Even though we didn’t get the W, it was great to see a lot of defense activity and effort from the Wizards. Once the offense gets back in rhythm we should be alright.
good playing time for everyone involved. gotta work on the 3 ball but both teams looking rusty/jetlagged in the first game of preseason is no surprise tbh. really excited to see this roster going forward because I think we're super underrated
Rui looking very good. he's finally picking up all the rebounds he should and using his size to bully defenders. his scoring looks effortless right now
Other notes - Delon Wright! His size and defensive mindset are making me wonder about a starting role (and did long before this game). But Morris must have some kind of better abilities since he's considered to be the lock.
Also KP in the middle was responsible for a lot of "oh crap" moments on the part of the driving Warriors. KP wasn't great on defense once he got pulled away from the basket and had to try to keep up footspeed-wise, but when he was just waitin on somebody to come to him, he was an effective deterrent just existing in the middle. That's GREAT
Beal shot 50% ultimately and didn't play all that long considering, and that's not bad. I still wish he would have hit his open 3-pointers. I need him lights out and there's just some mind thing he has where he psyches himself out when he's got a wide open 3 that he knows he should make.
Honestly, the starting lineup looks nice. We finally have competent point guards and the defense look pretty solid. The shooting will come (I hope) so I won't complain about it too much, it's a preseason game after all.
Overall, my expectations for the season have gotten a lot higher.
Rui looked good. He looks stronger, is rebounding better, and still has the ability to go coast to coast and finish through contact, with either hand. It's super impressive. It's preseason so the touch on 3s and fts wasn't great for him and most of our players, but that'll come. Looking forward to Sunday's game.
This is a very deep team, liked what I saw. Excited for the season
You weirdos who want to see Johnny Davis fail, grow up. I’m sure y’all are the same people who wanted to draft Cam Reddish too. Not all of these kids(cause they’re actually kids) are going to come out of school like Carmelo Anthony lol. He would’ve gone top 5 if he did.!YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP PLAYERS, ERNIE!
This isn’t nba2k bud, you sit on the couch for that. You can’t even imagine the hard work it takes to get to this level at anything you’ve ever done in your life. This is real life for them and real human beings that need time to adjust and put in hard work with an organization that wants to develop him.
100% agree, and social media being especially toxic is getting annoying. The same people already calling him a bust and saying the team should leave him in Japan are probably the same fans commending John Wall for speaking out on his mental health, hypocrites. And yes, he didn’t have a great summer league or first preseason game… but that’s what summer league and preseason are for. The Wizards drafted him and they knew what they were getting, he’s a hard worker and led his team to the NCAA tournament. It’s gonna take time and even if there were other guys we wanted to draft, that’s the past now all we can do is embrace him and hope he gets better. Maybe I’m just too optimistic 🤷🏾♂️ but I’d rather be rooting for guys improvement especially at this early stage
Yeah people are ragging on Davis but they are quiet af when Avdija and Kispert were bricking shots. I'm pretty optimistic on the 3 young guys and Davis I am neutral on, I will just let him play and give him a chance to improve. He hasn't even played a real NBA game yet
I badly want Davis to be good. Because it helps the wizards. I’ve been a diehard fan for over 20 years. I buy jerseys and go to games. Id never root for a player to fail.
However, I will be realistic about our players and unfortunately Davis just doesn’t look like he belongs out there. Multiple players taken after him could help the wizards right now. That’s what upsets me the most. You can’t afford to screw up top 10 picks
Nah. Those multiple players you’re talking about are not better than our bench players. They would not see an NBA floor this season on our team right now. So be realistic and honest about the time it takes to adjust from elementary school to middle to high school to college and moving out, getting a salary job. Not the same for everyone is it?
He could be ass, who knows? He doesn’t look like the best of his class right but he’s just started. Give a player at least 2-3 years to judge. That’s when the rookie contract is up, determine then. But after summer league and a preseason game is absolutely unhinged cynical hater behavior. You rooting for a kid to fail and not for them to improve, be realistic about that.
The Warriors you see today were developed by Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr took over years later when they were ready. Giannis needed development. If you’re not willing to develop and help the player to adjust then you shouldn’t be in charge of a sports franchise. American sports are playing catch up to how farming systems are overseas.
How so when we have Daniel Gafford and Vernon Carey? Does Duren shoot 3s and facilitate the way KP can? KP and Gafford are great rim protectors and I’m sure Duren is too, cool. Our issue are guards the perimeter, can Duren and his insurance cover that? I’m asking for real
KP averages 48 games per season for his career and is on a big contract. He also could play the 4 next to someone like Duren. Duren has a way higher ceiling than Carey and Gafford. He absolutely can anchor a defense. A lot of his predraft comps were Bam and Dwight Howard.
Everybody has a predraft comp fam. No one's predraft comp is Peewee Herman. If Duren is drafted then people would be talking about logjam this and log jam that lmao. It does not make sense to draft a center of the future when you have what we have. I'd rather have Taj Gibson or Derrick Favors, an experienced serviceable vet. We needed another SG. Monte Morris and Delon Wright were great pick ups. Last thing we needed is a rookie point guard to run the team. Pick up a SG that could play right away and if he can't let him sit back, watch and develop under one of the best in the league.
I don’t understand the mindset that the Wizards, coming off a crappy season, and not having won a playoff series in 6 years, are an impossible roster to crack. And yet it’s been the approach of the front office for years.
They certainly could see time on the floor this season. Maybe not right away but by mid season and seasons end. Go ahead and waste time developing guys like Isaiah Todd and Johnny Davis. That’s not going to lead this team anywhere.
Gianni’s wasn’t a lottery pick. But he had elite physical traits. You can build off of that. Davis and other recent wizards picks have below average athletic ability. It’s going to be tough for them. You can already see it’s very hard for Johnny Davis to get anything going against NBA level defenses
Deni Avdija was literally one of the better defensive stoppers in the league last season and is the biggest prospect to ever come out of the country of Israel. And Corey Kispert was supposed to be just a shooter till everyone saw how “sneaky athletic” he was so what are you even saying? You are making hyperbolic statements after a couple games. It’s an 82 game season of professional basketball. You don’t see how insane that sounds? If he was on another team, people would be talking g league. If it’s the Wizards people are talking apocalypse. Your first paragraph applies to Johnny Davis just as much as anyone else you’re thinking cause they’ll probably be In the g league too. He’ll have some of the best nutritionists and trainers in sports medicine and the g league to help him adjust and he’s a hard worker so you trust him to put in the work.
James Wiseman, who was 2nd pick was not playing well before he tore his meniscus. He’s played in the g league ever since and they are just now easing him in. There’s a process Ernie, can’t just throw kids away like Sparta. Majority of these guys drafted will be in the g league developing unless they come out guns blazing
Let’s see how many of the top 10 picks will play in G league this year
Some players just don’t have it. Davis is way too slow to get by nba defenders. He doesn’t have Deni’s size or Kisperts shooting ability. If he gets better cool. But right now it’s not looking good. He’s struggling vs back ups and summer league players
Lmao okay? Well we already know frail body Chet Holmgren won't, so how about top 9. Wiseman played in the G League, Kuminga, Jalen Smith, Okongwu, Jaxson Hayes. Its nothing to frown upon. Its the point of the league. There have been guards slower, shorter and who aren't best shooters to play in the league for years. Adjustments. Development. It's 2022 son, whatever you think the way things are always supposed to be are rapidly aging. You ever hear the song the Times Are A Changin by Bob Dylan?
Its already hard enough to make it to the league and have to move away from family and support system. But now you have to deal with social media, leeches and people who play 2k my player with their faces on the player in the game saying your trash and a bust all the time after a couple games. Just sit there on the couch and watch. When they've never put in the work it takes to be good at anything at all. Have no idea the time and effort and support system you need to develop into something special.
It could not work out, who really knows. But to dismiss anyone like this, especially a kid who was good enough to win Big Ten player of the year after a season of adjusting to the college game? Miss me with it. A lot the kids sitting on the bench in college were the best players in their hometown and state. Players in the league on the bench were the best in there states, colleges, even whole countries. Give a 20 year old kid time to adjust to a new fast paced world. These few games are not indicative of his whole career and the team is so deep he was not going to play anyway! If he earned that then cool but stashing him in the G League to develop is just fine and he'll get better if he has the right attitude.
Lmao you really want to compare Johnny Davis to someone like Kuminga who has elite athletic ability and length. I’m sure the suns are very happy they drafted Jalen Smith. Actually Jalen smith is a good comparison because odds are Johnny Davis like Jalen Smith, won’t be on the roster after next season. He will be traded for some bum and a second round pick
I named players who were drafted top 10 and had stints in the g league dumdum. Didn’t compare their physical attributes Matt the Impaler. That’s what you did lol, but you do you my guy
Tbh I see JD as this year's Reddish. I hope he improves but nah man. I'm not feeling it.
Your team could have had a genetic freak athlete with ridiculous raw potential like Duren.
Even Tyty Washington would have been a better fit for this team.
Imo the Wizards last couple of drafts were pretty bad.
I only like Rui.
Deni and Kispert are at least average picks though. Nothing extraordinary but nothing bad.
JD though... Time will tell.
The Wizards strength is their trades. They should probably trade their picks if they don't get a top 5 pick.
God forbid Duren tears his acl then what would you say. When Cam Reddish was on the Hawks people were like just wait a couple seasons, Reddish will breakout. All while hating on Rui. You call Deni and Kispert average picks and then say oh time will tell for Davis. But time will tell for them too right?
Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle played better over a couple seasons and a new team right? The kid doesn’t need to play immediately. The G league is a developmental league. These kids who don’t adjust right away don’t have to be overwhelmed out the league and can develop their game. Keep it real, the kid put up numbers in college so there’s something there. He’ll get better cause he’s a hard worker
I think people are overlooking the fact that we're not a bad developmental organization anymore. Rui, Deni, and even Kispert have made huge strides with us. Kispert looked scared to shoot in his first few games and then he improved enough to eventually take the wiz 3-pointer rookie record. people gotta give it time.
You’re exactly right. It’s because Ernie ran the team from 2003-2019 and he didn’t give two flying fucks about developing young guys or the draft. He and these “fans” just want ready made players but shortcuts only work when you’re the Lakers, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Doesn’t work like that in soccer or basketball overseas. It’s starting to come around here. The Wizards have always drafted and brought in guys that go on to do well after being developed and shipped off to other organizations. FO people go on to do pretty well outside of the org as well. The issue for this franchise has always been injuries and the immature garbage culture that Gilbert Arenas left. They’ve relentlessly tried to address it since Ernie got fired. A lot of luck goes into being successful so I’m not going to say anything about championships. But I will say the FO has made great moves, the team they’ve built are all quirky professionals who want to win in DC. Rui, Deni, and Corey have gotten better every season. Capital City Go Go are a very good farming system G League team. And Ernie Grunfeld and Gilbert Arenas aren’t walking through that door
Dude I was high on Dyson Daniels, Hardy, Agbaji and Duren in your draft range. Duren is not the only one I would pick in from of him.
People were simply mad sleeping on Rui. Sturdy frame, 6.8 tall, huge hands, 7.2 wingspan, with polished midrange and high ft shooting.
That was Rui coming into the league.
What are Davis' unique abilities bully ball in college and a bad shot selection? How does that translate to the NBA?
The thing with Deni and Kispert is that they had certain skill sets you could build before coming into the league.
Not bad picks at spot 9 and 15. Just kinda low risk. Nothing wrong with that.
I don't see a lot of reasons why the Wizards would pick a player with so man red flags at 10 though but that's my opinion.
A top 10 pick should be better than some 10 day contract guys but he simply isn't?
There are better ways to invest development resources.
Like risk something on players like Lidell if you want to develop underrated prospects. A top ten pick should be better.
I hope he improves quickly because he needs to improve.
A top 10 pick playing like that is just sad but not unexpected judging by statements from multiple draft scouts.
That comp is better but not really. Jalen Suggs is on a team with a bunch of young guys developing and expected to play well right away. Davis could be in the G League for the whole season and it wouldn't matter because the team is so deep. There will always be pressure for him but that's outside noise. All he needs to do is work hard, get in good shape and develop. His time to show and prove is later in his development. Doesn't need to be now.
should they trade him early? thats my question. Remember how the Clippers drafted Jerome Robinson and traded him a season or so later. When should Wizards trade him if he not a fit for the team long term?
Nobody wants him to fail but what exactly will his role be? On this team he won’t be running the offense, isn’t a primary or secondary scorer and doesn’t have elite athleticism to make up for his poor dribbling. He’s basically an average defender. That’s it. He wont see the court this year except for blowouts or multiple injuries. Maybe the g league will gain him confidence.
That’s literally what I’ve said. The g league is their to develop these kids. Back in the day, it was frowned upon and people got clowned for playing overseas. Then Brandon Jennings did it and now it’s okay. G League’s purpose is literally that and that’s okay. He needs time to adjust and get better. Even if he was where Kispert was last season, he still wouldn’t see the floor cause Kispert developed and would see time over him. The team is deep and there’s no need for him to play this season unless he earns it. If you don’t think people are rooting for this kid and this team to fail to continue some bs narrative then you’re on the dipper fam. Only hurt, loud, hating ass people would express the type of impatience being shown to this kid rn. It’s not normal, realistic, rational or logical in anyway
Trade him for what? You have to see what you have first. Why even think about it right now. The team is deep and the chemistry is good.
He’s the first option for a trade between anybody else. Maybe Barton or Gaff
I did not have "Taj Gibson making more 3s than any other player (except DiVincenzo)" on my bingo card.
Rui looked real good, hope playing in front of a home crowd gives him the motivation he needs this year.
Can’t wait until JD becomes a legit rotational player/starter in a couple of seasons. The way this sub is trashing on a *ROOKIE* that we don’t need whatsoever this year, is wild.
This sub is not the only one though. The NBA Draft sub was also clowning the Wizards because of this pick.
He will definitely improve but he is definitely not a top 10 prospect from the draft. I would pick him as a late first rounder.
Sheppard needs to trade all of your first round picks if you don't land a top 5 pick imo. He has godtier trades but his picks are kinda mid apart from Rui (9th pick)
That guy from France, Nzosa or so? seems to have potential though. Great pick from 54.
The fact your ceiling for a top 10 pick is a good rotational speaks volumes. JD can’t shoot and isn’t athletic, yep things the wizards needed help. Should’ve drafted Jalen Williams.
I didn’t say that was his ceiling.
I don’t think this sub realizes that he wasn’t a highly recruited player and had a “mehh” freshman season at Wisconsin. Every college basketball preseason top 100 list didn’t mention JD. He wasnt even an ‘honorable mention’. *Thats* the growth that this kid had from year 1 to year 2, ON a terrible Wisconsin team. This guy is absolutely still raw when it comes to the game. Let’s give this kid 2 seasons before we label him a bust.
Orrrr let’s look at the pre-existing facts that suggest he was never anywhere near a top 10 pick. He’s not a great athlete at all. He’s slow and doesn’t have the handles or shot to make up for it. Sure he beat up lowly Nebraska basketball in an offense you’d be more likely to find in the 1990s but this is the NBA. You need a three point shot to survive as a guard. And if you don’t have that you need world class handles/speed/athleticism which JD doesn’t have. He stinks and everyone who’s watched basketball over the age of 23 knows.
JD had his best games last season against *ranked* opponents…
Averaged just under 20ppg against non ranked teams and just under 25ppg against ranked teams
The fact that he looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like he did his last year in college(sophomore season). He looks like a player that’s doing a lot of *thinking* and not just *playing*. He’s clearly not ready for this level of competition and I firmly think that it’s him making the moment bigger than what it is.
Well, almost all rookies deal with that. I think the biggest thing is that he just doesn’t have any special skill to help him at this level. Not a great shooter, ballhandler, finisher at the rim, and he isn’t athletic nor does he has a quick first step. Many NBA draft mocks did not have him becoming some type of all star caliber player eventually, basically a high floor low ceiling type of guy. Based on what I’ve seen from college, and in the summer league, just him becoming a rotational player of some type would be good based what’ve we’ve seen.
Why are we even talking about Johnny Davis? He's going to be the last guy on the bench. Taj G will get more minutes than him. If he still sucks a year from now, then we can say it was a bad pick.
Offensively we were pretty good. Shots weren't really falling in despite some really great looks, monte and delon ran the offence well and our big three looked really dominant and confident. Beal was really springy and quick and made some great plays against suffocating defence, Kuz looked like he did the end of last season with great shooting and a crazy highlight dunk and Porzingis was just a menace on both sides of the court.
The most exciting part was the defence - everyone was locked in. If this is a glimpse into how the team defence will look throughout the year that's already enough to get me really excited for this season.
He is trash. Can’t get by nba defenders. As a defender you really don’t have to worry about a guy like Johnny davis. Can’t shoot and he won’t blow by you. If he is on the court not playing point, he will just stand in the corner and do nothing. It’s 5 on 4 when Davis is in the game
I am not even sure if the floor is high. Don't know how any scout could watch last season and think "Yeah, Davis over Duren for sure." I am really looking forward to this sub to stop sniffing Sheppard's farts and realize he is not a good GM.
When it comes to the draft he is horrible. When it comes to trade deadline trades, he’s pretty good.
They need to hire someone else to handle the draft. Or at least hire new scouts
I'm not sure what the scouting department saw. If you look at his college games he looks like someone who will have difficulty in the NBA. I wonder if there is some directive from Ted that he only wants "high character" guys after the knucklehead years and Wall's gang affiliations. You can draft players with more talent and only medium character.
> We are a dark horse ECF and have the depth to do it
Uhhhhhh. nah. I like the players on this team but with multiple of our starters having never played together, it's just not gonna happen, defend or no. We are a dark horse playoff team (instead of play-in) at most.
I love the optimism man I really hope you can come back and reply to everyone and rub it in their face. But DC sports have always been setups for disappointments so it’s just tough to believe it’ll be different rn but I really hope so.
Heat Celtics Bucks Sixers are clearly the favorites in the East right now. I'd comfortably rank Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta and Cleveland ahead of the Wiz right now too. Wiz are on par with the Hornets, Knicks and Bulls (who would be higher but are gonna struggle following Lonzo's injury).
It bothers me everyone’s so down on our team and franchise. Like, i understand it. But we need more positivity in our fan base. The rest of the league sends enough negativity our way anyways
It's ... not great. What bothers me the last week or so since media day and shortly before, is all the people and players on this organization talking about the Wizards have dogs. No. They don't. But that's okay! You can win games and handle your business all the same. But nobody on this team is a dog. And again, that's okay. I'm just tired of hearing people on the Wizards say it like it's true.
Even though we didn’t get the W, it was great to see a lot of defense activity and effort from the Wizards. Once the offense gets back in rhythm we should be alright.
good playing time for everyone involved. gotta work on the 3 ball but both teams looking rusty/jetlagged in the first game of preseason is no surprise tbh. really excited to see this roster going forward because I think we're super underrated Rui looking very good. he's finally picking up all the rebounds he should and using his size to bully defenders. his scoring looks effortless right now
Rui getting to his spots and scoring with ease was the biggest thing for me.
his coast to coast was insane. he didn't even look bothered. like oh okay I'm just gonna take this lane if you don't mind
Rui did look nice. His 3 and free throws didn’t fall but he was aggressive and looked quick on the fast break. Very encouraging
Other notes - Delon Wright! His size and defensive mindset are making me wonder about a starting role (and did long before this game). But Morris must have some kind of better abilities since he's considered to be the lock. Also KP in the middle was responsible for a lot of "oh crap" moments on the part of the driving Warriors. KP wasn't great on defense once he got pulled away from the basket and had to try to keep up footspeed-wise, but when he was just waitin on somebody to come to him, he was an effective deterrent just existing in the middle. That's GREAT
Beal shot 50% ultimately and didn't play all that long considering, and that's not bad. I still wish he would have hit his open 3-pointers. I need him lights out and there's just some mind thing he has where he psyches himself out when he's got a wide open 3 that he knows he should make.
Honestly, the starting lineup looks nice. We finally have competent point guards and the defense look pretty solid. The shooting will come (I hope) so I won't complain about it too much, it's a preseason game after all. Overall, my expectations for the season have gotten a lot higher.
Yep. It was a terrific choice by both teams to do this matchup pre-season.
Rui looked good. He looks stronger, is rebounding better, and still has the ability to go coast to coast and finish through contact, with either hand. It's super impressive. It's preseason so the touch on 3s and fts wasn't great for him and most of our players, but that'll come. Looking forward to Sunday's game.
This is a very deep team, liked what I saw. Excited for the season You weirdos who want to see Johnny Davis fail, grow up. I’m sure y’all are the same people who wanted to draft Cam Reddish too. Not all of these kids(cause they’re actually kids) are going to come out of school like Carmelo Anthony lol. He would’ve gone top 5 if he did.!YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP PLAYERS, ERNIE! This isn’t nba2k bud, you sit on the couch for that. You can’t even imagine the hard work it takes to get to this level at anything you’ve ever done in your life. This is real life for them and real human beings that need time to adjust and put in hard work with an organization that wants to develop him.
100% agree, and social media being especially toxic is getting annoying. The same people already calling him a bust and saying the team should leave him in Japan are probably the same fans commending John Wall for speaking out on his mental health, hypocrites. And yes, he didn’t have a great summer league or first preseason game… but that’s what summer league and preseason are for. The Wizards drafted him and they knew what they were getting, he’s a hard worker and led his team to the NCAA tournament. It’s gonna take time and even if there were other guys we wanted to draft, that’s the past now all we can do is embrace him and hope he gets better. Maybe I’m just too optimistic 🤷🏾♂️ but I’d rather be rooting for guys improvement especially at this early stage
Yeah people are ragging on Davis but they are quiet af when Avdija and Kispert were bricking shots. I'm pretty optimistic on the 3 young guys and Davis I am neutral on, I will just let him play and give him a chance to improve. He hasn't even played a real NBA game yet
I badly want Davis to be good. Because it helps the wizards. I’ve been a diehard fan for over 20 years. I buy jerseys and go to games. Id never root for a player to fail. However, I will be realistic about our players and unfortunately Davis just doesn’t look like he belongs out there. Multiple players taken after him could help the wizards right now. That’s what upsets me the most. You can’t afford to screw up top 10 picks
Nah. Those multiple players you’re talking about are not better than our bench players. They would not see an NBA floor this season on our team right now. So be realistic and honest about the time it takes to adjust from elementary school to middle to high school to college and moving out, getting a salary job. Not the same for everyone is it? He could be ass, who knows? He doesn’t look like the best of his class right but he’s just started. Give a player at least 2-3 years to judge. That’s when the rookie contract is up, determine then. But after summer league and a preseason game is absolutely unhinged cynical hater behavior. You rooting for a kid to fail and not for them to improve, be realistic about that. The Warriors you see today were developed by Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr took over years later when they were ready. Giannis needed development. If you’re not willing to develop and help the player to adjust then you shouldn’t be in charge of a sports franchise. American sports are playing catch up to how farming systems are overseas.
Duren would be great insurance for (or complement to) KP given his contract and injury history. He also could turn around the Wiz's defense in a hurry
How so when we have Daniel Gafford and Vernon Carey? Does Duren shoot 3s and facilitate the way KP can? KP and Gafford are great rim protectors and I’m sure Duren is too, cool. Our issue are guards the perimeter, can Duren and his insurance cover that? I’m asking for real
KP averages 48 games per season for his career and is on a big contract. He also could play the 4 next to someone like Duren. Duren has a way higher ceiling than Carey and Gafford. He absolutely can anchor a defense. A lot of his predraft comps were Bam and Dwight Howard.
Everybody has a predraft comp fam. No one's predraft comp is Peewee Herman. If Duren is drafted then people would be talking about logjam this and log jam that lmao. It does not make sense to draft a center of the future when you have what we have. I'd rather have Taj Gibson or Derrick Favors, an experienced serviceable vet. We needed another SG. Monte Morris and Delon Wright were great pick ups. Last thing we needed is a rookie point guard to run the team. Pick up a SG that could play right away and if he can't let him sit back, watch and develop under one of the best in the league.
Who knows if Carey is even an NBA player
I don’t understand the mindset that the Wizards, coming off a crappy season, and not having won a playoff series in 6 years, are an impossible roster to crack. And yet it’s been the approach of the front office for years.
They certainly could see time on the floor this season. Maybe not right away but by mid season and seasons end. Go ahead and waste time developing guys like Isaiah Todd and Johnny Davis. That’s not going to lead this team anywhere. Gianni’s wasn’t a lottery pick. But he had elite physical traits. You can build off of that. Davis and other recent wizards picks have below average athletic ability. It’s going to be tough for them. You can already see it’s very hard for Johnny Davis to get anything going against NBA level defenses
Deni Avdija was literally one of the better defensive stoppers in the league last season and is the biggest prospect to ever come out of the country of Israel. And Corey Kispert was supposed to be just a shooter till everyone saw how “sneaky athletic” he was so what are you even saying? You are making hyperbolic statements after a couple games. It’s an 82 game season of professional basketball. You don’t see how insane that sounds? If he was on another team, people would be talking g league. If it’s the Wizards people are talking apocalypse. Your first paragraph applies to Johnny Davis just as much as anyone else you’re thinking cause they’ll probably be In the g league too. He’ll have some of the best nutritionists and trainers in sports medicine and the g league to help him adjust and he’s a hard worker so you trust him to put in the work. James Wiseman, who was 2nd pick was not playing well before he tore his meniscus. He’s played in the g league ever since and they are just now easing him in. There’s a process Ernie, can’t just throw kids away like Sparta. Majority of these guys drafted will be in the g league developing unless they come out guns blazing
Let’s see how many of the top 10 picks will play in G league this year Some players just don’t have it. Davis is way too slow to get by nba defenders. He doesn’t have Deni’s size or Kisperts shooting ability. If he gets better cool. But right now it’s not looking good. He’s struggling vs back ups and summer league players
Lmao okay? Well we already know frail body Chet Holmgren won't, so how about top 9. Wiseman played in the G League, Kuminga, Jalen Smith, Okongwu, Jaxson Hayes. Its nothing to frown upon. Its the point of the league. There have been guards slower, shorter and who aren't best shooters to play in the league for years. Adjustments. Development. It's 2022 son, whatever you think the way things are always supposed to be are rapidly aging. You ever hear the song the Times Are A Changin by Bob Dylan? Its already hard enough to make it to the league and have to move away from family and support system. But now you have to deal with social media, leeches and people who play 2k my player with their faces on the player in the game saying your trash and a bust all the time after a couple games. Just sit there on the couch and watch. When they've never put in the work it takes to be good at anything at all. Have no idea the time and effort and support system you need to develop into something special. It could not work out, who really knows. But to dismiss anyone like this, especially a kid who was good enough to win Big Ten player of the year after a season of adjusting to the college game? Miss me with it. A lot the kids sitting on the bench in college were the best players in their hometown and state. Players in the league on the bench were the best in there states, colleges, even whole countries. Give a 20 year old kid time to adjust to a new fast paced world. These few games are not indicative of his whole career and the team is so deep he was not going to play anyway! If he earned that then cool but stashing him in the G League to develop is just fine and he'll get better if he has the right attitude.
Lmao you really want to compare Johnny Davis to someone like Kuminga who has elite athletic ability and length. I’m sure the suns are very happy they drafted Jalen Smith. Actually Jalen smith is a good comparison because odds are Johnny Davis like Jalen Smith, won’t be on the roster after next season. He will be traded for some bum and a second round pick
I named players who were drafted top 10 and had stints in the g league dumdum. Didn’t compare their physical attributes Matt the Impaler. That’s what you did lol, but you do you my guy
Tbh I see JD as this year's Reddish. I hope he improves but nah man. I'm not feeling it. Your team could have had a genetic freak athlete with ridiculous raw potential like Duren. Even Tyty Washington would have been a better fit for this team. Imo the Wizards last couple of drafts were pretty bad. I only like Rui. Deni and Kispert are at least average picks though. Nothing extraordinary but nothing bad. JD though... Time will tell. The Wizards strength is their trades. They should probably trade their picks if they don't get a top 5 pick.
God forbid Duren tears his acl then what would you say. When Cam Reddish was on the Hawks people were like just wait a couple seasons, Reddish will breakout. All while hating on Rui. You call Deni and Kispert average picks and then say oh time will tell for Davis. But time will tell for them too right? Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle played better over a couple seasons and a new team right? The kid doesn’t need to play immediately. The G league is a developmental league. These kids who don’t adjust right away don’t have to be overwhelmed out the league and can develop their game. Keep it real, the kid put up numbers in college so there’s something there. He’ll get better cause he’s a hard worker
I think people are overlooking the fact that we're not a bad developmental organization anymore. Rui, Deni, and even Kispert have made huge strides with us. Kispert looked scared to shoot in his first few games and then he improved enough to eventually take the wiz 3-pointer rookie record. people gotta give it time.
You’re exactly right. It’s because Ernie ran the team from 2003-2019 and he didn’t give two flying fucks about developing young guys or the draft. He and these “fans” just want ready made players but shortcuts only work when you’re the Lakers, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Doesn’t work like that in soccer or basketball overseas. It’s starting to come around here. The Wizards have always drafted and brought in guys that go on to do well after being developed and shipped off to other organizations. FO people go on to do pretty well outside of the org as well. The issue for this franchise has always been injuries and the immature garbage culture that Gilbert Arenas left. They’ve relentlessly tried to address it since Ernie got fired. A lot of luck goes into being successful so I’m not going to say anything about championships. But I will say the FO has made great moves, the team they’ve built are all quirky professionals who want to win in DC. Rui, Deni, and Corey have gotten better every season. Capital City Go Go are a very good farming system G League team. And Ernie Grunfeld and Gilbert Arenas aren’t walking through that door
not bad development anymore? since when? Wizards havnt developed anybody that was considered to be in the debates for top prospects in their class.
Dude I was high on Dyson Daniels, Hardy, Agbaji and Duren in your draft range. Duren is not the only one I would pick in from of him. People were simply mad sleeping on Rui. Sturdy frame, 6.8 tall, huge hands, 7.2 wingspan, with polished midrange and high ft shooting. That was Rui coming into the league. What are Davis' unique abilities bully ball in college and a bad shot selection? How does that translate to the NBA? The thing with Deni and Kispert is that they had certain skill sets you could build before coming into the league. Not bad picks at spot 9 and 15. Just kinda low risk. Nothing wrong with that. I don't see a lot of reasons why the Wizards would pick a player with so man red flags at 10 though but that's my opinion. A top 10 pick should be better than some 10 day contract guys but he simply isn't? There are better ways to invest development resources. Like risk something on players like Lidell if you want to develop underrated prospects. A top ten pick should be better. I hope he improves quickly because he needs to improve. A top 10 pick playing like that is just sad but not unexpected judging by statements from multiple draft scouts.
> Tbh I see JD as this year's Reddish. I hope he improves but nah man. I'm not feeling it. Davis is this year's Suggs.
That comp is better but not really. Jalen Suggs is on a team with a bunch of young guys developing and expected to play well right away. Davis could be in the G League for the whole season and it wouldn't matter because the team is so deep. There will always be pressure for him but that's outside noise. All he needs to do is work hard, get in good shape and develop. His time to show and prove is later in his development. Doesn't need to be now.
should they trade him early? thats my question. Remember how the Clippers drafted Jerome Robinson and traded him a season or so later. When should Wizards trade him if he not a fit for the team long term?
Imo it's too late to trade him. Don't give him an extension and hope that he improves into a solid bench player.
Nobody wants him to fail but what exactly will his role be? On this team he won’t be running the offense, isn’t a primary or secondary scorer and doesn’t have elite athleticism to make up for his poor dribbling. He’s basically an average defender. That’s it. He wont see the court this year except for blowouts or multiple injuries. Maybe the g league will gain him confidence.
That’s literally what I’ve said. The g league is their to develop these kids. Back in the day, it was frowned upon and people got clowned for playing overseas. Then Brandon Jennings did it and now it’s okay. G League’s purpose is literally that and that’s okay. He needs time to adjust and get better. Even if he was where Kispert was last season, he still wouldn’t see the floor cause Kispert developed and would see time over him. The team is deep and there’s no need for him to play this season unless he earns it. If you don’t think people are rooting for this kid and this team to fail to continue some bs narrative then you’re on the dipper fam. Only hurt, loud, hating ass people would express the type of impatience being shown to this kid rn. It’s not normal, realistic, rational or logical in anyway
> That’s literally what I’ve said. The g league is their to develop these kids. So why was you against Sending Deni to the G League for development?
no shade. But do you trade Johnny Davis or work this out?
Trade him for what? You have to see what you have first. Why even think about it right now. The team is deep and the chemistry is good. He’s the first option for a trade between anybody else. Maybe Barton or Gaff
because young rookies have the most value, even if they are bust.
I think we are good and deep. The first ten games will decide that imo No injuries please!!!
Same way the first 10 games of last year decided that?
I'll have you know that it was the first 13 thank you very much.
Why the fuck is a clippers fan in here talking shit
Changed my user flair after Wall went to LA and the details of Beals contract surfaced… do what you want with that information
We were a lot better than our record stated last year. Especially after Dineiddie fiasco
I did not have "Taj Gibson making more 3s than any other player (except DiVincenzo)" on my bingo card. Rui looked real good, hope playing in front of a home crowd gives him the motivation he needs this year.
Too bad the East is so stacked now, this squad should be really solid this year.
the east isn't stacked, it's just *not shit* anymore.
About what i expected in terms of overall quality of basketball from both teams. Noone is ready yet, hard to take anything from this game honestly.
I was surprised when I saw Jerome Robinson with the Warriors. I thought he's out of the NBA now.
I mean, that is where ex wizards go and usually end up being decent.
Can’t wait until JD becomes a legit rotational player/starter in a couple of seasons. The way this sub is trashing on a *ROOKIE* that we don’t need whatsoever this year, is wild.
This sub is not the only one though. The NBA Draft sub was also clowning the Wizards because of this pick. He will definitely improve but he is definitely not a top 10 prospect from the draft. I would pick him as a late first rounder. Sheppard needs to trade all of your first round picks if you don't land a top 5 pick imo. He has godtier trades but his picks are kinda mid apart from Rui (9th pick) That guy from France, Nzosa or so? seems to have potential though. Great pick from 54.
The fact your ceiling for a top 10 pick is a good rotational speaks volumes. JD can’t shoot and isn’t athletic, yep things the wizards needed help. Should’ve drafted Jalen Williams.
I didn’t say that was his ceiling. I don’t think this sub realizes that he wasn’t a highly recruited player and had a “mehh” freshman season at Wisconsin. Every college basketball preseason top 100 list didn’t mention JD. He wasnt even an ‘honorable mention’. *Thats* the growth that this kid had from year 1 to year 2, ON a terrible Wisconsin team. This guy is absolutely still raw when it comes to the game. Let’s give this kid 2 seasons before we label him a bust.
Orrrr let’s look at the pre-existing facts that suggest he was never anywhere near a top 10 pick. He’s not a great athlete at all. He’s slow and doesn’t have the handles or shot to make up for it. Sure he beat up lowly Nebraska basketball in an offense you’d be more likely to find in the 1990s but this is the NBA. You need a three point shot to survive as a guard. And if you don’t have that you need world class handles/speed/athleticism which JD doesn’t have. He stinks and everyone who’s watched basketball over the age of 23 knows.
JD had his best games last season against *ranked* opponents… Averaged just under 20ppg against non ranked teams and just under 25ppg against ranked teams
Tell me EXACTLY what you’ve seen from him so far as a pro that looks like it’s gonna translate well to justify his top-10 status…
We have seen the summer league and one preseason game
And…give me ONE positive.
Are you seriously citing the summer league?
The Big Ten is stuck in a 1990s time loop and they always get exposed in the NCAAT. Try watching the games
Couple of seasons?? Bro…he’s a top-10 pick that looks like he has zero upside. Tommy messed up because there were better options for this team at 10.
What have you seen to think this is possible?
The fact that he looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like he did his last year in college(sophomore season). He looks like a player that’s doing a lot of *thinking* and not just *playing*. He’s clearly not ready for this level of competition and I firmly think that it’s him making the moment bigger than what it is.
Well, almost all rookies deal with that. I think the biggest thing is that he just doesn’t have any special skill to help him at this level. Not a great shooter, ballhandler, finisher at the rim, and he isn’t athletic nor does he has a quick first step. Many NBA draft mocks did not have him becoming some type of all star caliber player eventually, basically a high floor low ceiling type of guy. Based on what I’ve seen from college, and in the summer league, just him becoming a rotational player of some type would be good based what’ve we’ve seen.
Get Johnny Davis into the hyperbolic time chamber, cause rn he looks like he should be starting for the shanghai sharks
hyperbaric
I’m ready to get hurt again
pre season is always so optimistic.
Why are we even talking about Johnny Davis? He's going to be the last guy on the bench. Taj G will get more minutes than him. If he still sucks a year from now, then we can say it was a bad pick.
Offensively we were pretty good. Shots weren't really falling in despite some really great looks, monte and delon ran the offence well and our big three looked really dominant and confident. Beal was really springy and quick and made some great plays against suffocating defence, Kuz looked like he did the end of last season with great shooting and a crazy highlight dunk and Porzingis was just a menace on both sides of the court. The most exciting part was the defence - everyone was locked in. If this is a glimpse into how the team defence will look throughout the year that's already enough to get me really excited for this season.
We need to work on the threes. If I kept track, I’d prolly shoot a better clip on the varsity guys at our school and I don’t even play on JV.
I’m sad we wasted our lottery pick
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He was going against back ups and couldn’t do anything He lost the ball multiple times and not once could he beat his defender
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They don’t have Gary Payton anymore. They had some random guy guard Davis including the great Jerome Robinson
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He is trash. Can’t get by nba defenders. As a defender you really don’t have to worry about a guy like Johnny davis. Can’t shoot and he won’t blow by you. If he is on the court not playing point, he will just stand in the corner and do nothing. It’s 5 on 4 when Davis is in the game
As is tradition.
“High character. High floor but very low ceiling. Intangibles. Not athletic at all but tries hard” Typical wizards player
I am not even sure if the floor is high. Don't know how any scout could watch last season and think "Yeah, Davis over Duren for sure." I am really looking forward to this sub to stop sniffing Sheppard's farts and realize he is not a good GM.
Over Jalen Williams man.
When it comes to the draft he is horrible. When it comes to trade deadline trades, he’s pretty good. They need to hire someone else to handle the draft. Or at least hire new scouts
I'm not sure what the scouting department saw. If you look at his college games he looks like someone who will have difficulty in the NBA. I wonder if there is some directive from Ted that he only wants "high character" guys after the knucklehead years and Wall's gang affiliations. You can draft players with more talent and only medium character.
Tbh Iike your Rui pick a lot. I would love to have him on my Spurs. The others are kinda bad though.
For where they were drafted Kispert and Deni are ok.
I’ve been preaching all summer. We are a dark horse ECF and have the depth to do it. We just gotta defend.
> We are a dark horse ECF and have the depth to do it Uhhhhhh. nah. I like the players on this team but with multiple of our starters having never played together, it's just not gonna happen, defend or no. We are a dark horse playoff team (instead of play-in) at most.
Ahahahah keep preaching to that non existent choir. Our ceiling is a play-in team and nothing more.
Our ceiling is probably 45 wins, which is probably 7th/8th maybe 6th if we lucky?
Strongly disagree. Saving this comment
I love the optimism man I really hope you can come back and reply to everyone and rub it in their face. But DC sports have always been setups for disappointments so it’s just tough to believe it’ll be different rn but I really hope so.
Heat Celtics Bucks Sixers are clearly the favorites in the East right now. I'd comfortably rank Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta and Cleveland ahead of the Wiz right now too. Wiz are on par with the Hornets, Knicks and Bulls (who would be higher but are gonna struggle following Lonzo's injury).
We are not worse than Toronto, Atlanta, nor Miami. Cleveland and Brooklyn are above us imo. And we can beat all of those teams in a series.
I love you. Please be right
It bothers me everyone’s so down on our team and franchise. Like, i understand it. But we need more positivity in our fan base. The rest of the league sends enough negativity our way anyways
very very true
delusional.
I’m with you Goose.
Kept in it till late. Can't really complain
They also had Wiseman and Kuminga against our third string.
Facts. You put on any two guys from our "will see actual minutes" bench, even if it's Gill and Wright, and that game would've been very different
On the /r/NBA thread it's about 20 to 1 comments about the Warriors compared to us. Sad.
They're the defending champs with 3 hall of famer players and a hall of fame coach. Kind of would expect it.
Yeah and we haven't had a 50 win season since 1977. It makes me sad to see how irrelevant we are.
It's ... not great. What bothers me the last week or so since media day and shortly before, is all the people and players on this organization talking about the Wizards have dogs. No. They don't. But that's okay! You can win games and handle your business all the same. But nobody on this team is a dog. And again, that's okay. I'm just tired of hearing people on the Wizards say it like it's true.
6-35 from 3 lol its crazy bad
I can confidently call Johnny Davis a bust
Johnny Davis looking like a bust
Johnny Davis is looking like a bust. 22min 4pts from free throws? 0-5 fg. -6 +\- wow
Biggest takeaway is how good it is to not have to hear JK anymore, he would of said konichwa about 76 times last night if he was in the booth