I'm Back! Now Let's Talk about J-Wash.

Yep, I'm still alive and this blog is still kicking. Talking about being alive, the addition of Jay Washington could breath new life to a team that has lost all but 2 games last conference.

I, of course, was heavily disappointed with the trade that saw promising forward Japeth Aguilar going out in exchange for Washington, center Yousef Taha and a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft. I had high hopes for Japeth, as he was one of the very few bright spots for the team last conference. Well, it's been months since the trade was consummated so I've long since moved on.

Now, J-Wash. A 6'7" stretch forward who had accomplished quite a lot already in his career but has been saddled with injuries for the past couple of seasons.  He was drafted 1st overall in 2005, a 3-time Mythical First Team member, and 2-time Best Player of the Conference.  Make no mistake, J-Wash is one heck of a player.

But, there is a big IF. As mentioned above, J-Wash have struggled with injuries for the last couple of years.  Playing with Arwind Santos, who played basically the same position as him, might have also affected his playing time and role in his previous squad.

When healthy though, Washington is one of the biggest match-up nightmares in the league. At 6'7", he is a center in PBA standards.  He can post up, put the ball on the floor, or hit the outside shot. His range extends way up to the 3-point line, where he shot 35% in the 2011-12 season.  He might have lost some of his athleticism, although he has never really relied on that attribute. What makes him a dangerous player is his array of offensive skills and multiple ways to score.

Washington is not known much for his defense, but he has always been a good rebounder, averaging about 7 rebounds for his career. He can play both forward positions, though I believe he is better suited at the power forward spot, where he'll have opportunities to post up as well as stretch the floor.

At 32, Washington is just the same age as Arwind Santos, and if he can stay healthy, he may very well still have a good 3-4 years of high level basketball left in him. Given of course, he stays away from injuries. *fingers crossed*

As much as I hate seeing Japeth go, I am excited about this addition of J-Wash.  He provides scoring, veteran savvy, and winning mentality to the team. Will he rejuvenate his game in a new setting? Or will he continue to regress?  I am strongly hoping for the former, and I can't wait to find out.

Welcome to GlobalPort, Jay Washington!

Roar Out.