Source - Real GM (Washington Wizards) In addition a rehabilitated Wall, playing like he is now, would have had greater trade value than the Westbrook we have now. We traded low. If we had patience and waited, if Westbrook was the move we wanted, we could have swapped the two and RECEIVED assets in the deal. Wall still would have mystique as a player who perhaps would do better for another team, another coach, another system. In addition many of his turnovers have to do with trying to fit into a new system, but this team was assembled with Wall in mind. He has been studying these players for a year or more, he showed he played well with Bryant, he knows how to play with Beal. If he was playing here and we determined it wasn't enough, okay, we could have traded him to a team that wanted him, with more suitors than a flailing Houston. Frankly we rewarded Houston for underhanded tactics and played ourselves for suckers in league front offices. All because Ted had a hissy fit. For all that Westbrook offcourt is lauded as a culture changing factor in the locker room, on court he is a culture changer in a negative way. He is not censured for jacking bad shots, his defense is iffy, and his on court effect under Brooks is problematic in terms of player development. Avdija loses touches to an inefficient stat padding gunner. Bonga is buried on the bench for not being a cheerleader. Brown has no role on the team since he has difficulty playing next to a guy with a sky high usage rate. But there is nobody clamoring for Russ since teams have seen his decline in attacking the hoop, and he has already been jettisoned by 2 teams, whatever his supposed locker room intangibles. In addition it speaks to our team's loyalty and family perception. Russ may be a good guy, but John was our guy. Players notice and respect those sorts of things that elevate a team above 'simply business'. Ted did it wrong. Tommy should not have been pressured to make that change. Of course they were. Lets not get it confused, Tommy loved Wall and knew he was back... Ted was the pearl clutching owner and told TS to trade him. If we had Wall instead of Russ and an average coach we are a top 5 seed this year. But alas, we have the chuckster and the idiot dragging us into the bottom of the league. Beal should demand a trade if Brooks isnt fired. Wall now at 21.6 points 6.4 assists 4.7 rebounds 4.0 turnovers and 1.3 steals per36 with a -9.9 net rating and 54.6 TS%. Rockets have a 1.0 net rating with Wall off the court, leaving Wall with a -10.9 net differential, good for 3rd worst on the team. Westbrook is averaging 19.8 points 11.3 assists, 10.8 rebounds 4.6 turnovers with 1.2 steals per 36 with a 2.2 net rating and 45.3 TS%. Wiz are -6.3 net without Westbrook, giving him an 8.5 net differential, good for 5th best on the team. This isn't Webber, Mitch Richmond bad, but it's up there from a decision making perspective. You traded the younger player with a better floor game and a 1st round draft pick for an older player that is more reliant on his explosiveness and two years and a whole bunch more mileage into his physical decline. Just awful. **** you Ted. Maybe we are reading this trade all wrong. Maybe they brought in Westbrook to be the tank commander. Brooks is making his contribution with the wacky lineups. Could they be playing 5d chess, executing a stealth tank?
It took me a minute to figure out whose perspective I was reading here. But yes, Wall is highly overpaid... but Westbrook does not play winning basketball. Getting a first did a little bit to balm the wound of the insane price we paid for him as a negative asset in the first place. Enjoy, Wizards fans.
Not enemy lines. I was thinking about sending a gift basket for taking Westbrook off our hands. Can’t thank Washington enough.
So "Real GM" is basically a random Washington Wizards fan? This post seems nothing more than role play. Also what "underhand tactics" did the Rockets use? Did they hold a gm's family member hostage and say "if you don't trade us John Wall then you will never see ____ again?"
Yeah, that part was a little confusing. But I'm assuming he's saying that a rusty Wall, who will most likely improve even more as the season goes on and get used to his new teammates, is still not really destroying the Rockets right now. His turnovers are excusable, and his overall play as been very controlled and measured. If they had just waited and stayed patient, they could have assimilated Wall back into their offense, which was already tailor-made for him. Instead, the Rockets are the ones who stand to improve as Wall improves while they know what they already have with Russ. That's my take on his point anyways.
I think Wall has been fine. I dont know how much I buy into the negative net rating. He looks to be adept at hitting catch and shoot threes. He looks to be in control. He can create when JH needs a break . His defensive impact is notably better than Russ.
The defense alone is worth the trade. Offensively slight advantage to Wall because living in DC and watching Russ still take those ill advised shots in critical situations is something I don’t miss. Wall is just more controlled than Russ. And I didnt think there was much difference in their shooting but I have to give Wall the advantage there too.
I’m going to guess those net rating numbers were posted right after our Dallas game which is REALLY skewing some of our guys numbers so far. Up to date net ratings Wall : +1.6 Westbrook : -2.3
Since when were the wizards our enemies? Is this because Steve Francis dunked on Jahati White? @Reeko
