Trade Scenario: Okafor for Al Jefferson

Bassman · Post #1 » by **Bassman** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:47 pm

This trade proposal comes from the Bobcat's Baseline blog, and I modified it with an extra player to be more realistic.

Charlotte: Trades Okafor, Ajinca, #12 pick to Minnesota for Al Jefferson, #18 pick.

Timberwolves are looking to make major noise this offseason. The new GM is vowing to shake some things up. They need a center, and while Jefferson can play there his best position is the 4. But the Wolves have the Love machine there as their player of the future. Mek gives them a solid post player to compliment Love, a project 5 in Ajinca, and another lottery pick to go with their #5. We get an all-star caliber PF to place beside Diop at the 5, and bring Diaw off the bench as our major minutes 6th man. With the 18th pick we may be able to get Terrence Williams based on current draft projections.

Would the Wolves do this? I doubt it, but there were rumors of Al being shopped last year. Would you pull this trigger?

Fred Williamson · Post #2 » by **Fred Williamson** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:58 pm

Hell yes, where do I sign?

But I don't know about #18 pick. I doubt that Williams will be available there.

Takuya Kimura · Post #3 » by **Takuya Kimura** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:58 pm

Big Al is undersized,but so does Okafor.
I'd definitely do this deal,even with the 28th pick instead.
With Big Al we can forget about offense and have a true post double-teamed player.

Post #4 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:01 pm

No, not after realizing just how good our starting 5 was.

spectre_ · Post #5 » by **spectre_** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:17 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:No, not after realizing just how good our starting 5 was.

Heh, then you should break out at BCP and support my "Standing Pat" thread!

Imagine if we can get that group back healthy, Mek somewhat motivated by LB's parting shots coming out of last season and some quality depth?

Boris at the 4 limits our scenarios (and I'm fine with that), but assuming Big Al comes back healthy you at least have to consider it...the boy is an offensive force in the paint and out to what, 15 ft. or so.

Post #6 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:39 pm

I know Okafor is an injury prone liability (I keed), but big guys with torn ACL's scare me more than a little bit!

I'll check out that Standing Pat thread.

spectre_ · Post #7 » by **spectre_** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:56 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:I know Okafor is an injury prone liability (I keed), but big guys with torn ACL's scare me more than a little bit!

I'll check out that Standing Pat thread.

Cool...you should post more.

I also keyed in your 5 man/82games link in with the thread about "Pairings".

With due credit o'course.

ccbballin · Post #8 » by **ccbballin** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:59 pm

Okafor for Al Jefferson. Done. I thot they wanted to get rid of Love though.

Post #9 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:00 pm

What a bunch of silly gooses some of you guys are.

Edit: HONK!

RichBoy923 · Post #10 » by **RichBoy923** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:00 pm

I would do this deal in a heartbeat. No question.

But I wouldn't do what you said about bringing Diaw off the bench. I would put Jefferson at the 5 and Diaw at the 4.

thruthefire · Post #11 » by **thruthefire** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:42 pm

Okafor's going to be a 17-20 point scorer next season so, no.

And I guess this means TWill isn't as good as some of you have deemed him to be.

Post #12 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:46 pm

We definitely wouldn't be a playoff team next season. Big Al would probably miss it in it's entirety (ACL tears being serious business), so we'd go to war with:

Felton/DJ
Bell
Wallace
Diaw
Diop/Mohammed
+18 and some replacement level guys (at best)

No thank you.

dmutombo321 · Post #13 » by **dmutombo321** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:49 pm

Prior to ACL Tear: Yes

Post ACL Tear: No

ohara · Post #14 » by **ohara** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:03 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:No, not after realizing just how good our starting 5 was.

Man, I cant see it. With everyone healthy and a respectable draft, this team could contend for the #6-#8 spots. But remember that the other teams will make changes too and have a draft also. I would not make a change for merely the sake of making a change. But to not consider options and already want to stay with the same old same old, we are not going to be able to compete with the elite of the East. If no good deals come our way, and standing firm is the best way to go, then that's the way to go. But you have to consider your options right up until the end.

Post #15 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:19 pm

I was referencing the post I made in the college hoops/draft prospect thread. Our Felton/Bell/Wallace/Diaw/Okafor lineup logged the 2nd most minutes in the league and tied for the 6th highest +/-.

That's a great unit. You can't see them contending for better than 6-8 because that's all anyone ever says. Numbers tell a different story, one where depth is our major issue at this point, not our starter talent.

ohara · Post #16 » by **ohara** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:46 pm

I hear you. I just think we have a lot of ground to make up to try and compete with Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and now Atlanta and Chicago. Depth will help, but it will take more than depth.

Bassman · Post #17 » by **Bassman** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:57 pm

ohara wrote:I hear you. I just think we have a lot of ground to make up to try and compete with Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and now Atlanta and Chicago. Depth will help, but it will take more than depth.

AGREE!! Our starters are good, but I don't buy the concept that their experience from last year vaults their game to the mid-pack of eastern playoff teams. Bell is OK, but he showed signs of slipping last season, even before the injury. Who knows what Okafor will do??? Has anything motivated him to do anything different from what we've already seen? Impending free agency? New coaching? No...Mek is who Mek is. Steady Eddie. Double-Double Man. To expect his performance to suddenly lift to 17 or 18 PPG and even better rebounding is not based on anything other than hope. Save hope for campaign bull****. We need results. Give me a chance to get an IMPACT player, either at the 4 or the 2, and now we're talking. Al Jefferson would be a risk, yes, but if he checks out in medical, mobility and strength testing, why not? You're not gonna get an all-star for Okafor unless there is some risk involved.

Now, I do not think Minnesota would go for this, but it's fun to explore. Supposedly Cleveland is asking about Mek. I'm sure it's offers of trash and trinkets.

The only serious trading talk goes on just before the draft, after the 1st month of the season (somebody goes .."Ooops..we're in trouble") and at the deadline. This is the time to try some otherworld trade ideas, see if they stick. I do think Okafor is being shopped and shopped for. Not sure a deal is made but I'd like to see one like the Jefferson deal go down (after July 1st of course).

Post #18 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:11 pm

Mek for Jefferson= rebuilding= get rid of Wallace and Bell, try to dump Radmanovic/Diop/Mohammed for earlier expiring deals. Big Al was injured at the 50 game mark, he's out for 2009-10 and will have serious medical, mobility and strength questions.

I think we're stuck with the guys we have. Incredibly, I'm less depressed by that acknowledgement because of todays findings than I would've been, say, any day before today.

thruthefire · Post #19 » by **thruthefire** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:23 pm

Mek did average 18 ppg for an entire month. Highest shooting percentage in the league that month, also. I think he can still improve, and will improve.

And I guess I missed the memo that said adding a player who isn't going to play is going to produce more results.

Bassman · Post #20 » by **Bassman** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:57 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:Mek for Jefferson= rebuilding= get rid of Wallace and Bell, try to dump Radmanovic/Diop/Mohammed for earlier expiring deals. Big Al was injured at the 50 game mark, he's out for 2009-10 and will have serious medical, mobility and strength questions.

I think we're stuck with the guys we have. Incredibly, I'm less depressed by that acknowledgement because of todays findings than I would've been, say, any day before today.

And if he's not healthy, it's a moot discussion.

Is there any deal discussed on the board you would make with Okafor?