McDonald: Washington does what he can to stay

[timvp]

Spurs free agent Washington does what he can to stay
Jeff McDonald
Express-News

ORLANDO, Fla. — For Spurs point guard Darius Washington, the memories came flooding back from the moment we walked into Amway Arena on Thursday. Especially when he looked up.

Washington grew up in the area, the pride of Edgewater High. As a kid, he saw scores of Orlando Magic games, all of them from the cheap seats.

"Way up high," Washington recalled. "I used to reach up and touch the ceiling."

Washington had a much better view Thursday, as the Spurs dropped a 99-90 preseason decision to his hometown Magic. For some of it, he was right there on the court in a Spurs uniform.

Time will tell how long he stays.

When camp began Oct. 2, odds were stacked against Washington even making it to his Orlando homecoming. Rookie free agents vying to make a team that already has the maximum of 15 players under contract do not have a strong history of success.

Twenty-four days later, he's still here, part by luck and part by skill. He is the last of four camp tryout players still standing.

With backup point guards Jacque Vaughn and Beno Udrih injured, it's been impossible for the Spurs to waive him. In their absence, Washington has made the most of his minutes.

"Having Beno and Jacque hurt obviously makes us look at him more seriously," coach Gregg Popovich said. "As long as we've been doing that, we've been impressed."

Washington, a college standout at Memphis, remains a long shot to make the team, but not the long shot he was when camp began. The Spurs' final roster spot will probably come down to either Washington or second-round pick Marcus Williams, whose deal is not guaranteed.

Washington played only 16 minutes Thursday, as Popovich opted to give Tony Parker a preseason-high 31.

Parker thrived, scoring 18 points. Manu Ginobili added 21. Tim Duncan had 10 points for the Spurs, but again struggled with his shot, missing 10 of 14 attempts.

The Spurs (4-2) complete the preseason against Houston today at the AT&T Center.

Rashard Lewis, the key acquisition of Orlando's offseason, scored 16 points to lead the Magic (6-1) after sitting out the previous four games. He had eight during the key stretch of the third quarter that tilted the game in Orlando's favor.

"I was really happy with everybody," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I didn't see guys firing up many bad shots."

Washington didn't fire up much of anything. He scored just four points.

His quiet homecoming, however, isn't likely to break his bid to make the team — just as his near triple-double against Golden State last week didn't make it.

"He's competed very well, is the bottom line," Popovich said. "He's trying to get a job, and he's been very serious about it."

Like most players who come into an NBA camp without a contract, Washington lives in constant fear.

He knows that one day soon he could be cut, the latest chapter of his NBA life over. It happened to Kris Lang and Keith Langford on Wednesday.

Washington knows it could happen to him today — or any time before the Oct. 29 roster deadline.

That fear frightens him. But it also fuels him.

"You have to take advantage of the opportunity you get," said Washington, a training camp cut in Dallas last year.

For the most part, Washington has done that. He is now on the Spurs' radar — and others' as well. Scouts from Seattle were in San Antonio last week, kicking his tires.

What happens to Washington next is the last lingering question of the Spurs' preseason.

Whatever the verdict is, he's come a long way. He's closer to an NBA court now than he's ever been.

"Whatever happens, I've learned a lot," Washington said. "Who can say they've lasted almost seven games with the NBA champs?"

Now, Washington can.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...r.34c360b.html

[timvp]

"Having Beno and Jacque hurt obviously makes us look at him more seriously," coach Gregg Popovich said. "As long as we've been doing that, we've been impressed."

This is the first time Pop has even hinted that Washington has a chance to make the team. Before the preseason game against the Magic, Coach Bud had a similar take.

No matter what the final decision is, it's going to be tough. Do the Spurs eat Beno's contract now when they could possibly trade him later? Do the Spurs give up on the 33rd overall draft pick just months after drafting him? Do the Spurs waive Washington, a player who not only could be needed early in the season, but has also taken on the challenge of making a team that had no open roster spots and succeeded in impressing under those cir stances?

Tough choice.

[td4mvp21]

I'd reward him for at least putting forth an effort. What effort has Beno even shown over the past two seasons? Anything like this? It's not like Beno is a contributor.

[Darkwaters]

The most likely choice overall of keeping Darius is probably to waive Williams and pick up Washington. Williams can be acquired by the Toros and retained in some form. Beno then can stay on the team and allow the Spurs the opportunity to trade his contract late in the season in an attempt to save face and lessen the embarrasment of having to waive a former 1st round pick. Ideally, you would simply trade Beno now instead of later. But I don't see takers lining up at the moment. During the middle of the season injuries might force somebody to try to rehabilitate Beno. Anyways, I don't know if Williams is really worth that much more on the Spurs roster or just simply on the Toros. If he gets waived and goes to Austin and then looks good he can just be picked up next season. I doubt many other teams will be knocking down his door either way.

Speaking of which, Korolev was just waived by the Clippers today. Any interest?

[Walter Craparita]

When you pick up Parker and Ginobili I don't think you have to be embarrassed at all for catching and releasing a first round flop.

[T Park]

I cannot wait to hear the in bull reason for to keep Beno around.

[Darkwaters]

When you pick up Parker and Ginobili I don't think you have to be embarrassed at all for catching and releasing a first round flop.

Beno is pretty embarrasing. And RC is a pretty big ego as well. Hes trying to prove that he was the mastermind and not Presti.

[whottt]

Beno is a classic case of a guy who's been told how talented he is his entire life and thinks relying on his talent is good enough...either that, or he doesn't really want to play basketball...either way, Beno is a huge project...that kind of at ude only turns around after a lot of failure.

[whottt]

Could this be a case of the Spurs just trying to help Washington out? Maybe they gave those scouts the heads up? They were scouts from a Spurs branch of the NBA.


In any case...unfortunately Washington hasn't come close to matching his statistical production from his break out game...I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed by that...

However, if the effort is there...the improvement and consistency will come...



I'm split on the relevance of this article and Pop's comments...they could just be trying to help him for the way he's played.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Could this be a case of the Spurs just trying to help Washington out? Maybe they gave those scouts the heads up? They were scouts from a Spurs branch of the NBA.


In any case...unfortunately Washington hasn't come close to matching his statistical production from his break out game...I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed by that...

However, if the effort is there...the improvement and consistency will come...



I'm split on the relevance of this article and Pop's comments...they could just be trying to help him for the way he's played.

I hope not, they'd be stupid as for letting him go when Beno and Vaughn are both injured.

That'd be about as stupid as trading Scola to a division rival for peanuts... .oh wait

[2centsworth]

When you pick up Parker and Ginobili I don't think you have to be embarrassed at all for catching and releasing a first round flop.

how about Artis Gilmore. Now that was a steal.

[Bruno]

Mt thought on who to cut :

Cutting Washington :
If Spurs believe he is a good prospect and it seems to be the case, they had to keep him. He could be Spurs future backup PG.
Last June, people thought that Spurs would draft a PG with the 28th or 33rd. It was maybe too what Spurs wanted because they had worked out tons of PGs.At the end they didn't draft a PG likely because available PGs weren't that good.
Washington is a very young PG. He is only 21 years old and he left the college one year ago as a sop re. You can consider him as a free draft pick.

Cutting Williams :
Williams hasn't played well in SL or during the preseason but I think it's too soon to cut him unless you have a serious reason to do it. Saving a little money by keeping him over Beno (if Spurs want to keep Williams) isn't a big enough reason to cut him.
Spurs' staff liked him enough to draft him with an early second round draft pick and having a bad preseason doesn't mean for sure that Williams won't be a good player in the future. A player like Bobby Jones, who is quite similar to Williams, was bad during last year preseason (1.3ppg in 6.5mpg) and has a very good preseason this year (11.5ppg in 20.3mpg). Darius Washington was too bad during last year preseason with Dallas (.25 FG% and more turnovers than assists).
The key for Williams is to get a decent jump shot. Turning a bad shooting mechanic into a good one take a lot of time and your shot % are even worse at the start of the process. You must be patient to see if Chip's work will allow him to get at least an average shot.

Cutting Udrih :
If Spurs want to keep Washington, it is was should be done.
Keeping Udrih is the cheapest solution but other solutions aren't way more expensive : cutting Udrih is $1.2M more expensive than cutting Washington and $850K more expensive than cutting Williams.
The real downside of cutting Udrih is that you can't trade him at the deadline in a financial move to lower the luxury tax. However, If Spurs aren't able to trade him now, I'm not sure they will be able to do it at the deadline : Udrih's value won't be higher at the deadline (he won't play with Spurs baring an injury). Teams are more ready to use their trade exceptions at the deadline but they have too more constraint with the 15 players limit than now.


If Spurs are sold on Washington, Spurs should shop Udrih around the league now in a trade like Udrih + cash to pay his salary + little incentives like some cash or a second round pick for a trade exception. If they failed, they should cut him baring Holt give them the green light to do so.

[Mr. Body]

Cutting Washington :
If Spurs believe he is a good prospect and it seems to be the case, they had to keep him. He could be Spurs future backup PG.
Last June, people thought that Spurs would draft a PG with the 28th or 33rd. It was maybe too what Spurs wanted because they had worked out tons of PGs.At the end they didn't draft a PG likely because available PGs weren't that good.
Washington is a very young PG. He is only 21 years old and he left the college one year ago as a sop re. You can consider him as a free draft pick.

I, too, have wondered what happened with the PGs they worked out and why they didn't pick them. Some evidence comes from early in summer league with comments that Marcus Williams might turn out to be a solid ball-handler and pull double-duty. Of course, then he sucked.

But would anybody pick Taurean Green or Petteri Kopponen or any of the other 2nd round points taken over Darius Washington at this point? I can't think of a reason why Washington isn't at least as good as any of them... which isn't to say any are great, but that he shows similar promise.

[GrandeDavid]

It seems to me that Pop is being to complimentary of him in the press, which to me means he might get cut. I haven't seen any preseason action or anything but have seen him play live in college. I hope he makes the team, honestly. I think he'd be a nice addition. But Pop just seems too nice about him right now, like he's hyping him to get him a shot with another team. Who knows.

[Ocotillo]

Cutting Udrih :
However, If Spurs aren't able to trade him now, I'm not sure they will be able to do it at the deadline

Indeed, if you keep Beno with the expectation that you can trade him in February you are setting yourself up for a disappointment. Just because his contract comes off the books at the end of the season doesn't mean we automatically find a taker......... With his baggage, what in God's name will the other team want us to take back?

[Bruno]

With his baggage, what in God's name will the other team want us to take back?

You can still trade him even if he is the worst player of the world.

Spurs can trade Beno and $1.75M in cash to pay his salary to a team with a trade exception or a team under the cap. You give too a reason for the other team to do the trade like a second round pick or some cash. The other team can waive Beno if they want or keep him to see what he can do. This kind of trade with worthless players happen every year.
Spurs will save money by doing this trade instead of waiving because even if they give the cash to pay his salary, they won't pay the luxury tax on it.

[Bruno]

The deadline for going under the 15 players limit is on Monday 29th at 6pm (ET).

However you had too to notice that there is another deadline that is today 26th at 6pm(ET). When a player is on the waivers, the team that waive him had to pay his salary. If a team waive a player, who has a fully non guaranteed contract, Monday, the team will have to pay 2 days of his salary.

If Spurs don't waive someone today and baring Washington and Williams contracts are fully no-guaranteed, it will mean that the choice is so thought that they are ready to spend between $10K or $15K to have an extra weekend to find a solution or that they will waive/trade Beno.

[MoSpur]

I don't think its a tough choice. Its an obvious choice. Keep Washington. He didn't fill up the box score last night, but he had four rebounds, three assists, and the most important stat, NO TURNOVERS in those sixteen minutes. Do what you got to do to keep him. You're not going to have a true backup PG if you let him go in the beginning of the season because of the injuries to Beno and Vaughn.

Either cut Williams and swallow your pride or do us all a favor and cut Beno and fork over some cash by doing that.

[Mr. Body]

I don't think its a tough choice. Its an obvious choice. Keep Washington. He didn't fill up the box score last night, but he had four rebounds, three assists, and the most important stat, NO TURNOVERS in those sixteen minutes. Do what you got to do to keep him. You're not going to have a true backup PG if you let him go in the beginning of the season because of the injuries to Beno and Vaughn.

Either cut Williams and swallow your pride or do us all a favor and cut Beno and fork over some cash by doing that.

It's that extra production that makes Washington attractive. In fact, he DID fill up the stat sheet in limited minutes, as a rookie. Three:zero assist ratio is fantastic for a back-up point, and he consistently runs down rebounds. He doesn't need to score to have a healthy impact.

Increasingly the choice seems obvious. But we'll see what the egos are saying behind the curtain.

[MoSpur]

I really hope they keep him, but who knows.

[urunobili]

we'll see how this ends up... he did play with Tim, Manu, Brent and Bruce at the end of regulation yesterday... there's no better shot to get the job than that...

[Obstructed_View]

Beno is a classic case of a guy who's been told how talented he is his entire life and thinks relying on his talent is good enough...either that, or he doesn't really want to play basketball...either way, Beno is a huge project...that kind of at ude only turns around after a lot of failure.

The above is why I don't put you on my ignore list.

I agree, although I'm not convinced that an at ude like that ever turns around. Players tend to be what they have consistently been. Beno has been talented and lazy. He'd probably be a decent enough player to squeak by on a team that doesn't ask him to learn anything he didn't already know when he was drafted.

[barbacoataco]

At one time I thought Beno had real potential, especially on the offensive end.

[Mr. Body]

At one time I thought Beno had real potential, especially on the offensive end.

Now he's just offensive.