Wizards Stock Watch: Week 1

Every Monday the Wizards Extreme team will bring you our weekly stock watch showing on a scale of 1-10 how each member of the Wizards peformed the week prior. Each player will be assigned a number on the chart, a corresponding grade and a quick synopsis of their play.  This week, Joe Glorioso gives his thoughts on the first two games of the season.

Nene No.42 * Pos. C * Age 30 * Ht. 6'11" * Wt. 250 * College: * Salary $13,000,000 Week 1 performance: INCOMPLETE : Nene got no run this week so there's no grade here. I'm excited to see when the Wizards get both him and Wall back into the lineup.

 

Trevor Ariza No.1 * Pos. SF * Age 27 * Ht. 6'8" * Wt. 210 * College: UCLA * Salary $7,258,960 Week 1 performance: D : I've been concerned about Ariza since the preseason. I know you're not supposed to put too much into games that don't count but Ariza has come out pretty stale in his first two games of the season. Take out the first basket of the season for Washington, a 3pt FG and Ariza is 2-12. After a so-so performance against the Cavs, Trevor follwed it up with a dud against the Celtics. Hope he can figure out his role in the offense in the coming weeks.

Earl Barron No.30 * Pos. C * Age 31 * Ht. 7'0" * Wt. 250 * College: Memphis * Salary $854,389 Week 1 performance: B+ : I always find it easy to root for a guy who's resume lists playing stints for Tuborg Pilsener, Red Bull Barako, GMAC Bologna, Meralco Bolts and 7 different NBA teams. It's even easier to root for him when comes off the bench and contributes the way he has. The guy Barron replaced in the 4th quarter against the Celtics is being paid nearly 12.5 million dollars more than him and Earl has become my early favorite for the Wizards Extreme: James Singleton Hustle Award lead. Don't think he'll continue this pace but if there is one thing Bullets/Wizards fans love...hustle is right up there.

Bradley Beal No.3 * Pos. SG * Age 19 * Ht. 6'3" * Wt. 207 * College: Florida * Salary $4,133,280 Week 1 performance: F+ : Yes, an F+ is a nice way of saying someone had a sh*t week. I gave Beal this grade for a multitude of reasons. For starters, I expect way more from our #3 overall pick, secondly, for a guy who was touted as a "Ray-Allen" type shooter, going 2-13 in your first two games is not going to help peoples' pereception of you. Beal is currently ranked 11th in his Rookie class at 5.0ppg but again, it's week 1 and I fully expect Beal to rebound in week 2. I keep reminding myself, the kid is only 19....he's only 19.

 

Trevor Booker No.35 * Pos. C * Age 24 * Ht. 6'8" * Wt. 240 * College: Clemson * Salary $1, 385,280 Week 1 performance: C+ : TBook started off the season with a less than stellar performance against the Cavs but rebounded strong - no pun intended - against the Celtics in game 2. As always with Trevor the measure of success for him is not necessarily in the stat line but more so the energy and effort he brings when he is in the game. I'd like to see Booker continue to build off of his game on Saturday night and continue to hold down the frontcourt for the Wizards until Nene can return.

 

Jordan Crawford No.15 * Pos. SG * Age 24 * Ht. 6'4" * Wt. 195 * College: Xavier * Salary $1,198,680 Week 1 performance: B+: I'm not even going to sugar coat this but I have a love/hate relationship with Jordan Crawford. At times he makes me shake my head in amazement with his arsenal of moves and drives to the basket. Other times he makes me shake my head in amazement at the ridiculous shot selction and passes he attempts on a nightly basis. This week we are in love mode. Although you can always pinpoint specific plays you don't like from a player, Jordan had a fairly average game against the Cavs and a pretty good game against the Celtics. Since Coach Wittman is talking about making adjustments to the starting lineup after two piss-poor starts I could certainly see JCraw replacing Beal in the starting lineup for the next few games.

 

Cartier Martin No.20 * Pos. SF/PF * Age 27 * Ht. 6'7" * Wt. 220 * College: Kansas State* Salary $854,389 Week 1 performance: C+: I realize that 5pts, 1reb, 1stl and 2to in 6 minutes of playing time is nothing to write home about but on a team struggling to shoot, and at 39% over two games the Wizards are struggling to shoot, one would assume it would be a good idea to put a guy whose NBA repitoire is shooting in the game. I don't know where the minutes come from but Cartier needs more burn.

Emeka Okafor No.50 * Pos. C * Age 30 * Ht. 6'10" * Wt. 255 * College: Connecticut * Salary $13,490,000 Week 1 performance: D+: Okafor is a career 51-52% FG guy so to start off the year in the 31% range is unacceptable for a guy who is supposed to play inside 15 feet of the basket. 13 combined points and 14 combined rebounds over two games and being benched in the 4th quarter is not exaclty what the Wizards were hoping for when they unloaded the albatross known as Rashard Lewis to New Orleans for Ariza and Okafor. As with most other players on this team I full expect Okafor to get better as the weeks go on but would like to see him get back on track with his offensive and defensive production of years past.

Jannero Pargo No.7 * Pos. PG * Age 33 * Ht. 6'1" * Wt. 185 * College: Arkansas * Salary $854,389 Week 1 performance: C: Pargo was brought in to alleviate pains at the PG position as a result of John Wall's injury. So far I'd say he had 1 bad game and 1 good game. The thing I like about Pargo is his aggresiveness and the pace at which he plays. I'd actually prefer to see Pargo in the starting lineup with Price coming off the bench at this point but Coach Wittman hasn't asked me for my opinion yet.

A.J. Price No.12 * Pos. PG * Age 26 * Ht. 6'2" * Wt. 185 * College: Connecticut * Salary $854,389 Week 1 performance: D+: Love A.J. Price's story, amazing to see how far he's come considering all the trials and tribulations he's seen in his life at such a young age. That being said, his first two games as the starting PG for the Wizards have been quite subpar. Wizards fans have always gotten on John Wall about his shooting and there is no reason why your starting point guard should be 5 for 23 over two games unless his name is John Wall. This in my eyes is not surprising though, I thought Pargo had a better preseason and I believe this is the second of three moves that needs to happen with the starting lineup before Wednesday's game against Boston.

 

 

 

Kevin Seraphin No.13 * Pos. PF * Age 22* Ht. 6'9" * Wt. 275 * College: * Salary $1,797,600 Week 1 performance: B+: The only reason I didn't give Seraphin an A grade was because I want to leave room for even better performances as the weeks go on. However, the big man from France had a hell of a game against the Celtics on Saturday night and continued to builld on his 20 starts from last season where he averaged 14.3pts, 7.3reb, 1.8 blocks per game. My starting lineup right now would be Pargo, Crawford, Ariza, Booker and Seraphin.

Chris Singleton No.31 * Pos. SF/PF * Age 22 * Ht. 6'8" * Wt. 230 * College: Florida State * Salary $1,551,840 Week 1 performance: D: Can someone please explain what the hell is going on with Chris Singleton's playing time? After getting 17 minutes and being part of a rotation that got the Wizards back in the game with the Cavaliers, the 2nd year SF/PF out of Florida State got no run on Saturday night against Boston. I feel bad for giving Chris such a low grade but it's not easy to judge a performance when the player is on the bench for 1 of 2 games. I hope Coach Wittman gives Chris a more defined role and allows him to find a role on this team.

Jan Vesely No.24 * Pos. SF * Age 22 * Ht. 6'11" * Wt. 240 * College: * Salary $3,202,920 Week 1 performance: D: If we were going to judge these guys on effort or hustle plays a few of them would get higher marks strictly based on those factors. Unfortunately in the NBA you have to produce on the stat sheet as well. Vesely has displayed more accuracy in this young season, slightly above his 53% from last year but the fouls continue to concern me. As with Beal, Vesely was a high pick and a lot is expected of him, regardless of the "down year" it was for his draft class. I'd love to see Vesely continue to improve his shooting and push Ariza for the starting SF in a few weeks. My hope would be by the time Wall comes back we'd have our #1, #3 and #6 pick from the last few years in the starting lineup together...and not just for the sake of it but because they are helping the Wizards win.

John Wall No.2 * Pos. PG * Age 22 * Ht. 6'4" * Wt. 195 * College: Kentucky * Salary $5,915,880 Week 1 performance: INCOMPLETE : I know I am not alone here...Please...Please...Please...get better soon John. This team needs you more than any other player.

 

Martell Webster No.9 * Pos. SF * Age 25 * Ht. 6'7" * Wt. 230 * College: * Salary $1,600,0000 Week 1 performance: D+: After starting off strong in Cleveland, Martell struggled against the Celtics shooting a poor 1 for 6 from the field including an 0-3 from 3pt land. Although I have him rated low this week, I like what I see from Martell both on and off the court. Having witnessed the crap surrounding this team in terms of off the court antics, guys like Webster are the reason why I'm much more optimistic about this season than I have been in years past. Martell will get better and I believe it will start on Wednesday in his 2nd attempt vs. the Celtics.