Wiz and Rockets, Game 4

I just got done chatting with Nick Young before the Wizards tipped off against the Rockets and Nick, who entered tonight's game averaging 10.7 points on 31.3 percent shooting, talked about trying to "settle down" tonight and tomorrow in the finale.

"I think I've been trying to force things a little too much, forcing shots and being a little too aggressive at times," Young said. "I wanted to come out here and play so well, I kind of got ahead of myself a little bit. When I force things, it throws my shot off. I need to just settle down and play my game."

-I chatted with Ernie Grunfeld a bit and asked him about free agency/the remainder of the summer. Things are pretty quiet around the league now that most of the top unrestricted free agents have signed. Most of the big name restricted guys aren't drawing big offers because teams know that their current squads can - and likely will - match.

The Wiz have around $1.5 million remaining under the luxury tax but keep in mind they may not even want to use all of that in order to keep a little wiggle room underneath for a 10-day guy should a rash of injuries hit as it did last season. Grunfeld has never ruled out going over the tax but he's not doing it unless it's for an impact player.

You can bet that Ernie has talked about potential trade ideas with his colleagues throughout the week. Most of the general managers in the league are here as well as a slew of agents and there is a lot of chatter. Usually, that chatter amounts to nothing but you never know right?

Share your thoughts on tonight's game......

By Ivan Carter |  July 19, 2008; 8:13 PM ET
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Comments

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Where can we see the game?

Posted by: KGrieves | July 19, 2008 8:39 PM

D-Mac is bringing it once again!

Posted by: Anonymous | July 19, 2008 8:48 PM

D-Mac indeed looks good. I know its only summer league, but if he can keep this up we might not need Matt Barnes after all. Last year in summer league D-Mac showed good hustle and good court sense; the difference this summer is that he seems to be able to hit the 10-15 foot J consistently. Props to Hopla perhaps?

Posted by: PK1 | July 19, 2008 9:12 PM

what channel is the game on?

Posted by: Anonymous | July 19, 2008 9:17 PM

webcast on nba.com

Posted by: Anonymous | July 19, 2008 9:22 PM

They didn't webcast it live, maybe because it's going to be shown on NBA TV at 10:30PM. I don't have NBA TV but hope to be able to watch it on the web later.

Anyway Wiz won over the shorter Rockets, with a rebounds advantage. This time I'm glad we have a bunch of tall skinny guys!

Posted by: rgz | July 19, 2008 10:01 PM

Only $1.5M left? Why so little, if GA left $16M on the table that averages out to about $2.65 per year over 6 years. So shouldn't the Wiz have that much cap space?

Posted by: Anonymous | July 19, 2008 10:03 PM

Only $1.5M left? Why so little, if GA left $16M on the table that averages out to about $2.65 per year over 6 years. So shouldn't the Wiz have that much cap space?

Posted by: | July 19, 2008 10:03 PM

Except that they also signed Dee Brown.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 19, 2008 10:16 PM

I did not see the game, but checkout J. Wallace's numbers...better than Dee Brown's. I would appreciate comments from those who saw the game regard Wallace's performance. He played more minutes than brown as well... Interesting.

Posted by: Skeefo | July 19, 2008 10:17 PM

NBATV is showing the game at midnight EST.

Posted by: Darnell | July 19, 2008 10:31 PM

So far Wallace has looked better than Dee Brown IMO. Ivan if you get to talk to Ernie again can you please ask him about the Dee Brown signing, and what he thinks about Jonathan Wallace??

Posted by: Darnell | July 19, 2008 10:32 PM

" Grunfeld has never ruled out going over the tax buts he's not doing it unless it's for an impact player.

Share your thoughts on tonight's game...... "

BS.

Maybe if Josh Smith wasn't still available, or Okafor, or Luol Deng, or David Harrison, or Carlos Arroyo, etc.

Of course, there was Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Posey, etc.

Posted by: DC Man88 | July 19, 2008 10:39 PM

I haven't seen the game tonight yet, but it seems to me they are really trying to give this guy Forbes every opportunity to make the team, I assume to fill the backup sf spot. He was atlantic-10 POY but I have not been impressed at all. Maybe he will do something tonight to change my mind. I'd like to see more of that dude Elegar and more Veremeenko too. Last game I liked what I saw from McGee and I hope he starts and get more minutes tonight!!

Posted by: Darnell | July 19, 2008 10:39 PM

Great Wizards turnout at the game. The players are so friendly and with the large Wizards presence, it really has been a special week. Highlights: Patrick Ewing Sr., Steve Spurrier, Damon Jones, David Aldridge, Eddie Jordan, Ernie Grunfeld, Maloof bros., Chris Mullin. It's been incredible and much more to say, but first things first. Javale McGee airballed an uncontested three today against the Rockets and coach yanked him immediately.
He has had a poor poor poor summer league, clumsy, bad defense, very unaggressive, not in sync with rest of the team.
Blatche is going to blow up this year. He has gotten a lot stronger, more aggressive, more assertive, and has greatly improved his shooting.
McGuire hustles like crazy and hopefully will be a good rebounder this year. His shots not bad and he had a few ferocious dunks (especially Friday against the Cavs).
Veremeenko is a good defender but not much else.
Dee Brown disappointed me. If we have a pg injury and he goes from third string to our only backup, the Wiz are going to really struggle. He's got no shot. Although he's quick, he's not a great defender. I never felt like he was running the team. Blatche set up the offense as effectively as Brown, which is both praise for AB whose courtvision and passing skill are superb and whose ballhandling is better than most people his height and a knock on Brown.
Get excited about Blatche yall

Posted by: Emmet | July 19, 2008 10:41 PM

Good/interesting review/evaluation...

Posted by: Skeefo | July 19, 2008 10:56 PM

bz to ABlatche, however none of the pass first PGs the wiz brought to sl are distinguishing themselves. for $100k EG is going to stick with DBrown, sorry GT fans. maybe spurrier is there to help coach em up. there are plenty of fa out their that are impact players. this reporter needs to push EG on that statement. it makes no sense. it will be interesting to see if EG can find another bargin basement $1M/yr player who can contribute to the rotation like he did with DStevenson a few years ago. i think he picked up DStevenson pretty late in the offseason too that year.

Posted by: bravo zulu | July 19, 2008 11:15 PM

thanks Emmet

I agree with most of your post, all except the Javale Mcgee evaluation. He did not have a particularly good game tonight but overall he's been good, showing serious potential. So to read:
"He has had a poor poor poor summer league, clumsy, bad defense, very unaggressive, not in sync with rest of the team"

I'll have to respectfully disagree with that call, he's shown a natural ability to block shots, finish at the rim and run the court, I'm good with that for now.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:30 AM

I'm a Hoya fan so to say I have been rooting for Jon Wallace is an understatement, unfortunately I have not been impressed. He's seems to be a step slow and lacks adequate ball handling skills at this level (several poor turnovers). He definitely can shoot but I'm not sure if that is enough to justify a spot as the 3rd point guard.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:37 AM

Steve Kerr, not Steve Spurrier, my bad

Posted by: Emmet | July 20, 2008 3:38 AM

have not been impressed with Dee Brown either. As stated by Emmet, he's very quick but not a good defender, shooter or perpetrator. He has good handle and can advance the ball at the pro level better than any of the lead guards we have in SL so unless we sign another point from now until training camp he's our 3rd point guard.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:43 AM

Kerr, Spurrier, close enough Emmet.
Agree with you about Andre Blatche Emmet, he's been awesome. He's shown everything in the SL (poise, scoring, rebounding and leadership), so to all that have been bashing AB in this SL shut up, we've got a future stud.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:50 AM

Dom Mcguire in my opinion is ready to step up as the back-up for Caron B.
I believe that he has been the revelation of the SL for the Wiz (along with AB) and I'm excited as can be.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:54 AM

"very quick but not a good defender, shooter or perpetrator"

Of course I meant penetrator.

Posted by: zxhoya | July 20, 2008 3:59 AM

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