Time to look at options for clean Cole Aldrich
by psvirsky on Apr 9, 2009 8:30 AM EDT
21 comments
[Note by Cornrows, 04/09/09 8:26 AM EDT psvirsky shines a light on Kansas big man, Cole Aldrich in his in his continuing series of draft prospects. Great job, PS! Keep 'em coming.]
Okay maybe I shouldn't use puns in titles. Speaking of the name Aldrich, I just read about Aldrich Ames for class - a guy who spied for the Soviets against us. Total alcohlic. Went undetected for almost a decade. Crazy that this sort of thing can still happen, definitely worth reading the wikipedia page for an interesting story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrich_Ames
Anyways, someone mentioned Aldrich in the Steph Curry discussion so I figured we'd move on to him. The guy has legitimate Center size at 6'11 and 250. He didn't play too much last year on the championship winning team but has become the main guy down low this year for another solid team. Honestly, my main concern is just that he's a definite center and not a PF so it would be tough to get him and Dr. Hibbert on the floor at once. Also, he hasn't declared and it seems like things are up in the air about it (his draft stock is really high but he could probably use some more experience).
On to his play.
He averaged 15 and 11 this year shooting nearly 60% from the field and almost 3 blocks a game. He had the first ever triple double in Kansas history (with 10 blocks). He's not super athletic but he can move around more than well enough. Definitely a smart player who can bang down low (although he doesn't do enough banging). He's got a nice jumper with pretty good range (15 feet or so) and some nice moves in the post. His best attribute is probably rebounding - one of the top guys in college this year. He shoots over 80% from the line which is great for a big man.
I actually haven't seen a whole ton of his play outside of the tournament and random big games. ThirtyOne mentioned a certain expertise on Kansas players so I would pay more attention to what he says over me. I'll leave you with a few quotes from draftexpress (their write-up is from December and he's only improved since then): http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Cole-Aldrich-1250/
- It looks as though he added a good amount of muscle in the offseason, an improvement that speaks to one of our most significant concerns coming into this season.
- possessing neither elite leaping ability nor lateral quickness, but for his size he is certainly a mobile player who clearly has ample physical tools to play in the NBA.
- he made strides this year to diversify his offensive repertoire, showing range out to 18-feet and a variety of moves in the post, including a trusty turnaround jumpshot and a baby hook off of the dribble. In addition, Aldrich is doing a much better job of getting open in the post, using his body and his soft hands to establish position under the basket. Once he receives the ball in the deep post, he tends to either score, get his own rebound should he miss, or get to the line.
- Aldrich’s potential as a jump-shooter also signals his biggest problem at this stage: his propensity to avoid contact, choosing to fall away from the basket or take a spot-up jump-shot rather than bang in the post. A player with Aldrich’s body should attack the basket at a much greater rate than he currently does.
- he most significant area of concern in Aldrich’s defensive game is his lack of elite lateral quickness.
Take it away!
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I think he will stay another year,
he needs more experiance and also needs to bulk up more. Although he did bulk up already this last offseason. He’s a solid player, i watched every kansas game this year so, i know a fair amount about him…
Positives:
Out Rebounds teams..
Spectacular timing on blocks, and knows how to not draw fouls but still use his body, his ungodly long arms he uses like fence posts to just let the player throw the ball into.
Outside shot is nice, he has a nice fadeaway, kinda the yao/Illgauskis type fadeaway, his right hand baby hook is nice.
More atheletic than you think.. and runs court just swell.
Negatives:
Tends to try and be more finesse.. but about mid season he started dunking the ball at every opportunity.
VERY weak left hand
I don’t think he leaves, i think he knows he needs another year of high level play, and i think he will be the most dominant big man in the country next season, which will lead to another championship for the jayhawks. rock chalk jayhawk. heh.
"I can resist everything but temptation." - oscar wylde
but as a hypothetical
whether it be this year or next, would you want him in a Pacers uniform knowing that we’re working on developing Roy? Obviously having 2 good young centers isn’t the worst problem in the world, but would it be worth taking him? Obviously if he had the potential to be an all-star dominant center, it wouldn’t be a question but if chances are he’ll just be a really good but not great center, is it worth it?
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Like all the issues this year
Taking anybody is going to come down to what has happened before us and how much we’ll have had to scramble to make up for potential picks that really ruined our “game plan”.
I will say that I don’t like the idea of taking Aldrich on his potential when we don’t need a C, but we don’t have to look very far to see our local pigskin squadron, the model of consistent greatness for a decade, drafting for talent over need every day.
Of course, the drafts are completely different between the two, so there’s much less room for error in terms of who you can and can’t and should and shouldn’t take, so I don’t know if we can really take an “In Polian We Trust” stance on the NBA Draft.
I certainly have no bad thing to say about Aldrich. Didn’t see him play much, but understood why he’s good from what I did see. Though I have to say, on that same level, I do like what I’ve seen from Roy this year, especially here of late in terms of staying out of foul trouble.
If he comes out, I’d probably pass for a better fit, but it certainly would scratch the back of mind to look at the potential this kid has to be great. I’m just not a fan of backpeddling and treading water on older draft picks that can still pan out (I’m not talking Shawne Williams) to put over necessity right now.
by goodlucksaturday on Apr 8, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
agree
Seems like if the draft shakes out a certain way, I wouldn’t be upset if we ended up with him.
Considering how good Polian is, I would probably be happy with him running the Pacers draft too. I’m sure he could figure it out.
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Cole
He has a solid game. Reminds me a little of Spencer Hawes. He could be a solid pro and depending on who declares he may be an okay 10-12 pick. There are others I like more but there may not be better than him around for when we pick… Cross those fingers we get some luck come ping pong ball time!
Suggestion for next players...
I’m open to reading about anyone and look forward to who ever you have on the docket. However if I may suggest I’d like to see something on DeRozan, Aminu, Harden, or James Johnson! Thanks
My plan is ultimately to go through all the players that might be available and/or drafted by us in the first round (and maybe a few second round sleepers if we’re having fun). Those 4 guys are all definitely on the list although I will say that I know little about DeRozan. My next one will probably be Blair cause he’s come up on the boards a few times.
And thanks for participating, the more the merrier
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Aldrich and DeJuan Blair
The two players I want the most if we don’t move into the top three. Either of them would be great. Blair is tiny but has great post moves. Aldrich is a great rebounder and defender. I think either of them could be a huge factor on the team and could start late in their rookie season.
"I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said,'Forget everything you know about slipcovers.' So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were."
-Mitch Hedberg
Blair is tiny?
I understand why you said that, him being 6’7 and all, but it’s funny to call a 275 lb man tiny. He’s going to be my next feature
I’ve been meaning to mention, I’m a big Mitch Hedburg fan and thus love your signature
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Height was what I meant
Yeah, if he’s tiny, then Luke Harangody is tiny. Neither of them are tiny size-wise, but they are Charles Barkley-esque power forwards.
"I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said,'Forget everything you know about slipcovers.' So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were."
-Mitch Hedberg
Okay first of all let me say that I like Cole as a college center. He has really long arms and the ability to get his shot off over almost everyone he faces in college. He shoots a great percentage for a big man from the foul line even though he has an incredibly awkward shooting technique. He can block shots extremely well in college and from all accounts seems to be a good kid who comes from a good family.
Now on to his pro potential. First off I think he’s going to have trouble in any uptempo offense in the NBA. He seems to take his time getting up the court in college and isn’t exactly what I would call graceful or athletic. When he blocks shots now it’s mostly due to his long arms and not great timing or a good vertical leap. His blocks always seem to me to be those where he doesn’t really have to leave his feet very much and those are the types of blocks you just don’t get in the NBA. Although I do like his defense for the most part since he does generally keep himself between his man and the basket and is a solid weak side defender. I think his offense will struggle in the NBA for awhile since he really does rely on someone getting him the ball in good position in the post. He doesn’t really seal his man off from the entry pass either. Above average rebounder although again I don’t really know how much of that can just be attributed to just being the tallest, longest man on the court. Most of the other teams in the Big XII didn’t have anyone with his size to guard him so I am really concerned about this. Cole did put on some weight this offseason but he’s not really more muscular than he was before, just bigger and this concerns me some. And finally I worry about his outlet passing, although this could just be a product of the coach wanting him to get it out quickly to the teams best player Sheron Collins. I seen Cole turn the ball over regularly trying to make that quick outlet pass.
I know it may seem like I am being overly hard on Cole but I just think that his game is much better suited for college than the pros. And with no ability to play the four I’m not sure where he fits in with us. Unless we are trying to stockpile assets so that we can pull off a big trade down the road I just don’t see what we would do with Cole.
interesting
Whenever you get a big white guy who is successful in college, you have to worry that he’s good just because of his size. So many guys look like Cole in college and do little in the NBA (I saw somewhere that he was compared to Joe Pryzabilla with more offense). More and more it feels like the best centers in the league are guys with extra athleticism or extra height. You can rely on being 6’11 in college but not in the NBA.
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
I would lovveee
to have a Joel Przybilla.
by captain flitzy on Apr 9, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll stick with ThirtyOne on this one
He seems to have a pretty good eye for that Kansas talent and the Pacers already have enough developmental centers on the roster. Plus, Aldrich doesn’t appear to be guy that will ever develop into the butt-kicking, defensive post presence JOB desires.
BJ Mullens?
I haven’t watched a lot of Ohio St. ball this year but I’ve seen the guys highlight reel and its impressive. What do you guys think about him? He’s 7’ 260 but he moves like a SG from what I’ve seen. Maybe a less talented KG?
As far as aldrich… everything I’m reading about him is that he’s a good center. And I’m not sure that he would become a great one but I think he’ll have a very decent career and probably put up Andrew Bogut type numbers. Good but not great.
But we’ve got Roy. I dont think aldrich could play the 4.
I do feel as though BJ Mullens could be our 4 based on his athletic ability. It might take some time to develope but after a couple seasons he could fit in great imo.
Honestly
I’ve only seen BJ play like two times this season but from what I’ve seen I wasn’t overjoyed. Even against Indiana who had no one over 6’8" that played against him B.J. still couldn’t dominate. And then he totally disappeared in the tournament getting just 10 points and 3 boards against Siena. I think he might develop if he could stay a few more years in college but I don’t see him staying.
I hope the Pacers stay away from project centers in the draft all together. Roy is going to be more than serviceable at that position for us.
If we took Cole...
Having Roy who will clearly still be devloping, and him, reminds me of the situation that Sacramento has (Thompson and Hawes). You lose ALOT of games before they develop, as Sac realizes now, and I don’t think that is what the Pacers are looking for. I think they will take some one more established, and NBA-ready.
thanks for the update
Looks like the quality big men in this draft are going to be few and far between
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
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