Quick impressions of our new players
by Mike Prada on Feb 16, 2010 12:47 PM EST
in Trades
45 comments
This is just to get the ball rolling. They're not meant to be complete evaluations or be seen as complete truth. However, I've watched and studied Dallas a lot this year, and here's my snap impressions on the four guys we got:
Josh Howard: Similar to Caron Butler in that he's turned from a fill-in-the-blanks guy to a shotjacker, except Howard's decline has been more extreme because he's scoring less efficiently, shooting even more and doing it on a winning team with an established system instead of on a crappy team with a new system.
Drew Gooden: Has behaved this year and been a nice asset for the Mavs off the bench, but has done it because he got humbled after getting basically no contract offers last year. His knuckle-headedness has also been kept in line in a strong Dallas clubhouse, and it might go by the wayside here. However, when his head is screwed on right, he's a decent player.
Quinton Ross: A slightly better DeShawn Stevenson. His shot is just as bad, but his defense is better.
James Singleton: His numbers look good in limited minutes, but he hasn't played much for two straight years under a very good coach in Rick Carlisle, so there's probably a good reason he's an afterthought. Still, a possible diamond in the rough.
Discuss.
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The behavior in the Wiz locker room has been a joke for as long as I can remember
Just when I thought I’d seen the last of the duck-tail…how long til Gooden rocks that? I agree this trade baffles me…Ernie waited too long and everyone knew we had to get rid of everyone…he lost all bargaining power.
I’ve hated DeShawn even before they Wiz re-signed him so that’s the only bright sight I see. I don’t know the #’s Mike but is there anyway the Wiz could have shipped out everyone (Twan, Deshawn, Haywood) and kept Caron?
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
I think
Stevenson dislike aside, this is a good point. Gooden and Howard have never been known as model citizens, and I worry about the effect that could have on Blatche, and to a less effect, Young and McGee. I know common sense dictates that we hold onto Blatche b/c of his contract, but it might be time to change the tenor of the organization and see what we can get for him on the open market.
Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!
singleton
is a banger…. a pretty decent rebounder…. He can play both Forward positions as long as he’s not asked to guard anyone with quickness, or size/bulk (ie: the classic definition of a “tweener”). Good defender (again, limited by quickness or size/bulk of his opponent). A decent shooter, with limited range…. Just don’t ask him to create his own shot… He’s also a pretty good Free Throw shooter.
At 28, he’s kinda old for a “prospect” ; having spent 3 years playing in Europe.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Similar to:
Think of a less athletic Dom McGuire with a jump shot, and less upside.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Whoa, didn't realize he was 28
Hmm…
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Dude can ball a bit
And he won’t poison any young minds.
My question is
can any of these guys put the ball in the basket?
Because if the answer is anything but “Hell, yeah!” then what we have to look forward to for the rest of the season is one rock fight after another.
I know, I know: “This season is lost.” From a playoff standpoint, yes; but c’mon, if any of the guys we trade for is staying, don’t we want to at least try to be competitive?
I think
Gooden and Howard are good players that can both score but all of the players we traded for are playing for a contract or just playing to stay in the league, so there should be no shortage of effort. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us have a decent record for the rest of the season.
Also, I expect Gooden and Howard to be on their best behavior. Especially Howard.
Until the pot and flag stuff two summers back...
Josh Howard was Captain America… He will be cool because it’s make or break time for him as a name player (as opposed to a player to be named).
If we wind up resigning Josh and Gooden and find no way out but to keep Gilbert, the Wizzies could become Team Redemption in 2010-11.
If Zach Randolph can turn it around, anyone can!
I'm sure I'll get bashed for this
But I don’t want wins at this point. I want playing time for the young guys and a great lottery pick.
And yeah, I know tanking doesn’t win you the top pick. But having the 4th pick is better than the 5th, 6th, 7th, etc. Winning 28 games instead of 24 is a great way to stay uncompetitive for longer.
Flip Saunders
is a winning coach. If the young guys aren’t out there playing with energy doing the things necessary for the team to win he will take them out. I don’t ever see Flip playing the young guys just because. Under Flip Saunders, the young players will have plenty of opportunities, as they have all season, but it’s up to them to take advantage of it. If they don’t know how to jump on an opportunity to play and to get better than they either won’t ever reach their potential or they just don’t deserve a spot in the league.
you're assuming Flip will stick around
I mean, he’s paid his dues as a “rebuilding coach” in Minnesota so I wouldn’t blame him from saying, “Screw this, I want out.”
But if he stays, the team must develop a competitive mindset from the get-go. If they have a loser mentality in the beginning, they’ll still have a loser mentality when things are good (difference being, the team will have more talent to cover it up).
I completely agree
Then again, I live in SF, so I’m not shelling out big bucks for tickets.
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Feb 16, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
"playing time for the young guys"
They tried that last year, and now there’s rumblings that those four are on the trading block.
They did?
I mean, I guess they give NY and DMac playing time, but didn’t Blatche get yanked around a bunch? And then there’s Javale…
I want these guys to be ultra-competitive
and win every ball up for grabs. Of course I am referring to Ping pong balls. We may not be able to overhaul the Nets but as long as we give max effort trying I will be satisfied.
by ccrun1800 on Feb 16, 2010 1:55 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
From Chad Ford's chat
Reader:
Short of winning the John Wall lottery, are Washington fans in for another lost decade of basketball mediocrity?
Chad Ford (1:56 PM):
Looks that way.
Ouch
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Feb 16, 2010 2:38 PM EST reply actions
This is what I like to hear
“Cleve needed to relent on some pieces for possible deal there.” (from your link)
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Feb 16, 2010 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
yup, wait for the right play
I can’t believe they are going to try and acquire both Amar’e and Jamison. God.
Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!
I think it's one or the other.
Miami supposedly offering Beasley, expiring contract (QRich or Haslem), and two 1st rounders for Amar’e. That’s much better than Cleveland’s offer of JJ, Z, and one 1st rounder (30th overall pick). Cavs probably realizing that Miami will outbid them for Amare and are turning towards Jamison now.
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
Wait, what?
Link? I strongly doubt Miami’s actually offered that much. Those are just their assets potentially in play.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
I'm listening to Phoenix sports radio right now
they said the source came from Phoenix. So it’s possible that the Suns are putting this info out there to entice Cleveland to up their offer.
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:13 PM EST up reply actions
also saying that if the Miami deal goes through
the Suns will try and trade Beasley
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
Now I'm really questioning their credibility
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
why? Suns have said all along that they don't want Beasley
so the only logical reason to trade for him is if you think you he has enough trade value to move him.
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
When have they said they don't want Beasley?
I figure the only reason they’d trade Amare is to get Beasley.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
That's what I thought too
b/c why would you even consider JJ Hickson, Z, and the 30th pick when you could get Beasley and a draft pick which will be in the teens or maybe low 20s? It would seem that the Miami offer would obviously be stronger. But for some reason they don’t like Beasley. Who knows?
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe because Miami hasn't actually offered Beasley
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Possibly
Yahoo now saying that Miami tried to enlist Charlotte as 3rd-team to make Amar’e deal but failed
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
here
“The Suns also have had serious discussions with Philadelphia, involving Andre Iguodala coming to the Suns, and Miami has shown a lot of interest, although Michael Beasley or Jermaine O’Neal’s expiring contract are not high on Phoenix’s wish list.”
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
Word on the streets
I have a friend who went to college with Howard an drove up to hang out with him in Dallas this weekend. Said he didn’t return any calls all weekend and no one saw him. Scuttlebutt is that he is not happy about the trade. If true, just what we need, a pissed off Josh Howard.
by GodWuzAWiz on Feb 16, 2010 6:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Actually...
that’s what I’d prefer.
Maybe he’ll never join the team.
by MR on Feb 16, 2010 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
true.. but can you blame him?
if you were Josh Howard, would you be happy about joining this team?
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 16, 2010 6:17 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Anytime you go from a contender to a bottom-feeder it sucks, but he needed a change. He should have known he was not part of the future there.
by GodWuzAWiz on Feb 16, 2010 6:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
More smoking buddies?
Once he gets to know all his new teammates his spirits will be high. I mean, once your team starts tanking, that counts as the offseason, right?
Hi and Cya
To all 4 guys. One and done, with as many leaving now as possible. Raid the NBDL to finish out the year and then sign FA’s and draft a lottery pick that is worth a d@mn.
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