Big Al's Paint: The Al Jefferson Thread

[MKGsMotor]

No, Jefferson wont push us over the hump into making the playoffs.

But he will push us over the hump of being bad to mediocre. And the bad-to-medicore hump is not one we want to vault the year before a once in a decade type draft.

Signing big Al would have been a fantastic move next summer once we were stocked with a franchise talent from the 2014 draft and prepared to make the jump towards playoff contention. Now, instead of having a shot at the 3-4 coveted players in this draft who are highly probable allstars, we will instead pick around 6 to 11 and have to settle for another role player.

Cho and/or Jordan became impatient and abandoned the blueprint for long term success despite being on the home stretch.

Unless our roster suffers injuries, be prepared for 30-35 meaningless wins next year and be prepared to say goodbye to any chance at wiggins/randall/parker

oh I'm very prepared for 30-35 wins and a team full of young studs who will only improve and better our record each year. I absolutely dont agree with passing up a top ten free agent this summer at a reasonable price to get 5-10 more losses and put our faith in a lottery system and a draft full of unproven talent. Yes, unproven. High school doesn't mean squat to me. For every lebron there's two kwame browns. I'm all for bettering the bobcats any way we can now that we have four top ten picks who all look promising and will be on the team for years and years.

[RUN_DMSKI]

Its unfortunate timing, but with the rebrand, the Horncats couldn't afford to start the franchise over hoping to score in the lottery. Aside from lottery position, there are still too many unknowns about the 2014 draft: Are these guys all as good as advertised? The Harrison twins could prove to be as overrated as Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin. Early speculation is that Jabari Parker could return to Duke for a sophomore season. Marcus Smart is still undersized. Wiggins and Randle could prove to be one dimensional. I'm pretty sure at one point, nbadraft.net and others had Shabazz Muhammed likened to Kobe.

We'll still suck, and I would back that we'll have the Pistons pick. I'd put us in the top 10 with both picks and if the draft is as loaded as hyped, then we'll have two very good players or leverage to score a top 3 pick.

[countryboi]

No way this team wins any less than 30-35..the tank is dead. It's bitter sweet I don't know if this team is good enough to even make a dent at the 8 seed. So what's the point?

[Stun704]

Can someone explain to me the logic of drafting Zeller when our FO was planning on targeting Jefferson the whole time? Wouldn't there have been someone we could have drafted that would have saved cap space, and fit our current core BETTER then the player we're forced to resign now? Why The **** didn't we draft McLemore?

[Logander]

Can someone explain to me the logic of drafting Zeller when our FO was planning on targeting Jefferson the whole time? Wouldn't there have been someone we could have drafted that would have saved cap space, and fit our current core BETTER then the player we're forced to resign now? Why The **** didn't we draft McLemore?

I am guessing they didn't know if he would be interested at all in coming here. But beside that Zeller is going to play PF not C.

[Stun704]

Can someone explain to me the logic of drafting Zeller when our FO was planning on targeting Jefferson the whole time? Wouldn't there have been someone we could have drafted that would have saved cap space, and fit our current core BETTER then the player we're forced to resign now? Why The **** didn't we draft McLemore?

I am guessing they didn't know if he would be interested at all in coming here. But beside that Zeller is going to play PF not C.

Whos going to protect the rim? Biyombo + Jefferson is a better fit then Zeller + Jefferson

[dmutombo321]

Jefferson is good. Very good. But he's not a franchise player.

Baring the signing of a dominant scorer in the James Harden / Durant type mold through free agency, which is an extreme longshot, the only realistic opportunity we'll have the land such a player is through a high pick in a strong draft.

Thats not to say that teams dont screw up top 3 picks. They routinely make the wrong decisions. And in some years, like this recent draft, the talent pool is so weak, the first 5 picks are interchangeable. However, when you're picking #8 in a loaded draft because you finished with a win total in the no-mans land of 30 something mediocrity, you dont even give yourself a chance to find a transcendental player because all the Lebrons, Wades, Durants, Carmelos, James Hardens are long off the board.

If anyone thinks a Kemba/Henderson/MKG/Zeller/Jefferson core plus a role player or two around #8 in next years draft is going to get past the first round of the playoffs in the next 3 years, they're going to be disappointed. They'll compete for a playoff spot at some point to be sure, but once they get in, someone will wipe the floor with them, much like the 44 win felton/jackson/diaw team.

I would have preferred they waited just 12 months longer before making this type of move. Finishing with a bottom three record going into next offseason would have presented this franchise is best opportunity in its history to have a shot at obtaining a franchise caliber talent via a historically strong draft. With the signing of Jefferson, that ship has likely sailed.

[MKGsMotor]

I've been trying to argue with a friend that starting biyombo and Jefferson together is the best fit but he says no way we wouldn't start a fourth pick. I think Zeller should play heavy (25-30) mins off the bench pairing with biyombo/haywood (and Jefferson sometimes by default) and provide an energy and scoring punch while developing without too much pressure (ie running the offense through a rookie)

[RichBoy923]

No way this team wins any less than 30-35..the tank is dead. It's bitter sweet I don't know if this team is good enough to even make a dent at the 8 seed. So what's the point?

Why does it have to be all or nothing though? Why can't we just watch our young team and see what progress they make?

[Stun704]

Jefferson is good. Very good. But he's not a franchise player.

Baring the signing of a dominant scorer in the James Harden / Durant type mold through free agency, which is an extreme longshot, the only realistic opportunity we'll have the land such a player is through a high pick in a strong draft.

Thats not to say that teams dont screw up top 3 picks. They routinely make the wrong decisions. And in some years, like this recent draft, the talent pool is so weak, the first 5 picks are interchangeable. However, when you're picking #8 in a loaded draft because you finished with a win total in the no-mans land of 30 something mediocrity, you dont even give yourself a chance to find a transcendental player because all the Lebrons, Wades, Durants, Carmelos, James Hardens are long off the board.

If anyone thinks a Kemba/Henderson/MKG/Zeller/Jefferson core plus a role player or two around #8 in next years draft is going to get past the first round of the playoffs in the next 3 years, they're going to be disappointed. They'll compete for a playoff spot at some point to be sure, but once they get in, someone will wipe the floor with them, much like the 44 win felton/jackson/diaw team.

I would have preferred they waited just 12 months longer before making this type of move. Finishing with a bottom three record going into next offseason would have presented this franchise is best opportunity in its history to have a shot at obtaining a franchise caliber talent via a historically strong draft. With the signing of Jefferson, that ship has likely sailed.

1) Its too early to say we're gonna be mediocre

2) MKG was a top 2 pick in a strong draft, by your logic he has franchise changing talent

3) Jefferson can be traded at the dead line

4) We can still tank with Jefferson on the roster. Jefferson at best is a net wash, if not a net negative

5) If we let Hendo walk and let Jeff Taylor start, we're a worse team then next year

[KembaWalker]

72 million in his career already and he still gets like this when he loses

I think he is going to be very positive influence for us

[dmutombo321]

^ MKG was a #2 pick in a weak draft. Apart from Davis, the talent pool was universally considered poor at the time.

Neither Gilchrist or Zeller would go in the top 7 next year

Agreed about the possibility of Hendo walking. Having someone throw crazy $ at him and having to start taylor may be the only realistic scenario where this teams tank is saved.

[Liver_Pooty]

Jefferson is one of the nicest people in the league, and Tyrone Corbin has started that he was very instrumental in helping Favors and Kanter develop.

[Logander]

Lol having Jeff Taylor start would be hilarious. That dude is mediocre at best.

[JMAC3]

I love this signing. We can actually start to build a playoff team, if it works then we make the playoffs with a young core. If it doesnt then we are likely picking in the 6-10 range, which can still find really good players (Drummond, Monroe, Klay, Kawhi, Barnes, Paul George, Curry, Lopez) all have been picked 6-11 over the last 5 years, so its still possible to find good players and should be easy in THE BEST DRAFT OF ALLTIME according to everybody hahaha.

Also, now that we have Jefferson we have a much better chance of turning Gordon's expiring into another good player next offseason because we are more attractive.

Can somebody tell me a team that became great off only top 5 draft picks other than the Thunder..... who havent won anything by the way....

Kings have really killed it with Cousins, Evans, Robinson were all top 5 picks...

Cavs with Irving, Thompson, Waiters are all top 4 picks and they had the number one pick this year....

T-wolves with Love, Williams, Rubio, Flynn, Wes Johnson, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer were all top 6 picks... and they are clearly a title contender haha

Fact is we needed to do something other than just sit and wait, pray and hope. We still have plenty of future picks to deal if needed as well to bring in another talented player. So what if we dont get Wiggins because as you have seen above top 5 picks dont always mean anything.

[debo23]

finally some positive reactions.... I swear most of you saw the PR and




We're going to be a sleeper team that will surprise a lot of people, be exciting to watch, and begin to turn the image of this franchise around.. his signing is a step in the right direction

[Bassman]

I applaud MJ. He is spending money on a big time FA. And he is going to have to pay TT even tho he is going to be dumped by amnesty. This just shows he is committed to winning, or at least trying to win. I dont think the idea of trying to lose even computes in his mind. I wonder what he would think if he visited the Bobcat sites like this and saw so many fan being upset that Al will make us win too many games. Even if it is for trying to get ping pong balls. Just think he would shake his head.

Owners and GM's know that you cannot wait forever to make your move. Al Jefferson is the best big man free agent we could likely get over the next few years. The team needed a low post scorer in the worst way. We also needed a quality veteran to help us build our team with. AJ is not the best, or the greatest, but he is very good. Yes he has defensive deficiencies, but matchups may change assignments late in games.

Oh but wait...we want to lose, right? If Al is so bad why do you tankers care? I suspect you know how good he is and fear this team could breakout. Well, no matter what happens, I am very happy to call Al Jefferson a Charlotte Horncat! Welcome Al...I can't wait to see how our team comes together and competes this season!

[KembaWalker]

wouldnt surprise me if Jefferson actually improved our defense as well as our offense. He might be a terrible indiviudal defender, but so is everyone else we've had at that spot and we've been horrible the last couple years overall on D. at least if hes scoring and rebounding, and not turning the ball over (3 things he's very good at) he's limiting the other teams transition opportunities and possessions which is worth something defensively.

[Logander]

Just wanted to point out that this guy is a huge ballhog. Half the time his teammates are clapping or trying to get his attention to kick it out and he ignores them, even if he has 3 guys on him. I know this is a highlight video and he makes every shot but think of how many times he gets double team and doesn't kick it out? He better leave that sh*t behind in Utah.



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWm3foYmIGA[/youtube]


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7whiYt44_LM[/youtube]

[JMAC3]

Also, Jefferson has never played with a good back court when he was with the Jazz. Really Mo Williams? Devin Harris?

If you gave the Jazz our backcourt players last season they would of been really dangerous. Kemba, Hendo, and MKG all probably start for that Jazz team....