We've been using the coaching excuse for 6 freakin' years to excuse AK's 70% effort. How about the lack of an outside game? How about the pouting if he doesn't receive enough "touches?" Sure he gets a few steals and 1 1/2 blocks per game. The blocks are either from the weak side or when he gets beaten but then manages to get his hand on the ball. But for every block, he gives up 10 easy shots, either by getting taken off the dribble or allowing to much space and giving up an uncontested jumper. AK is a below average one-on-one defender. Offensively he has one move: drive wildly into the lane and throw the ball up in the air hoping the ref will bail him out. Sometimes works at home. Free of Sloan, AK would go back to chucking up wild 3's. I'd rather have CJ throwing up those shots (and I despise Chucker Smiles).
Besides, this team is >2 years away from contending. AK is well into his decline. You want to waste development time of Hayward and Burks, not to mention long-term salary space for a guy who will be well lpast his useful years when the team is ready to make the next leap into possibly contending? Better to let CJ have some minutes - or even Millsap - at the 3. You'd at least be building up some trade value with those players and perhaps get a mid-1st at the deadline.
This post of yours got me curious as to AK's contribution over the years. Hmmm, what are you talking about?
How about the lack of an outside game? No one has ever said AK was an outstanding 3 point shooter. But he's not that bad over his 10 year career. Ak's been shooting 31% from Three. (For a starting small forward who is not a know as a 3 point shooter? Pretty good). And you dont just average 2 blks per game and 1.4 stls per game from playing poor defense, sorry.
Sure he gets a few steals and 1 1/2 blocks per game. The blocks are either from the weak side or when he gets beaten but then manages to get his hand on the ball. But for every block, he gives up 10 easy shots
Wow, where do I start? I guess this is a 1+1=2 equation for you. If you get beaten off of the dribble and then "manage" (I put it in quotations because you said it. = See previous sentence stated by yourself.) to get your hand on the ball..... Well, this is what is called........... GOOD DEFENSE!!!! "Managing" to get your hand on the ball of the player that beats you off the dribble or that is right in front of you is called DEFENSE. Can you say, DE.....FENCE???? A fence is the wooden or plastic thing that surrounds the sandbox that you play in all day. Than just put a D in front of it! Then add an E after the D and change the spelling of fence to fense.
Offensively he has one move: drive wildly into the lane and throw the ball up in the air hoping the re will bail him out. Sometimes works at home. Free of Sloan, AK would go back to chucking up wild 3's. I'd rather have CJ throwing up those shots
Ok, driving to the basket to draw a foul is what every player should do when given the chance. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Thats the game! However it has worked to the point that AK has attempted 3,302 times in his career, at which he has made 76% of his free throws. And as far as 3 pt shots go, AK is averaging an attempt of 1.6 3's per game. "Chucking" up 3's like he used to?? Really?
this team is >2 years away from contending. AK is well into his decline. You want to waste development time of Hayward and Burks, not to mention long-term salary space for a guy who will be well lpast his useful years when the team is ready to make the next leap into possibly contending? Better to let CJ have some minutes - or even Millsap - at the 3. You'd at least be building up some trade value with those players and perhaps get a mid-1st at the deadline
2 years away from contending? Last time we contended we had Boozer and Williams several years ago. We got smashed by LA. Before that we had Stockton and Malone. Who do we have thats going to make us a contender? Kanter? Miles? Hayward? You havent jumped off thier birdies since you started this topic. 2 years, Based on what? I hope your right on your time frame, but you seriously would take CJ Miles over AK? Wait, wait, wait........ Build trade value with CJ Miles? You dont remember we let CJ shop himself during his free agency. The Hornets wanted him at just shy of a contract that the Jazz had been offering him. You think his value is going to build if we allow him to suck further into his contract? Or do you think there is still a lil Kobe deeply rooted inside of him?
AK's first 6 years he averaged just shy of 13 ppg. The last 4 years, 11.5. ppg. averaging 47% shooting. I really dont know how to comment on you saying he gives up un-contested jumpers all the time. Its pretty hard to achieve well above average defensive stats for a starting small forward in the NBA and have a title of a lazy defender. Maybe you should actually watch a game instead of waiting for ESPN to tell you what you should think.
