7:12 AM EDT up reply actions

another guy who was supposed to go

was alade aminu from GT. He was ranked in the middle of all the pf’s in the draft.

by Spanky731 on Jul 1, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

Aminu definately has potential though at this point I think he’s a guy who is going to spend at least a year in the D-League. So he probably doesn’t fit in with our plans.

For some reason I really like Diamonn Simpson any other fans out there?

by NOVAHOOSIER on Jul 2, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I watched some St. Mary's games

Mainly to see Patrick Mills – but Diamon Simpson never made an impression on me.. I think he played PF, but he looked undersized to me…

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jul 2, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough I always envisioned him being able to move to the 3 pretty easily as a pro (most likely Europe). He played there before Mills showed up and was their big scorer maybe him being able to go from being the man to complimentary player is what I admired so much. But whenever I watched I saw a guy who played great D with quick hands, was a good rebounder especially offensively, and could shoot a little bit too.

by NOVAHOOSIER on Jul 2, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

If you were able to watch any GT games

He was not even a starter at Georgia Tech.

Aminu was the big guy running up and down the court like a Guard. He is a very large physical specimen. Long arms. He’s listed at 6’10" 230, but he looks much bigger than that. VERY Athletic big. Runs the floor well and finishes strong on dunks around the basket.
Even though he was a Senior, he still seemed very raw. Made a lot of mistakes. Poor hands. But he made some spectacular plays (mostly in transition). Another big guy with some potential upside.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jul 2, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

No Veermenko?

Darn and how much of a chance that the fifth big man is coming out of this group here at summer league.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Jul 2, 2009 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

Heytvelt and Aminu are definitely worth looks...

We pretty much know the up and downsides of available NBA big men in the bi-annual exception range, so we might as well see what we can do for half of that with Heytvelt in particular.

So far as I know the mushrooms have no permanent effects…. your mind keeps moving along…

by khrabb on Jul 2, 2009 4:24 AM EDT reply actions

Looking forward to seeing what Heytvelt and Aminu bring to the table this summer.
I am surprised that Veermenko is not going to be on the squad.

by Jeremybozz on Jul 2, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

coool Heytvelt and Aminu i think Aminu will make our squad …. i remember he came to work outs for us i think we liked him tooo

by eltacoman on Jul 2, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Foye Should Be There

He’s fighting with Nick Young and Mike Miller for SG minutes, and Nick Young coming off his 3rd year is playing summer league, so Foye who is also coming off his 3rd year should as well.

by morethesamewiz on Jul 2, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions