Jan Vesely = Pau Gasol?

by jakenbake on Jan 10, 2012 5:26 PM EST

Ok, so I know obviously Pau Gasol is/was a Top 10-20 player in the league and Jan... Jan airballed his first free throw attempt. But before Pau Gasol was PAU GASOL, he was a skinny, athletic, hard-playing kid on a Real Madrid team that went to the ACB finals.

Take a look at this video and tell me you don't see the similarities. Gangly, skinny, weak handle, poor freethrow shooter - all the things we see Jan in a negative light, they're there. But look a little closer also - he's competing on the floor with grown men, he's hustling, he's playing hard, he's skying on the break, knows when to shoot - everything we see when we look at Jan with rose-colored glasses.

None of this is to suggest that Jan is going to be a Top-20 player at any point in his playing career. But, if things go right, I think it's pretty clear that Jan could have a long, productive playing career in the NBA. Chances are, as the things Jan does well are best appreciated on a "good" team with "high IQ" players, Jan's success may not be in DC if things keep going as they're going. But if the guy gets in the weight room, focuses becoming a passable freethrow shooter, refines some post moves and gets a mid-range J, he could be a pretty damn good player.

This is where the rest of you say "Yeah, but you just listed four things he has to do and the likelihood of his achieving those is how high?" To which I say yes, it's a lot he has to accomplish, but let's at least give him a season or two to show some improvement before we through the baby out with the bath water. If there's no improvement by the end of his rookie contract, we set him adrift as we did the White Hole (Big Oily). We've already sunk a cost into him (draft pick, guaranteed contract) - let's at least see if we can get a return on him.

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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pau was 19 in that video veselys 21

(almost 22). thats a big difference in physical development years

by NotGivinUpOnDray on Jan 10, 2012 5:48 PM EST reply actions

but like vesely,pau was drafted at 21 as well.

by Alpha_Snail on Jan 10, 2012 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

If he turns into Pau Gasol...

he will be on a different team.

by koop1122 on Jan 10, 2012 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Nice Clip

I do think part of the negativity is folks fixating on Vesely being a 3, when he’s going to end up a 4. Gasol is a stretch, but maybe a Taj Gibson or a smarter Tyrus Thomas. Defense should be his calling, because you can’t teach touch. BTW Pau was playing for Barcelona.

by djnnnou on Jan 10, 2012 6:08 PM EST reply actions

i actually dont think this is a bad comparison

offensively, vesely is a walking mismatch. Theoretically, he should be able to outmuscle smaller defenders, and drive bast stronger ones. Vesely most likely won’t be rookie of the year, but if he puts in the work during practice, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be the next gasol.

by Alpha_Snail on Jan 10, 2012 6:13 PM EST reply actions

we can all hope so

by DarrellWalkerFan on Jan 10, 2012 6:19 PM EST reply actions

Pau was on Barcelona not Madrid (huge rivals)

The suppression of dictator Franco from the 1940’s to the mid 70’s, made the hate between those clubs is no joke. It’s actually more of a manifestation of Catalonian nationalism versus the Spanish nationalistic regime in Mardid.

Barca, mes qué un club!

As for Vesely and Pau: two players with some skill and upside at an early age are not necessarily comparable imho

Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge

What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh

by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 10, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions

Haha my bad re: Barca/Real

And I’m not really saying they’re totally comparable, just that there are similarities if you want to see them and maybe all hope isn’t lost. Honestly, I saw this clip on Truehoop today and I was just feeling like looking for a silver lining on the Wiz. Beats being down on the guys all the time, if possible :)

by jakenbake on Jan 10, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

i think you're putting Jan in a bad place by measuring him vs Gasol

yes, they are both tall white euros….which is the exact reason so many guys get called “the next Dirk”

fact is…Jan is nowhere near Pau on the offensive end, it’s just not even in the same league….so if we have to compare Jan to a tall white guy it should probably be AK…

by DCrez on Jan 11, 2012 1:37 AM EST reply actions

Right now, no

But I don’t know if you watched the video, they style of game Pau was playing then fits Jan’s game now. Pau wasn’t always this awesome on the offensive end. You can compare him to anyone if you want, it’s just a matter of how he stacks up. And just talking about the video, Jan looks a TON like that version of Pau. Whether Jan is going to continue to look like Pau is debatable. I honestly don’t think it’s super likely, but stranger things have happened. The video just gave me some hope, so I thought I’d share it.

by jakenbake on Jan 11, 2012 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

Pau has a damn good handle in that vid, I'm not sure Ves will have so many options like Pau

but no doubt one can hope and nice find on the vid, Pau looks like a better player with short hair for some reason

by DCrez on Jan 11, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

I love you, Jan

It all started with a kiss. It was a goofy kind of introduction that only our Wizards can provide. Most of us hated the pick, including me. I did apologize the day after the draft for calling him nasty things and just venting my frustration, but I want to apologize again.

I LOVED what this guy brought to the table last night. I’m not saying he’s Pau Gasol, or even AK47. He’s Jan Vesely, a guy who looks relaxed and composed on the court. He’s a 7-footer who can run the floor like a gazelle and makes good decisions. He made some passes that rival John Wall.

Am I just starved for something to be excited about? Yes, indeed. But this guy has something. Nick is right. He is the new fan favorite. Nick was wrong though that he was replaced. Last year it was Booker, and before last night my fave was Singleton.

Maybe tomorrow my favorite will be John Wall. Nice job, though, Mr. Vesely. Very nice.

by Unselds on Jan 11, 2012 11:29 AM EST reply actions

I wonder how John Wall feels that he's not on the fan favorite level yet.

Vesely, Booker, and Singleton are all up there because they work so hard and contribute in so many ways. I’m looking for John to improve and get better, more efficient, relax, so he can return to form.

"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely

by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 11, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions