The "Deron Washington is a Piston" post

by Matt Watson on Jun 27, 2008 12:01 AM EDT

He's a 6-6 swingman taken 59th overall out of Virginia Tech. He's being hailed as a so-so offensive player capable of locking down on defense, which sounds like Pistons material to me. For his sake, here's to hoping he has a future in the league beyond Detroit's summer league team and training camp roster. Good luck, Deron, you face an uphill battle.

Update: well, at least he has an entertaining YouTube mix, which is more than can be said about Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted:

I usually don't like putting two videos in one post, but this is slick, courtesy Dan Steinberg:

As impressive as those dunks are, Washington admitted to Steinberg that he can't even palm a basketball. He makes up for it with a 40-inch vertical, though. You might also enjoy this list of YouTube vids courtesy of Wikipedia.

DraftExpress wasn't impressed with Washington at the Portsmouth Invitational in April:

While there were flashes of ability at multiple points throughout the week, Washington confirmed what we already knew about him: he is a tremendous athlete with a poor basketball IQ and plenty of skill development needed. Defensively he gambled excessively and seemed to play with a reckless abandon that had to make those around him nervous, as his play frequently borders on dirty. Most concerning was his poor body language and the way he just didn’t seem to fit in with anyone else on the team, not cheering his teammates on, and showing very little regard for making anyone except himself look good.

If you thought that was bad, Awful Announcing was appalled by Washington's performance in January's Duke/Va. Tech contest:

It was well documented how dreadful Paulus' flopping was against FSU, but his antics were nothing compared to Deron Washington's show last night. In a game against Duke the Virginia Tech Forward proceeded to flop, trip players, try to get into the Duke huddle, start a fight with Paulus, AND undercut Demarcus Nelson on a dunk attempt.

[...] It's one thing to flop and look like a complete idiot (*ahem* Paulus) but actually trying to injure people during a game is unforgivable. That undercut of Nelson was premeditated and dirty as hell. Washington should be suspended for at least a game if not more.

The video that accompanied that post has already been pulled from YouTube, but that sounds pretty awful. In fact, that sounds ... like Bill Laimbeer. Hey, I just found tonight's silver lining!

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Dude, Deron Washington is #3 on Chad Ford’s overall Big Board. We’ve obviously made the move of the draft, getting him 56 spots later.

by DJ Canoli on Jun 27, 2008 12:12 AM EDT reply actions

I should mention that it’s incredible that he can make such an impression without any height.

by DJ Canoli on Jun 27, 2008 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

I am utterly confused by what we did tonight.

by kevin s. on Jun 27, 2008 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t even think confused works for me. Really, I can only assume Joe’s working on something else with this – otherwise…?

by Steve in OH on Jun 27, 2008 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

you can see the “flop” game here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0B7CSHFGEk&NR=1

I feel like a lot of his “flopping” was solid contact. And that first illegal screen they called on him was nothing compared to what duke was getting away with on the other end.

by James B. on Jun 27, 2008 1:59 AM EDT reply actions

I posted this on another thread but will repost it here. It answers every question I had (Why Walter Sharpe? What about his off-court issues? Why not Bill Walker? etc.)

From pistons.com:

“Joe Dumars was smiling like a guy who knows something about Walter Sharpe that nobody else knows. He watched "a ton of tape" on him and brought him in to work out, holding him over for a second day.

"He’s good, man, he’s good," Dumars said. "Handles it, shoots it, long and smooth."

Dumars said Sharpe will be a small forward in the NBA, though he was playing out of position at UAB as a power forward.

As for Sharpe’s history of off-court trouble – arrested for disorderly conduct, academically inelgible, shot two years ago though it appears he was an innocent victim – Dumars said almost all of it traces to the narcolepsy only recently diagnosed. He said Sharpe is now on medication and that “he says it’s changed his life.” Dumars said he’s talked to “more people in Alabama than I care to remember” and is perfectly convinced Sharpe has a firm grip on his life now.

Dumars was prepared to take him at 29 when Seattle called and wanted to trade up to get D.J. White. Dumars saw it as an opportunity to get the guy he wanted and pick up and extra pick in the deal. He also said he knew of two teams preparing to trade up to take Sharpe.

Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington, the two other second-rounders, were picked in part because they agreed to play in Europe next season. Dumars said the organization asked potential second-round picks if they would be willing to play overseas because he didn’t anticipate having a roster spot for them next season. Those who answered no, the Pistons scratched off their list. That’s one reason they didn’t take Bill Walker, though Dumars said "we liked him a lot."

The reason they didn’t keep White, Dumars said, is they saw him as too close in playing style to Jason Maxiell – an undersized power forward who can play, but a duplication of Maxiell.

That’s pretty much it for tonight, guys. I’ll be back tomorrow with more on the draft."

by Quick Darshan on Jun 27, 2008 2:31 AM EDT reply actions

QD:
You dispelled the myth, my friend. +1

by Mike Payne on Jun 27, 2008 2:53 AM EDT reply actions

"Handles it, shoots it, long and smooth."

That’s what she— um, nice pick Joe.

by Mike Payne on Jun 27, 2008 3:09 AM EDT reply actions

Nice job QD, I just posted a link to this in the Plaisted thread…should have checked here first. DBB readers are resourceful, man.

by Fuj on Jun 27, 2008 3:10 AM EDT reply actions

As a hardcore Va. Tech hoops fan, I loved Deron’s passion and intensity on D… but I’m still baffled by how NBA scouts think his game can translate to the NBA level.

I guess we’re seeing this happen all too often these days… a guy with no basketball IQ and absolutely ZERO shooting range builds up a 2-year highlight film of flashy dunks and blocks (at least in Deron’s case, it’s against very solid ACC competition and not against high schoolers), and a GM can’t resist taking him over the smart, well-rounded, NBA-ready players.

by JT on Jun 27, 2008 8:44 AM EDT reply actions

A couple of things of note here. CDR didn’t really seem to be impressing that many people if he kept sliding as he was. I thought he’d be on our target list but with a late pick like that, you basically hit for the fences. In regards to roster spots, Alex Acker is on our summer league team and there’s been talk that he could join the roster this year. They also have the full mid-level exception to offer and it sounds like they are also thinking of bringing Herrmann back depending on what happens with regards to trades and what not.

by Sable on Jun 27, 2008 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

Damn, Deron has some springs! Those lefty blocks are strangely reminiscent of another Pistons stud defender. This is a great pick even if he doesnt make the team. Pistons havent had an athlete of this caliber since Darvin Ham.

by BK on Jul 3, 2008 6:03 PM EDT reply actions