Al Jefferson to join Kemba on Bobcats

[Gurleyman]

The NBA game is also a lot different with spacing. In college, it is easier to double the post and help, or swarm an offensive rebounder. Even though Drummond was raw offensively and didn't need to be doubled, teams would collapse around him anyway, so he never had a lot of room to work with, and he sometimes showed his youth by being taken out of the game mentally when it wasn't coming easy. He doesn't get post feeds with the Pistons, either, but with the floor a little more spread out, he can use his size and speed to get to more rebounds. Even as good as he was, there were some invisible days too, usually when the guy matching up with him paid attention to the little details and kept a body on him at all times.

 

[uconnbill]

I think Bynum would have been a better signing. Cheaper, probably for 1 year, and more losses. even higher upside.thing is their ticket holders wouldnt like that. the cats need to hit the ball outta the park in the '14 and '15 draft.

Really go off of what, last year? Who knows what he would give any team of if he even cares. With Jefferson he will give you 15 pts. and 9 rebs. at the very least.

 

[Matrim55]

Given their recent moves, it looks like we can take Atlanta off the "obviously tanking" list.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Great pick up. if he is as good as he can be it opens things up for kemba. best case scenario kemba makes the all star team.

 

[caw]

I don't know what the Bobcats were thinking. I guess they want to be mediocre.

They did vastly improve their front court so far, but it's a year too early, IMO.

Next year they have a frontcourt rotation of: Zeller, Biyombo, Jefferson, McRoberts, Haywood and maybe Adrien. That is a huge upgrade over what they started last year with: Biyombo, Haywood, Thomas, Mullens, Diop.

I know a lot of folks don't like Zeller as a top 4 pick, but this was a horrid draft overall. I think he's a solid pick.

This hurts their chances at getting a top 3 pick (assuming other teams tank), but who knows if someone gets injured, or they get lucky in the lottery.

At the worst this should help Kemba get some easy assists and help with the spacing (doubling on Jefferson).

They currently go into the season with this roster:

PG: Kemba, Sessions
SG: ????, Gordon
SF: MKG, Taylor
PF: McRoberts, Zeller, Adrien (assuming not cut)
C: Jefferson, Biyombo, Haywood

Gordon has 13 million coming off the ledger next year and they still have a few picks coming their way, but if they miss out on the top 3 in next years draft that will hurt for years to come. If they had signed some players to one year contracts to fill gaps they could have had a top 3 pick (very likely) and 20+ million to throw at free agents.

In a vacuum I like Jefferson on the Bobcats, relative to what they had, but not when you consider potential ramifications with picks.

EDIT: On the plus side the best shooting guard prospects next year are likely not going in the top 5 (unless you count Smart).

 

[Gurleyman]

The trouble with banking on the ping pong balls is that you can't guarantee any better than fourth, no matter how bad you are. The last time there wasn't a bust in the top four was probably 1994 - Robinson, Hill, Kidd, Donyell. Too early to tell with the 2012 Draft of Davis-MKG-Beal-Waiters, and 2011 Draft of Irving-D. Williams-Kanter-Thompson, but 2010 doesn't look good already with Wesley Johnson (and Evan Turner is sorta meh at this point). We won't talk about 2009. Every year prior to that has a Stromile Swift or Eddy Curry or Jay Williams or Adam Morrison or Michael Olowakandi or Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Darko Milicic or Marvin Williams.

You could say that there has been a bust in the top three every year since 1994 as well, but it depends on how you feel about Okafor and Gordon in the 2-3 spots after Dwight Howard. Okafor has been a quietly productive if unspectacular pro, and Gordon had a brief flash of brilliance followed by kinduva thud. Shaun Livingston was picked fourth that year and might not have been a dud without his knee injury.

Wiggins does seem like a can't miss - and I know folks are high on Randle and Parker, without seeing them in college yet (Harrison Barnes and Andre Drummond were considered one-and-done and into the top 2-3 picks coming out of high school, and ended up going 7 and 9). But it just seems like too much uncertainty to throw away a season while other teams are also tanking with you. Plus you have to worry about Kemba (and perhaps Biyombo) after their rookie contracts expire - if they feel their careers are stuck in the muck, they may go somewhere else and leave your team with some new holes.

Maybe the Cats improve and win 35 games, and still win the lottery to get the best of both worlds. Odds are against it - but there's also a fair chance you get the 4th or 5th pick by tanking (see Celtics, when they went to plan B and traded for Ray).

 

[Huskyforlife]

I don't know what the Bobcats were thinking. I guess they want to be mediocre.

They did vastly improve their front court so far, but it's a year too early, IMO.

Next year they have a frontcourt rotation of: Zeller, Biyombo, Jefferson, McRoberts, Haywood and maybe Adrien. That is a huge upgrade over what they started last year with: Biyombo, Haywood, Thomas, Mullens, Diop.

I know a lot of folks don't like Zeller as a top 4 pick, but this was a horrid draft overall. I think he's a solid pick.

This hurts their chances at getting a top 3 pick (assuming other teams tank), but who knows if someone gets injured, or they get lucky in the lottery.

At the worst this should help Kemba get some easy assists and help with the spacing (doubling on Jefferson).

They currently go into the season with this roster:

PG: Kemba, Sessions
SG: ????, Gordon
SF: MKG, Taylor
PF: McRoberts, Zeller, Adrien (assuming not cut)
C: Jefferson, Biyombo, Haywood

Gordon has 13 million coming off the ledger next year and they still have a few picks coming their way, but if they miss out on the top 3 in next years draft that will hurt for years to come. If they had signed some players to one year contracts to fill gaps they could have had a top 3 pick (very likely) and 20+ million to throw at free agents.

In a vacuum I like Jefferson on the Bobcats, relative to what they had, but not when you consider potential ramifications with picks.

EDIT: On the plus side the best shooting guard prospects next year are likely not going in the top 5 (unless you count Smart).

no way in hell this is a bad move

 

[Matrim55]

Cody Zeller had a monster game (21 and 13) in the summer league today.

I actually think he's going to be very good, especially if he can hit an 18-footer. And his ability to finish the pick-and-roll is going to be perfect for Kemba, who's going to have a monster season.

 

[Palatine]

Jordan has had so many terrible draft picks, the law of averages have to kick in at some point. Drafting tends to be 50/50 but MJ always loses. Zeller could be one that turns out right.

 

[Matrim55]

They are not even remotely close to a playoff squad. Al Jefferson is an effective low post scorer and rebounder who is below average in every other aspect of basketball. I don't hate the signing because the Bobcats are short on respectable NBA players, but they overpaid and will probably have one of the worst records in the league again next season barring significant development from Kemba, MKG, and Zeller.

Bump

Bobcats clinched a playoff spot today as they moved over .500, 39/38 for the year. Jefferson has been a top-15 player in the league (arguably top 10) and the Bobs have a top 5 defense.

Kemba hasn't been shooting well, but his all-around game has been fantastic. Happy for him and for this franchise.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Bump

Bobcats clinched a playoff spot today as they moved over .500, 39/38 for the year. Jefferson has been a top-15 player in the league (arguably top 10) and the Bobs have a top 5 defense.

Kemba hasn't been shooting well, but his all-around game has been fantastic. Happy for him and for this franchise.

How can you not be a fan of a team who signed Jeff Adrian, drafted Kamba walker, and I run by Michael Jordan? I'm on their bandwagon

 

[dsturdy5]

Going to Boston on Friday to see Kemba...I plan on wearing my 2014 NCAA champions shirt.