01-23-2024, 01:36 PM
(01-23-2024, 01:03 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Here’s what I think I know about PJ Washington:
He would instantly be one of the fastest players on the team, and his athletic profile in general would stand out on this roster in such a great way. Seriously, in a package that size, he is a weapon, athletically. A difference maker.
I don’t distrust the metrics claiming he is not a plus defender, or think they are lying, but my eyes have seen him perform as a very good defender on more than one occasion, and there is nothing in his skill set to suggest he would have any limitation on defense, whatsoever. In fact, he has the prototypical, ideal set of tools to be a defensive difference maker as a forward. I don’t think he has any history we can point to where he was disruptive as Jeremi Grant was in Denver or prior to that, but I do think the conversation about Washington’s defense is similar to the one about Grant’s. I think both players have focused on becoming more offensively skilled so that they could get paid. Now that Washington has gotten paid, like Grant, I feel the question is: Would he be interested in accepting a more glue-guy/defender role here as a bridge to WINNING. If the answer is no for either, you probably don’t want them. But if the answer is yes then you have added a difference making player. I stand by that.
PJ Washington’s off-ball game on offense is CRAZY good for a 4. There’s been so much talk of replacing THJ‘s offense, and he actually might be able to do it, because he does not need the ball to impact the game on offense. Really good, fast release. Has a variety of different solutions to get his shot off on the move… Lots of great and varied foot work. Spacing for this team would improve a ton with PJ out there instead of Grant Williams, and that is coming from someone who was excited about the positive impact Williams would have on the team’s spacing.
Anything they do is going to be a risk. That’s what roster management in professional sports is. Taking risks. PJ Washington on this new deal is a risk I would take without even the slightest hesitation, especially considering how low the price for him seems to be.
To my understanding of what’s out there, he represents the most upside the Mavs can currently afford without compromising their ability to make a big move in the near future.
What do you think his price is? Would GWill get it done? Would Mavs trade Gwill? Do we really think Holmes + Hardy does it? What do we do with GWill if we bring in PJ.