Al Jefferson

C-Los_Bullsfan · Post #1 » by **C-Los_Bullsfan** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:51 pm

Draft night is only 6 days away, and it's looking like it may be alot of trade discussions with many teams including our Bulls. I know recently that the Bulls have been debating whether they can improve the roster by trade on draft night or wait until July 1st free agency. One player that'd been out on the market is Timberwolves Center Al Jefferson, and many league insiders expect him to be moved between now and the end of July. My question to you guys is should the Bulls make a move for Al Jefferson, a low post scorer that the Bulls have needed since forever, on draft night, and say the trade is Luol Deng, James Johnson, and a future pick for Jefferson. OR, do you wait until July and see if you can pursue Lebron James and Chris Bosh, and work out a sign-N-trade for one of them, and sign the other player outright. Of course the Bulls are trying to pursue James, would Jefferson if acquired, hurt the chances of Lebron coming here. I know for a fact no matter the info that's out there, is that Lebron and Bosh have discussed teaming up somewhere. Even Dwyane Wade would love to have him in Miami, many believe that James and Bosh want to team. With all that said, would you wait the possibility fo work out a sign-N-trade for Chris Bosh, or trade for Jefferson now if you could. Keep the Lebron factor in mind. Thanks Bulls Nation. Glad to be on the board.

Sever82 · Post #2 » by **Sever82** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:53 pm

Adding Al Jefferson would actually help the bulls in my opinion. They could either keep him or offer him as bait in a sign and trade. I think the raptors would probably love a player like him.

C-Los_Bullsfan · Post #3 » by **C-Los_Bullsfan** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:01 pm

I was thinking along the same lines. I would make the deal for Jefferson, and then if the sign-N-trade for Chris Bosh comes up in two weeks than we have a BIG that the raptors would want in return. We could just flip Jefferson for Bosh. There's so many possibilities to figure out. Anything can happen.

xpmar9x · Post #4 » by **xpmar9x** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:37 pm

I'd love a trade that was Jefferson for Deng. Unlikely though.

ChicaGOrilla06 · Post #5 » by **ChicaGOrilla06** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:53 pm

I was also thinking along those lines, too. If we add Al J, we can try to add LeBron by himself or work a S&T for Bosh. If getting neither is possible, adding Joe Johnson wouldn't sting as much. Especially if we can get him below max contract. Rose would still be our #1 option he'll have all-star level help at center, power forward and shooting guard. Kirk can go back to being a good third guard and Taj would be a great PF backup. We'd be weak at SF unless James Johnson has the sophomore season he should have had as a rookie.

From a salary perspective, Al J's contract works better than what we are in store for with these free agent PFs. Next year, at $13 mil his salary is less than what David Lee would start at on a max contract (~$13.5 mil). That with superior offensive skills and size. Being an additional year removed from surgery he should be ready for a Comeback Player of the Year-type season and return back to his old form as a 23 / 11 guy. The biggest downside to signing him is that he's a slower, clog up the lane type low-post scorer while the Bulls need to play uptempo. Also, he's not a great defensive player but would work great paired with Noah. IMO, there aren't any great defensive PFs hitting the market anyway.

PlayoffRose · Post #6 » by **PlayoffRose** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:59 pm

While I think that Al Jefferson for Deng is a good trade for the Bulls, Al Jefferson is horrible fit with Rose, Noah, and LBJ.

He is terrible defensively, and he is really slow. I actually think that guys like Troy Murphy or Kevin Love are excellent fits for the Bulls.

Shill · Post #7 » by **Shill** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:02 am

I'd be indebted to Minny forever if they gave us KLove for Deng.

Post #8 » by **coldfish** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:49 am

Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

PlayoffRose · Post #9 » by **PlayoffRose** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:51 am

Despite my hatred for JJ, I think he is a better fit on the Bulls than Al Jefferson.

Shill · Post #10 » by **Shill** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:54 am

coldfish wrote:Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

Fish,

Assuming we can't clear enough cap space for a 2nd tier guy like David Lee, do you think Taj is a better fit at PF than AlJeff?

Post #11 » by **coldfish** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:59 am

Shill4Tyrus24 wrote:
coldfish wrote:Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

Fish,

Assuming we can't clear enough cap space for a 2nd tier guy like David Lee, do you think Taj is a better fit at PF than AlJeff?

Al Jeff > Taj

Deng + Taj > Al Jeff + Taj

Ralphb07 · Post #12 » by **Ralphb07** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:02 am

coldfish wrote:Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

If I wasn't a die hard Bulls fan, I would actually root for the Bulls getting both, just to see your reaction. :lol:

Shill · Post #13 » by **Shill** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:02 am

coldfish wrote:
Shill4Tyrus24 wrote:
coldfish wrote:Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

Fish,

Assuming we can't clear enough cap space for a 2nd tier guy like David Lee, do you think Taj is a better fit at PF than AlJeff?

Al Jeff > Taj

Deng + Taj > Al Jeff + Taj

Working under the assumption we land LeBron, you're more comfortable platooning Deng & Taj at PF?

Post #14 » by **coldfish** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:10 am

Ralphb07 wrote:
coldfish wrote:Hmmmm . . . Al Jefferson or Joe Johnson. Who do I hate more right now? Tough choice. I'm going to go with JJ by a hair, but Al is making an impressive run lately.

If I wasn't a die hard Bulls fan, I would actually root for the Bulls getting both, just to see your reaction.

Post #15 » by **coldfish** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:11 am

Shill4Tyrus24 wrote:

Working under the assumption we land LeBron, you're more comfortable platooning Deng & Taj at PF?

Yes. I think that Al's style fits poorly with both Lebron and Rose since he isn't a good passer or catch and shoot guy and his defense isn't anything special.

Shill · Post #16 » by **Shill** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:24 am

coldfish wrote:
Shill4Tyrus24 wrote:

Working under the assumption we land LeBron, you're more comfortable platooning Deng & Taj at PF?

Yes. I think that Al's style fits poorly with both Lebron and Rose since he isn't a good passer or catch and shoot guy and his defense isn't anything special.

He has his drawbacks, but I like the fact he's a legitimate post option in a slowed-down halfcourt set, he can rebound, he has soft hands, and he's a big body who won't get shoved around.

JackFinn · Post #17 » by **JackFinn** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:47 am

coldfish wrote:
Shill4Tyrus24 wrote:

Working under the assumption we land LeBron, you're more comfortable platooning Deng & Taj at PF?

Yes. I think that Al's style fits poorly with both Lebron and Rose since he isn't a good passer or catch and shoot guy and his defense isn't anything special.

He does have a couple strengths defensively in help defense(albeit inconsistently so) and rebounding. Overall better than Bosh and significantly better than Amare, Lee, and Boozer. He's younger than all those guys, too. Not that I would take him over them. I just think he's the most realistic get should we land LeBron.

As for fit - I agree and disagree. LeBron and Rose excel in many different kinds of schemes/styles/motion plays. He fits in a couple patterns. Firstly, they can dump it to him when they fail to create space for themselves for a good shot. Secondly, he requires attention at the low post, which stretches defenses in a way we haven't had since Elton. I feel it's huge to have 3 shot creators. At the present time, when Rose gets stuck and no one's open - he's forced to take a low percentage shot. It think it's great when you tried your thing and couldn't find an opening to have the option of passing it to someone else who can try his thing. Some defenses have good wing defenders and worse post defenders, so we'd match better with a Jefferson. As for his efficiency - I'm baselessly confident that it would grow upon a lower volume of shots when surrounded by studs the opposing defense focuses on.

Deng fits with LeBron in some ways, and in other ways creates problems. What tips it for me is Deng's parade of injuries in his early 20's.

Not only does Jefferson create problems for us, some of them are magnified by Noah's weaknesses. Having said that, of course it's not about whether he's perfect for us. It's about whether he's better than the alternative(as you've alluded to.) I assume we'll disagree on that.

Legendary 33 · Post #18 » by **Legendary 33** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:08 am

to be honest, I'd love to have Kevin Love somehow someway but I don't think management is pursuing him. He has a ton of upside and in like twenty eight minutes a game this season he averaged 14 and 11..not bad at all.

He's a future 20 and 10 powerforward in the NBA and aren't they paid what, like max contracts nowadays? Every team needs some Love.

C-Los_Bullsfan · Post #19 » by **C-Los_Bullsfan** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:30 pm

I dont want Kevin Love anywhere near this team. To me he's just a good passer, and on this team we have needed a lowpost scorer for a very long time. Al Jefferson keep in mind, tore his ACL a year and a half ago, and before that was one of the best lowpost scorers in the NBA. If he a come back stronger and fully healthy from that injury, I feel that he would be a great addition to this team. If the Bulls do try to trade for him however, I feel they may have to place a call to someone in Lebron's camp to make sure Jefferson coming wouldn't affect his decision about coming to the Bulls. Keep in mind, no matter what you hear in the press and media. Lebron and Chris Bosh behind the scenes want to play together. Trust Me!

Post #20 » by **coldfish** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:35 pm

C-Los_Bullsfan wrote:I dont want Kevin Love anywhere near this team. To me he's just a good passer, and on this team we have needed a lowpost scorer for a very long time. Al Jefferson keep in mind, tore his ACL a year and a half ago, and before that was one of the best lowpost scorers in the NBA. If he a come back stronger and fully healthy from that injury, I feel that he would be a great addition to this team. If the Bulls do try to trade for him however, I feel they may have to place a call to someone in Lebron's camp to make sure Jefferson coming wouldn't affect his decision about coming to the Bulls. Keep in mind, no matter what you hear in the press and media. Lebron and Chris Bosh behind the scenes want to play together. Trust Me!

Love is a good shooter, passer and rebounder. If anything, he would fit better with Rose and Lebron than Jefferson. Jefferson's lone offensive skill revolves around pounding the ball in the post and not passing it. His efficiency isn't that great and when he did get the ball, he would take Lebron and Rose out of the offense. In pick and roll situations, he is neither a threat to shoot nor is he a good guy to roll to the basket due to his lack of athleticism.

Jefferson would have been a far better fit on a perimeter based team with no post scorer like the 06/07 Bulls.