Silas to make a point out of Wagner

[fgrep15]

Wagner will become a Point

Sooner or later, Cavs shooting guard Da juan Wagner will accept that he must master the point-guard position but head coach Paul Silas has already begun working on Wagner's future lesson plan.

Silas says he wants Wagner to spend the entire summer in Cleveland to develop the mentality of a point guard with plenty of hours spent watching videos of the NBA's top "1" guards and doing ball-handling drills

Well after Wagner had said he didn't want to play PG, Silas has now determined that he will be an important part of the team and will have to learn to be a PG.

[Fresh8]

It like getting some *ahem* 'players' to start passing...at least he will be an easier project than someone else

[Jackal]

His game resembles Iverson's way too much. It's a nice concept but I'm not too sure it will happen.

[EGarrett]

Bad idea. As has been said..."You don't force your roster to fit your scheme. You fit your scheme to your roster."

Wagner has spent 20 years becoming a dynamic scoring under-sized two guard...it'll take a long time to make him into a useful point guard, and regardless you're wasting his talent.

It's the same thing that happened to Kwame Brown and is happening to Darko Milicic.

Lebron should be the point, focusing on averaging a triple-double. Wagner should be the two...being the backcourt scorer and focusing on averaging 20-25 points per on high percentage shooting.

[air gordon]

i think mcinnis is doing a better then decent job as the pg. i would try to trade wagner for a good perimeter shooting guard

[Vins15]

i think Wagner should be on 2 on offense...but on the defense he has to play 1 cuz of the size advantage most team will take to their SG and Wagner will be overpowered so at least he needs to get a point guard type defense...

[fgrep15]

Bad idea. As has been said..."You don't force your roster to fit your scheme. You fit your scheme to your roster."

Wagner has spent 20 years becoming a dynamic scoring under-sized two guard...it'll take a long time to make him into a useful point guard, and regardless you're wasting his talent.

It's the same thing that happened to Kwame Brown and is happening to Darko Milicic.

Lebron should be the point, focusing on averaging a triple-double. Wagner should be the two...being the backcourt scorer and focusing on averaging 20-25 points per on high percentage shooting.

Actually the team struggled a lot while Lebron was at the point, also why they had a sharp increase in winning since McInnis came. Lebron should not play point, he is much better as a 2 guard, and struggle while at point.

He could create on the break, but he can't run the halfcourt offense effectively, and he's very turnover prone when handling the ball that much.


If they wanted Wagner to start then Lebron would have to play the 3, Wagner the 2, and McInnis the PG.

[EGarrett]

Actually the team struggled a lot while Lebron was at the point, also why they had a sharp increase in winning since McInnis came.

Not necessarily the cause of the turnaround. The team made a number of trades and Lebron also got more experienced...

Lebron should not play point, he is much better as a 2 guard, and struggle while at point.

He's a better passer than a shooter...

He could create on the break, but he can't run the halfcourt offense effectively, and he's very turnover prone when handling the ball that much.

Magic Johnson was 3rd in the league in turnovers his rookie year. Steve Francis was 2nd in the league. 2001-2002...number one and two in turnovers were Jason Kidd and Stephon Marbury. Last season, Steve Francis and Jason Kidd. Everyone who handles the ball that much turns it over a lot. Lebron is also 18-years-old and point guard is the hardest position in the NBA. It's not very wise to put a high school kid at point then declare he's not a point guard because he turns the ball over a lot...

If they wanted Wagner to start then Lebron would have to play the 3, Wagner the 2, and McInnis the PG.

Jeff McInnis is not the point guard of the future. Maybe for this season...but after that Lebron and Wagner should be in the backcourt. If Wagner can get his jumper consistent he'd be a great complement to Lebron.

[fgrep15]

Yea I know what you mean, but those guys lead in turnovers while also getting a lot of assists, Francis is just cause he does stupidness. 5.6 asists, to 3. whatever turnovers isn't good.

The Cavs wre 6-17 then Ricky Davis left and they went 8-11, then McInnis came, and they've gone 17-11. Their fastbreak points have increased, turnovers gone down drastically and the big men are scoring more b/c he can find them better.

[Jackal]

(Y) EG.

Plus the guarding of the opposing teams guards...simple, LeBron can play the point and defend the opposing teams Shooting Guard, and Wagner can play the Shooting Guard on offense and guard the point on the opposing team. Not that hard, is it?

[air gordon]

mcinnis may not be the big reason for the team's turnaround. but he's played a big part, along with zydrunas playing like a madman

i agree that mcinnis probably isn't the pg longterm.

i don't see wagner becoming what silas wants or being a nice complimentary player to james. every game i've seen this guy play- he's trigger happy every time he touches the ball. he's a "volume" shooter who doesn't shoot well. this type doesn't fit in well with the current cavs team

[fgrep15]

Yea I don't see McInnis as the long term PG, Cleveland either has to draft a pg or get one from FA.

Wagner at the 2 is scary too, he'll always shoot the ball, he's not a bad passer, he just never wants to pass.

If Silas' plan works, then good, if not then he can't be a starter on that team.

[magius]

unless cleveland wants to play wagner off the bench ala bobby jackson then they should just trade him and their pick to move up in the upcoming draft and get a true point. but one day lebron will probably be able to play point anyway, so if a good sized shooting guard or even small forward is available they could get that too making it much harder for teams to match up against them defensively if bron does transition to point-- which im fairly sure silas will try again since bron said one of his goals is to one day average a triple double

[Matthew]

I can't see any problem with Lebron switching to point and Dejaun playing shooting guard. Lebron has shown he can set up his teamates and has good court vision, and wagner can score well despite his size. Then on d, like its been mentioned before, have wagner on the point and Lebron on the two guard.

[fgrep15]

Guard Wagner finally getting the point

After several trials at the position, the Cavaliers and Dajuan Wagner are finally convinced his future in the NBA will include playing the point guard position.

Wagner, who spent most of his time in high school and in college as a shooting guard, will spend the summer learning how to play the position despite attempts that were previously cut short.

Wagner has often been compared to Allen Iverson, because of his scoring ability, but if Wagner wants to see time on the court, he'll get more of an opportunity as the back-up point guard instead of as the back-up shooting guard behind LeBron James.

The handwriting is on the wall.

"I'm going to work on playing point guard this summer," Wagner said. "It's a position that the team wants me to play, so it's something I have to do."

[fgrep15]

Chris McCosky's quick hits

* If the Cavaliers' Dujuan Wagner plans on staying in the NBA, he's going to have to follow in his father's footsteps. Meaning, like his father, Milt, he's going to have to learn to play point guard. If he doesn't, the best he can hope for is being shooting guard LeBron James' backup. "I'm going to work on playing point guard this summer," Wagner said. "It's a position that the team wants me to play, so it's something I have to do." Milt Wagner made the switch and excelled at Louisville and then played for the Lakers. "I played point guard at Louisville and my ballhandling wasn't all that good," Milt said. "And at the same time, I led the team in scoring and in assists. I tell 'Juanny' all the time that playing point guard is about making decisions. Playing point guard is a learning process, and he'll have plenty of time."