Meet Dominic McGuire

by Tom Ziller on Feb 18, 2010 3:30 PM PST in Commentary

As we did for Joey Dorsey, we sought out expert opinion on new King Dominic McGuire, acquired along with cash from Washington with a future second round pick heading back. Mike Prada is the founding editor of Bullets Forever and also writes for SBNation.com. Here are his thoughts on McGuire.

Dominic McGuire represents the cult hero of Bullets Forever. We dubbed him "Taser" for his ability to come out of nowhere to block shots (in Summer League, alas). Now, he is gone, a flash in the pan.

In all seriousness, Wizards fans loved McGuire more for what he represented than what he was. You see, the Wizards haven't exactly been stocked with defensive players these last few years. Worse, our best perimeter defender since 2004 was Larry Hughes. Therefore, Dominic McGuire, with his defensive mindset, represented a great white hope (of sorts) for us. Here was our perimeter defender for the next ten years! Our Bruce Bowen, if you will.

Problem is, McGuire's not Bruce Bowen, and I don't just mean on defense. Three years in, and his jump shot is still terrible. I can tell you he works hard on it, but his form is just off and his rotation is ugly. It's a flat, line-drive shot. You can always fix a jumper, but this one's going to be impossible to fix. McGuire also is a pretty poor ball-handler and has absolutely no finishing ability. His only value offensively is grabbing offensive boards. On defense, he's quick and agile, but still struggles at times off the ball. In other words, he's very good on defense, but not good enough to justify his complete inability to help a team offensively.

Coming into the season, I figured Flip Saunders might find a place for him. This is a guy that started Trenton Hassell over Wally Sczcerbiak, after all. But it hasn't happened, and he's picked up a ton of DNP-CDs. The cost is cheap for the Kings, but I wouldn't expect much.

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This description reminds me of a former Kings player

Desmond Mason.

by KingsJunkie on Feb 18, 2010 3:33 PM PST reply actions

We seem to be stockpiling cult heroes

Noce, Brockman, Dorsey, McGuire… too bad Sergio is gone.

"Sometimes the capriciousness of youth anesthetizes common sense." -Let Geoff's words guide our patience this season.

by AnotherStupidSN on Feb 18, 2010 3:36 PM PST reply actions

He's a wing 3Will

"You know what I consider mentally weak? Using your audience to settle a grudge with someone who had the audacity to publicly call you on your sh*t. The only thing more offensive is that Napear thinks we're all too stupid to see it for what it is." - TZ, Sactown Royalty

by otis29 on Feb 18, 2010 3:43 PM PST reply actions

after reading that review...

i guess anyone who is over six feet and has an ounce of athletic ability in them can make the NBA. looks like i will always be stuck at this computer. let me know when they allow non-athletic white guys into the league. if only i was older, then i could have made the late 80s and early 90s kings teams. i could have been a contender.

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Come see us at The Blue Lamp on Friday, April 9, 2010

by Cynema the Band on Feb 18, 2010 3:50 PM PST reply actions

At least Kings traded away Hilton Armstrong before acquiring McGuire.

To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.

by Slam_Dunk on Feb 18, 2010 4:02 PM PST reply actions

A Waste

I had hope for McGuire when he came out of college. Not much, but some. He was a good rebounder and could score some. What intrigued me most was his intagibles. He had a good steal rate, assist rate and block rate. He seemed to be a guy that could, with improvement, become a fair backup along the lines of a Michael Smith. Well, it looks like he has not improved at all. He can defend but so could Armstrong.

This pickup is just a footnote in Kings history.

Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)

by dalt99 on Feb 18, 2010 4:39 PM PST reply actions

was the pick conditional?

was this for cash? what was the point?

by KeonClark on Feb 18, 2010 4:42 PM PST reply actions

Well

As far as I can tell, it looks like Petrie actually WANTS McGuire. I mean, why would you trade away a second round pick and money for a guy earning less than a million a year?

Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)

by dalt99 on Feb 18, 2010 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

no it was corrected later

I’m pretty sure the cash is coming this way

Don't say stupid shit. You won’t be perceived as stupid. - pookeyguru

by Kfan in Korea on Feb 18, 2010 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

the cash will pay for his salary and likely some extra to line the Maloof's pockets

moving him either saves the Wiz double if they are still over the tax line(which I don’t think they are anymore), or gives them some extra breathing space to ensure that they are indeed under the tax line.

Don't say stupid shit. You won’t be perceived as stupid. - pookeyguru

by Kfan in Korea on Feb 18, 2010 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

Kfan, ur correct

Plus it always gives the Kings an opportunity to have different players around to showcase. You never know what PW or GP may see in a player.

I trust Westphal with the future of this team. He knows players and he knows what it takes to win. With Petrie’s GM skills, this team will be looking better and better every year (I mean, look at what we were just last year)

by Screamer on Feb 18, 2010 5:53 PM PST up reply actions

One minor quibble

His only value offensively is grabbing offensive boards.

According to Dominic McGuire’s Basketball-Reference page (note the sponsor), McGuire had an assist rate of 13.8% last season, not bad for a tweener forward. His assist-rate fell off this season, but I blame that on Flip Saunders’ offense, which keeps the ball in the hands of the point guard much more often than the Princeton offense did.

Of course, his high assist rate is countered by his high turnover rate. But his turnovers are the byproduct of his poor ball handling, not his poor passing skills.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by Jake Whitacre on Feb 18, 2010 7:28 PM PST reply actions

Endearing Hustle, though not quite a Desmond Mason

After all Des put up double figure ppg averages six years, topping out at 17.

He made a modest though favorable impression under Eddie Jordan, but just disappeared once Saunders took over. I was at the Wiz-Wolves game last night and neglected to see if he was still suited up. Well, happy trails, Dom. I’d like to say I’ll miss you, but I pretty much forgot you were around.

by Elvin Unseld on Feb 18, 2010 7:31 PM PST reply actions