Evan Turner refuses to work out for Wizards because ... well, I don't know
by Mike Prada on Jun 14, 2010 9:54 PM EDT
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PrintWe already knew that the Wizards were not planning on having Evan Turner in for an individual workout. What we didn't know, though, is that this was Turner's doing, not the Wizards'.
Was told today that Wiz tried to set up workout with Evan Turner - some within org really like him - but were denied on several occasions.
Specifically, David Falk and Turner's representatives denied the Wizards' request. Why? Lee said Falk told him he was just focusing on Philly.
Which is, uh, strange. One measly workout with the Wizards changes nothing about Philly. Turner is a professional basketball player fully capable of doing workouts on multiple days in multiple cities (it's not even a far journey between the two cities!). If the Wizards really had people in the organization who were intrigued by him, it makes no sense to pass up the chance to, you know, impress them. Perhaps Falk felt it was a lost cause, but does it really make sense to ever deny your client even the slightest chance of, you know, being the number one pick in the draft?
(Sorry, lots of you knows. They're there for effect, because this all, you know, boggles my mind).
That leaves only one possible explanation: Falk still holds a grudge against the organization for how Abe Pollin treated Michael Jordan. Oh wait, that's not it either. Via Lee again:
Not @ all. Falk loves Ted (hired MJ), despised Abe Pollin (fired MJ) RT @mdotbrown: Could that have anything to do with their previous GM?
So ... yeah, I'm stumped. Whatever. Enjoy Philly or wherever you end up, Evan. We'll enjoy John Wall.
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Maybe he thinks
He will be the franchise player, perennial All-Star for Philly for years to come and doesn’t need the Wizards. Seems to have a chip on his shoulder with this whole John Wall going #1 thing.
good...
we’re not gonna draft your ass anyway…
how much of this is turner's own doing
and how much of it is Falk being a dick?
don’t be too quick to indict the young fella, he’s still a quality player and has carried himself well
Remember those old word transformation games?
How many steps do you take to get from FALK to DICK? I can do it in Six
FALK
TALK
TACK
TUCK
TICK (or DUCK)
DICK
Falk is playing "prevent defense."
Essentially he’s resigned to the Wiz drafting Wall, and he knows if Turner works out it’ll only beg comparisons to the swath of other wings lower down. Turner stands to lose from working out.
But, like the passive “prevent,” this is a bad move. There’s a decent chance Evan could fall to 3 or 4 as teams seem people like Cousins in person.
"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
If Wall and Turner could choose, do you think they would rather want to be on a pretty depleted Wizards roster toiling for the next 4+ years or with who is already on the Sixers (or Nets before the lottery balls bounced)?
Not trying to be controversial. I just found the look on Wall’s face telling when he got the good news live on ESPN, after he might have had dreams of joining forces with a few good players plus a potential big-time free agent on the Nets (kinda like SA sucked for one year and then landed Duncan). Turner might think the same. Sure the Wizards have the cap space to also get into the free agent sweepstakes, but it doesn’t seem likely to me that the biggest names wind up in Washington this summer. Then you can score a lot and maybe win ROY, but you you’ll have to work your butt off and have some luck to even make it into the playoffs before your rookie contract is over.
Why are the Sixers or Nets much better?
One is completely mediocre and has no cap space for the next three years. The other won 12 games.
I think their core of players looks more solid
But that’s judging from the outside of course. I don’t have a good answer for why a team with Harris, Lopez, and two or three players who at least should make good role players only won so few games. On paper they seemed like a team that should win almost twice as much to me. And there were a lot of stories written along the lines of “rich new owner, good young pieces, add Wall, add one of LeBron/Bosh/Amare, profit” which could give a young player entering the draft big dreams of getting to instantly play with some greats of the game.
As for the Sixers, once Dalembert’s contract expires (or can be traded as an expiring deal) I also like their future quite well. They spent too much on Brand and that is clogging things up, but they have a couple of nice young players and now can add another key piece.
For the Wizards it was probably right to blow things up after not getting past the Cavs in several tries and then falling even further back. But now the roster looks fairly empty to me, with one other superstar who has question marks attached. I fall in the camp that thinks Wall will be great and could be some mix of Rose and Wade, but he alone can’t get it done without a few more pieces. Not even Wade himself can. And I don’t know which major free agents really would have the Wizards on their list. Maybe one from the Lee – Gay – Boozer tier, but even for those players there is stiff competition. It just seems to me that getting drafted by the Wizards means a couple of hard years for a rookie where he won’t get very far.
Just my impression of why a player might prefer to not go to the Wizards in this draft.
The roster looks fairly empty
because it is empty.
We have only 5 players under contract for next year.
Re: the roster being fairly empty
How is this situation any different from what happened in Seattle when they drafted Durant? That roster was empty too, and nobody was saying how bad that situation was.
I would think our situation would be attractive to a draftee
The Wiz are starting with as close to a clean slate as you can expect in the NBA (with guaranteed contracts). I think it would be an unattractive situation for a big name FA, but for a young player that needs a few years to develop it sounds like a good place to do that…meanwhile the team builds around you.
If you're an elite PG, the Sixers would be just about ideal to land on.
I mean, they let ‘Dre Miller go because of Eddie Jordan’s Princeton scheme, and then they ditched Eddie. The roster there has some talent, and it’s framed around a big ol’ gaping hole at the point.
There’s “fit.” Whereas on a roster that’s basically lain fallow for half a season, there’s nothing to “fit” with.
It’s a completely moot point, and I don’t think for a minute that Wall is dismayed or anything. But, yeah. For that matter there’s a reason the Nets may actually be LeBron players on the FA market. They lost a lot, but there’s talent there, and the ballsy new owner.
"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
Wow a Blog Troll
Thats a rare sighting on Bullets Forever. As i read your post I was thinking ugh this guy is just trolling got a response and then I got to your user name. It all just made sense after that.
Also FYI Evan Turner is just miffed that he wasn’t even considered by the media/wizards for the 1st overall. I just spent 5 minutes on google looking for the post lottery interview. I had no luck but I easily remember Evan dropping some real snarky comments on how the Wiz did not even consider him.
What was your first clue?
The “not trying to be controversial” start?
or the denigrating to the Wizards “look on Wall’s face” sideways slap
or the "dreams of joining forces with a few “good” players…. (like OBVIOUSLY Wiz have nothing worthwhile on their roster)
OR the slap at the Wizards Management, thinking they cannot get the Wizards back to the playoffs for at least 4-5 years (“before your rookie contract is over.”)
???
Lots of choices there…. but suffice to say his reply header is what tipped me off….
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Hehe, yeah I'm not a regular on this blog and I know of the bad image of trolls. I'm not one in the Internet sense, and I don't claim to always make good informed comments (this one was in the middle of the night for me).
I use the name in the Icelandic/Scandinavic sense of the word. For a long time. On Wikipedia an editor once banned me just going by that name ;)
Great
JWall is the truth! no loss here this is…GREAT NEWS.
Cousin's isn't working out for 'unrealistic' destinations either
I kinda buy the unnecessary physical strain and risk of injury. This is not like normal job interviews where practice helps….workouts will all be doing basketball stuff these guys have done before, so another workout doesn’t help.
Crazy that it wasn’t the Wiz calling it off. I don’t know why we’d want the workout, just to be 101% sure on Wall? We can’t be considering trading out, or else we’d look at Favors, Cousins, Johnson, etc.
There is a video interview
on csnwashington.com of Evan Turner talking to Ron Thompson and he tells why he chose not to work out for the Wizards.
After seeing that video I lost a little respect for him. He kind of sounds like Steve Francis from a few years ago. I mean these guys have to realize that nothing is guaranteed for them. I mean Philly may decide that they are not interested in him because they are invest in A.I. (Iggy), so then what will he do? The Wizards never ever came out to say they are taking Wall, this is nothing more than just media hype at this point. He needs to realize that he is hurting his stock by having this conceited attitude. I understand that he may have a chip on his shoulder, but he needs to realize that he’s not picking the team, the team is picking him. Sounds like Falk has some influence in his thinking.
by ThePGPhenomenon on Jun 15, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed....
I’ve also lost a little respect for Evan Turner….
And it makes what Patrick Patterson is doing even more admirable. He is working out for any team that invites him…
At the draft combine, he participated in every work out, every scrimmage and said yes to every interview request…. While other players (INCLUDING John Wall) were told by their Agents not to participate in anything other than the interviews and measurements (no basketball related activities) – Paterson was doing EVERYTHING.
He explains why he decided to participate in everything in this interview.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
It's the process, folks.
If we’re going to get to feeling all “disrespected” and whatnot over stuff like pre-draft positioning and free agents’ wearing the wrong hats, then it’d be better just not to watch the sausage being made.
Falk is the guy’s agent. Agents are hired to take heat like that. In this case I think Falk is making two big mistakes: He’s playing too passively given Evan’s market position (for understandable reasons, but still); and he’s letting his guy take the fire when he should step in front of these media bullets himself. The failing here is the agent’s, not the player’s. And it’s not personal.
"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
Missing the boat
what if Washington wants to make a trade and move back up in the draft to pair Turner with Wall for the next 12 years? That is where this makes no sense.
Let’s say Philly has their eyes elsewhere, and Turner slips to 3… or a draft day trade becomes a possibility… it’s just not a smart decision to limit your exposure when you are trying to make millions of dollars.
2009 BTB Part Deux Fantasy League Champion. 'Kill Everybody 13-2'. KDP knows football.
My Wizards just won the first pick in the NBA Draft- The basketball gods have shown mercy.
Stephen Strasburg has given life support to my interest in baseball. Go Nats!
Not that I would agree with this scenario
but Philly was shopping Elton Brand around the League. Rumor was they were willing to give up the #2 pick if someone would take Brand’s contract off their hands.
The Wizards are one of the very few teams that have not directly expressed an interest in going after a big name Free Agent – and they have a ton of cap space this Summer ($20 Million)… Instead, the team has openly spoken about getting more Draft Picks and/or moving up in the draft….. even if it meant taking on someone’s contract.
So Evan Turner won’t work out for the Wizards? That limits his opportunities.
Say the Wizards make a draft night trade with Philly – and take on Brand’s contract for the #2 pick…. You think they’re gonna pick Turner? Or will they go for a big man like Derrick Favors or Demarcus Cousins?
By not working out for the Wizards, Turner lost an opportunity to impress a team that has a chance to land the #2 pick… and possibly could LOSE $1.8 Million dollars (the difference between #2 pick and #3 pick over a 4-year contract)….
Doesn’t seem like good business to me David Falk ….
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Philly likely wouldn't part with Turner to lose Brand, though
And they probably made some sort of commitment to Turner.
yeah, given how often rumors turn out not to be true, it’s hard to know if Philly is really willing to part with that 2nd pick.
still the prospect of getting Wall and Turner together on one team is really intriguing. I also wonder if the Wizards would even be willing to take on Brand’s contract if it comes with the 2nd pick. And if the 76ers wouldn’t do that trade, what would be a fair trade for both sides?
The 30 & 35 picks for the 2nd and Brand?
Next year’s 1st rd pick for the 2nd and Brand?
by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 15, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
no, those would not be fair trades
the Wiz would do those deals in a heartbeat
by John Park Williams on Jun 15, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
would they?
the initial thought when the rumor surfaced that the 76ers would trade the 2nd to dump Brand’s contract is they’d have a hard time finding a trade partner.
if Philly’s main goal would be to dump the contract, they’re not going to get a whole lot back in return.
by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 15, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
would the Wiz trade #1 pick and Gilbert Arenas to the Grizzlies for the #25 & #28 picks?
Of course not.
Would they trade the #1 pick and Gilbert Arenas to the Grizzlies for the Grizzlies #1 next year? Of course not.
by John Park Williams on Jun 15, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
completely different
1. I’d rather have Arenas than Brand
2. I’d rather have Wall than Turner
3. The Wizards have a ton of cap space, the 76ers will pay the luxury tax if they draft and sign their #2 pick.
by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 15, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I completely agree with Johnnie here
Brand will turn 32 next season, and hasn’t been good in 3 years. Arenas turns 29, and showed last year that he can still at least contribute on offense. Meanwhile Wall is twice as valuable as the number 2 pick, and already having Arenas on his contract makes Brand’s contract that much worse a burden.
and again
this discussion is based solely on the assumption that there may be some truth to the espn rumor that the 76ers would trade the pick if they can dump Brand’s awful contract.
that rumor of course very well may not be true.
by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 15, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
good points, but, honestly, if you were a Sixer fan......
and you found out Stefanski traded the #2 pick and Elton Brand to the Wizards for the #30 and #35 picks in this years’ draft, what would be your reaction?
Would you really be, “Thank god for all that cap room!” or “Now we can pair Greivez Vasquez and Willie Warren!”
by John Park Williams on Jun 15, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
The Brand contract is one of those factors that makes for a larger deal.
The more I’ve scoped out people’s suggested trades involving Brand, the more likely they seem to be sprawling, 3- and 4-team monster deals.
The value you get as Philly in cap relief is there, for sure, but for 76ers fans, you really can’t unload a #2 overall choice based on that value alone. To make such a deal palatable, it’d need to spread out the weight of Brand’s money, and to bring back at least some promising talent for Philly fans to hope on. That makes the loss of #2 a little more…. Diffuse.
"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
This is all about Falk
Falk has the sort of ego where he likes to think that he controls everything. “The NBA has a draft where teams pick where my players go? Oh, no, that’s not how it works — I decide where my players go.” Hence, Kobe goes 13 to the Lakers. A lawyer should zealously represent his clients, and always put their best interests ahead of his own. Falk often forgets that second part.
Turner
will not be half the player that Wall is when all is said and done. I think he knows he has no shot at being the top pick, so why risk injury putting on a workout for a team that is 99.9% sure they’re going to draft someone else?
OK
What happens if (god forbid) , John Wall gets hit by a truck … or blows out a knee while practicing (have you seen how hard this kid practices)…. or does a Len Bias before the draft?
What happens if the Wizards make a trade with Philly and end up with the #2 pick?
Why risk it? Because the difference between #2 & #3 is $1.8 MILLION dollars… and that’s not Monopoly money……
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
DANG!
oh well, i guess we’ll just have to settle for this kid named John Wall. I hope he’s at least half the player that Evan Turner is.
by Nayeem JohnWall Chowdhury on Jun 15, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions
This can only be taken as an insult
I think if you’re a draft prospect, you work out for any team that wants you to come in unless you just couldn’t stand to play for that franchise. They’re having you come in for a reason, which means somehow they think there’s a chance they could pick you (whether it’s taking you higher than you expect or trading for a spot where they could pick you). Not working out for them only serves to prevent them from picking you, and can only mean you don’t want to play for them.
Although I will admit that it might not be that great a situation for Turner if he got picked 1st. The media would mock the Wizards, fans would be pissed, and he would have a tremendous amount of pressure on him to outperform Wall, which isn’t likely to happen.
I can see the logic in Turner’s decision. At this point it is very unlikely the Wizards will select anyone other than Wall. Added to that there have been plenty of rumors that the 76ers might prefer someone like Favors, because Turner wouldn’t fit well on the Philly team in particular alongside Iguodala.
To counter that, Falk and Turner give up on getting drafted by the Wizards, in favor of the 76ers who are the “better fit.”
by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 15, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions
At least we now know
That Turner is not a fit for what Ted is trying to do in the future. We definitely don’t want these types of attitudes near the Wiz. Look at Al Thornton. He did a workout for the Wizards, and based somewhat on that workout, the Wizards were ready to get him on the squad in a trade. Have fun with Doug Collins Evan Turner. LOL
Evan Turner, noted malcontent. Uh, no.
This is just pre-draft posturing. Don’t watch the sausage being made if it bothers you this much.
"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
He was never coming here
no matter what any sources say. Wall was the pick from the moment it was announced. I could care less if he comes and works out for us because we aren’t taking him.
Not working out wouldn’t keep us from picking him either. its a business and the kid did nothing wrong. its no more an indication of his true self than his jersey number is.
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