Barbeque Chicken: The Cody Zeller Thread - Pt 2

[Mystical Apples]

BOB can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Zeller has below league average salary this season so his cap hold is 200% of his $5.4M salary this season, or right around $11M.

Below = 2.5
Above = 2.0

Whoops, just checked and you're right.

Do you know the thought process there? I assumed that players above the player average were top picks and thus more likely to get big extensions, so made more sense for them to have a proportionately higher cap hold. Not sure what the logic is for having a higher multiplier on lower picks.

A byproduct of collusion? Rookie scale contracts are so artificially low that even before the salary cap spiked very few qualified each year for the lower multiplier. For Cody's 2013 draft class no player qualifies.

The higher multiplier also applies to UFA's with BR's - like Courtney this summer - but it's 1.5/1.9 compared to 2.0/2.5 for rookie scales.

The whole structure of 4yr rookie scales resulting in RFA + 2nd round stashes + D-League 25k salaries needs to change. Sullinger and Ezeli in particular getting strung out until after the FA market dried up was egregious, IMO.

[fatlever]

When I first glanced at this pic, I just thought Cody was doing an interview without a shirt and had a super hairy chest.

[Diop]

Looks like he is trying to grow a Jay Leno chin.

[Joest2003]

Really curious to what cliff is going to do with Cody now that we have Hibbert. I see it going back and fourth all year depending on whos playing better at the time

[Joest2003]

Really curious to what cliff is going to do with Cody now that we have Hibbert as far as starting. I see it going back and fourth all year depending on whos playing better at the time

[yosemiteben]

I agree. I'm also curious to see if we adjust our D when Hibbert plays vs. Cody. Hibbert doesn't have the lateral quickness that Cody has, but he does have rim protection that would enable us to change how we guard the perimeter if Cliff wants to.

[Joest2003]

I agree. I'm also curious to see if we adjust our D when Hibbert plays vs. Cody. Hibbert doesn't have the lateral quickness that Cody has, but he does have rim protection that would enable us to change how we guard the perimeter if Cliff wants to.

True true. Its going to be interesting because I really think ewing will light a fire under roys ass expecially both being from Georgtown. Cody is going to need to step it up this season and i expect him too anyway. another question is will Cliff play Cody at the 4 with Roy at the 5? Cody is quick enough up and down the floor to guard power forwards but that would mean less minutes/expierence for Frank. I see Cody and Roy batteling for minutes the same way Mario and Lamb will be.

[Mystical Apples]

I'd be worried about Cody getting lost coming off the bench. Not starting, possibly not closing, and nearly 0 chance of PF minutes. He could also get squeezed by Frank via MKG at PF in 3 wing 2nd unit lineups.

[yosemiteben]

Random thought - Cody's injury is interesting because it might prevent us from being able to trade him before his extension deadline passes.

[fatlever]

SportsFromMyEyes ‏@JTyree704 16m16 minutes ago Charlotte, NC

Clifford says Cody Zeller isn't doing anything basketball wise as his knee heals, Cliff said it's just apart of the process #Hornets.

At what point do we get concerned that Cody might not be ready for the start of the season?

[Mystical Apples]

SportsFromMyEyes ‏@JTyree704 16m16 minutes ago Charlotte, NC

Clifford says Cody Zeller isn't doing anything basketball wise as his knee heals, Cliff said it's just apart of the process #Hornets.

At what point do we get concerned that Cody might not be ready for the start of the season?

Last week

[fatlever]

SportsFromMyEyes ‏@JTyree704 16m16 minutes ago Charlotte, NC

Clifford says Cody Zeller isn't doing anything basketball wise as his knee heals, Cliff said it's just apart of the process #Hornets.

At what point do we get concerned that Cody might not be ready for the start of the season?

Last week

I realize is a tiny sample size, but I did not like the look of the starting unit with Hibbert in place of Cody. It's just seems difficult to have a quality offense with both MKG and Hibbert on the floor together vs starting units. Cody at least can get out of the way and not wreck spacing because of his above average screen/roll game. Of course we saw that unit with Sessions who is also a negative on spacing.

Might mean more minutes for Frank at center as well, which we should explore as much as opposing lineups will allow. I can't see Hibbert/Hawes combining for 48 minutes in the event Cody is out.

[James Gatz]

I'd really like to see Frank playing a lot more at the 5. There's only a couple of guys in the East that stand out as big problems for him, Drummond, Whiteside, Dwight.

[steady]

But would Frank playing at 5 make as good use of his relative speed and passing ability? Frank passing over Lilliputians guarding him always seemed like a good thing

[fatlever]

But would Frank playing at 5 make as good use of his relative speed and passing ability? Frank passing over Lilliputians guarding him always seemed like a good thing

Frank's best asset right now, imo, is his ability to create off the dribble from the 3pt line as his defender is closing out on him as a shooter. This part of Frank's game grows in value vs bigger slower defenders.

[fatlever]

It doesn’t sound like Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller will be available to play anytime soon.

Zeller has been held out of contact drills this preseason while he receives treatment for a bone bruise along his right knee. Wednesday he was held out of the entire practice.

"He’s not even doing the non-contact stuff at this stage, so he has a long way to go," said Hornets coach Steve Clifford.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article106280037.html#storylink=cpy

[Mystical Apples]

I finally had a chance to watch the first preseason game. One new wrinkle from Frank was 3 or 4 defensive rebound grab-and-go's. You could even here Clifford in the background with his patented "go go go."

Time will tell if it's a preseason test but it makes sense if wings are boxing out and 4's swooping after switches. Also definitely a weapon to combat Franks relative defensive rebounding weakness from the 5 by forcing opposing bigs to get back early.

[euphorbus]

Bone bruises are of several types and can be unpredictable, as well. They are categorically different from muscle bruises, because the bone itself has to heal, along with the blood vessels.

[fatlever]

I finally had a chance to watch the first preseason game. One new wrinkle from Frank was 3 or 4 defensive rebound grab-and-go's. You could even here Clifford in the background with his patented "go go go."

Time will tell if it's a preseason test but it makes sense if wings are boxing out and 4's swooping after switches. Also definitely a weapon to combat Franks relative defensive rebounding weakness from the 5 by forcing opposing bigs to get back early.

If Hawes has the green light to grab-and-go, then Frank damn sure better have the green light as well.

[euphorbus]

Coach Clifford needs another center, pronto. Tyler Hansbrough is available. A lot of Hornets fans, not just I, would like to see him back. He knows the system, plus he and Hibbert played well together in Indiana, with Tyler at power forward.