Coal Aldrich
- Thread starter larryselbows
- Start date
Williams was saying that the Jazz are a playoff team, but not a championship team. They need to bring in a couple more pieces, and until they do, they'll be around a 4 or 5 seed, which is a challenge. That's a pretty close paraphrase to what he said.
Lack of depth isn't the issue. It's the lack of talent on the front line and on the wing that prevent the Jazz from competing with real contending teams. Miles, Millsap, Matthews and Fess are nice role players, but the Jazz need another player that changes the game. This draft is a good opportunity to go for talent. If it doesn't pan out, the Jazz don't lose anything. If the current group of players lose Boozer, they're close to a .500 team. Getting Aldrich, Udoh, Henry or Hayward won't change that.
Lack of depth isn't the issue. It's the lack of talent on the front line and on the wing that prevent the Jazz from competing with real contending teams. Miles, Millsap, Matthews and Fess are nice role players, but the Jazz need another player that changes the game. This draft is a good opportunity to go for talent. If it doesn't pan out, the Jazz don't lose anything. If the current group of players lose Boozer, they're close to a .500 team. Getting Aldrich, Udoh, Henry or Hayward won't change that.
calijazz
Winner of the 2011 Jazzfanz mock draft contest
Exactly, I know D-Will isn't satisfied with what they have and rightfully so. My point was nobody knows exactly who D-Will wants besides maybe his teammates and management...and that may not even be the case. But I think we're basically on the same page here...
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
I agree. Aldrich is the safest pick. But do you think he stops Bynum or Gasol? He'll get eaten alive by those two.
In many ways, Hassan reminds me of Bynum. Yes, Bynum came out of HS, but Whiteside doesn't have much more experience than that. Both are/were extremely raw. Deron was one of those who said we needed a shot-blocker inside. Draft Hassan and tell Deron to take him under his wing in terms of practicing hard, adjusting to the NBA, etc.
If the risk is too great for the FO to stomach, then go with Babbitt or George. Jazz will need a starter at SF once AK gets traded/leaves. I don't want AK back at any price. He's not as quick as he once was and he consistently gets hurt. Babbitt or George would give the Jazz a 3-man rotation of players at the wing who can all shoot out to the 3-pt line. That's one way to beat the Lakers; if you can't get inside, you just shoot over the top.
I'm hoping the Jazz roll the dice with Hassan. Risky, yes. But if he becomes anything like Camby in 2-3 years, the Jazz would contend for a title (if they also get another asset from AK's expiring or re-sign Carlos).
Jazz need game-changers, not just adequate starters. IMO, Wall, Turner, Cousins and Favors are the former type. Babbitt, George and Whiteside have that potential. Monroe, Davis, Aldrich and Patterson will be nice players, but complementary types. They're not going to be dominant at their positions.
Last edited:
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
If the Aldrich is there when the Jazz draft you can bet they will probably take him. His a lower risk, lower reward player which is what they like. The jazz feel like they can't make a mistake so they go the safe route. Aldrich would be the safest bet at this spot and so they will probably take him.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
And we'll be doomed to win 50 games per year for the next 3 seasons and lose in the WC finals each time. Then Deron takes his ball and goes home once his contract is up. He's not like Stockton and Malone who had blind loyalty to Sloan and Larry H.
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
I don't disagree. But they have done nothing to tell me they will do otherwise. They have taken some risks but for the most part they take the safe route.
calijazz
Winner of the 2011 Jazzfanz mock draft contest
Again, that's YOUR opinion. D-Will could like all of those players you listed for all we know...maybe D-Will doesn't want to wait for Whiteside to possibly develop into something in the future. Maybe he wants someone who will help him win more right now? No one knows for sure.
IMO, D-Will might be gone by the time Whiteside becomes any good, if ever...
No deal. Aldrich may be getting locked up in South America https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/11/peru.murder.case/index.html?hpt=T2
billyshelby
Well-Known Member
This is my thing with Aldrich: A crappy team should definitely draft the kid at 9. They need talent everywhere, they need a guy that can help, they can't risk a bust. They want low risk guys that will almost definitely contribute in some way. We're not a crappy team. We're sitting at 9. The idea should be to pick the highest ceiling player possible with the lowest acceptable risk. Under no circumstances will Aldrich ever be the highest ceiling possible, lowest acceptable risk available. But we should be taking much more risk than the usual team drafting at 9.
InGameStrategy
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure that there are too many fans that fit your description. I'm not one of them, because I'm not scared about drafting Cole Aldrich, and I wasn't scared about drafting Whiteside (until the day before yesterday . . . ). Aldrich has better work ethic and shooting (assuming he doesn't get blocked) than the Big O. But he also looks significantly weaker than Fes is and Tag was, and CA has 30-60 fewer pounds of weight.
Fortunately Fes has had fewer minutes in three years than Tag had in his first. Given that he made some progress in the playoffs, and was already a net asset on the court during the playoffs despite his limited offense and non-dominating defense, Fes has significant room to improve (especially if he gets court time, like he did in the playoffs), and the extent of the upside on Fesenko is not fully confirmed.
InGameStrategy
Well-Known Member
Those aren't small concerns.
It's possible that his shooting form could be fixed. But upside is one of the most important factors in selecting an NBA draftee. Unfortunately Utah probably wants someone who can contribute while Deron is still here, so I could see them taking a wing (given that wings typically require less development time), or Aldrich (because he'll likely be most NBA ready).
I predict that by December, Aldrich will be ahead of Koufos in the rotation. The question is whether he'll be ahead of Fes or Okur.
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
So what's the obvious, unsafe route that will inevitably lead us past the Lakers and every other Western Conference team and to the NBA Finals, and I presume in your opinion, a ring as well?
TheMulletMutilator
Member
By trading Kosta and a future number 2 for Robin Lopez... What? The Lakers did it with Gasol for Kwame and a future draft pick. Thanks David Stern for letting a deal like that go through.
calijazz
Winner of the 2011 Jazzfanz mock draft contest
It's one of the most important factors if that's what you're looking for. If you're satisfied with getting a solid starter for a decade with the #9 pick (which I am), it isn't as important. If you want to take the risk on a project that could potentially be better in the long run, upside is important. Unfortunately, there aren't very many NBA ready players with a lot of upside, so you gotta pretty much pick one or the other. At the 9th pick, I'll take more NBA ready over a project with upside every time. But, that's just my opinion obviously...
But in my opinion, a player's upside should one of many factors. I think how a player fits in with a team and fills weaknesses should be most important, unless a special occasion arose (like if the Jazz landed the top pick in draft).
billyshelby
Well-Known Member
No. If you're already talented, you look to improve your team through FA and trade. If you suck, you look to the draft to add contributors. We're in a golden position to roll the dice with the most talented players of this year's draft class. We can fail with the pick and still be OK where typical teams drafting 9th can't be so risky. We need to target a high ceiling player. That doesn't mean we just gamble. But it means we don't settle for low ceiling contributors.
TheMulletMutilator
Member
Knocks on guys who could fall to our spot:
Monroe: Has no right hand and plays like a weak Thurl Bailey.
Whiteside: Not ready, a major unknown commodity.
Aldrich: Ostertag with less athleticism and height.
Babbitt: Athletic, but is still a scary commodity.
The Bigs we can possibly draft scare everyone on this board. It's too bad the Knicks weren't worse and that the Clippers beat us in a coin flip. Babbitt is probably the guy. Nobody where we are at puts us over the top to beat the Lakers.
Monroe: Has no right hand and plays like a weak Thurl Bailey.
Whiteside: Not ready, a major unknown commodity.
Aldrich: Ostertag with less athleticism and height.
Babbitt: Athletic, but is still a scary commodity.
The Bigs we can possibly draft scare everyone on this board. It's too bad the Knicks weren't worse and that the Clippers beat us in a coin flip. Babbitt is probably the guy. Nobody where we are at puts us over the top to beat the Lakers.
for those not familiar with the ignore feature: after some poking around i found it by clicking on the "Hopper" link, then clicking on "View Profile". i was disappointed by the lack of a "Hell Yes" option, when prompted with the question: "Are you sure...?"
Jazz4ever
Well-Known Member
Yep gambling future firsts to take DWill was a "safe" choice. This is only the second top ten pick in 20 some years for the Jazz its not going to be based on need. Watch and learn.
Cole Aldrich is destined to be a lottery BUST in the tradition of Eric Montross, Todd Fuller and Joel Pryzbilla. How is that "low risk" for the Jazz at #9 in the lottery?
Aldrich measured only 6-9 in socks, which is shorter than every center on the Jazz roster and 3 inches shorter than Ostertag.
He weighs 236 lbs.
His max vertical leap is 28 inches, which is lead-footed.
He simply cannot score (9.4 ppg in college) and won't score at the NBA level. Isn't much of a passer either. Averaged less than 1 assist per game in college. 0.6 to be exact.
One draft website compares Aldrich to Eric Montross/Joel Pryzbilla. The comparison is accurate. See their career numbers in college.
Eric Montross, North Carolina, 7-0
11.7 ppg 6.8 rpg 0.6 apg 1.2 bpg 58.5 fg%
Joel Pryzbilla, Minnesota, 7-1
9.9 ppg. 6.9 rpg. 1.9 apg. 3.3 bpg. 59.1 fg%
Cole Aldrich, Kansas, 6-10
9.4 ppg. 7.7 rpg. 0.6 apg. 2.3 bpg. 57.4 fg%
Aldrich is the most offensively-challenged of the three, averaging the fewest points per game on the lowest field goal%.
A 3 inch shorter version of Ostertag? Indeed.
Final season scoring in college:
Joel Pryzbilla 14.4 ppg 61.3% fg.
Eric Montross 13.6 ppg 56% fg.
Cole Aldrich 11.3 ppg 56% fg.
The offensively-challenged one.
A worse offensive player than Montross and Pryzbilla? Yep.
Just what the Jazz need in the lottery? Nope.
Aldrich measured only 6-9 in socks, which is shorter than every center on the Jazz roster and 3 inches shorter than Ostertag.
He weighs 236 lbs.
His max vertical leap is 28 inches, which is lead-footed.
He simply cannot score (9.4 ppg in college) and won't score at the NBA level. Isn't much of a passer either. Averaged less than 1 assist per game in college. 0.6 to be exact.
One draft website compares Aldrich to Eric Montross/Joel Pryzbilla. The comparison is accurate. See their career numbers in college.
Eric Montross, North Carolina, 7-0
11.7 ppg 6.8 rpg 0.6 apg 1.2 bpg 58.5 fg%
Joel Pryzbilla, Minnesota, 7-1
9.9 ppg. 6.9 rpg. 1.9 apg. 3.3 bpg. 59.1 fg%
Cole Aldrich, Kansas, 6-10
9.4 ppg. 7.7 rpg. 0.6 apg. 2.3 bpg. 57.4 fg%
Aldrich is the most offensively-challenged of the three, averaging the fewest points per game on the lowest field goal%.
A 3 inch shorter version of Ostertag? Indeed.
Final season scoring in college:
Joel Pryzbilla 14.4 ppg 61.3% fg.
Eric Montross 13.6 ppg 56% fg.
Cole Aldrich 11.3 ppg 56% fg.
The offensively-challenged one.
A worse offensive player than Montross and Pryzbilla? Yep.
Just what the Jazz need in the lottery? Nope.