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JB: Ok Chris, let's move to Minnesota here where I cover the Timberwolves on a nightly basis. Obviously the team is going through some struggles right now, but Al Jefferson has been consistent all year scoring 20 points, 10 boards, he really does it in a variety of ways in the post. What are the national thoughts about Al Jefferson? Is he considered one of the top forward/centers in the league?

CB: Well, people like him. He shoots a nice percentage from the floor, like you said he has a plethora of moves down there in the low block. He doesn't defend. Everybody knows he doesn't defend. Offensively he's a very good player, and he can rebound, but until you can win some games, you're not going to get the recognition that you may deserve. He's not going to get All-Star consideration with a team that's 4-20. For him to really go to that next level where people begin to think of him as a star, he's going to have to win some games. Obviously it's not all on Al, but you gotta win more than four. KG was still an All-Star when he didn't take Minnesota to the playoffs, but they were at least in the hunt or close to the hunt for most of those three years they were out. Al's going to have to take that team to the next level and make his teammates better, for him to really get some recognition.

invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

john2jer wrote:

invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

I still don't see why this makes sense.

Otherwise Charlotte wouldn't be as bad as they are because they have Felton and May. Takes more than a couple guys who were scucessful in college. We're small enough as it is, you don't trade your best big guy for a couple guys playing positions where you're already loaded with bodies. Who's left to start, Love and Smith? Yuck.

Worm Guts wrote:

john2jer wrote:

invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

I still don't see why this makes sense.

Otherwise Charlotte wouldn't be as bad as they are because they have Felton and May. Takes more than a couple guys who were scucessful in college. We're small enough as it is, you don't trade your best big guy for a couple guys playing positions where you're already loaded with bodies. Who's left to start, Love and Smith? Yuck.

Felton and May are different types of players than Westbrook and Green, I'm not sure about that comparison. I think if we're sitting at no. 1, we have to consider all trade options for Love, Jefferson and Griffin. Drafting Griffin and trading for Green and Westbrook would make us alot more athletic. That doesn't mean I'd do it, though.

revprodeji wrote:How can you say Durant is untouchable, but then argue that we should move Al?

Jefferson can take the ball into the post and score. Something that is rare in the modern NBA and a tool we should not move lightly. Griffin does not have that tool.

Calinks3 wrote:I think that when you have a player who wants to be great like Al, and is great in many facets of his game, you got to hang to a guy like that. His contract is very reasonable, he's not pushing for all the glory, and what he does right now he does exceedingly well. He has nearly mastered a craft that very few players ever do and he is only 24. Al is a guy you work with, you bring in players to cover up his deficiencies and you create a team that can contend.