How many true franchise players are there in the NBA? Guys that right now you could build a franchise around with them as your star and anchor?
In an interview last summer, Bobcats GM Rich Cho said that by his methodology there were less than 10. I think that’s about right — obviously you can build around a LeBron James or Kevin Durant, but make your own lost and when you get down to around 10 you start to think “Dirk Nowtizki is very good when healthy, but he needs someone with him.”
Which brings us to John Wall. Recently Stan Van Gundy said Wall was not a franchise player. Which led a lot of people to pile on Wall as somehow a bust.
But Van Gundy clarified his thoughts speaking to Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com and sounded like a coach — Wall isn’t a franchise guy but that isn’t really a knock.“I said this: John Wall is a talented guy, a very good player. I don’t think he’s good enough that you can build a franchise around him,” Van Gundy said after serving as television analyst for George Mason’s home game against Drexel last Thursday night. “I don’t think he can be your best player, certainly not clearly your best player. You need one guy better than him or a couple of guys at his talent level for them to win.
“To me that’s not a negative. I didn’t say it as a negative. I think some people took it that way. I just don’t see John Wall as a franchise player because - a lot like Rajon Rondo; I don’t see him as a franchise player even though he’s an All-Star - he’s not a good enough shooter yet and he’s not a reliable go-to scorer.
“In the NBA, your franchise guy has got to be a guy you can put the ball in his hands late in the game and he can get you a basket. I don’t see that from John Wall at this point in his career. Maybe it will develop, but I don’t see it.”
Of course, all of this spins back to the question Washington faces this summer: “Should the Wizards offer Wall a contract extension this summer?” Or, more directly, for how much? Wall is not a max guy, but what is a fair price and what will Wall consider a fair price?
Washington is clearly better when he is on the court. What is that worth? It’s going to be an interesting summer in Washington.