Fried Chicken and Bonghits: The Al Jefferson Thread 2.0

[yasuhara2241]

The problem is that he is not converting gimmies. I've never seen him miss so many short layups or he makes the shot more difficult that it should be. It seems like every game he misses such easy shots and I know he keeps leaving players out to dry on the defensive end.

[LamarMatic7]

The problem is that he is not converting gimmies. I've never seen him miss so many short layups or he makes the shot more difficult that it should be. It seems like every game he misses such easy shots and I know he keeps leaving players out to dry on the defensive end.

Yep. It's like his ageing process somehow has overcome him losing weight as he seemingly is still on a downward trajectory career-wise.

[yasuhara2241]

The problem is that he is not converting gimmies. I've never seen him miss so many short layups or he makes the shot more difficult that it should be. It seems like every game he misses such easy shots and I know he keeps leaving players out to dry on the defensive end.

Yep. It's like his ageing process somehow has overcome him losing weight as he seemingly is still on a downward trajectory career-wise.

Skinny Al isn't as confident as Big Al. And I hate that elbow jumper that he seems to use more than ever. If he is going to back down back down! Stop with the jumpers that he isn't that effective at!

[BlackOutBuzz]

I know he's way younger, but Enes Kanter got a max contract with 15/9, worse passing, even worse defense, and the team that dumped him for nothing immediately became the hottest defensive teams in the league. I have zero doubt that Al could find himself an 8-figure contract even if he struggles hard this season.

Yep, and Kanter could've probably netted more had he not been bound to his years of service restriction. Al could've easily gotten something in that ballpark, Kanter is younger but Al is the better player.

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Your statement implies Al could've signed a $70 million contract but chose not to because.

Never said he made a wise decision, the "because" is due to him - and most other upcoming FAs - banking on the 2016 cap jump. Maybe not $70M due to age, but he could have probably gotten another short, 3-year deal similar to what we gave him before ($13.5M annually).

Bigs get paid, especially now. This offseason Monroe and Kanter (basically young Al's) got their max. In that sense he may have gotten a bit less due to age, but likewise those guys could've probably netted more had they not been bound to a $16.4M max.

Other offseason big signings (starting salary)
Paul Millsap: $18.7M
Tristan Thompson: $14.3M
Tyson Chandler: $13M
Robin Lopez: $12.65M
Amir Johnson: $12M

And this is before an even bigger cap jump next year.

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[yasuhara2241]

Ok can he string a couple of these games together?? He played very good today. Keep it up

[MasterIchiro]

One of the most eye-popping statistics so far for me with Al is this:

27 MPG

[yosemiteben]

Bonnell piece on Al - http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article45946590.html

Spoiler:

The Philadelphia 76ers chose not to double-team Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson Friday, which came as a big surprise to Jefferson.

Just maybe this is the beginning of a trend.

With the Hornets a dramatically improved 3-point team, it’s tougher for opposing teams to go to the extremes they once did to neutralize Jefferson’s low-post scoring.

“There’s so much shooting on the floor that they’re a lot less likely to say, ‘Not tonight. He’s just not scoring. These other guys are going to have to shoot.“ coach Steve Clifford described. “Now they can’t do that. It opens up a cutting game, a drive-and-kick game …”

And, perhaps most importantly, Jefferson’s post-up game. Over his last four games, Jefferson has averaged 20.8 points on 56 percent shooting from the field. As much as anything that’s a reflection of the room Jefferson now has to operate, with opponents finding it harder to leave perimeter shooters.

The Hornets average nearly 10 3s per game on nearly 37 percent shooting outside the arc. Compare that to last season when they averaged just more than six 3s per game on an NBA-worst 31.8 percent shooting.

“The most basic (component) of offense is spacing and your spacing is your shooting,” Clifford said.

Clifford always wanted to run the one-in/four-out sets the Hornets use this season, but he lacked the right personnel. The front office made over the roster last summer, bringing in seven new players. Newcomers Nic Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Hawes and rookie Frank Kaminsky are all 3-point threats.

The Hornets are ninth among 30 NBA teams in scoring this season at 102.8 points per game and seventh in 3-point percentage at 36.7 percent.

Jefferson loves what is going on all around him in the post.

“I tip my hat to the front office. They did a great job of getting the guys I need around me,” Jefferson said. “Team that decide to double are going to find that difficult.

“And importantly, I’m passing the ball, looking for guys.”

Jefferson remembers being nicknamed “the Black Hole” when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves because he passed so little. He’s become far more adept at that of late. Clifford noted the Hornets have already had a game this season where 13 points were scored off players cutting to the basket off Jefferson’s post feeds.

“It’s really important where I catch the ball. The deeper I make the catch, the more that opens up the cuts,” Jefferson said. “And even if I pass to Kemba and he passes up the shot, he’s passing to the next guy.

“That’s the beauty of our offense and it starts with me; I don’t have to shoot the ball every time. We have guys like Nic, who is an additional passer making the right plays. It’s wonderful.”

[ChokeFasncists]

He's gonna have a lot more gimmies than usual and I think he'll start to hit them regularly. His passing has indeed improved lately, it's contagious with Batum and Lin. He just needs to play better D.

[BigSlam]

If we were to resign Al over he summer, what kind of a contract would you be comfortable signing him to?

I'm thinking 3/21 with the 3rd a player option.

I think he'd be an excellent big off the bench getting about 20mpg and providing an offensive punch who could also start depending on match ups.

Thoughts?


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[JDR720]

any reasonable price to too high for me. with the cap going up again and a mediocre group of FA centers, I have little doubt some team will offer 15+ million per year.

[Liver_Pooty]

any reasonable price to too high for me. with the cap going up again and a mediocre group of FA centers, I have little doubt some team will offer 15+ million per year.

There is absolutely no way in today's NBA he gets 15 mill a year.

[BigSlam]

any reasonable price to too high for me. with the cap going up again and a mediocre group of FA centers, I have little doubt some team will offer 15+ million per year.

I get that $15 would be unreasonable for you, but what WOULD be reasonable in your opinion?

If that's 1/500k for you then so be it, but what is that number for you?


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[Walt Cronkite]

I'm out of touch with contracts and don't feel comfortable predicting what other teams would offer, but I think Al gets a lot of flack because of his limitations without consideration of what he provides. I'd be happy to keep him around as an offensive post presence in a largely reserve role. His defensive issues will become more glaring, but he ought to still get the ball in the basket, right? So if the price is right...

[JDR720]

in today's NBA guys like Terrance Ross gets 11 a year, Tristan Thompson get 15 and Enes Kanter, who is basically an Al clone gets 17 million per year. and that is in this years cap.

[BigSlam]

Not what we think others might pay him.

Not what we think we might pay him.

If you were GM, what would YOU pay him?


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[JDR720]

any reasonable price to too high for me. with the cap going up again and a mediocre group of FA centers, I have little doubt some team will offer 15+ million per year.

I get that $15 would be unreasonable for you, but what WOULD be reasonable in your opinion?

If that's 1/500k for you then so be it, but what is that number for you?


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less than 10 million per year for about 2 years.

reasons

-he is on the wrong side of 30
-not sure if he fits this new system we are using
-horrible on defense and not that efficient on offense
-would rather spend money on a long term starting center

[Walt Cronkite]

His efficiency on offense seems on par with the rest of his career, but I think saving the money to spend on a long term option is a good point.

[BlackOutBuzz]

If we were to resign Al over he summer, what kind of a contract would you be comfortable signing him to?

I'm thinking 3/21 with the 3rd a player option.

I think he'd be an excellent big off the bench getting about 20mpg and providing an offensive punch who could also start depending on match ups.

Thoughts?


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I'm not even one that wants Al back, but I'd be fine with that amount. We just paid that much to Jeremy Lamb, who had proven jack **** in the league to this point. He's gonna get eight figures, and deservedly so, I just hope it's not us that gives it to him.

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[BlackOutBuzz]

But it's hard to say "what I'd pay him." With his play he's probably worth something like $12M annually, but I don't like him as a fit here at all.

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[Mystical Apples]

Al's value is going down on 2 fronts: age and style of play. After 30 centers go downhill fast and for Al time is going to be particularly cruel. If a team talks themselves into giving Al more than $5-7 million guaranteed money that's their problem. Only other plausible reason would be to reach the cap floor.