Wiz Waive Johnson and Johnson
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forwards DerMarr Johnson and Linton Johnson. DerMarr Johnson appeared in five preseason games for Washington and averaged 8.8 points in 19.6 minutes per game. Linton Johnson appeared in four preseason games as a Wizard and averaged 1.3 points in 12.8 minutes per game. Both players originally signed with Washington on September 22, 2008.
Posted: October 21st, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM
That is what it means wiz-skins. I liked DerMarr but as many have pointed out this is the 15th spot we’re talking about. This choice will have very little impact as anyone chosen would be well outside of rotation.
Comment from Rick
Time October 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I have to say, I was leaning heavily in the Dermarr camp (in lieu of Dixon). But when I saw Juan play last Friday I saw some good things.
1) He looks quite a bit stronger than he did in his last stint with the Wizards.
2) He seems to be ok with the role of distributor first, scorer second.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 21, 2008 at 1:24 PM
The decision to keep Juan over DerMarr — with which I disagree — can only have been motivated by two things: Juan had some $$ guaranteed, and Juan will put people in seats while Gil is out, because he is a local hero. DerMarr is a much more productive player, and he would be more useful in our current situation as well.
All the same, Juan is a Wizard — it’ll be fun to see him in our uniform again.
Comment from millie mill
Time October 21, 2008 at 2:08 PM
I was hoping to see the decision on waving Dermarr come down to the wire. I think he is a much better player than Juan. With the way the Wizards get hurt it doesn’t matter if this is for the 15th spot or not he probably will still get playing time.
Comment from windy city
Time October 21, 2008 at 2:32 PM
probably a good time to invest in J&J, it’s still a good stock 
Comment from TAG FLIP
Time October 21, 2008 at 3:26 PM
time to go buy some baby shampoo on their behalf…
on a more serious note, this is the roster move i expected. i expected them to keep Dee Brown and Juan Dixon, as Brown was brought in early in the free agency period, and Dixon has extensive knowledge of the offense from 2003-2005. It was disappointing to see DerMarr Johnson waived after his solid production and contribution in the preseason, but Eddie Jordan is a proven coach, and I feel he will make the best decisions possible with the cards he’s been dealt (no Gilbert Arenas, no Brendan Haywood). We will have to see.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 3:47 PM
In response to windy – I wish them both the best of luck and hope they get picked up.
mille mill, Juan does give us options at guard but do we really need them? Once Gil gets minutes are going to evaporate pretty quick. But if someone were to get hurt it’ll be good to have him around.
Comment from millie mill
Time October 21, 2008 at 3:58 PM
I agree Juan does give us options at guard, but Dermarr gives us options a guard, small forward and in a small line up power forward. So if anyone in those positions gets hurt we still have options. Face it in the last three years Gil, Butler, or Jamison have not played a full season.
It only makes since to cut Dermarr because of to guaranteed contract.
Comment from Rook
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Gling Gling, I can’t see how you can say the 15th spot may have very little impact and assume that anyone in that spot would be “well outside of rotation.”
They have Antonio Daniels and Dee Brown at PG, and DeShawn Stevenson and Nick Young at SG…
That’s pretty thin. Especially if you consider Antonio’s injury problems last year, Dee Brown’s relative inexperience and Nick Young’s current knee injury.
Antonio missed 11 games last year and was hobbled with a bad wrist for half the season.
Nick Young has already lost 2 weeks to injury, and has not played in a Preseason game.
Even though that was the 15th spot, it was NOT the last spot on the bench. I think those last bench spots are reserved for Pecherov, McGee and McGuire… and even those players may see plenty of playing time this year.
But that 15th roster spot, filled by a Guard, will probably see 15-20 minutes per game.
I was hoping to see DerMarr Johnson make the team, because he could back up both the Shooting Guard (Stevenson) and Small Forward (Butler) positions.
Even if Nick Young solidifies his position as the backup Shooting Guard, they’ll still need someone to come in for 15 minutes a night (see Nick’s minutes last year when he was the 3rd shooting guard in the rotation behind Stevenson and Mason)…. Juan Dixon will fill that role this year…. and, I think you’ll see Eddie getting him time at both Shooting Guard (especially if Nick is not hitting his shots) and some time at PG. Like I said, I think you’ll see 15-20 minutes a night from Juan – and that’s solid rotation minutes.
Comment from Rook
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:13 PM
So with Arenas’ injury, and Antonio’s injury history from last year, and Nick Young’s tricky knee…. It’s a good thing that Juan has been a model of good health this preseason.
Comment from vanishingelephants
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:15 PM
umm… the headline of “wizards waive johnsons” might want to be rethought (though it is fairly hysterical). wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re implying anything.
In all seriousness though, i’m sorry to see DerMarr go he seems like he would’ve been a solid contributor and good vet to have around. I am happy we brought Juan back though, I have a feeling he’s gonna step it up a bit and have a carreer year like we need him too.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I agree Pecherov will be fighting for the end of the bench. If Brendan didn’t get hurt I’d agree with you on McGee, but as it is now he should be looking at decent minutes. What I’ve read/heard from Eddie is nothing but positive about McGuire so I’m not going to stick him too far down there (but could be as low as third last unfortunately).
As for Juan, just for guards in general Dee Brown will be favored in terms of minutes as he fills a need. I also can’t see Juan being favored over Nick. Eddie recently said that Nick is back close to 100% and in the last practice was the best guy on the court. Nick’s minutes are not going to go down from 15mpg (at least until Gil comes back). The prospects for Juan’s minutes don’t look great.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:35 PM
And as for the 15th spot in general. DerMarr would have been in a similar situation because he simply would not have been favored in minutes over everyone else at the 2/3. It’s wasn’t a generalization though I didn’t specify it well. It was in regard to Juan and DerMarr who were the favorites for that 15th spot (not necessarily 15th on the bench).
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:37 PM
vanishingelephants, that is funny.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:41 PM
I just hope they picked the guy with the strongest knees!
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Have you guys checked out Nicks new Haircut..here it is…-Click Here-
Comment from Rook
Time October 21, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Gling Gling – as for decent minutes for McGee…. I hear the same things from Eddie too. Very Positive. Everyone excited about how hard the kid works.
But, then I remember how everyone was excited about McGuire last year too. He had a great Summer League, fabulous Camp, played well in Preseason, and sat during the regular season.
With Eddie, it’s all about experience… so, he can pay all the lip service he wants, but I’ll believe it, only when I see it.
As for Juan’s minutes….. If Eddie Jordan is serious about limiting his starter’s minutes, like he stated in the newspaper, then:
Daniels plays 25 minutes per game (that’s 5 less than he played last year)
Dee Brown plays 10 minutes per game (I think that’s high) in relief of Daniels….
D.Stevenson plays 25 minutes (5 less than he averaged last year)
Nick Young averages 21 minutes (same as Mason last year)
That leaves 15 minutes per game for Juan Dixon…..
And that doesn’t take into account any 3-guard lineups where they go with 2 bigs and D.Steve moves to SF, or any special end of game lineups filled with shooters.
Add in injuries, and Juan will average 15-20 minutes per game this year. Solid rotation minutes.
Comment from Jaba
Time October 21, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Hello everyone! What surprises me is that it took Dixon just one mediocre preseason game to clinch that last spot……it would’ve been fair to have DerMarr and him compete until the
the last exhibition game, especially since DerMarr was doing pretty well. I guess, the decision to keep JD was had already been made some time ago. Dixon really didn’t have to show all that much, did he now?
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Rook, I don’t believe that Eddie was talking about AD and Deshawn, those guys’s minutes are well within manageable healthy limits (and already a little low for starters). I think he was mainly talking about Caron at 40mpg and Antawn at 39mpg. Those guys especially Antawn need relief.
Comment from Reuben
Time October 21, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Wiz skins that haircut is CRAZY
Comment from ChenierFan
Time October 21, 2008 at 7:16 PM
I’m disappointed in the decision to drop Demarr. His length would have come in handy in guarding the 3 point shot. Plus, he could post up other 2-guards. He was the best guard of the preseason so far. I’m sure he will find a spot with another team and probably kick our tails somewhere down the line.
Comment from TAG FLIP
Time October 21, 2008 at 7:18 PM
someone’s tryin to be d-steve..
but then again, he did dunk on queen james last year
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Maybe the “Red Rooster” nickname will stick.
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time October 21, 2008 at 8:32 PM
I was looking forward to that long hair…when he had his most succesful days in college he had the exact hair cut..
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 21, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Long live the fro-hawk then!
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 22, 2008 at 1:32 AM
Vanishingelephants… very very funny! In your context..much better to say wave than “cut”?
Tonight against the Spurs. Ahhhhh televised too lol. Let’s see “our” 15 (after the last few seasons even saying 15 feels good) play together as a team. I know a lot of us wanted Demarr, but, Juan will bring instant chemistry along with already knowing the offense. If Juan turns out to be good enough it will switch Dominic to his natural 3 position. If that happens we could be a very good team this year. Deshawn, Juan, and Nick (if the knee holds out) are our 2’s. The Wizards always to try to , ah nothing big, with injuries. I hope Nick’s isn’t one of them. We are going to need him in a big way this year to add a little relief to the loss of Gil’s points. In the beginning of the season anyway.
Season is a week away guys
Go WIZARDS!!!
Comment from millie mill
Time October 22, 2008 at 7:11 AM
Man, I have to work tonight and won’t be able to watch the game.
I hope McGee plays well against Tim Duncan.
Also I like Roger Mason but please don’t let him kill us tonight. I have a feeling he is going to drop 20 on us.
Comment from Bru
Time October 22, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I totally disagree with waiving Demarr Johnson. He couldve help with wiz off the bench. I doubt if we come close to making the playoffs this year. I just dont see this as a smart move for the team with two starters out. 4 point guards!
Comment from Wiz034
Time October 22, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Jaba,
I agree with that. Juan played one game in preseason and didn’t score a point!! and got thr 15th spot. YEAH right!!!
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Well, if they knew they were going to waive those guys, then it was kindness to do it early; makes it easier to catch on w/ another team.
Julius Hodge, who an article said knows the Princeton offense, is trying to stick w/ the Nets but may not make it given they already have 16 guys guaranteed! He has apparently played extremely well.
Darius Miles — superstar skills — was just cut by the Celtics in another numbers game. Btw, Bill Walker, who will be remembered by the crew that was on the blog for the draft and this summer, made the Celtics roster over Miles. We picked Walker for the Celtics in the draft, giving up our 2d round pick in return for some cash. Sigh.
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Comment from wiz-skins07
Time October 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Does this mean we are keeping Juan Dixon? If so thats great.