TAYLOR AND HALL SIGNED TO QUALIFYING OFFERS
 Taylor  Hall |
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Donell Taylor and forward Mike Hall to a pair of qualifying offers. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Taylor (6-5, 193) has appeared in 98 career games (two starts) over two seasons with the Wizards. He has averaged 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 8.5 minutes per game as a professional. Taylor originally signed with the Wizards on August 16, 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of UAB.
Hall (6-8, 230), who originally signed with the Wizards on February 28, 2007, appeared in two games with Washington last season. Hall averaged 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game for Washington during five games in the 2007 NBA Summer League. He played collegiately at George Washington University.
Posted: August 21st, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from AUNDRA
Time August 21, 2007 at 6:05 PM
We already have enough battles to contend with. Antwaan and Andray,Agent Zero and Young blood and then there will always be Brendan and Haywood pushing each other to new levels they didn’t think they had! I like the idea of Ernie showing some loyalty to the guys who have come in when our Big Three were hurt and down and out of it!Its like a big family because there will be fights and disagreements but bottom line they know who really is the enemy and thats the opposite team trying to take your heart from you!We have alot of seasoned back up now thats schooled in the Princeton modus operandi and that knowledge should speak volumes during crunch time in the third and most definitely fourth quarters of games! We have chemistry and very good depth with a positve attitude the skys the limit.
Comment from ricklevinenyc
Time August 21, 2007 at 6:14 PM
i thought hall looked good in summer league.
taylor doesn’t have the playmaking mentality to be a point guard or the size and shooting consistency to be an off guard. i don’t see why management is keeping him around. i liked the miles kid from summer league. he is a true pg and can distribute the ball.
Comment from ricklevinenyc
Time August 21, 2007 at 6:15 PM
p.s. neither of these guys is concerned with playing defense
Comment from Wiz034
Time August 21, 2007 at 7:46 PM
I agree ricklevinency, I don’t know why they’re keeping Taylor around. After two years on the teams he still haven’t shown me anything that proves he has the mentality to play. Does anyone know if we’re going to resign Calvin Booth? I think we need another veteran on the team besides AD and Tawn.
If we don’t resign Booth, AD will be the oldest player on the team at 33
Comment from tyrone20000
Time August 21, 2007 at 9:01 PM
AD is the leader and Taylor can contribute. Taylor needs to practice the point and he will be okay! Whatever happen to Roger Mason. I believe we need a quick point guard other than Gil of course. than we will have a team that can play at different tempos…
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 21, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Bruce… I’m no financial guy, but, we can’t have much cap space left… if any. I like the signing of Mr. Hall and Mr. Taylor. It kinda shows me EG thinks he already has a team to compete. He is, pretty much, keeping the entire team together. Mr. Hall looked very good in the Summer league, and, Mr. Taylor who does play pretty good defense, contrary to a previous post, shows a lot of atheltic talent, but, gets no minutes. Wiz34 I’ve read all over the place they are going to sign Booth. True? Who knows. Will we be a 50 win team this season? imo… It depends on how fast guys like Mr. Blatche, Mr. Peschreov, Mr. McGuire, and Mr. Young progress. And, how effective Coach Ayres is lol.
Comment from brian
Time August 22, 2007 at 12:30 AM
well well we have gathered up the rest of the scrubbs! make no mistake about it………. this was not on grunfields mind this summer signing these two guys. their just roster fillers! i believe eddie is done for the summer but i do believe he needs to make a trade! songaila is no longer needed because of pecherov oh and for the simple fact that we now have 4 small fowards! Blatche, dominic, caron, and mike hall. i believe blatche and pecherov should battle for the power foward position. AD is old as hell. and etan and brenda needs a divorce! i would trade AD and songaila for a solid point gaurd. and etan for a solid center.we have way to many fowards and not enough big men! i know making a trade is not as easy as NBA 2K7 but we need to vamp up our roster just a lil bit! GO big or go home! hopefully we won’t see charles and kenny goin’ fishin with gil and twan this season! like i said before bring in Mount Mutumbo, Foyle, Sweetney or hell since reggie and allan are back, we could use some beef…………. So what do u say charles? Barkley that is hell naw to oakley!
Comment from dmac
Time August 22, 2007 at 6:59 AM
The Wizards need extra bodies in training camp like every other NBA team does.
Hall and Taylor have non-guranteed contracts. Personally I don’t see both of them making the team. But they deserve the invitation to compete for a spot just like other aspiring b-ball players. They both seem to be guy’s of good character (that should mean something these day’s) The most talented players in basketball don’t always make it in this league. I just saw where ex-Timberwolves player Edddie Griffin was killed in an car accident in Houston ( his SUV collided with a train). He was 25 years old. Sad.
What I’m saying is there should me opportunities where players who are as not as talented have the opportunity to make the team. EG had to see something in these guy’s to give them the opportunity to compete.
Comment from odawg
Time August 22, 2007 at 9:07 AM
I don’t think that either Hall or Taylor will make the team now. One of them would have made it had the Wiz got Blatche to accept a 5 yr 12.5M deal. I think that if the Wiz signs either of them now, it’ll put them over the luxury tax. They’re non-guaranteed contracts, so if the Wiz don’t sign them, then they get nothing.
I think Brian Chase makes it on as the last player.
Comment from Agent0
Time August 22, 2007 at 11:44 AM
I think they make great additions to the team. Much improvement was shown by Taylor during the regular season. As for Hall, I think we know what he is capable and is good at it too. In the summer league, he had taken the role of a leader, and thats what we need more of. As for salary matters, I don’t know if they will effect anything, but it’s nice to see the original Wizards back on the team. Now only if we can find a good center..
Comment from theGM
Time August 22, 2007 at 1:20 PM
In response to an earlier post…that Miles kid (Aaron Miles) signed with a European team…I think he would have been a good fit here…I can’t fault him 4 taking more money overseas…as 4 Taylor and Hall, they r just fillers…they won’t c much court time…it would be nice to part ways with either Brendan Todd Haywood or Etan Thomas, but I don’t think there is a big market for either and we can’t just give away a 7-footer even if he does under achieve…maybe a blood transfusion can be done to put Etan’s toughness and rugged play into Haywood since we can’t make Ean grow 4 inches?
Brian, what solid center r u going 2 trade Etan 4? We r stuck with what the big men we have unless we give ‘em away 4 nothin’.
Comment from ricklevinenyc
Time August 22, 2007 at 1:34 PM
one good thing is that pretty much every team in the league is looking for a center. since EG seems to have some voodoo powers over the guys out in LA, i say package Haywood (and someone/ting else) for Andrew Bynum. Clear up some cap space and secure a promising young center.
Comment from realistndc
Time August 22, 2007 at 1:47 PM
I total don’t like the move….. I feel Aaron Miles could get a chance to be on the rostor… He is sleeper who got good skills. he can shoot a high percent, can let Arenas, Gilbert get some rest… Arenas cannot keep playing 40 plus mins every night. Miles is a true pg…
Comment from BruceO
Time August 22, 2007 at 3:24 PM
the reason I think we need songaila and etan is because we don’t have any rugged big men who can defend some. Otherwise we might just get muscled out of the paint. PLus they both contribute solid minutes. If we could trade them for someone who contributes a little less than both of them combined I’m game for it. (if he can’t get outmuscled). I’d take bynum if they give him to us.
Comment from joe
Time August 22, 2007 at 4:45 PM
Aaron Miles signed a guaranteed contract overseas. He took the good money and ran with it. The Wizards couldn’t offer him a guaranteed deal at this point.
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time August 22, 2007 at 8:14 PM
Glad to see DT coming back - he’s an energy guy with lots of talent. he just needs to put it all together and show he’s made enough improvements over the last two years to get a commitment from the Wizards. Mike Hall is a pro - he’ll be in this league whether it’s in Washington or somewhere else.
Comment from brian
Time August 22, 2007 at 9:56 PM
well mr GM firstly let me say tha true center position has been dying for years! shaq is the last true center around! yao ming has the size but he is soft as charmin or baby wipes! shaq really has no competition even now he is old and slow and still cannot be contained! the center era died when sam bowie was drafted and shawn bradley, oh yea big country reeves! shaq and alonzo are the top centers, then mutumbo and yao. truthfully the best center left is ben wallace and he really is a power foward. these days power fowards are playing center: amare, tim duncan, chris webber, rasheed, ben wallace, dwight howard, bogut and so on…. the true centers that are left is oden, dalembert and yao ming! so getting a true center is nearly impossible! thats why teams are looking over seas! and its killing the true art of a center because the europeans are mostly shooting centers! ne way GM i say we go low key and trade for steven hunter of the sixers! he blocks shots like crazy and he is defensive minded and he is very athletic! oh yea and he is 7 ft! or we could settle for the injury prone kaman of the clippers, or gadzuric of the bucks! but like i said the center position is dead! this year the wizards need to look overseas for a big man or pray that there is another greg oden somewhere! if all else fails think power fowards they make good centers!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Comment from brian
Time August 22, 2007 at 9:56 PM
well mr GM firstly let me say tha true center position has been dying for years! shaq is the last true center around! yao ming has the size but he is soft as charmin or baby wipes! shaq really has no competition even now he is old and slow and still cannot be contained! the center era died when sam bowie was drafted and shawn bradley, oh yea big country reeves! shaq and alonzo are the top centers, then mutumbo and yao. truthfully the best center left is ben wallace and he really is a power foward. these days power fowards are playing center: amare, tim duncan, chris webber, rasheed, ben wallace, dwight howard, bogut and so on…. the true centers that are left is oden, dalembert and yao ming! so getting a true center is nearly impossible! thats why teams are looking over seas! and its killing the true art of a center because the europeans are mostly shooting centers! ne way GM i say we go low key and trade for steven hunter of the sixers! he blocks shots like crazy and he is defensive minded and he is very athletic! oh yea and he is 7 ft! or we could settle for the injury prone kaman of the clippers, or gadzuric of the bucks! but like i said the center position is dead! this year the wizards need to look overseas for a big man or pray that there is another greg oden somewhere! if all else fails think power fowards they make good centers!
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 22, 2007 at 11:29 PM
Brian. We already did that. We drafted a 7′ guy named Vladimir something or other last year when we got Pesh. How soon he will play for us… don’t know.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 22, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Wouldn’t it be nice to find a Michael Ruffin that could shoot 50%?
Comment from BruceO
Time August 23, 2007 at 2:56 AM
grifon you mean Vdub (double V) ? vladimir veremeenko (V V) He has a buyout but apparently he’s doing well in CSKA
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 23, 2007 at 8:55 AM
You have to bring enough people to camp that there can be flexibility in what you do there. I have always liked Taylor’s size and athleticism, but his shot is horrible and somehow he has not developed as much as I would have liked. Mike Hall is a player i really like. In any case, neither of these guys has a guaranteed contract, and we still don’t have the full camp roster.
People keep asking about the cap — we are *way* over the cap, like nearly every team. The worry is the luxury tax, and I doubt we can stay under it but don’t see us going far into it either.
It’s nice to see all the optimism, but ‘07-08 minutes are going to look a lot like last year’s, and the result is going to look a lot like last year’s too — fewer injuries will help, but injuries come to every team every year. EG is said to believe that he has a 50-win team, but I don’t see it.
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time August 23, 2007 at 10:27 AM
TM - last year’s team, had it not been as injury stricken as it was, probably would’ve reached the 50-win plateau, so it’s not outrageous to think they can’t do it this season. My thing is, it’s not what you do from Nov-April, it’s what you do in May that matters. So the real question is, is this squad good enough to make some real noise in the playoffs, meaning making at least the second round and extending that series at least 6-7 games. ECF is in my mind should be the minimum goal of this team.
Now that I’m an outsider I can say things like that! 
I could get used to this fan business….
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time August 23, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Well I Just Hope we can get a Big Man……Or else we arent getting anywhere…this is just like the Redskins situation…if they do get a left gaurd we arent going anywhere
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 23, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Love it Bruce lol. VDUB! Hopefully he plays with Farfeignuggen?
Comment from WizardsDotCom
Time August 23, 2007 at 12:57 PM
skins - i know you’re in love with the trade machines, but how do you see WAS getting a big man? Last I checked, every serviceable big man in the league was under contract and is probably a coveted asset by his current team (head-cases aside).
Comment from smchawk
Time August 23, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Tom, once again I agree. This team is no better than last years team - the big difference is last years team wihtout the injuries was an eastern conference factor. The rest of the East got better and the Wiz did nothing. I’m putting us with the 6th seed in the playoffs and another first round exit.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 23, 2007 at 11:19 PM
We have the same team back that was leading the Eastern Conference at the all star break. With the additions of Pesh, Mr. Young, and Mr. McGuire. Those three players give us an automatic upgrade… I hope
Comment from neal
Time September 2, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Hi guys. I’ve been away for a while. Good to be back.
Looks like these two have inside tracks on roster spots.
Comment from neal
Time September 6, 2007 at 2:35 PM
I don’t see a backup PG as an immediate need. Daniels is more than adequate.
Veeremenko is the same type guy as Pecherov. Tall and skinny and a perimeter player. May even be a SF, according to what I read. BruceO, you said he’s doing well in CSKA. What is CSKA?
I think we’ll do better this year. We have better backup at both forward positions and SG.
Write a comment
You need to login to post comments!
Comment from BruceO
Time August 21, 2007 at 4:18 PM
how much do we have under/ over cap? I like the signings but I expected us to wait and see what sort of overflow occurs from the other teams in the next few weeks. Players like nichols, byars, almond and other second rounders in the 40’s and up have to battle for roster slots on teams that have more than enough gauranteed contracts. I think we can get a good pick up during that time.
if you think about it, this draft was two drafts stacked into one. One effect is that there are better quality picks in the first and second draft. This combined with the cap scaring alot of teams means that teams are carrying less players. Either way it leaves very few slots for the remaining drafted, undrafted and FA’s. At the very least we could invite alot of people into training camp improving our third string players by letting them battle it out.