The match-up between the Wizards and Blazers may have come and gone but Kyle from Truth About It was nice enough to exchange some questions with us. You know I love learning differentg perspectives, I needed someone to give me some sort of positive view of the Wizards. My answers can be found right here.
1) After seeing the Blazers first-hand, is there anything that stuck out to you?
Brandon Roy really impressed me. I knew the guy was an all-star talent and all, but I didn’t know how much he was capable of carrying the team. Twelve 4th quarter points is more than solid…although, I would have rather Caron Butler not be the one trying to defend him in many of those situations. Maybe it was just this one game, but is it really a “so goes Roy, so goes the Blazers” situation?
Blake is a solid, dependable player, but I really like how the Rodriguez/Fernandez combo provides a change of pace for the Blazers, especially when you combine them with Roy for essentially a three guard lineup, but with 6’6″ and 6’7″ height at two of those spots. You guys certainly have a lot of options on your hands….I’m jealous.
2) The Wizards clearly need help. What are the two trades you’d most like to make right now?
This one is tough. I’d almost like to see what this team can do healthy before making a trade. Aside from a healthy Brendan Haywood, I would like to have a rugged big man rebounder/enforcer to come off the bench (ex. Reggie Evans). I’d also like to have a better starting 2-guard who has a more of natural jump shot than DeShawn Stevenson. However, I’m not sure who the Wiz could go after without giving too much up. Maybe the contracts of Etan Thomas and Antonio Daniels, set to expire after the ’08-09 season, will be valuable assets down the road.
3) It’s been sad to see what’s happened to the Wizards over the past two years. Is there a feeling of complete despair or is there any sort of hope?
As a fan who started following the Bullets in 1990, I’ve become used to despair and what we in DC refer to as the “Curse O’ Les Boulez.” No one really knows why this team seems to be cursed, i.e., there’s no goat, or Babe Ruth trade to point to. But I’m an optimist, so I’ll just keep on keepin’ on.
4) How do you feel about the Gilbert deal in retrospect?
I’m still fine with the decision, although frustrated about his communication with management about this latest knee surgery…cleaning out of debris. Maybe the guy can eventually rediscover some of his explosiveness, maybe he can’t……but Arenas should still be a sniper and if he can become more of an intelligent distributor, he’ll be worth the money.
5) There is a lot of young potential on that team (Young, McGee, Blatche, McGuire) do you think any of them will be able to put it together?
I’m really beginning to sour on Blatche. He is plagued by inconsistency and if often listless.
McGuire has a long way to go, but I like his unique skill set. He’s a great shot blocker and rebounder for his wiry 6’8″ frame. The best way for him to stick around in the league is to become a specialty defensive stopper a la Bruce Bowen.
JaVale McGee is the most pleasant of surprises. He comes from good basketball stock as his mother played in the WNBA and his father, George Montgomery, was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers, of all teams, but never played in the league. Many knew that McGee would be a work in progress after leaving Nevada after two years, but he has been much more NBA-ready than anyone could have imagined. Right now, I’d say that he’s one of the few untouchables on the Wizards.
Nick Young has made some very nice strides in this his sophomore season. He’s developing a smooth mid-range game and has a diverse scoring skill set. He’ll have a solid future with the team if he can learn some veteran wherewithal and consistency.
6) If you could only keep one or the other, who would you choose between Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison?
This one is easy…Caron Butler is 28 and in his seventh season. Jamison is 32 and in his 11th season. I think Butler, despite a brief history of injury issues, still has 3-4 good years in him at his current all-star level. Jamison, while still more than a solid contributor, is now on the downside of his career.
7) Who on earth is coaching this team? Seriously.
I have no idea…..I don’t think Ed Tapscott is the answer for the future, but I’m willing to hear him out. The Wiz are very close to being a contender….with health being the biggest ‘if’. This being the case, I’d say that the team needs a coach who has been there before, but not a rigid Larry Brown type…and I’m not so sure that Avery “Lil’ General” Johnson would be the answer either. I really hate the fact that Eddie Jordan had to go, but I trust GM Ernie Grunfeld. We’ll see……