Coal Aldrich
- Thread starter larryselbows
- Start date
squareinthecircle
Well-Known Member
Yup that's good folk. Lovin that missing tooth too- lends a bit of hockey toughness to him. If I'm a big man in the NBA I'm not happy he's coming out of college.
David Stern
Well-Known Member
And sloan's kind of guy too.
BENTLEY
Well-Known Member
I keep veering away from Aldrich only to be pulled back again. He's not gonna be a shorter Tag. Unlike Tag, he'll play hard. He'll be more like a taller Harpring. Hopefully without the missed layups. At 9 I feel good about that.
Now what do you pass up by selecting Aldrich?
Whiteside. What could he become? Well, he has some impressive skills but without the confidence - which in spite of his forced cocksure attitude, he sorely lacks - it's doubtful he realizes any Garnett-esque potential.
Babbitt? He's a bit of a question mark for me. The accuracy and athleticism of Melo? But he's white and played against supposedly weaker competition. I don't know.
Who else's potential do you pass on if you select Aldrich?
...I dunno. Aldrich is probably the one I'd pick. Unless there's a trade in the works that gets them a few more picks.
Now what do you pass up by selecting Aldrich?
Whiteside. What could he become? Well, he has some impressive skills but without the confidence - which in spite of his forced cocksure attitude, he sorely lacks - it's doubtful he realizes any Garnett-esque potential.
Babbitt? He's a bit of a question mark for me. The accuracy and athleticism of Melo? But he's white and played against supposedly weaker competition. I don't know.
Who else's potential do you pass on if you select Aldrich?
...I dunno. Aldrich is probably the one I'd pick. Unless there's a trade in the works that gets them a few more picks.
BENTLEY
Well-Known Member
Ben10, I understand your pain.
Aldrich appears a known quantity. He already plays hard and under Sloan will play even harder. This will eventually be a major help defensively. Harp used to be able to really frustrate Melo and others. Aldrich won't have to go up against athletic wings either. The front court gets a toughness improvement by a guy willing to give up his teeth before giving up an easy basket. Wow - I'm so used to the matador defense I can't really even fathom what this will mean for the Jazz.
Ok, so let's look at giving this up for what Babbitt or Henry might become. The Jazz have pretty good players at those positions already in CJ and Matthews. Not superstars but CJ's only starting to yield results and Matthews will only be in his second year. So the Jazz have pretty ok players at these positions. But will Babbitt or Henry be so much better to make either CJ or Matthews superfluous, and offset the weak interior defense as well? How good would Babbitt/Henry need to be to keep the interior defense soft? And do we think they will become this?
Ok, it's crazy but go with me here - Let's assume Babbitt will be equal to Melo.
How would the Jazz do with a lineup of Deron, Matthews, BAbbitt (Melo), Millsap, Fes (Okur when he gets back from injury). ?
-- sheesh, I'm proposing this and even I'm having a hard time getting past the huge stumbling block that Babbitt will equal Melo. Ugh, but Babbitt's athleticism and accuracy make this a sort of possibility. Who knows?
I don't know.
Henry? I don't know much about him. Something about him scares me - but it's not based on anything concrete. His personality sort of reminds me of Morriss Almond or something. But this is wrong isn't it? Henry is a much better defender and willing to pass the ball, right? Who is a good ceiling for Henry? so I can look at what that makes the Jazz lineup look like.
Ugh, there are so many variables. I mean, if the Jazz select Babbit or Henry they can still try and do something to get a better frontline defender, to offset passing on Aldrich. It's hurting my brain. If this were vegas I'd put my money on Aldrich. Of course it's always been hard for me to calculate pot odds. Little help?
Aldrich appears a known quantity. He already plays hard and under Sloan will play even harder. This will eventually be a major help defensively. Harp used to be able to really frustrate Melo and others. Aldrich won't have to go up against athletic wings either. The front court gets a toughness improvement by a guy willing to give up his teeth before giving up an easy basket. Wow - I'm so used to the matador defense I can't really even fathom what this will mean for the Jazz.
Ok, so let's look at giving this up for what Babbitt or Henry might become. The Jazz have pretty good players at those positions already in CJ and Matthews. Not superstars but CJ's only starting to yield results and Matthews will only be in his second year. So the Jazz have pretty ok players at these positions. But will Babbitt or Henry be so much better to make either CJ or Matthews superfluous, and offset the weak interior defense as well? How good would Babbitt/Henry need to be to keep the interior defense soft? And do we think they will become this?
Ok, it's crazy but go with me here - Let's assume Babbitt will be equal to Melo.
How would the Jazz do with a lineup of Deron, Matthews, BAbbitt (Melo), Millsap, Fes (Okur when he gets back from injury). ?
-- sheesh, I'm proposing this and even I'm having a hard time getting past the huge stumbling block that Babbitt will equal Melo. Ugh, but Babbitt's athleticism and accuracy make this a sort of possibility. Who knows?
I don't know.
Henry? I don't know much about him. Something about him scares me - but it's not based on anything concrete. His personality sort of reminds me of Morriss Almond or something. But this is wrong isn't it? Henry is a much better defender and willing to pass the ball, right? Who is a good ceiling for Henry? so I can look at what that makes the Jazz lineup look like.
Ugh, there are so many variables. I mean, if the Jazz select Babbit or Henry they can still try and do something to get a better frontline defender, to offset passing on Aldrich. It's hurting my brain. If this were vegas I'd put my money on Aldrich. Of course it's always been hard for me to calculate pot odds. Little help?
I cant help you out there at all. And I live in Vegas LOL
I honestly think all the players mentioned (in your post, and who are predicted to be in the 7-14 range )are of similar talent level. One could break out from the pack, and be something special but that's a big if. If all are going to be average to good players, we might as well go with one of the bigs. One thing I am confortable saying is Aldrich will make the Jazz tougher, Babbitt will not. Thoughts?
I think the big thing that seperates Cole from Tag is that he seems like a harder/better worker. The only thing that really bugged me about Tag was his work ethic. He was lazy, and inconsistent.
When he showed up to play he was a tough lane clogger which was exactly what we needed. If Aldrich can be that with a better work ethic then
I don't see how we can pass on him. Udoh seems like a really solid player too, who plays pretty good defense, but with a better offensive game than Aldrich.
Babbitt another Melo? Why on earth would you go there
Melo played for a big school, and won a title. What did Babbitt do in school?
I'd rather take Babbitt over Hayward, but I still don't see how Babbitt will improve the Jazz's greatest weakness. Defense and toughness.
"he is not physically strong enough to guard a power forward ... He lacks lateral quickness, and will be an eye-opening target for any quick and athletic forward who is matched up with him "
Anyways, I liked your post, and wanted to respond.
Jazz4ever
Well-Known Member
I honestly think all the players mentioned (in your post, and who are predicted to be in the 7-14 range )are of similar talent level. One could break out from the pack, and be something special but that's a big if. If all are going to be average to good players, we might as well go with one of the bigs. One thing I am confortable saying is Aldrich will make the Jazz tougher, Babbitt will not. Thoughts?
I think the big thing that seperates Cole from Tag is that he seems like a harder/better worker. The only thing that really bugged me about Tag was his work ethic. He was lazy, and inconsistent.
When he showed up to play he was a tough lane clogger which was exactly what we needed. If Aldrich can be that with a better work ethic then
I don't see how we can pass on him. Udoh seems like a really solid player too, who plays pretty good defense, but with a better offensive game than Aldrich.
Babbitt another Melo? Why on earth would you go there
Melo played for a big school, and won a title. What did Babbitt do in school?
I'd rather take Babbitt over Hayward, but I still don't see how Babbitt will improve the Jazz's greatest weakness. Defense and toughness.
"he is not physically strong enough to guard a power forward ... He lacks lateral quickness, and will be an eye-opening target for any quick and athletic forward who is matched up with him "
Anyways, I liked your post, and wanted to respond.
So it's just a fluke Babbitt tested out as the best forward in the entire class in lane agility...nice one
This is the only point I want to make in this. It IMO is better to draft a guy that scores high in tests and is willing to work than a project that has been gifted with great ability but may or may not pan out to be the player he could be. I would rather have babbitt, Henry, Aldrich, Monroe ect.. That is a proven quantity over someone like Whiteside, Davis, Orton ext. that have all the potential to be Dwite Howard but end up being Kwame Brown.
BENTLEY
Well-Known Member
I don't feel like looking it up but I read the combine stats of Babbitt and Melo and they were very similar. Add to that Babbitt's shot accuracy and size and wow. At first glance I dismissed him - probably because he's white. But looking at his numbers, it's plausible he might be a stud. If he was black he'd probably be drafted a lot higher - top 4 maybe?
(I don't want to open a tired race discussion - just stating the sad truth that I guess I tend not to give a white kid like Babbit much of a look unless some stat forces a second look. And it appears this white kid's worth a second look).
But does he help defensively? ...No. I mean, I think he'd work on his defense to be a more complete player but defense isn't what he's known for. Defense is what Aldrich is known for. Today I might be narrowing my choices to either Babbitt or Aldrich. Tomorrow I'll probably go back to flirting with Whiteside's potential.
If only the Jazz could figure out a way to get both Aldrich and Babbitt.
Early mocks had Babbitt in the second round. Which makes me doubt my recent crush on him. Why is he shooting up the draft boards? Is there a way the Jazz could get a couple of good players in Babbitt and Aldrich because GMs maybe see them as a couple of "low-ceiling" white kids? Can the race card be used to the Jazz' advantage?
(I don't want to open a tired race discussion - just stating the sad truth that I guess I tend not to give a white kid like Babbit much of a look unless some stat forces a second look. And it appears this white kid's worth a second look).
But does he help defensively? ...No. I mean, I think he'd work on his defense to be a more complete player but defense isn't what he's known for. Defense is what Aldrich is known for. Today I might be narrowing my choices to either Babbitt or Aldrich. Tomorrow I'll probably go back to flirting with Whiteside's potential.
If only the Jazz could figure out a way to get both Aldrich and Babbitt.
Early mocks had Babbitt in the second round. Which makes me doubt my recent crush on him. Why is he shooting up the draft boards? Is there a way the Jazz could get a couple of good players in Babbitt and Aldrich because GMs maybe see them as a couple of "low-ceiling" white kids? Can the race card be used to the Jazz' advantage?
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
This is why Utah will have a hard time winning titles. If you don't gamble from time to time you can't win it big. Take the nice safe choice with little upside but a sure decent player. Instead of taking the huge risk that could be out of the league in a year but could also be a future all-nba player. 9 is a little high for that gamble however they rarely make that gamble outside of pure mistakes.
richgates
Well-Known Member
The only thing I can see Aldrich lacking is size. But his wingspan makes up for some of that deficiency. He has the right attitude and work ethic to fit within the Jazz system, and he doesn't need to be an offensive powerhouse. There is plenty of scoring on the Jazz. We need someone like Aldrich who isn't afraid to defend in the paint and block shots. My inkling at this point is the Jazz are going to take either Aldrich or Babbitt, with Aldrich being more likely.
jazzlurker
Well-Known Member
Aldrich shot sucks... for years everyone complained about Brewer's shot. Aldrich's form is the worse than Brewer's and he can't blame falling out of an oak tree for it. If you think Memo is slow, watch Aldrich sprint next too him. I say pass.
richgates
Well-Known Member
I don't care what the form looks like if the shot goes in. The only concern I have with Aldrich's form is that he is more likely to be blocked from behind by help defense. Aldrich's sprint isn't as bad as you think it is. If you've watched any of the workout videos with Aldrich and other bigs, he was competitive in the drills.
I understand he tested out well. Have you ever heard of players testing out well that aren't able to replicate that in a real game? Nice one....
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Thank you for your thoughts. You seem to be going back and forth like all of us. It's hard because new information comes out daily that can change your opinion.
What you said about Babbitt is spot on. He may be a good offense player in this league. If that what the Jazz are after, more offense less defense, then this could
be our pick. Personally, I'm ready for the team to reflect the coach. I want a team that plays defense with a mean streak. Adding Aldrich or even Udoh is a step
in the right direction. I can certainly understand the interest in Babbitt, I just hope we go in a different direction.
calijazz
Winner of the 2011 Jazzfanz mock draft contest
He wouldn't be asked to shoot a perimeter jump shot regularly. He would play to his strengths. He's not like Brewer where he's playing out on the perimeter and is forced to take that shot much more frequently. You can be an effective center in the NBA without even taking a perimeter jump shot. Besides, it might look ugly, but from what I've seen, it's got a pretty soft touch and goes in more often than not.
And about Aldrich's speed/agility, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Go ahead and read the previous pages in this thread that proves all of those myths completely false. I'll just leave it at that.
BENTLEY
Well-Known Member
Aldrich wouldn't be draft for his jumpshot. He's fully aware that his value lies in defense and dirty work garbage put-backs.
Any shot from far away that he'll consistently get is a foul shot, which in this instance won't be blocked from behind (the danger with his current motion).
His FT% is 68%. He'll want to improve that but at least it ain't Shaq.
The comparison to Brewer is irrelevant. Different positions so different things are expected of them. If Brewer played the 5 there wouldn't be the same need for him to have a decent jumpshot like is needed from the 2 or the 3 to spread the floor.
Any shot from far away that he'll consistently get is a foul shot, which in this instance won't be blocked from behind (the danger with his current motion).
His FT% is 68%. He'll want to improve that but at least it ain't Shaq.
The comparison to Brewer is irrelevant. Different positions so different things are expected of them. If Brewer played the 5 there wouldn't be the same need for him to have a decent jumpshot like is needed from the 2 or the 3 to spread the floor.