The Jabari Discussion Thread - Back 2/2

[paulpressey25]

I think it's a bit misguided to say "Jabari has unrealistic expectations." Do we have any insight into what we offered him during extension talks if anything?

Complete unreliable hearsay that I don't have validated by a second source but had heard the Bucks discussed 4/$80 and Jabari declined. Now that could be completely wrong info, so let's keep the discussion contained in here. But that would line up with what Woelfel said last year regarding Jabari's expectations of a max deal and Gery does talk with Sonny Parker.

[Chapter29]

Now lets be unbiased and look at multiple photos of him playing in games during the NBA season, you be the judge if he is fat

LOL

He was never fat. Just not in that tip top conditioning that I would have loved to have seen. Like he is now (ish). IMO he was more like a Melo or a Dog. Now he's starting to change that.

I think he is learning what it takes in the NBA to be successful. Was he a gym rat prior? Well probably...playing basketball. That isn't what we are talking about here. We are talking about lifting, stretching and other strength and conditioning things. And of course eating right, which alone could change his look and health drastically.

So, to the question was he a gym rat by the above criteria? Prior to NBA and ACL, I would say no. Rehabbing the first ACL, yes probably so, but there are degrees. And hopefully now he knows what's what and keeps working hard on his body / health. He made comments to that I thought about how much harder he's working now and changing eating habits and such.

People can learn.

[fansinceforever]

I will understand when the Bucks match a max offer for Jabari. I don't understand what other options the Bucks have for improving on the roster that's currently in place.

[buckboy]

Sadly, we are going to have to max Jabari at the max to keep him next summer. Some team will offer it to him, and the Bucks would be idiotic to not match. I wonder what they could have gotten him at a few months ago when they were negotiating?

This may be the most confounding sentiment I've ever seen on this board. And I've seen it multiple times.

[jute2003]

It's a massive risk with probably the highest ceiling of their options and also very likely the lowest floor. It's also the easiest to accomplish.

[H2tObes]

I have no clue what his habits have been years in the past, could have had the best or worst training regimen on the team for all we know. Pretty clear to me he has a naturally big build and he worked hard to get himself in shape and add muscle though. His combination of size + athleticism was pretty freakish before so maybe he was instructed to not slim down

[Diggr14]

Sadly, we are going to have to max Jabari at the max to keep him next summer. Some team will offer it to him, and the Bucks would be idiotic to not match. I wonder what they could have gotten him at a few months ago when they were negotiating?

This may be the most confounding sentiment I've ever seen on this board. And I've seen it multiple times.

He’ll be their 2nd or 3rd best player when he comes back. He’s the same age as Giannis and he is of great pedigree and upside. He’s a better player than Andrew Wiggins from the same draft who just got a 5 year max, not a 4 year match max deal. ACLs or not, he’s going to come back better than he was before, just like last time. Sure there will be some initial rust, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him come back as a 20-25ppg guy next season and get 6-7 boards a game. He’s an ideal shooting 3/4, that can also slash, that you want around Giannis - especially if Giannis is playing the point 5 in their small ball sets.

The confounding thing are the people that don’t want a guy like Bari back. You guys would cut your nose off to spite your face.

[buckboy]

It's a massive risk with probably the highest ceiling of their options and also very likely the lowest floor. It's also the easiest to accomplish.

Sure. I think it's an incredibly difficult decision. We'll learn some over a half-season, but not enough to make it 'idiotic' either way.

[buckboy]

Sadly, we are going to have to max Jabari at the max to keep him next summer. Some team will offer it to him, and the Bucks would be idiotic to not match. I wonder what they could have gotten him at a few months ago when they were negotiating?

This may be the most confounding sentiment I've ever seen on this board. And I've seen it multiple times.

He’ll be their 2nd or 3rd best player when he comes back. He’s the same age as Giannis and he is of great pedigree and upside. He’s a better player than Andrew Wiggins from the same draft who just got a 5 year max, not a 4 year match max deal. ACLs or not, he’s going to come back better than he was before, just like last time. Sure there will be some initial rust, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him come back as a 20-25ppg guy next season and get 6-7 boards a game. He’s an ideal shooting 3/4, that can also slash, that you want around Giannis - especially if Giannis is playing the point 5 in their small ball sets.

The confounding thing are the people that don’t want a guy like Bari back. You guys would cut your nose off to spite your face.

Complete and utter insanity. Hopes and dreams and unicorns stated as facts. Whatever.

And "ACLs or not". Kind of a big deal when considering this contract.

[DingleJerry]

Yaa if a trade doesn't come up that clearly makes sense and he stays healthy and plays generally well they don't really have a choice but to keep him and hope for the best. Can't let him go for nothing. Maybe he keeps doing well and we win with him, maybe his contract is essential in a trade for a future true star, who knows how it goes from there.

That said, I hope none of the blind optimism just said by Diggr is anyone in the front office's mind as they go through this process. Two torn ACLs is a big deal, just because you like the dude and he's already on our team doesn't change that fact. If he was a straight up FA right now from a different team, and we had cap space to sign him, would anyone be advocating for 4/100 for him? Let alone what he's asking? Just be realistic on it.

[H2tObes]

If Jabari comes back and looks like a stud we should be hoping for an Embiid type deal, I know the FO will want to resign him if he looks good, and honestly you couldn't blame them for taking the risk. He is by all means a supreme talent when healthy

[paulpressey25]

The confounding thing are the people that don’t want a guy like Bari back. You guys would cut your nose off to spite your face.

I'm want him back, badly. But I want him back as the bench scoring option and maybe a small ball center on spot occasions. Then let him work from there for more playing time.

What I don't want back is a guy who might insist on starting and getting a max contract. If he looks fantastic in the 30 games or so he'd play in, I'd be fine signing him to a 4/$80 type deal. But anything more and we're asking for major trouble. And even a 4/$80 deal should have some sort of doomsday clause that negates the final year if he blows out another ACL.

[coolhandluke121]

[

He was never fat.

That is not an appropriate amount of body fat for an NBA player, let alone a sf. Not even close. It's probably a good 25 lbs of excess. There is almost no muscle tone there. On a body that big, 25 extra lbs. of excess fat is going to seem like a pretty thin layer, and it's perfectly healthy for an average person or even a football player. But it's a huge liability for an NBA combo player. Your eyes aren't discerning enough if you can't see it.

ETA: You're also ignoring multiple pictures where he's been quite a bit bigger than that, and the fact that he himself has admittedly gone through cycles of being really fat and having to get in shape going back to high school.

[TroyD92]

[

He was never fat.

That is not an appropriate amount of body fat for an NBA player, let alone a sf. Not even close. It's probably a good 25 lbs of excess. There is almost no muscle tone there. On a body that big, 25 extra lbs. of excess fat is going to seem like a pretty thin layer, and it's perfectly healthy for an average person or even a football player. But it's a huge liability for an NBA combo player. Your eyes aren't discerning enough if you can't see it.

ETA: You're also ignoring multiple pictures where he's been quite a bit bigger than that, and the fact that he himself has admittedly gone through cycles of being really fat and having to get in shape going back to high school.

You using pictures to assume body fat is mind-numbingly (Please Use More Appropriate Word)

[ReginaldDwight]

Anyone acting like Jabari couldnt have been in better shape needs to get their head out of the sand. Being a star NBA player requires elite conditioning unless youre a big man and even then you need to be in shape. Anyone who bought that PR puff piece as anything other then a pathetic effort to get a max deal also needs to get their head out of said sand. Honestly lost a lot of respect for Jabari when he tried to pull that **** to get a bigger deal, CHL is right that this looks like contract year BS and we should be careful because that has burned the bucks multiple times before. Dude really needs to STFU and come in and play solid ball on both ends. Hopefully hes put in the work in the tape room so he looks less clueless off ball on defense as that is his biggest weakness right now.

[Ron Swanson]

You guys are **** embarrassing yourselves with this letter crap. It was a letter in the Player's Tribune. It was cliche "rah-rah team speak". Just stop with the ulterior motive garbage.

[TroyD92]

Losing respect for someone over a letter is also (Please Use More Appropriate Word)

[coolhandluke121]

You using pictures to assume body fat is mind-numbingly (Please Use More Appropriate Word)

Denying what is plainly clear to the naked eye is a special kind of delusional. You and many others aren't ready to have an objective discussion about Jabari, and never have been. Hopefully one day you will be.

[coolhandluke121]

Anyone acting like Jabari couldnt have been in better shape needs to get their head out of the sand. Being a star NBA player requires elite conditioning unless youre a big man and even then you need to be in shape. Anyone who bought that PR puff piece as anything other then a pathetic effort to get a max deal also needs to get their head out of said sand. Honestly lost a lot of respect for Jabari when he tried to pull that **** to get a bigger deal, CHL is right that this looks like contract year BS and we should be careful because that has burned the bucks multiple times before. Dude really needs to STFU and come in and play solid ball on both ends. Hopefully hes put in the work in the tape room so he looks less clueless off ball on defense as that is his biggest weakness right now.

Exactly. And regardless of what you think of the letter (I consider it irrelevant drivel) take the whole picture into account. Jabari would be a wretchedly awful investment.

And his conditioning was deplorable by NBA standards. Don't know how anyone could look at him or watch him play and even remotely doubt that. His pube % rivaled Bogut's.

[M-C-G]

You using pictures to assume body fat is mind-numbingly (Please Use More Appropriate Word)

Denying what is plainly clear to the naked eye is a special kind of delusional. You and many others aren't ready to have an objective discussion about Jabari, and never have been. Hopefully one day you will be.

I think the crux of the problem is that you are operating under the assumption you are "objective". You are not, but hopefully one day you will be.