Big Al's Paint: The Al Jefferson Thread

[JMAC3]

Lord Bonnell is annoying. Acting on twitter like Jefferson is 36 years old. "Not sure how much tread he has left". Guy averaged 18/9 and is still just 28. People think because he came out of highschool that he's soon washed up. So ridiculous.

Especially as Jefferson's game is more craft moves than athleticism, he should have a decent length career.

Am I the only one who would start Biz with Jefferson?
Biz would defend the better post player and Zeller would come off the bench.

Way too early to say...

Zeller may or may not merit starting... Also, if Biz shows little improvement from last year than I think you start Zeller more than likely.

I get the logic, but too early to say....

[-Ian-]

If we sign Jefferson and we manage to put up 30+ wins next season then maybe, just maybe, the basketball gods would let us win the Wiggins sweepstakes.

[No-Man]

This would be beyond idiotic, yes, he can fit nicely with Zeller in offense, and Biyombo and Haywood in defense, even McRoberts,... but what for? where are you going with a Zeller, Jefferson, Biyombo, McRoberts, Haywood, frontcourt?

The team will be bad with or without him, so at least he doesnt ruin the tank, but...

If you grab Wiggins or Smart

Walker
Wiggins or Smart-Hendo
MKG-Taylor
Zeller-McBob
Jefferson-Biyombo

And luckily Pistons and Portland's picks to fill the roster.

It's not bad at all, but I think you could do better guys.

[KingCat]

I really really hope we don't sign him. Honestly i hope we have the worst record in the league next year, so we have a 100% chance of picking up Wiggins, Parker,Randle or Gordon in 2014. Missing out on atleast a top 5 pick in this upcoming draft would be horrible for this franchise.

[Nanogeek]

I thought we liked to play defense.

[Nanogeek]

I really really hope we don't sign him. Honestly i hope we have the worst record in the league next year, so we have a 100% chance of picking up Wiggins, Parker,Randle or Gordon in 2014. Missing out on atleast a top 5 pick in this upcoming draft would be horrible for this franchise.

Word. Signing Jefferson would be tragically stupid. It'd be like trading away a lottery pick for Jason Richardson.

[KembaWalker]

i dont get why everyone is getting so impatient. theres no reason to get decent because this is the last year of being the Bobcats, that makes no sense. it would be more logical to totally suck BECAUSE its the last year of the Bobcats. next years history will die with that brand anyway. suck ass next year, get a star pick, THEN sign a couple solid players like Jefferson+Mayo or pull a Gordon type trade and go out there as the first year Hornets with a young playoff team. that makes more sense.

i woudl say if we royally screw up and end up with a pick in the 5-10 range then its also time to end the tank and go for a Pacers-esque build with lots of solid players using our pick+det pick with no star, though that is by far the less desireable outcome for everyone

[JDuaneWayne]

I don't think he will sign but it wouldn't be the worst thing. Amnesty Tyrus and you have a true vet to show them the ropes without jeopardizing future cap space. Al would need to split time between our project bigs. However I don't believe he is at that point in his career to make a move like that yet. It's time to add a few vets not in the Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon mantra

[Snidely FC]

Really conflicted about this one.

Al Jeff would be unlike any player this franchise has ever had. A fun fun Old School guy to watch. Really fun player. I would love to have him on the team.

But Big Al made $15 mln last year! $15 mln for a non-All-Star?

Ultimately it comes down to the money. Much depends on the contract offer.

$10 mln-ish or less I jump. Anything more, I walk.

[ohara]

I like the idea. Hope we get him at Cho's price.

[doc.end]

1) It may have no or little legs. Although it is Berger, no sheridan (sic).

2) It is always good to show fans FO is trying to get us better through free agency regardelss whether we are serious about Jefferson or not. He may still sign elsewhere and we bumped the price a bit. As we did with RFA Humphries, who Nets pretty much had to match.

3) 2014 is not a one man draft. From what I have seen from current U19s, Gordon, Harrel etc. are pretty good. don't counr on Wiggins, lottery is what it is and with upcoming tankalooza we may just realize we are gonna be to good to have a prime shot anyway. So it may be wirthwhile to see if we can get better for a reasonable cost and accumulate some pieces, building up winning culture and attracting future FAs in the process. Oh and if we could get Pistons into top 8 instead of them sending us a 9th pick, it could help as well. They won't get much help comparatively to other teams and may be bad again in 2015 (and it is sufficient them being lottery team to have a shot at 2nd or 3rd pick).

4) If we turn it around with Jefferson, he would get a lot of credit an his value would rise. Aside from Tyrus Thomas we don't have any considerably big contract to operate with next offseason, when we may be interested in doing some sign and trades (to get better, start competing). If Jefferson would be considered a bargain around the league we ma keep him or we may flip him for somebody who we would deem more fitting, accompanied with other contracts like Tyrus in case we could do it Brooklyn style. He may be a fools' gold with improved numbers but bad defense and still be considered bargain around the league, thus great trade piece. And if he deosn't work for us, we still get a nice pick and big man on rerasonable contract like him would be still moveable.

5) The more big men the Clifford-Ewing duo has to work with the better. Maybe.

6) We can only start so many guys on rookie contracts. It may start to getting problematic to fit them all into a working team. So it may not be that bad to postponed more help through draft and get help in 2015 and/or 2016 through DET and POR picks and through our owns. Remember we owe our pick to Chicago and with massive tanking throughout the league next league we may fail to protect it. Then there is no incentive in not trying to win as much as we can and just observe where POR and DET could land. I know little about 2015 crop but Jahlil Okafor and Justice Winslow fared well in my eye test, haven't seen the others though.

[Badd_Intentions]

I highly doubt he would sign here unless we paid him ungodly amounts of money.

If we in fact are pursuing him, I think it's a clever ploy to plant seeds in peoples minds that we are TRYING to do something other than tank, then hopefully add a top 3 pick in the draft next year, then actually make a significant FA acquisition.

[MasterIchiro]

I highly doubt he would sign here unless we paid him ungodly amounts of money.

If we in fact are pursuing him, I think it's a clever ploy to plant seeds in peoples minds that we are TRYING to do something other than tank, then hopefully add a top 3 pick in the draft next year, then actually make a significant FA acquisition.

Fans aren't paying attention in CHA other than the online crowd. I don't think faking like you want to improve has a measurable effect on ticket sales whereas adding Jefferson and Mayo does translate into real dollars in sales and seats filled.

Adding Jefferson (28) and Mayo (25) does not by any means mark the end of our rebuild or cap the potential of our team. We still have 4 high lottery picks on the roster: Biz, Kemba, Zeller and MKG. We could make the playoffs and rebuild at the same time with room for improvement year-to-year. That's more than any team can ask for. I don't think a team starving for fan support and money should engage in false advertisement because they would be soon exposed. If we have the chance to make the playoffs with a young, hungry contender with room for improvement, we should seize the opportunity.

[StitchJones]

I REALLY hope we don't sign Jefferson. It's not that I am pro or anti tanking, t's that I don't think he will be worth the money we would spend. He's a decent low pst scorer, but he's about to hit 30 and his athleticism will continue to deteriorate. plus he is just horrible defensively. Third, I think he would take minutes away from Zeller who i think needs to play 33-36 minutes a game. I'd much rather we went after OJ Mayo as a better floor spacer and ball handler than Henderson.

[Badd_Intentions]

I highly doubt he would sign here unless we paid him ungodly amounts of money.

If we in fact are pursuing him, I think it's a clever ploy to plant seeds in peoples minds that we are TRYING to do something other than tank, then hopefully add a top 3 pick in the draft next year, then actually make a significant FA acquisition.

Fans aren't paying attention in CHA other than the online crowd. I don't think faking like you want to improve has a measurable effect on ticket sales whereas adding Jefferson and Mayo does translate into real dollars in sales and seats filled.

Adding Jefferson (28) and Mayo (25) does not by any means mark the end of our rebuild or cap the potential of our team. We still have 4 high lottery picks on the roster: Biz, Kemba, Zeller and MKG. We could make the playoffs and rebuild at the same time with room for improvement year-to-year. That's more than any team can ask for. I don't think a team starving for fan support and money should engage in false advertisement because they would be soon exposed. If we have the chance to make the playoffs with a young, hungry contender with room for improvement, we should seize the opportunity.

I know there isn't much attention to the goings on of this franchise, but I don't see us getting in any kind of bidding wars right now for one of the top FA's available. I do think the Eastern conference would be a great place for Jefferson though. I'm not necessarily implying that we are faking, but I don't think we have a good chance of landing him. Perhaps getting our name out there somewhat in the free agent market and to agents that we are in fact game to make sizable deals. Could be wishful thinking on my part and Cho could be putting the full court press on to sign him. I don't know. I just don't see him coming here with where the franchise is right now.

I'd love to have him though.

[Red Larrivee]

i dont get why everyone is getting so impatient. theres no reason to get decent because this is the last year of being the Bobcats, that makes no sense. it would be more logical to totally suck BECAUSE its the last year of the Bobcats. next years history will die with that brand anyway. suck ass next year, get a star pick, THEN sign a couple solid players like Jefferson+Mayo or pull a Gordon type trade and go out there as the first year Hornets with a young playoff team. that makes more sense.

i woudl say if we royally screw up and end up with a pick in the 5-10 range then its also time to end the tank and go for a Pacers-esque build with lots of solid players using our pick+det pick with no star, though that is by far the less desireable outcome for everyone

Can we please kill the notion that the Bobcats are guaranteed to get a star player if they tank next season? If they get the 6th or 7th pick next season, then what?

If you have the chance to actually improve the team right now, why not take it? Overpaying Jefferson would be dumb, but if you get him on a decent deal, why not?

[RUN_DMSKI]

i dont get why everyone is getting so impatient. theres no reason to get decent because this is the last year of being the Bobcats, that makes no sense. it would be more logical to totally suck BECAUSE its the last year of the Bobcats. next years history will die with that brand anyway. suck ass next year, get a star pick, THEN sign a couple solid players like Jefferson+Mayo or pull a Gordon type trade and go out there as the first year Hornets with a young playoff team. that makes more sense.

i woudl say if we royally screw up and end up with a pick in the 5-10 range then its also time to end the tank and go for a Pacers-esque build with lots of solid players using our pick+det pick with no star, though that is by far the less desireable outcome for everyone

Can we please kill the notion that the Bobcats are guaranteed to get a star player if they tank next season? If they get the 6th or 7th pick next season, then what?

If you have the chance to actually improve the team right now, why not take it? Overpaying Jefferson would be dumb, but if you get him on a decent deal, why not?

Completely agree. There are too many what-if's in a draft. Hell, a year ago the 2013 draft was supposed to be strong. What if Jabari Parker decides not to come out? What if the Harrison Bros aren't as good as advertised (a la Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress)?

I think you try to win now and hope to get lucky in the draft. If this draft is as stacked as people think, we can still nab a good player regardless of where we pick.


And let us remember, theres a good chance that we'll have Portland and Detroits picks in 2014.

[KembaWalker]

i dont get why everyone is getting so impatient. theres no reason to get decent because this is the last year of being the Bobcats, that makes no sense. it would be more logical to totally suck BECAUSE its the last year of the Bobcats. next years history will die with that brand anyway. suck ass next year, get a star pick, THEN sign a couple solid players like Jefferson+Mayo or pull a Gordon type trade and go out there as the first year Hornets with a young playoff team. that makes more sense.

i woudl say if we royally screw up and end up with a pick in the 5-10 range then its also time to end the tank and go for a Pacers-esque build with lots of solid players using our pick+det pick with no star, though that is by far the less desireable outcome for everyone

Can we please kill the notion that the Bobcats are guaranteed to get a star player if they tank next season? If they get the 6th or 7th pick next season, then what?

If you have the chance to actually improve the team right now, why not take it? Overpaying Jefferson would be dumb, but if you get him on a decent deal, why not?

i already said what I'd do if we screw up and get a pick in the 5-10 range. you take your decent prospect and you keep your young core going in a pacers-eqsue fashion. Al Jeffersons are available every single year. you get that guy to put you over the top. we arent at the point where our young core is ready to be put over the top. we still need to get it set up. if we're good enough to pick 10 next year on the virtue of our current young players id be totally fine with that. that would be more positive to me than picking 15th because we added Al Jefferson

[JGib23]

Don't forget that if our pick is #11 or lower Chicago gets it.

So by adding Jefferson, there is a good chance that we miss the playoffs and lose our #1 pick next year.

this doesn't sound like a Cho move to me.

[Liver_Pooty]

Don't forget that if our pick is #11 or lower Chicago gets it.

So by adding Jefferson, there is a good chance that we miss the playoffs and lose our #1 pick next year.

this doesn't sound like a Cho move to me.

Half the team would suddenly have injuries and we would tank like mad men before we lost the pick without making the playoffs.