Does anyone else NOT want Al Jefferson?

[DY_nasty]

He's a good low post scorer and all, but he's hardly a game changer. Blocks shots at an okay rate, but Diaw is a better post defender. Weakside help? Even gimp-Chandler is better. He's a horrible passer whenever he gets double-teamed. Inefficient. Doesn't get to line as much as he should. Outside of working that low left block he doesn't do anything. He's not exceptionally versatile. Dat contract...

His numbers are great. No doubting that. But as we all know, numbers don't tell the whole story.

Maybe I'm just a hater, but after watching a bunch of Wolves games, I can see exactly why they want the guy gone. Not sure if we need to throw every tradeable player at Minnesota to get him either. Especially when he doesn't give us what we need most right now - an efficient scorer from outside who can stretch a defense / playmaker.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[BigSlam]

Answer me this DY:

How many true low post scorers like Al Jefferson who can also rebound the ball and block some shots are there in the league today?

Let alone ones that are still young?

[Paydro70]

Jefferson is a terrible defender. Terrible. The numbers are unambiguous in his case, and he's actually so bad that it is a worthwhile question whether, even as one of the better offensive players in the league (doing it as "the man" for a terrible team, so no easy task), he does enough to make it up.

Now, he is still only 25, and would benefit from getting some real coaching for once, so there's plenty of hope that he could get better. There's also some evidence that if he is put in as a power forward instead of a center, he's not nearly so bad a disaster and would clearly make it up in his productivity on offense and the boards.

I would still be excited to have him, because the Bobcats' situation might end up doing a world of good for him. He'd have a very strong chance of being our second all-star, assuming that we can either coach him up or cover him up enough defensively. Considering the packages that are being thrown around on this board (i.e., nothing substantive), I think we'd be a fool not to take the chance on him.

[BigSlam]

Put it this way: I'd MUCH rather Al Jefferson than Boozer.

Heck, considering contract length and amount I might just rather Diaw than Boozer!!!

[Stun704]

Smh @ anyone who wants Doris Meow over Big AL

[Fred Williamson]

Put it this way: I'd MUCH rather Al Jefferson than Boozer.

Heck, considering contract length and amount I might just rather Diaw than Boozer!!!

I'll take a motivated Boozer over Diaw and Jefferson. Otherwise I don't know. Boozer can really suck if he does not play in a contract year. Good Boozer can score at least 20 points in the post, grab 12 rebound, move the ball and play a bit defense. Bad Boozer tends to disappear on the offensive and defensive end.

I'm not sure about Jefferson. I mean, yeah, he's low post scorer who can score 20points but all other aspects of his game straight suck. He can't and won't pass, and his defense is really horrible. We are already are bad passing/ballmovement and turnover prone team and adding Jefferson to this team won't really help us if we don't surround him with guys who have bball IQ and passing skills.

If you also consider the lenght of his contract and his busted knees, I would say no, as long as we don't get rid of Jax and Diop's contract

[Paydro70]

Well, hold on Fred. He isn't a great passer, but he's increased his assist rate every year, and is still on a team where he's expected to take every shot (This year's usage rate was actually a substantial dip from previous seasons, and he was still #4 among all centers). We don't really know how much he'd be willing/able to pass if he were on a team with more than one other guy who topped 13 PER.

One thing he is not, however, is turnover prone. He ranked 9th of 59 centers in TO rate this year. His 9.9% would actually make him the least turnover-prone Bobcat next to UPS. He blows away his competition here, he could only help that situation.

The busted knees are legit, but he played 76 games this year and it's very possible that he still wasn't quite right and will be next year. If he returns to his 08-09 form, then we got a serious beast if he will play some D for LB.

[Jaruff]

I certainly want Al Jefferson. He may not be the best defensive player, but with Gerald Wallace and possibly Tyrus Thomas on the court, you really don't need the best defensive player at C.

If there was a way to get Jefferson, Sessions, and Martell Webster, you trade anyone but Wallace to make it happen.

[Bassman]

Yep, I'm on the AJ love train. Understand his issues, but trust that some of that can be improved/coached up. His pressence in creating a post game, and rebounding, would be a tremendous asset. With T2 here, and wanting a long-term deal with Charlotte, he is our future at the 4 (like it or not). We gave up a 1st to get him, so we've got to develop him into our starter. That puts AJ at the 5, which is where he's played, and maybe that's not his best position, but with knees already an issue, it's probably better than having him keeping pace with today's long athletic 4's. He is 25, and how many options will we/can we expect to get in the next several years? If we just keep what we have, get cap space for next season, what happens? No crazy feeding frenzy like this year of teams trading away assets for cap space, so I doubt we'd benefit. Free agent centers? Not any that would come here, and have the potential impact of AJ.

Frankly I'd offer Chandler, DJ and Ajinca for Jefferson and Sessions. They get a vet expiring for now and an unknown who maybe could fill that role next year, plus a backup PG to Flynn. We get our starting 5 and (possibly) starting PG. However, I would hope we could still make a deal with Toronto, sending Diaw for Jack and Evans. That sets up nicely:

PG - Jack, Sessions
SG - SJ, Henderson
SF - Wallace, UPS
PF - T2, Evans
C - Jefferson, Nazr, D-Flop

If we can't get Jack, Sessions could start and we'd grab a reserve from FA. If we can't deal Diaw, he becomes our (we hope) super 6th man.

[ball teacher]

Al Jefferson may not be the best defender, but he's a low post scorer and the Bobcats definitely need one. You can still bring Theo off the bench for defensive help, and you have Tyrus who's a great weak side defender, this would be a great combination instead of having 2 defensive minded big men with limited post abilities, and you can work with Al to be more aggressive on defense also. The Bobcats need to be all over this. As for Boozer he's a good player, but he played with a great point guard in a good system, but Boozer is smaller then Jefferson and he's not effective at the center position like Al is.

[fatlever]

put me in the undecided camp for jefferson. i dont think he is as good as his offensive numbers suggest. there just seems to be something missing from him. i realize he's been surrounded by crap most of his career, but i do think that he deserves some blame for always being on bad teams, meaning he must be considered part of the problem.

ideally i would not want jefferson as my starting center. i think he is best served as a pf playing next to a guy like chandler, at least to start games.

that being said, he is probably worth the risk, if we could get him w/out giving up wallace or a future pick.

[e4Nf6]

I always thought Big Al's bad defense was 100% because of lack of effort, I don't see any physical limitation that should cause him to be a bad defender. He might be the type of guy who'd give more effort on a team that wasn't awful.

In any case, Al Jefferson bad defense and all is clearly more useful that Diaw+Chandler or some of the packages I've seen mentioned....

[Rich4114]

I would rather have Boozer, but Jefferson could be huge for us. It's certainly no guarantee, but it's better than any other option we've currently got and could free up other guys on this team to score more efficiently.

We don't really have anyone that other teams have to consider doubling... I feel like Jefferson would change that and improve everyone elses game a bit as a pleasant side effect.

[GoBobcats]

Chandler and DJ for Jefferson would do it for me.
And sign Felton for 5

[TheJohnWallShow]

Jefferson is not that bad of a defender as can score efficiently in the paint. He gets a lot of blocks and would fit in well with players that can take some of the attention away from him, something no one on the Wolves has been able to do. I say if you can get him, pull the trigger and dont look back, as long as it doesnt include Wallace or Jackson

[Jaruff]

I would include Jackson if the Wolves would take Diop and give us Ellington & Pick or Webster in return.

[hotrod]

I would prefer Boozer if I had the choice. I don't think we could get Boozer though. Jefferson would be a huge addition though. The guy can dominate in the low post offense. I watched the Wolves alot a couple years ago before he got hurt. The Wolves went on a mini tear winning a few in a row and he was a beast. No one can guard him in the low block when he is on.

[BigSlam]

First things first.

D-Flop

That was frigging hilarious and made me LOL. Nice work Bass!

Things with Jefferson that are key for me:

His pressence in creating a post game
rebounding
He is 25
how many options will we/can we expect to get in the next several years
Free agent centers? Not any that would come here, and have the potential impact of AJ

Frankly I'd offer Chandler, DJ and Ajinca for Jefferson and Sessions.

I think that might be a little too much. I wouldn't add in Lexy. I'm also not sure they would want DJ with Flynn and Rubio already on the roster?

However, I would hope we could still make a deal with Toronto, sending Diaw for Jack and Evans.

Unless it's a 3 way with Boris going to a 3rd team, I REALLY don't see Boris bringing back Jack and Evans. The Raps want to get grittier and tougher. That isn't Boris. Plus he conflicts wayyyyyyy too much with Hedo and Bargs. Also, a line up of Jose - Hedo - Boris and Bargs would be laughable.

[DY_nasty]

Answer me this DY:

How many true low post scorers like Al Jefferson who can also rebound the ball and block some shots are there in the league today?

Let alone ones that are still young?

I understand what you're saying. Al is very, very good low post scorer in a league where its hard to come by. I like him as a player, but not necessarily on this team.

Also, don't let the blocked shots fool you - he's an awful low post defender. Absolutely terrible.

If we were going to change the entire direction of the team though, then maybe I could get along with the idea a little bit better. As it is right now though, the thought of us being shut down by a 2-3 zone because we still can't score from outside 18ft consistently again AFTER throwing all of our trade assets at Minnesota... ugh.

[Bassman]

So could we deal Nazr and Diaw for Jefferson and Sessions? Slam, I get that they may not be huge on Diaw, but he does bring a dynamic to the team they don't have with his flexibility (play multiple positions) and passing. He immediately backs up Love at the 4 and can play some 3 as needed. Nazr becomes their 5 (I assume as a back up) while they secure a free agent to start for them. It reduces their future payroll while making room for Rubio. We get our beast at the 4, keep Chandler one more year while (...praying here...) Jinx develops into our 5 of the future, and still keep the big cap space for next season. T2 remains a reserve, which he may not like, but he'll get plenty of PT backing AJ, and when Jefferson spends time at the 5.

Ultimately I doubt that moves Minny's needle. Supposedly Dallas is inquiring about AJ. If Dirk leaves, they've got some assets to throw there that we can't match.