Thursday, June 26, 2008

Work with what you have

The Wizards would like to trade their first-round pick tonight. They just aren’t optimistic about the chances of that happening.
Which means they won’t get a player who will provide immediate help. Which means they must get major improvement from their young players if they want to challenge for the Eastern Conference title.
“We’re closer than people probably think,” one Wizards source said.
This is assuming they re-sign Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, of course.
Last year’s No. 1, guard Nick Young, showed that he can develop into a scorer, perhaps in the 17 to 18 point range. The Wizards would like him to improve in the nuances of the game, learning how to take over and to play under control. Defensively, he must learn how to maintain pressure on the ball.
Forward Andray Blatche, entering his fourth season, still needs to prove he can string together three good games out of four. The Wizards would like to see him stop putting so much emphasis on his first jumper.
“So much of his self-esteem comes from that,” one source said. “When he messes up, he looks to get yanked. … People forget he’s only 21 and has only scratched the surface of how good he can be.”
He must develop more mental toughness and an even more efficient work ethic, not just shooting for an hour but taking the right shots for an hour. The Wizards didn’t think he had a good summer last year — too worried about his contract status — and needs a great one this year.
Oleksiy Pecherov, picked in the first round two years ago, fell into being mostly a three-point shooter this past season. It’ll be hard for him to get minutes behind Jamison, Blatche and Darius Songaila. The Wizards would like to see more of Pecherov’s low-post game, plus rebounding.
“He can rebound, set nice screens and pass,” the source said. “That’s what he has to get back to. … He has to pick it up, big-time.”
And last year’s second-round pick, Dominic McGuire, needs to understand there are many players like him across the country. He has to continue developing his role as a hustle guy.


UNDER THE RADAR » Up & down

Joey Dorsey fits what the Wizards need: he’s big, strong and rugged. He plays defense and rebounds and does not need the ball to be effective.
But here’s the question: can they get him? Not unless they trade up in the second round they can’t. Dorsey, the Baltimore native who played collegiately at Memphis, is not good enough to select with the 18th overall pick, but he’ll be gone by the time they use their 47th selection in the second round.
“Dorsey has NBA toughness,” one league executive said. “He has a discernible NBA skill and will rebound.”
Dorsey is 6-foot-9, 265 pounds and would add muscle. New Jersey is apparently eyeing him with the 40th choice.
“He can be a fourth big in your rotation,” said veteran NBA scout and consultant Chris Ekstrand. “There will be six or seven first-round guys who won’t even be in the league in five years. Dorsey will be pounding for the next 10 years.”
Meanwhile, Georgetown center Roy Hibbert’s stock is slowly climbing, perhaps because of his off-court reputation. And Indiana power forward D.J. White might be the most underrated, according to one league source. The Wizards apparently like him, the source said.
And Syracuse’s Donte Greene is falling fast, the source said. So, too, are Kansas’s Darrell Arthur and Nevada’s JaVale McGee, though not quite as fast.


Knucklehead of the week » Don Imus, radio host

Oh, Don Imus. You just couldn’t stop yourself again, could you? But, first, here’s something everyone needs to know about Imus: what he’s been saying lately is what he’s been saying for, oh, a few decades! Where have you people been? And why is everyone complaining now? Anyway, Imus and Warner Wolf had an exchange on the air when talking about Pacman Jones’ numerous arrests. Imus asked, “What color is he?” Wolf responded, “African-American,” and Imus then said, “There you go. Now we know.” A day later Imus said what he meant by that comment is that Jones is being targeted because of his color? Really? And not because of his actions, perhaps? So Imus is either a racist (remember Rutgers) or a fool. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and tilt toward the latter. Jones is targeted because he’s a punk.


GOOD IDEA, BAD IDEA

GOOD IDEA » For the Nats to make a trade for a name player who can, you know, actually play. They must generate goodwill and interest as fans become apathetic.

BAD IDEA » Bypassing Michael Beasley in the draft. We love point guards — a lot. But Beasley can be a big-time scorer.

GOOD IDEA » Becoming cultured. The drama and quality of soccer in the European Championships has been phenomenal as national pride is on the line.

BAD IDEA » Long term deals. Mercurial Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier reportedly is signing a nine-year deal. Goodbye, incentive — for a decade.

Good idea » To know who you’re talking to. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi thought he apologized over the phone to Reds OF Adam Dunn for a recent comment. Turns out it was a prankster. The caller then asked Ricciardi if he had Prince Albert in a can.

BAD IDEA » Putting a microphone in front of Shaq and asking him to freestyle rap. Or, at least, doing that when others might be recording it.

GOOD IDEA » Getting the most for a buck. No assets? Money talks, as Portland acquired the 27th overall pick in today’s NBA draft from New Orleans for cash.

BAD IDEA » Taking rides from strangers. Raiders receiver Javon Walker learned the childhood lesson the hard way after he was beaten and robbed.


ON THE RECORD

“People just develop better over there … I’ll constantly be playing basketball 24-7. I don’t have to worry about school and things like that.”

— Former Oak Hill standout Brandon Jennings, who is debating playing in Europe for a year prior to becoming eligible for the NBA Draft next summer.


“It was to speed up the healing process, and that was it. I lifted in the offseason, did all that on my own. I never took those things on my own.”

— Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who admitted to taking steroids during his career under doctors’ orders.


BY THE NUMBERS

15 » Days Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow is facing in suspension for another horse he trains exceeding the allowable limit for a drug that increases lung capacity.

5,780 » Dollars an Arizona-based company is claiming Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis owes it for providing hostesses during the former defensive MVP’s Super Bowl party.