JaVale McGee cut from Team USA
by Mike Prada on Jul 28, 2010 3:07 PM EDT
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PrintJaVale McGee will not travel to New York with Team USA, as he was one of four players cut from the team today. Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner was first with the news. Tyreke Evans, O.J. Mayo and Gerald Wallace were the other players cut.
More to come, but here's your reaction thread.
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How did the guy with mono make the cut???
Was there some under the table deal made??
Seems like they are really going to make a run at this “small ball” type of system. Only 2 legit bigs on the team? I kinda have to question that.
Bleh
You can EASILY switch out Gordon, Granger, or Gay for McGee
I agree except for Granger
He is a fantastic 3 point shooter, career 38% from distance. The US needs shooting to win in international ball with zone defenses. I think they took Lopez over Mcgee because they can trust him to knock down free throw line jumpers when the defense collapses.
Side note, I am excited to see this squad go. The “B-Team” might end up being a much better build for international ball. The “Redeem Team” had one shooter, Michael Redd. A career 38% shooter. The next closest was Deron Williams at 35%.
This years group will blow them away from distance. Curry shot a ridiculous 43 3pt% last year. Billups and Granger are both career 38 3pt% shooters and KD isn’t far behind at 36%. Even Gordon is lights out. If he can play SF in international ball they should take him over Gay.
by forthepeople on Jul 28, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
The U.S. Team will greatly miss McGee’s stellar post defense.
by disgrunted on Jul 28, 2010 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
i think it was a tough decision...
gonna have to play a LOT of small ball… run and pass and beat opps to the basket… not the way international rules affect the game,,,
I would think in the international game big men would be coveted
Especially with the more leanient goaltending rules…
Props to McGee
He shined in the 5 minutes of floortime they gave him.
6 quick points, a block, broke up a pass to the post, created a steal for his teamate by swatting a ball from a guard.
Now him and Gil have motivation to prove themselves.
well
there was a lot of practice time outside of the for-show game that USA basketball sold to ESPN. People keep talking about the time during that game but he was in Vegas working with them for a lot longer than that.
Kyle documented the many times McGee messed up on D that game
It was actually a really poor showing by him.
by BayAreaBullet on Jul 28, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
this was a mistake on their part. I am not saying McGee is a world beater (haha this phrase means a lot more when talking about world games) but he would bring a nice spark off the bench…
by Meraj Chowdhury on Jul 28, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions
I understand McGee being cut,
he’s not quite there yet. However I think he should have made the roster of 15. There are too many similar players left on the team. McGee, while not polished and lacking fundamental brought something that no one else did, Chandler and Lopez included. While Rondo, Westbrook, and Rose are all great point guards, why keep three guys that all bring a similar style of basketball? All three are athletic PGs that can run a team, and all lack a jump shot. With so man PGs on the roster, I don’t see the logic in keeping all of them, most of whom cannot shoot. I would have settled for Billups, Rose, and either Rondo or Westbrook in order to keep as many shooters and bigs on the team as possible.
It’s not like the lack of McGee on the team will damage our chances of success at the Worlds, but I think he deserved to make it past this cut due to outplaying Lopez and showing flashes of brilliance.
Coach K
They play small, often with 2 PG’s on the floor together. i can see one of the guys you mentioned playing PG and Billups playing 3, Gordon at 3 etc. They’re basically playing 3 guards, a SF and a PF/C. Thats why I said JaVale wouldn’t make it to Turkey. he wasn’t behind 2 centers. He was behind all the centers and the power forwards.
Good point
This isn’t the NBA. You don’t need 2 or 3 legit big men to be competitive.
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Jul 28, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
How did Steph Curry make the cut over Tyreke Evans?
I also wonder if they tried to pick those who they felt were more popular players overall with the fans?
Steph played well in the scrimmage (and practice from what I hear),
He can play both guard spots, and he is a great shooter who will space the floor. Wait, why would anyone take Evans over Curry again?
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Jul 28, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
THIS IS GOOD!!!
All everyone has talked about is how cock y McGee is and how much he “thinks he has already made it.” This will serve as an opportunity for him to be humbled and go back on the grind to get as good as he should be based on his “upside.” You people in the bloggosphere act more like fanboy groupies than true fans of the game.
good heavens man
No one here thinks McGee has “made it.” Of course he needs more work, but he also would have brought something to the team and perhaps been useful in practice (though of course he never would have made final 12).
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Jul 28, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
i disagree
i think lots of people on this site talk like mcgee has already made it.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jul 28, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
There's a difference
between “already made it” and “improved so much that it looks like he’s going to make it sooner rather than later”.
by JonathanJoseph on Jul 28, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
i think lots of people on this site talk like mcgee has already made it.
that’s not my impression
by MR on Jul 28, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I think most people talk about potential
not that he’s a star already. I think there’s a difference.
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Jul 28, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, i'll agree with you guys
but i do get the sense that he’s been anointed.
i’m not ready to say he even deserves starters minutes. there’s a good chance i’ll be pulling for seraphin to get the bulk of the minutes if he actually rebounds and defends.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jul 28, 2010 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you mean "You people"?
Sounds racist to me.
And where are you? Have you developed some new technology where you can access and comment on this site while outside of the “bloggosphere”? If you could help us become “True Fans of The Game” we would be very grateful. That sounds amazing.
I was also suprised Gerald Wallace was cut
One of the most versatile players in the league, but still wonder if they were looking for the bigger names out of the bunch.
I hope coach K explained to him why he was cut, and what he needs to work on. These will be the same things that exasperate us throughout the year with JaVale. IMO, this is really bad news for us, that he didn’t make the team, as they really needed big men so it was almost a no-brainer that he would make it at least as a bench player. It shows that JaVale either doesn’t know or understand the concepts the coaching staff were relaying to him, or at least if he did understand, couldn’t respond in a way that was helpful to the team. Either possibility is bad.
Unless JaVale SHOWS that he has learned something (in terms of how to play defense, for example) between now and the first week of training camp, I wouldn’t be opposed to trading him for a decent/OK veteran starting center.
Whoa...
I mean, he just got cut…i understand previous critism, but this seems a little harsh for this instance
by HIBACHI GOLD on Jul 28, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Let's burn him at the stake!!
Maybe next time he’ll learn his lesson and make the team…lol
by TheRealBigMike on Jul 28, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's not overreact...
He got cut from a group of potential all-stars. I think his being cut was the easy road to take for the coaching staff. McGee doesn’t have the name recognition of the other players and if they cut a “bigger name” over him they would be under more scutiny. They took the easy out, but when they go home a look in the mirror I think they have to wonder if they made the right decision.
It’s like drafting Greg Oden becouse his name has the bigger “buzz” at the time, when your heart tells you Kevin Durant’s a better pick.
by LiveByMySword on Jul 28, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you so sure, JJ? My intent was the same as your comment above, that is, is there any likely indication that he looks like he will “make it” sooner or later – as I think you would agree that he has not “already made it.” I’m saying that he’s already had a lot of time to show that he’s capable of becoming a “good starter,” and while his offensive athleticism is surely impressive, you can’t be a top 15-or-so center unless you can play competent defense. And, so far, I at least have seen NO — as in, zero – indication that JaVale can do any more on defense than get out of position in order to block shots. So, if my premise here is true, wouldn’t it be reasonable to think about trading him for a legitimate center – while his stock is very high – if it looks like he’s not going to get it?
Of course, if he shows the coaching staff that he is capable of carrying out their instructions on defense, then you keep him for another year. That’s what I said — but really, have you seen him respond to coaching yet? Granted, I’m not on the practice floor with those guys, but…this is not an overreaction.
by Tbonebullets on Jul 28, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
I agree that McGee will have to improve a lot to realize his potential. But he has made significant strides in his post defense in the offseason (with still a long way to go) and he has clearly showed his potential to be a impact, all-star caliber center in a few years.
As I said elsewhere, post players usually don’t come into their own until 25, which gives McGee THREE years before he’s supposed to be in his prime, so he’s not even half way there in terms of his NBA career.
But a guy who is quickly improving with the potential to be a top NBA center you do not trade for a decent veteran.
by JonathanJoseph on Jul 28, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm pretty much an optimist on McGee
but from watching SL and Team USA, I think it’s clear he still doesn’t get it. He’s in better shape but his defense, effort, shot selection, and awareness did not improve one iota. Watching him makes me feel ashamed for the game of basketball sometimes. I am nowhere near as encouraged(but def. not giving up) as everyone else seems to be.
Not one iota?
He still looks flat out lost at times, but he made significant, noticable improvements in his post defense and post offense.
by JonathanJoseph on Jul 28, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo did seem to indicate that McGee would be on-call for the rest of the summer.
“He’s very raw, he’s very young, he’s a real babe in terms of game experience and he has a real future. So that’s really how we left it with him: Keep working on your game and you may get a call sooner rather than later. You don’t know. We’re playing that by ear,” Colangelo said.
Sheridan, who thinks cutting him was a mistake.
yes
McGee got cut, but whether it’s Sheridan or Colangelo, it seems obvious that McGee turned some heads.
by JonathanJoseph on Jul 28, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Javale plus incentive for DeMarcus cousins. Or JaVale for Oden. Or JaVale for Bynum plus a pick from LA. I would pull any of those imo.
by Tbonebullets on Jul 28, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure
although with Oden’s injury risk, I’m not sure the WIZ would be willing to do that one. Either way, McGee would have a lot of value around the league right now.
by JonathanJoseph on Jul 28, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
You're nuts if you think McGee is better than Oden or Bynum
Even Cousins showed a far higher skill level in summer league than McGee has in his entire NBA career.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Look, JaVale made the Team USA camp and those other guys didn’t. Plus, JaVale can jump higher than Oden, Bynum, and Cousins! His mother played pro ball! Why would you want a ground-bound fatty like Cousins when you could have a high-flyer like JaVale? Other teams’ GMs should seriously consider our man’s considerable potential.
by Tbonebullets on Jul 28, 2010 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
The only reason McGee was even in the camp
Was because there was a huge list of players who missed due to injury or other concerns: Bosh, Howard, Boozer, R. Lopez, Lee, Stoudemire, and yes, Oden and Bynum, both of whom weren’t invited because Oden is still recovering from his knee surgery and Bynum is scheduled to get knee surgery. Any notion that McGee remotely approaches the skill level of either player or the advantages from their superior size and strength is simply silly.
As for Cousins, his skill level is miles beyond McGee’s — he has decent post moves, a midrange jumper, is a deft interior passer, and provides an interior defensive presence, all of which were on display in summer league. He’s miles beyond where McGee, who is basically a ball of athleticism with little to no finesse behind his game, is currently.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
McGee will eat them all
McGee is the next best center period. Just give it a few years. The guy is FREAKISHLY talented, gifted, and athletic. his ability to get better has no roof.
During the reg season we will see him eat all these guys for breakfast and spit them out.
I continously asked for the team to be blown up, they blew it and rebuilded. And once again I love my new Wiz!
His ability to get better does have a roof: it’s his head.
Similarly with Nick Young, dude has something close to a 40-inch vertical, but……
by Tbonebullets on Jul 28, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I know this sounds bad, but kinda glad
McGee can now continue work on his conditioning, get some rest and be ready for the start of the season and no worries for injuries and burn out. I think competing for the US was a good experience for him and his skills are a lot better than he is getting credit for by some here on this board. They don’t invite you to the camp to repay favors. McGee and the Wizards are going to surprise many this year.
what the...
how did mayo get cut. had a nice showing in the B-W scrimmage. he can shoot from the perimeter and also play a little point. E. Gordon should have been cut instead smh.
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