Fried Chicken and Bonghits: The Al Jefferson Thread 2.0

Mystical Apples · Post #561 » by **Mystical Apples** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 4:55 am

Just look at what the Pacers did - and what the Hornets are now starting to do. Conversely, look at how awful the Sixers are when Okafor is piling up numbers.

There are so few corners left to go for post players who don't space the floor. For a guy like Al who is a train wreck on defense and turns 32 during the first year of a new contract, pickings will be slim.

Mystical Apples · Post #562 » by **Mystical Apples** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 5:01 am

After the Hawes DNP-CD who is the most nervous now: Hawes, PJ, or Al? I think Hawes would be the least nervous being 27 and in a longer contract.

Post #563 » by **JDR720** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 5:19 am

several teams could use a center next season.

Lakers,Boston,Mavs,Pelicans,Houston(if Dwight leaves),Blazers,Bulls,Hawks (if Horford leaves).

thats just starting centers, probably a few more teams that need a good backup.

his market will be determined by what Hibbert,Noah and Mozgov get.

Mystical Apples · Post #564 » by **Mystical Apples** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 5:38 am

JDR720 wrote:several teams could use a center next season.

Lakers,Boston,Mavs,Pelicans,Houston(if Dwight leaves),Blazers,Bulls,Hawks (if Horford leaves).

thats just starting centers, probably a few more teams that need a good backup.

his market will be determined by what Hibbert,Noah and Mozgov get.

We already know Hibbert's value - he was just traded for a second round pick and he's 28.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #565 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 1:07 pm

My ideal "resign Al" contract would decrease every year, but I wouldn't mind having it be for 4 years. Something like 12/10/8/6, which works out to 36 mil over 4 years. But IDK, I may be working with last year numbers and not the new cap $$. In any event his production is going to keep going down, so I feel that his contract should as well, but I don't mind offering him a long deal with the selling point being financial security.

Bottom line is that I'm OK with the way Cliff is using Al this year, and wouldn't mind seeing him back under the right circumstances. I don't want him to be clogging the cap in 2-4 years though.

Braggins · Post #566 » by **Braggins** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 1:12 pm

The only way I'd even consider signing Al to another contract would be if it was a 2 year deal at like 8 mil per, he agreed to be a backup, and we had no other options.

Mystical Apples · Post #567 » by **Mystical Apples** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 2:56 pm

Some updated team numbers with Al. He's down to 27 minutes a game.

Al on off: -5.2
Al defense on/off: -9.8
Al Dreb% on off: -3.0
Al < 5ft fg% on off: -3.1
Al TS % on off: -1.7%
Opponent < 5ft fg%: 60.5 (Cody 51.4, Hawes 53.4, Frank 55)
Opponent eFG% on off: -6.0%

Yit · Post #568 » by **Yit** » Mon Nov 30, 2015 3:48 am

Wish big Al a speedy recovery from his calf strain.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #569 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Wed Dec 9, 2015 8:06 pm

So it wasn't just getting rid of the fried chicken.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/aminespn/status/674680073841176577[/tweet]

Post #570 » by **yosemiteben** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:29 pm

Charlotte Hornets ‏@hornets 30m30 minutes ago
INJURY UPDATE: Per Coach Cliff, Al Jefferson participated in today's practice and will be evaluated tomorrow.

Post #571 » by **fatlever** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:50 pm

I'm sure they are going to fudge his return date by a game or two by making him "practice" to appear ready. Its not like anyone could tell the difference between Al practicing full speed and Al walking around hurt.

spaceballer · Post #572 » by **spaceballer** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:44 pm

fatlever wrote:I'm sure they are going to fudge his return date by a game or two by making him "practice" to appear ready. Its not like anyone could tell the difference between Al practicing full speed and Al walking around hurt.

That's probably something that the league may not contest and would actually favor. Helps them to put out a better product if less time is spent with players sidelined due to suspensions and such.

steady · Post #573 » by **steady** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:56 pm

Does Al really have to come back?

From NBA.com power rankings this week - (Charlotte is 7 in the rankings this week)

Last week: 10
Charlotte (14-9)
Pace: 98.4 (17) OffRtg: 104.4 (5) DefRtg: 98.6 (6) NetRtg: +5.8 (4)
The big story in Charlotte has been the Hornets' improved offense. But they're playing Steve Clifford defense again, having risen from 17th to sixth in defensive efficiency over the last three weeks (a climb somewhat aided by the absence of Al Jefferson over the last six games). Top six on both ends of the floor - where only the Warriors, Spurs and Hornets reside - is title contention territory.

Braggins · Post #574 » by **Braggins** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:00 pm

I hope Albus doesn't come back and ruin our season. The thought of him returning is so depressing. We should buy out his contract. Hes not as good as Cody or Hawes and probably not even Psycho T.

spaceballer · Post #575 » by **spaceballer** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:28 pm

Braggins wrote:I hope Albus doesn't come back and ruin our season. The thought of him returning is so depressing. We should buy out his contract.

No reason to buy him out.

His contract ends at the end of the season. So at worst, even if he never plays another minute again this season, he's a placeholder contract cap-wise that would free up cap space after the season to be cycled forward to sign Batum or Lin or Marvin or someone else (or even bring Al back at a reduced price). Having his bird rights even opens the possibility of getting something back in a sign-and-trade, unlikely as that may be.

It's not like the Hornets are in urgent immediate need of either his roster spot or cap space right now (the MLE is still unspent, and you could always revisit the buyout issue if and when the need arises to suddenly open up a roster spot or cap space). And if a trade opportunity develops by the trade deadline, he could either bring something back in value, or be used as an ancillary big salary piece to balance the outgoing money in the trade.

And there may be times when the Hornets may need a post presence that Al can still bring if everything else fails in the offense due to opponent counters and gameplanning. Just not Alfense as the first option or even one of the main ones perhaps.

Buying him out would allow him to sign for cheap with a potential playoff rival. You could just not play him, to create the same effect as buying him out. Though that does run the possibility of locker room upset, but Cliff seems to have a handle on his players' egos.

I do dread that his return could change the chemistry and ruin the great way the team is playing right now. But then again, maybe he'll adapt and change his game to fit right in (yes, I know, naively optimistic and unlikely). We'll just have to see. Another concern is that minutes for Al would come at the expense of other players like Cody or Hawes or Frank, who have been learning to work together and improving with the increased playing time.

BlackOutBuzz · Post #576 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:15 pm

yosemiteben wrote:Charlotte Hornets ‏@hornets 30m30 minutes ago
INJURY UPDATE: Per Coach Cliff, Al Jefferson participated in today's practice and will be evaluated tomorrow.

So the other day - when his suspension came down - he was "ready to play," so the suspension clock started immediately. Now the official twitter account is admitting the farce. Good job guys.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Braggins · Post #577 » by **Braggins** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:21 am

BlackOutBuzz wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:Charlotte Hornets ‏@hornets 30m30 minutes ago
INJURY UPDATE: Per Coach Cliff, Al Jefferson participated in today's practice and will be evaluated tomorrow.

So the other day - when his suspension came down - he was "ready to play," so the suspension clock started immediately. Now the official twitter account is admitting the farce. Good job guys.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

The league should suspend him for a few more games. This treachery cannot be tolerated...

euphorbus · Post #578 » by **euphorbus** » Wed Dec 16, 2015 4:52 am

Basketball Insiders comments:

"The Hornets have been surging as of late, winning seven of their last ten games and doing most of it without center Al Jefferson, who is currently serving a suspension for violation of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug policy while also nursing a strained calf. There has been a growing sense that the Hornets might actually be a better team without Jefferson; however, Hornets sources say moving Jefferson isn’t currently in the plans despite evidence to support he may not be needed. Jefferson is an ending contract, and if things continue to progress forward it seems hard to believe the Hornets wouldn’t explore Jefferson’s value, especially if young guys like Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky can show they can handle the workload. Jefferson is expected to command a big contract number this summer, so the Hornets seem like they have some decisions to make, even if their current stance is to hang on to Jefferson."

Obviously, a trade would effect the fortunes of Hawes and Hansbrough, as well. It's a little early to be discussing this, but in light of the suspension, I bet the phone lines are open.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-am-378-nba-players-are-trade-eligible-today/

EwingSweatsALot · Post #579 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Wed Dec 16, 2015 3:49 pm

Random thought...

How many times do you think Big Al smoked a bowl out of the tin foil that the fried chicken has come wrapped in?

EwingSweatsALot · Post #580 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Wed Dec 16, 2015 3:55 pm

Random thought...

How many times do you think Big Al smoked a bowl out of the tin foil that the fried chicken has come wrapped in?