What if Jeff Green can develop into David West?

[wiff]

David West first two years in the league were far from spectacular. But once Chris Paul rolled into town along with West's own hard work, he has become a very good player in the league.

West didn't have any range when he came into the league and still doesn't have the handles Jeff Green does. They are both 6'9" but based on pure potential alone I would think that Green would be able to become a better player than West. Green has the better handle, has more range on his jumper (rookie season for both) and has better hops too.

Obviously West has figured it out. He has expanded his range by a ton on his jumper, he hits the boards hard and plays good D.

Let's hope that Jeff Green works as hard as West has on his game, and let's hope the Sonics land Derrick Rose.

Lastly let's hope the Coffee King wins his lawsuit against the Okie snake.

[OzThunder]

lets hope he does turn out like west. While i think Jeff has decent range, (can hit the 3-ball which david can't/doesn't) he is very streaky on that jumpshot, and i think its all mechanics. Unless Jeff does alot of work on his shot i can't see him become as consistent as West is from midrange. But as you said Jeff is probably a little bit quicker, and a better ball handler so if he was around david west's standard by his 4th year in the league i'd be very happy.

[BBen]

Well, while I love Green and agree he has tremendous potential I catch myself wondering whether I want him at SF or PF. At PF he does have decent rebound numbers but SF is a more versatile position and he needs a mobile role. He needs to establish himself inside and then work out. He has the potential to be a special player since he could easily become a threat from anywhere. Anyone remember Eddie Johnson?

[wiff]

Well, while I love Green and agree he has tremendous potential I catch myself wondering whether I want him at SF or PF. At PF he does have decent rebound numbers but SF is a more versatile position and he needs a mobile role.

See this is where it is going to be interesting to see if Durant can put on any weight in the next two years. Because at the end of next season Wilcox expires. As we all know Presti has mentioned that he likes versitile guys that can cover a couple different positions. So if, and that is a pretty big "IF", Durant can put on say 30 pounds then I could really easily see those guys simply playing the "forward" position.

With Green covering guys who are on the beefy side like Boozer, Brand, Scola and Al Jefferson's. And Durant covering the longer guys like KG, Rasheed, Dirk and Aldridge.

I like the concept but obviously Green needs to work on his game more and Durant needs to eat more and hit the weights.

If Green can get his offense to be consistent and if Durant can put on some muscle they really could be a match up nightmare for opposing teams but they need to get the defensive side of the ball down which should come in time.

It will be really interesting to see how this draft shapes up. See if Presti is tipping his cap in which direction the team will take form. If they pick up a SG with the Suns pick then I would think that shows Durants may eventually be switching positions but if they go with another big with that pick maybe Durant will keep playing SG although I can't imagine keeping him there long term.

[BBen]

Just for the record I want Mayo more than Rose. He plays better D and we need an assertive leader type.

[Sonics3408]

I don't want Mayo near Durant. Plus I'd much rather have the pure PG.

[djthesonicsfan]

Just for the record I want Mayo more than Rose. He plays better D and we need an assertive leader type.

OJ Mayo is an outstanding perimeter defender for sure. But no way he is as good a perimeter defender as D Rose. Seriously, defensively, D Rose will be like J Kidd is his prime.

[djthesonicsfan]

wiff, I think the J Green & D West comparison is a good one.

[Yoshi2kx]

Mayo actually matured as the season went on, and he had great games against Rose and Bayless

[BBen]

I think having a large ego in the NBA isn't such a bad thing. Nobody had a bigger ego than MJ and now Kobe is the next such type of player. Mayo? Same kind of feeling to him. Arrogance, killer instinct, leadership. Those are the things I expect from a big time player. Those are the feelings I get from Mayo. I don't care how talented Rose is, he just feels like a laid back kind of guy. Laid back is great and you can have those on your team but you need someone with the killer instinct to close games.

Besides, having a star point guard isn't what necessarily wins you titles. How many does J Kidd have? What kind of PGs did Kobe and MJ play with? BJ Armstrong? Ron Harper?

[pr0wler]

I really like Mayo too and I think he would be a great consolation prize if we fall out of the top two. I do like his killer instinct attitude and that will go a long way in the NBA.

[djthesonicsfan]

I waffle back & forth on the J Bayless versus OJ Mayo debate. Recently I'm back on the OJ Mayo side too. I've got him at #3 overall. But mentioning OJ Mayo in the same sentence as M Jordan or K Bryant is getting way offsides.

And for the record, OJ Mayo got shut down by D Rose in the USC - Memphis game. D Rose dominated play in the 2nd half & OT when the game was on the line. OJ Mayo went 6-20 shooting. I watched that game. One of many times I saw D Rose play. There's no questioning D Rose's competitiveness. He plays with the highest level of intensity.

[wiff]

Kevin Durant has all the killer instinct I need. I don't need two guys butting heads when it comes to crunch time.

I'd still rather have Bayless over Mayo. And obviously I'd rather have Rose over Bayless.

What kind of supporting cast has Kidd had compare to Kobe and his three titles that came on the coat tails of Shaq?

I'll take a pure point guard over a slightly undersized shooting/combo guard any day of the week.

Plus Kyle Weaver locked up Mayo like the state of California should have done to the other OJ.

[Dick Tate]

Kevin Durant has all the killer instinct I need. I don't need two guys butting heads when it comes to crunch time.

For real? I know you think KD is the greatest thing since sliced bread but when does it ever hurt to have more than one guy with the guts to take the money shot? Is that a problem for the Celtics? You'd rather have the defense only have to key on one player?

Kidd's great but he's also a bricklayer. That sort of deficiency gets exposed in the playoffs.

[wiff]

Kevin Durant has all the killer instinct I need. I don't need two guys butting heads when it comes to crunch time.

For real? I know you think KD is the greatest thing since sliced bread but when does it ever hurt to have more than one guy with the guts to take the money shot? Is that a problem for the Celtics? You'd rather have the defense only have to key on one player?

Well for example when the Sonics had Ray and Rashard. Rashard was capable of taking the game winning shot but Ray was the "The Man" when it came to taking the game winning shot, sure there were times that he didn't get the ball in his hands and someone else had to take the shot.

But Durant should be the number one option followed by who ever else.

I don't want a guy like Mayo sulking or rocking the boat because Durant misses a game winning shot.

I don't think the Sonics need another episode of Dale Ellis and Xaiver McDaniel who ended up having numerous fist fights. So they both got traded away.

I'd like a clearly defined pecking order with everyone knowing their roles. Kind of like when Mac 10 was the coach.

[BBen]

Well for example when the Sonics had Ray and Rashard. Rashard was capable of taking the game winning shot but Ray was the "The Man"

Man wiff, usually we agree but I'm going to have to really differ with you on this point and the Mayo one. Rashard always sucked in crunch time and still does. Have you watched the Magic series? He's a total choke artist. Ray Allen was pretty clutch but he wasn't really that good either. Playoffs always count and regular season doesn't really, remember that.

[wiff]

Well for example when the Sonics had Ray and Rashard. Rashard was capable of taking the game winning shot but Ray was the "The Man"

Man wiff, usually we agree but I'm going to have to really differ with you on this point and the Mayo one. Rashard always sucked in crunch time and still does. Have you watched the Magic series? He's a total choke artist. Ray Allen was pretty clutch but he wasn't really that good either. Playoffs always count and regular season doesn't really, remember that.

So out of the two you are saying that Ray was pretty clutch but he wasn't really that good but still better than Shard.

OK now when they were on the Sonics were they not the two best offensive players? Who would you have preferred to have taken the last shot over those two? All I want are defined roles for the players.

And that leads to my point about Mayo. Sure the kids is talented but he has enough character issues swirlling around him that I'd rather not use a top 5 pick on the guy.

[BBen]

But consider the other options? I support the idea of not believing the hype but where are the character issues? I read that he took some money but who cares, Shaq was rich before he entered the NBA, so were a lot of the big name college guys. What character issues are there?

[wiff]

But consider the other options? I support the idea of not believing the hype but where are the character issues? I read that he took some money but who cares, Shaq was rich before he entered the NBA, so were a lot of the big name college guys. What character issues are there?

Broke DJ Hacketts jaw in a pick up game some said it was a punch some called it an elbow, there was never really a clear story.

He was arrested for weed. I don't care that the guy smokes but what concerns me is that he was dumb enough to get caught. The charges were dropped though because two of the kids riding in the car took the blame even though the weed was on him and there was more in a spare pair of hoops shoes in the back of the car.

Plus it sounds like Mayo has been taking money since high school.

Who knows the guy could go on and be a Hall of Famer or he could be Isiah Rider? But I don't want to use a top 5 pick on Isiah Rider.

I'll be more than happy with Jeryd Bayless if the Sonics don't get in the top two.

Here's a bit more.

Yup. That's your potential No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, USC recruit O.J. Mayo, being led off the court of a high school game in West Virginia by police on Friday. The same week his Huntington High team was named No. 1 in the Rise/SI.com prep rankings, Mayo was whistled for two technical fouls in a win over state rival (Charleston) Capital High. The first was for taunting a rival player after a dunk, and the second was for further verbal sparring on the other end of the floor. In the process of disputing the calls, Mayo made contact with the ref, Mike Lazo -- and Lazo fell to the ground. The conflict then escalated to the point where you see Mayo above, making his best Jon Scheyer face on the way to the exit.

The quote is from Luke Winn.

You see the guy that is helping to escort OJ mayo out in the brown jacket and hat on the left?

That happens to be OJ's dad who is Kenny Ziegler

This Kenny Ziegler.


Here's the quote from WSAZ Charleston.

Huntington Police charged 36-year old Kenny Ziegler with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Police say Ziegler was speeding down the 12 hundred block of Elm Street in Huntington early Friday morning.

The police report says he crashed his vehicle then fled on foot. Police say when they caught up with him they found a half pound of marijuana and seven small baggies.

Ziegler was arraigned in Cabell County Magistrate Court this morning. His bond was set at $111,000. He is currently in the Western Regional jail.

Ziegler is the father of superstar athlete O.J. Mayo.

So if he happens to be at his high school game obviously the dude is still in picture with OJ. What kind of role model is that when it comes to handing over millions of dollars to a guy who could be a face of a franchise?

Quite simply too many red flags for my taste man.

[BBen]

Didn't know all that Wiff, thanks for the response. That does significantly reduce my opinion of him. It's hard to be a winner when you're a loser right?