The Freewheelin' Al Jefferson

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 7:25 AM CST Comment 37 comments

1/2 court ally-oops, bunnies that won't go down, bad luck bounces on rebounds, poor positioning on defense, non-existent passing....was last night's game proof positive that Big Al Jefferson needs to be more of a supporting wall than a cornerstone or was it simply an off night?

Did Kevin McHale showcase more of his questionable in-game decision making or did he just pull a Tom Kelly and roll with the percentages; letting the lefty stay in against a right handed reliever even though he had an awful night and had performed badly against the guy in the past? Why no defensive or rebounding substitutions down the stretch? Or do you simply roll with your starters at that point?

No game wrap today. Last night's tilt was one of those games that you either can't look too much into or was indicative of the fatal flaws that plague this particular team. I think it's more of a discussion topic than anything else. What are your thoughts on the tilt? What side of this equation do you fall on? The Wolves had 4 starters (if you include The Artist Formerly Known as Rhino) with off nights and they were in the game until the very end. Fans were once again treated to their money's worth of entertainment at an honest-to-Pete 4 quarter extravaganza at the Target Center. Is this cause for worry with Big Al? Mike Miller? Kevin McHale? Or was it simply not their night and we'll move on to Phoenix?

What say you?

PS: To tip my hand just a bit, what expiring contract/s do you think the Wolves could get for Miller at this point?

PPS: Don't forget to check out this ticket offer from FishingMN. He is working on his MBA at St. Thomas and one of his projects is to put together a sales & marketing plan with the Wolves. Here are the details:

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Comments

Big Al had an off-night and we still almost beat Miami on a night when D-Wade was at his near-best. Randy Foye deserves a lot of the credit for that.

McHale made a big blunder there, by leaving Jefferson out for so long. He should’ve remembered the last game (that he watched from the locker room) when Foye sucked for three quarters, only to save the day with a huge 4th. You don’t sit your best players in crunchtime unless something is really wrong. That was the most upsetting thing about the game, to me. Cardinal does a lot of nice things, but he’s not your crunchtime option.

Should not have let that game get away.

by Andy G on Jan 14, 2009 8:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Big Al...

I think two things should have happened. Big Al should have been taken out earlier during the 3rd quarter, and then back in earlier in the 4th.

I think it was you Andy G that said earlier that one of the biggest issues with Al right now is that in the last season and a half, he has ZERO experience playing with other above average players. All he’s known is being our horse. This is probably the first legitimate stretch of games (since Boston) that Al has not been the far and away best player on the team. I’m not saying that Foye is better than Al overall, he just has been these last few games.

The epitome of this was that last turnover by Al. Not only did Al get the ball stripped away, but he also completely missed Foye right on the wing for an open 3. You gotta imagine that at some point Al will make the adjustment, and both him and Foye will be better off for it.

by Blakeley on Jan 14, 2009 8:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Foye has been our best player during the last 6+ games. It’s great for the team, since we might have two good players (with Love coming along as a possible third) instead of just one.

Al wouldn’t make this excuse, but I’ll make it for him: it’s hard to sit 9+ minutes, only to come in and quickly be expected to be a scoring option. The turnover was bad, but it wasn’t necessarily surprising.

He needs to get accustomed to Foye being a scorer, though. I agree with that.

by Andy G on Jan 14, 2009 8:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Banana's

It’s interesting to think about where Foye, Love, and Big Al will eventually grade out. I’ve always thought that Big Al was a low end 1st banana or high end 2nd banana on a playoff caliber team, and Kevin Love seems destined to be a high end 3rd banana. But Foye…

For so long I just assumed he was going to be a valuable 6th man combo guard off the bench. But after the move to shooting guard (we’ll say that he moved to SG psychologically on Dec. 20th vs Houston), you have to re-consider his potential as a player. He hasn’t even played two full years yet. Does anyone else think Foye may have serious all-star potential down the line? Cuz I’m starting to think that.

by Blakeley on Jan 14, 2009 9:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

probably not All-Star...

but very effective scoring guard. I liken his style and potential to guys like Ben Gordon and Jason Terry. Those guys have been important pieces to very good teams, and I think Foye can be, as well. I just don’t think he’ll ever have the all-around tools to deserve an All-Star spot—it would take a 25 ppg average or something where his scoring just pushes him over the top.

And even if he does keep this up, he still might be best-served as a 6th Man. He’s not a great defender, and his jumpshooting/transition buckets style might be something that works better against second-units, in a change-of-pace sort of way. He’s kind of playing, right now, the way many of us (last year) hoped Shaddy would play in his “best-case scenario.”

Regardless, it’s good to see one player really stepping up. Brew and Bassy (and Carney, I guess) have shown some improvement, this year, but Foye looks like a different player.

by Andy G on Jan 14, 2009 9:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not forget that Al got 7 stitches over his eye at halftime.

That probably contributed to his poor play. (Nice catch by Blakeley on missing Foye open at the 3-pt line too, man that was awful.)

I think we should remember too that Miami’s perimeter D is excellent. I didn’t really know to expect this but it makes sense, any team with Wade and Marion as the defensive “stars,” along with guys like Chalmers and Beasley, is bound to play very good perimeter D. The Wolves made a lot of sloppy plays, but I they were forced into many of them by the good D.

It’s ironic that it was against this good D that Foye had one of his best combo-guard games of the year. He logged 18 of his 38 minutes at the point and looked very good there in my view. I think it’s because he didn’t lose his attacking mindset when he went there, and that this has much to do with Miami’s D: they put such good pressure on you on the perimeter that you don’t have time to think, you just react. Foye is literally the best-equipped player on the team to deal with this, given that he thrives on open-court play. He kept taking it to the hole and finding guys open on the baseline (only one bad play in my view: the missed lob to Al; his other turnover was on a baseline drive but was the result more of good D than bad O I think). I think that if he can just keep this attacking mindset, he’ll play far better at the 1.

by plinytheelder on Jan 14, 2009 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Second Half...

It seemed like during the whole second half Kevin McHale completely forgot that he was the coach. The game was there to be had in the 3rd quarter, but our guys came out with zero energy. I don’t remember exactly but I think McHale didn’t make a single change to the line-up till about the 3 minute mark, when it was obvious that our reserves were playing with a lot of energy. By that time we had lost a pretty big opportunity to blow the lid open.

Hopefully now that we’ve lost Kevin McHale can “mess” with our rotation and get Craig Smith out of the frickin starting line-up. He is AWFUL. Love and Al both need to learn how to play together, and it will give Love the opportunity to get two runs each half.

by Blakeley on Jan 14, 2009 8:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking (hoping)

that Smith was out there to showcase, and to pad his stats enough to get other teams to convince themselves that he would be a nice throw-in to the inevitable Miller trade. If Feb. 20 comes and Smith is still here, I think he starts riding some serious pine in the almost-as-inevitable “Spring Push to Get the Season Ticket Holders to Renew Over the Summer.”

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 9:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

u already know who it is...

MAYN HOL UP! dis wut i thot bout dat game last night, in order of importence mayn:

1. HD > real life mayn.

2. der wuz one point in de year mayn where i wuz like hey Rhino’s aiight mayn but dat seems like years ago mayn. I know dis: no team is impressed by him, he’s useless in a trade.

3. DONT TRADE MIKE MILLER. it’s pointless mayn. not for salary, it makes absolutely 0 sense mayn. de three is gonna start falling trust meMAYN HIS SHOT IS TOO PRETTY HE IN A SLUMP NOW BUT DAT BOY THOWED!

4. If Randy keeps playin like this i propose a new nickname. Sum call him “Fourth Quarter Foye” i like dat mayn, but i gots a betta 1 nah mean: FIENDISH FOYE! De kid wuz a staight fiend on de court last night mayn, puttin de bal in de basket at will mayn. Who wouldn’t love to hear Hanny yell “Fiendish Foye hits the hammer on the nail!” mayn, haha mayn.

MAYN HOL UP!

by MAYNHOLUP on Jan 14, 2009 9:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mayn Hol Up,

indeed. But Mike Miller can’t get this team to the next two levels, and by the time they’re ready, he’ll be in his mid 30s. FIENDISH FOYE is giving us the outside shooting that Miller was supposed to bring.

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

mayn hol up!

speaking of Miller though…or I guess of what he should be doing…it was interesting that the Miami announcers were mentioning all the 3s the Wolves have been shooting lately – more than 10 made 3s a game over their last 5 or 6 or something, can that be right? That’s nice to see, calls to mind S/P’s posts from earlier in the year. It’s sure fun to watch. Anyways mhu is right, once Miller gets his stroke back this team is going to be crazy from the 3-pt line…though I agree, if an excellent trade opportunity came up for someone younger I’d take it.

by plinytheelder on Jan 14, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I already knew who it was...

Good to hear from you MAYNHOLUP. Your posts are quickly becoming the highlight of my day….

I’m not so sure about Fiendish Foye, you can come up with something better than that for Foye. I believe in you MAYNHOLUP!

What about Kevin Love’s nickname? SnP or Wyn needs to start a nickname poll for Kevin Love. Anything is better than K-Love. We should all submit suggestions, widdle it down, and than vote. I’m excited to see what my “mayn” man comes up with.

by Blakeley on Jan 14, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fiendish Foye is here to stay if he keeps playin like dis mayn, de name is perfect.

Been cookin up some heaters fo de Love’s nickname, i’ll unveil dem soon mayn.

MAYN HOL UP!

by MAYNHOLUP on Jan 14, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

On a more serious note...

I think alot of yall too hard on Big Al. De boy’s a fiend, but a young fiend. 23!! I agree he aint neva play with any1 good he gon learn how to mayn.

I still believe he a cornerstone, you can’t overlook what a fiend de guy’s been since he dun put on dat jersey. If he still missin de kick out pass when he’s 25-26, den der’s a problem.

MAYN HOL UP!

by MAYNHOLUP on Jan 14, 2009 10:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Expiring Contract

SnP, you said you were looking for expiring contracts or young guys. Here’s a deal I don’t mind…

Wolves Trade to Knicks…
Mike Miller (contract expires in 2010, and he would look good with D’Antoni
Calvin Booth (Has a PER of 39 this year!)

Knicks trade to Wolves
Malik Rose (7 million dollar expiring contract)
Danillo Gallinari (Hasn’t really played, may end up missing the season, but a prospect as talented as him would be worth the flyer).

by Blakeley on Jan 14, 2009 12:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You know...

….I think if they found a way to take Marbury you could almost ask for someone like Galinari as long as you threw in a pick.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 2:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They aren't going to dump Marbury because Walsh

wants to save him to the deadline in case a team like the Rockets is struggling and looking to trade T-Mac or another similar situation like that.

by roundhouse on Jan 14, 2009 8:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It definitely looks...

…like he’ll have patience with Marbury until the very end.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

S and-uh P

While you’re figuring out your expiring contracts, get the following players for the T’Wolves: AK, Rubio, Thabeet, and Noah. Feel free to give up anybody but our Small Three (Foye, Scowlin’ Al, and Love), but especially Miller, Smith, Shoddy, Cardinal, and Collins. I see a 09-10 roster that would look like this:

Thabeet
Jefferson
AK
Foye
Rubio

Noah
Love
Gomes
Carney
Bassy

And CoBrew chasin’ people around on defense in between these rotations. The Serbian can sub when he’s good and ready to come over.

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 1:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

crna gora!

by plinytheelder on Jan 14, 2009 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jeez, I'm just learning how to read MAYNese

And now you start writing in Serbian?

I suppose I should be thankful you’re not using Cryllic letters.

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AK would definitely be nice...

….and he would fit perfectly. VERY expensive however.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 2:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but

I see them having a “big” contract to re-up every year, depending on the situation, and I see his contract fitting in nicely. According to RealGM, here’s how many years are remaining on each player on the roster above:

One : Foye

Two : AK, CoBrew, Bassy, Noah

Three : Love

Four: AlJeff, Gomes, Rubio, Thabeet (humor me on the last two)

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AK - YUCK

SnP,

Normally I agree with you but AK? The poor boy has lost his ability to shoot. Under 45% and a pathetic 20% from 3 for 08-09 . If you throw out his 07-08 year as an aberration, his stats this year are pretty damn close to his career averages. All for a mere $15M/yr.

No thanks. I think Brewer can fill that role just as good for a lot less $$$$

by Just A Fan on Jan 14, 2009 3:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If AK's on the floor

with a good point guard, Jefferson, and Foye, I don’t think we’d want him for his offense. Plus, at least he’s demonstrated an ability to shoot at some point in his career. Unless Brewer’s been recuperating with marathon games of H-O-R-S-E, I don’t think he’s ever going to be a much better shooter. I keep thinking that he’s really young, but he turns 23 in six weeks. He’s not going to be an effective starter in this league.

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As shown last night

this team needs an tall, lanky outside shooter to pair with Foye and Jefferson. If Miller shoots 3 for 7, rather than 1 for 7, we win with ease. (Because those points would have pushed our lead earlier in the game, making the Heat comeback much more challenging)

AK handles tall and lanky, but simply does not fit the outside shooter. If you are looking for the rest of what AK has to offer, I would submit that Love already gets most of AK’s potential rebounds and that Brewer/Carney already get most of his potential hustle plays (steals/blocks). At $15M/yr.

No thanks.

by Just A Fan on Jan 14, 2009 3:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AK's a player.

I think his problems in Utah are more due to their misuse of him than anything else. Just my opinion…but that guy can do it all. If he lands in the right place, he could have huge years ahead of him. I’d love to see him here.

by plinytheelder on Jan 14, 2009 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, I think

AK might need a change of scenery. And looking around at what players in the next year or two:

1. Will be available
2. Will dovetail with the Small Three
3. Are willing to play here
4. Have decent contracts, or can be signed for a reasonable amount
5. Are young enough so that the timing is right
6. But have a proven track record of ability

I don’t think a very good C or PG is going to be available via trade (at least, without giving up one of the Small Three), so those positions are going to have to be filled via free agency (unlikely as well), or the the draft (slightly less unlikely).

So that leaves the 3. Who else fits the above criteria besides AK? Maybe GWallace, Caron Butler?

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to beat a dead horse

but AK has

08-09 $15 M/yr
09-10 $16.4 M/yr
10-11 $17.1 M/yr

left on his contract. With a cap expected to go DOWN in 2010/11, we would have Al and AK taking up nearly 60% of our cap PLUS we would likely be paying luxury tax.

Yuck.

by Just A Fan on Jan 14, 2009 3:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

check out his splits between the 3 and 4

He’s playing out of position a lot at the 4 and he has even picked up some at the 5. He destroys people at the 3 and he doesn’t need the ball a ton. He costs a lot but he’s exactly the type of player this team needs. I do think there are more cost effective measures. Marvin Williams and Trevor Ariza are 1 and 2 steps down from a guy like that but they are probably more gettable than Wallace or Butler.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 4:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree. AK would be nice but I want no part of him with that price tag

by roundhouse on Jan 14, 2009 8:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AK? nah mayn.

Nah mayn, i on’t like dat dude der.

Gerald Wallace still looks like de best available option mayn.

The Wiz arent movin Caron. I used ta rep de DIstict mayn an i can tell you de boy’s a fiend. I would love to git him but nah mayn dey aint gon move him mayn.

I would be absolutely shocked mayn if we was able to land both Rubio and Thabeet. I dont think dat wud happen mayn.

I’ma keep sayin it: dont gie up on Miller yet. His shot is cash mayn. He gon git out of dis slump and we gon win sum games. HE aint gon be missi de shots he missed last night. As sum1 said if he’s 3-7 steada 1-7 we win. DE BOY CAN SHOOT!

PoorDick (hol up!) mayn if you need any help undestandin me mayn i got yo back like a t shirt PAUSE

MAYN HOL UP!

by MAYNHOLUP on Jan 14, 2009 3:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Uh . . .

Okay—thaynkyew, Mayn!

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wallace is better than AK but

you’re signing up for 5 years at ~ $10M (last year is his option) for a guy who is a slasher, not a shooter. He is less than 30% from 3 with 500+ attempts!!

I guess it goes back to Al. If you plan to keep him, you need guys who are shooter/scorers around him. The slasher/scorers are simply going to get in Al’s way, making one or the other (maybe even both) less effective.

by Just A Fan on Jan 14, 2009 3:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Let me defend AK here..

….he is considerably better than Wallace:

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?year=20082F09&q=&per=pergame&qual=all&sort=6&min=20&stage=&league=NBA&Compare=Submit+Comparison&pos=&sort2=DESC&pid5B47485D=4748&pid5B3171%5D=3171

I like Gerald a lot and I think he’d be a great fit on the Wolves (he’ll make an appearance in the “build a team” post too) but AK is a fantastic, fantastic player.

http://www.82games.com/0809/08UTA9.HTM#bypos

With Al at the 3 and Foye hopefully at the 2 and with a point in this year’s draft, the Wolves need some size and athleticism at the 3. Someone who can provide weak side shot blocking help and rebounding. Can a guy like Ariza give you enough juice for the cheaper salary from AK, Butler, or Wallace? What about Williams?

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 14, 2009 4:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for putting Williams

on the radar. I’ve forgotten about him. One thing I like about AK is that he compliments the 2 and 4 we have well, without duplicating. A shot-blocking center and a point guard with at least three of the four D’s needed (drive, dish, defend, and drain threes) would be incredible to watch with AlJeff and the ’09 version of Randy Foye.

by PoorDick on Jan 14, 2009 4:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs