Coal Aldrich

[calijazz]

I see your point. But it's one of many factors that sway my gut one way or another. It's all a gamble and you go with your gut - after you try and look at the gamble from every angle and calculate pot odds, etc. So Cyclo's comparison of the college stats of a couple pros makes me feel like I have absorbed another factor before making a gut decision. But maybe, as you say, those numbers won't really tell me anything anyway. ...My guts are totally upset. This year I'm not sure of anything. Well, I feel pretty sure Aldridge will be pretty good. But will someone else like Whiteside, in a year or so, be so much better? I DON'T KNOW!!

Aldrich has work ethic and high bbIQ. This calms my gut a bit. But Whiteside might become even better defensively AND offensively. My gut goes outta wack again.

Going with the gambling metaphor, what do we give up opting for the Aldrich pot over the Whiteside pot? Aldrich looks better now but how will the two pots look in a year or two? Which one do we want to invest the #9 pick in? ...I'm flummoxed.

My gut is unsure about Aldrich in comparison to a supposedly higher upside guy like Whiteside. My gut is pretty unsure about Whiteside in comparison to supposedly solid with low ceiling guy like Aldrich. In actuality, what says that is Aldrich's ceiling is low? Cali, who would you predict Aldrich's game is comparable to in the pros? I just don't know. And your gut tells you Aldrich is your guy.

Will Whiteside become Kevin Garnett? there are things that say "No way" and other things that say "the talent's there." Will Aldrich become Ostertag? No. No, he won't. There's no question about that. Will he become Pryzbilla? Maybe? Will he become Shaq? I dunno.

I'm gonna stop now as I feel I've sufficiently demonstrated my lack of confidence in feeling good about any player.

I can understand your dilemma. This is a pick that has been anticipated for several years, so you want to see it maximized. I look at it in a different way, I just don't want to see the pick wasted chasing "potential". More often than not, those type of picks just don't pan out. You have to get lucky when picking out of the top 5 especially. I just convinced myself awhile back that expecting a superstar with the #9 pick in the draft isn't realistic. Particularly with this draft, which isn't particularly deep with potential star players. I'm convinced that picking the safe player who may not be a superstar is acceptable. Especially if it's a player like Aldrich that fills a desperate weakness of the Jazz and just overall feels like a very solid fit with the team. Whiteside has WAY to many red flags for me. He is the very definition of a raw prospect. He's at least 3-4 years from contributing at all in a best case scenario. Drafting the right player is hard enough...pick someone that you know you will at least get something out of. With Whiteside that's FAR from a sure thing.

As far as a player comparable to Aldrich in the NBA...I could see him having similar production to Al Horford with better shot blocking (12-15 PPG, 10+ RPG, 2+ BPG). Not a superstar, but a very solid starter for a long time.

 

[BENTLEY]

Thank you for saying Horford. Ahh, like pepto bismol.

Seriously, i would love Al Horford. And Aldrich has better standing reach/wingspan, is taller. I feel confident Aldrich will equal at least Al Horford. Much more confident than that Whiteside will be the next Kevin Garnett.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

A few thoughts on Aldrich. How is there a 2.25 inch difference in his height with and without shoes? 6'9" and 6'11.25". Very weird.

His max vert reach (which to me may be the most important stat) is 11'7.5". Nothing special. Comparatively, Favors is 12'1.5" and Whiteside is 12'0.5". Cole is five inches shorter than Whiteside in that regard, yes. But for me, he more than makes up for that with his b-ball/defensive iq, fundamentals, weight/strength in the post, and maturity. And for as great an athlete as Hassan's supposed to be, he was also slower than Aldrich in both the agility drill and sprint. Hell, Aldrich was even faster than Favors in the agility drill.

We could do a lot worse than Aldrich. His offensive post game concerns me. But overall, his stats declined because Kansas was ridiculously stacked (dominant ball-handler in Collins, chucker in Henry, the twins, etc.) and his touches were limited.

 

[squareinthecircle]

A few thoughts on Aldrich. How is there a 2.25 inch difference in his height with and without shoes? 6'9" and 6'11.25". Very weird.

His max vert reach (which to me may be the most important stat) is 11'7.5". Nothing special. Comparatively, Favors is 9'1.5" and Whiteside is 9'0.5". Cole is five inches shorter than Whiteside in that regard, yes. But for me, he more than makes up for that with his b-ball/defensive iq, fundamentals, weight/strength in the post, and maturity. And for as great an athlete as Hassan's supposed to be, he was also slower than Aldrich in both the agility drill and sprint. Hell, Aldrich was even faster than Favors in the agility drill.

We could do a lot worse than Aldrich. His offensive post game concerns me. But overall, his stats declined because Kansas was ridiculously stacked (dominant ball-handler in Collins, chucker in Henry, the twins, etc.) and his touches were limited.

According to Cole he was as surprised as everyone else at his height without shoes that day, and has said he has measured taller at every team workout. Also you're comparing Aldrich's vertical reach with the wingspan of Favors and Whiteside- different stats.

All season long people preach how they want what Aldrich brings to the table but few place enough value on it to draft a player with those qualities. The wisest team in this draft will be the one that selects Cole Aldrich.

BTW had to laugh at the Whiteside-is-the-next-KG comment. That guy has bust written all over him in several languages.

 

[billyshelby]

The Aldrich/Horford comparisons are ludicrous. Horford is a fantastic athlete even by NBA standards. Aldrich is a mediocre athlete by NBA standards. No NBA person would ever choose Aldrich over Horford, or even consider them the same caliber of player.

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

The Aldrich/Horford comparisons are ludicrous. Horford is a fantastic athlete even by NBA standards. Aldrich is a mediocre athlete by NBA standards. No NBA person would ever choose Aldrich over Horford, or even consider them the same caliber of player.

Agreed, why do people think Aldrich will someday average 12-15 points a game with 10 Rebounds and 2 blocks? I have been openly against drafting the guy since day one. But those numbers are just too fantastic to believe.

 

[squareinthecircle]

The Aldrich/Horford comparisons are ludicrous. Horford is a fantastic athlete even by NBA standards. Aldrich is a mediocre athlete by NBA standards. No NBA person would ever choose Aldrich over Horford, or even consider them the same caliber of player.

Horford is a natural PF, Aldrich is a center. As athletic as Horford is supposed to be he didn't test as well as Aldrich at combines in the sprint and agility tests. Aldrich is the better center, Horford the better PF.

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

Horford is a natural PF, Aldrich is a center. As athletic as Horford is supposed to be he didn't test as well as Aldrich at combines in the sprint and agility tests. Aldrich is the better center, Horford the better PF.

Aldrich hasn't proven to be a better center or power forward in the NBA so this is all conjecture. I could have said last year that Gasol was a good power forward and Thabeet was a good center. None of the guys in the draft have proven a thing yet. Some of them look very nice.

 

[squareinthecircle]

Aldrich hasn't proven to be a better center or power forward in the NBA so this is all conjecture. I could have said last year that Gasol was a good power forward and Thabeet was a good center. None of the guys in the draft have proven a thing yet. Some of them look very nice.

Aldrich isn't in the NBA yet. After his first game in the NBA he will be a better center in the NBA than Horford. As it sits he's just a better center.

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

That's opinion and not fact.

 

[squareinthecircle]

That's opinion and not fact.

That's a fact.

 

[TheMulletMutilator]

That's a fact.

A fact would have statistics to back it up. Aldrich has never played an NBA game so there is no way you could say he is a better center. When you get a nice sample size and are comfortable with making that assessment then go ahead. But you currently don't have proof other than you saying he is better.