McGee Presser and What They are Saying Nationally
As I eluded to in the previous post, the Wizards will bring in JaVale McGee for a press conference today at 2:00pm. Here is what the national media are saying about the Wizards decision to take McGee
NBADraft.Net – The Wizards made a solid gamble taking McGee with their only pick. He’s an extremely long and unpolished center, in the mold of the Warriors Patrick O’Bryant. The big difference is that McGee has some fire to accompany his shooting touch and potential and and has a chance to develop into something special in a few years. While McGee slipped from a possible lottery pick, going 18 sets up an excellent situation for both parties.
Grade: A-
CNNSI.Com – GM Ernie Grunfeld filled a need for depth in the middle by tabbing McGee, the best big man left on the board, passing over forwards such as J.J Hickson and Darrell Arthur. He must be confident he can re-sign Antawn Jamison.
Grade: B
Sportsline – Parrish’s quick take: This is a pick rooted in potential and upside and all the other buzz words you usually hear on this night. McGee won’t help at all next season, I don’t believe. But he’s got the size and athleticism to be very good down the road, and that’s why this pick is worth the gamble.
Collegehoopsnet.com – I’ve long been torn on McGee. The lack of bulk is worrisome, but he’s made amazing strides in the last couple of years. This is the ultimate risk/reward pick.
Grade: B-
ESPN – McGee has upside — kind of like Andray Blatche does. McGee made a big mistake coming out early, and I doubt he’ll ever turn all that upside into a real NBA game.
Grade: C+
Sporting News – JaVale McGee is a terrific athlete, not quite ready but a good gamble. He has great genes from his basketball-playing mom Pamela McGee and dad George Montgomery from the University of Illinois.
Grade: C
DraftExpress – At 18 there certainly isn’t as much to lose as there would be if he went in the top 10 like some prognostications anticipated earlier on in the process, but still, it’s hard not to feel like there weren’t better players on the board here. Again, this will come down more to McGee’s internal motivation to improve more than any arguments about his talent. If he does pan out, this could be an incredible steal for the Wizards. But that’s a big IF.
Grade: C
Real GM – McGee (34) isn’t a bad pick, but if you’re going to go with a young project center, I’d rather go with Kosta Koufos or even DeAndre Jordan.
Either of those players or even a JJ Hickson/Darrell Arthur would have helped them out more in the short and long terms.
Grade: C
Posted: June 30th, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 30, 2008 at 11:27 AM
agreed wiz4life on the opinion part. As I said give me 10 gm’s at the #18 pick and you’ll get probably 5-7 different players selected. There’s no unanimous pick when it comes to that.
Comment from dmac
Time June 30, 2008 at 1:01 PM
You guy’s are so right
Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 30, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Go to youtube.com and and check out Javale’s highlight real.
You would not think the way he moves that he is 7′ tall.
Two of his dunks he took off from the free throw line.
Comment from Da_Big_Taba
Time June 30, 2008 at 2:22 PM
i think he will help a lot in transition
Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 30, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Hey everyone, JaVale just met with the media along with Ernie and Eddie. We’ll have video of it coming shortly. Very quiet soft spoken young man who constantly talked about working hard and how that’s really all he is focused on right now.
Had the chance to speak with him afterward and he also said that he would like to get up to about 250 (he’s 235 right now) pounds but he doesnt want to put on too much weight which would effect his explosiveness and athleticism. I’ll tell you this the guy is a legit 7 footer he made Ernie look short
Comment from Rook
Time June 30, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I think I’d rather see him playing solid defense and rebounding the basketball..
The last thing we need him to do is “help in transition”…
Don’t we have enough finishers on the break? (Arenas, Butler, Blatche, Jamison, Stevenson, Young, etc…)?
Just remember, you can’t run in transition without the basketball…
Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 30, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Also spoke with his mother she said this is really the place we wanted him to be. They like the players around him, they like the city, she knows Eddie very well and believes he’ll be very good for her son.
Please ask away with questions and I’ll let you know what I heard.
Comment from jg004
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:06 PM
I know summer league doesn’t start for a while and I’m sure you’ve been asked this a million times, but do you know of any free agents the Wiz may be bringing in to take a look at for Summer League?
Comment from SportzWiz
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:07 PM
jg, they should have a formal announcement later this week or early next week. I really havent heard anything on who they might bring in. But they will need a PG or two that’s for sure.
Also veeremenko is not confirmed but they think he’ll make it. Summer league practices will go from the 11th-13th of July with games taking place from the 14th-20th.
Comment from jg004
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:17 PM
So with Jamison potentially signing this extension any chance Arenas signs for less than the max and the Wiz picking up some decent role players? Like a James Posey type player.
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Guys — If THIS is true, then if we can get Arenas to sign at say — 14-15 mil, then we can get a SOLID veteran. Maybe it can be that point gaurd that we’ve all wanted. James Posey would be great but dont you guys think he would stop Dominics developement?
Comment from joe
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM
It looks like Gil and AJ will both be renewed Wizards shortly. If the contract numbers in these rumor articles are correct -50 for 4 years: AJ and ~100 for 6 years: Gil- that will put us right at the luxury tax threshold. I expect it to be ~70 million. That doesn’t leave us any more room to use our mid-level exception without going over that threshold. Will the Wizards get over their luxury tax fear so this team can add one more piece? We are still missing that key role player, IMO. If anything, that player would provided some roster depth that the Wizards sorely lacked last year.
Comment from jg004
Time June 30, 2008 at 4:34 PM
I don’t think Posey would stop Dmac’s development. If anything I think he would help him enourmously. Posey is a hard nosed defender just like we all hope McGuire will turn out to be, but what McGuire is lacking is an offensice game and experience and Posey has both. Posey could be a role model for McGuire for the future.
Comment from gbkdc
Time June 30, 2008 at 5:14 PM
About Antawn, YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from tyrone20000
Time June 30, 2008 at 7:24 PM
About Antawn, YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from Wizfan4life
Time June 30, 2008 at 7:26 PM
man 3 top sites rate McGee with a C/C+??? this could be bad, but could mean nothing, i dunno
Comment from jmpalomo
Time June 30, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Antawn at 11 million per year is a steal.
Gilbert ain’t signing for no 14-15 per. Take that to the bank.
I am going to guess no less than 18 per.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 30, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Good news on the AJ front!!
Posey wouldn’t hold back anyone’s development, but it’s irrelevant. Do you *really* think that having played a big role in bringing that trophy to Boston, he’ll be allowed to leave. No way. He’ll finish his career as a Celtic, and that is just as it should be.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 30, 2008 at 8:25 PM
I don’t see a problem with us hitting the luxury tax ceiling, even with Mason, as long as we aren’t paying Gilbert more than $15m, but that depends on what kind of offers Roger gets of course.
I would *not* max Gilbert out — but we’ll just have to see what gets worked out.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time June 30, 2008 at 8:27 PM
The draft grades are more interesting for the extraordinary range than for anything they actually say. Leaving everything else aside and just thinking of who was best at 18, I don’t see anyone else I’d have picked before Javale McGee. Did I want Speights? You bet, but he wasn’t there.
Comment from BruceO
Time July 1, 2008 at 7:26 AM
sportzwiz, theres a couple of things scouts are unsure about when it comes to mcgee. One thing is his defense, another is his strength. I heard he made some strides but I want to know what he plans to do to improve those things.
Is he gonna change his workout now that he’s with the wiz?
Is his mom gonna give him tutelage? do we have a coach to improve his skills?
which player does he feel he’s like?
he also said he plans on being rookie of the year, also ask him how good his hook shot is, I hear he has one from both hands, with his size it’d be a useful thing to have. reconfirm his motor and activity level, look at his fundamental footwork, his shooting, his left hand, his basketball IQ.
Alot of people think he has a high bust potential, I think he’s gonna be just fine.
Also I heard hes into chess, If he wants I can play him. I also know alot of people who play in the area especially Dupont circle, some of my good friends are top players there
Comment from BruceO
Time July 1, 2008 at 7:29 AM
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/JaVale-McGee-1197/
I’m sure he has read the above link. Why does he feel he’s the big secret?
my email is bruceokelo@hotmail.com if he wants to play chess, I can see how far along he is
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Comment from Wizards4Life
Time June 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
this is why i don’t get into drafts because we all know its all personal opinion on who you need who is left and who is good but there is no way to say that anyone is going to be a star or even a good NBA player from the draft its all long shots if you look at it and i know some one on here is going to say not if you got the number 1 pick yeah K.Brown on that