Chad Ford Chat - news

[ohara831]

Reading Chad Ford's chat on ESPN tonight. 2 things of interest to Bobcat fans.

1. Talking about Love, he said Koufos has been taking him to school in the workouts. He still thinks Love goes #5, but questions about his NBA defense coming up with Koufos taking him to school. Might we drop back a bit and go with Koufos or Ajinca? LB had nice things to say about Ajinca when he was in Charlotte, as have a lot of teams apparently.

2. He hears Charlotte is looking to move Crash as they really want a Center. **Umm, I thought we had a Center in Okafor? Maybe we are all wrong and LB really does want Oakfor at the PF?

Just more fodder for the rumor mill.

[Muttley]

Good post, OHara.

I'll first address the thing that kinda saddens me:
Oak at PF?... why does Mr. Ford (and apparently people in the Bobcats' organization) still seem stuck on this when he's CLEARLY shown that he's most valuable as a center.

Next, as you mentioned, I've also been hearing nothing but praise for Ajinca lately. Every team he works out for seems to be praising him. He's gonna help some team in the second half of the first round of this draft, and if we trade back far enough it might as well be us.

[Slam]

Gary(Charlotte): Chad what are the chances of Gearld Wallace being moved?

Chad Ford: (2:03 PM ET ) Larry Brown likes to shake things up. I hear he's available. I think someone will show interest. They really want a center.

Ian (Charlotte, NC): Do you think there is any chance Kevin Love falls to the Bobcats? If not, do you think they take Brook Lopez or try to trade back and take Koufos, Anjica, or Hibbert?

Chad Ford: (1:50 PM ET ) I think Love goes No. 5 to Memphis. If he doesn't, the Bobcats are a likely destination. If he's gone, I think they look at Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan and Alexis Ajinca.

Gary(Charlotte): Chad what are your thoughts on Alexis Ajinca, who would you compare him to, I have read LaMarcus Aldridge and KG.

Chad Ford: (2:24 PM ET ) Aldridge is a good comparison, though he's not as advanced offensively yet and he doesn't run the floor quite as well.

[countryboi]

damnit...dont move crash move felton...i had not heard of Ajinca till today..i like his height but his weight is a problem he is hollins skinny at least he has NBA game

[Muttley]

damnit...dont move crash move felton...i had not heard of Ajinca till today..i like his height but his weight is a problem he is hollins skinny at least he has NBA game

If Hollins had basketball skills to go with his freakish athletic ability, then he'd be pretty sick.

[countryboi]

If Hollins had basketball skills to go with his freakish athletic ability, then he'd be pretty sick.

sadly thats never going to happen...he has the basketball IQ of a doorknob

[Muttley]

sadly thats never going to happen...he has the basketball IQ of a doorknob

Yeah... I'm not gonna argue against that statement.

[Wallace15]

Even though moving Crash could help us get a starting C, and ultimately being better for us in the end, I will be disappointed if we trade him.

Good find by the way.

[Dead_Real]

If Alexis Ajinca really plays like LMA I'd put him second on my draft wish list over Westbrook.

[ammofan]

I know nothing about Ajinca or Koufos. What positions do they play?

[ohara831]

Ajinca is 20 yrs old from France. 7-1 240 lbs listed as PF/C Not seen him play, but all reports are he is wowing them at the team draft visits. He is currently listed on ESPN as the #17 prospect.

Koufos is 19, played at Ohio St. last yr, 7-1 265 C ; he has a pretty good inside game and also even shoots from 3 pt range which is great for a big man, a pretty solid overall game. *Word is that at draft visits, he is whipping up on Kevin Love. He should improve greatly with the right teaching. Currently listed as the #13 prospect.

[dvdbumpus]

Even though moving Crash could help us get a starting C, and ultimately being better for us in the end, I will be disappointed if we trade him.

Good find by the way.

I agree. But we've gotta do what's best for the team.....however unfortunate. I just hope we don't trade him to the Lakers for Odom or anything like that.

[ohara831]

Gotta say, when I go to the Database of the NBA Mock Drafts and read not just our mock picks but what these people are saying, it seems that all these people seem to be under the impression or "what they are hearing" is that Charlotte thinks Okafor is better suited for the PF, and they want a Center. They would be "ecstatic" if Lopez falls to #9 and that he would be a very good fit and we would certainly be playoff bound.

Now, I am wondering if I am living in reality, or am I just stupid. Most of us who have watched this team all year have come to the same conclusion - that Okafor needs to play the Center rather than PF position. Why is it that we keep hearing from everyone who has any possible connections that the Team wants Okafor to play PF and draft a Center? And all these people want us to draft Lopez and think we are playoff bound with him at Center and Okafor at PF. This just confuses the crap out of me! Now one Mock said they thought we'd trade back a few slots and take JaVale McGee. Depending upon what we received back, I might be OK with that. They were speaking of moving back to #11-#15 range. I think I'd rather grab Hibbard at that range, or possibly Ajinca or Jordan if still available.

Someone who really thinks Okafor can excel at PF, more so than at Center, please be kind enough to help me understand that logic. I just cant see it, but if everyone in the FO including LB feel that way, and Okafor wants to play the PF rather than Center, than maybe it is myself and all of us here who are wrong?

[spectre]

I have a theory that it's Mek who's convinced he's a 4 instead of a 5, and just like the Felts/combo guard thing Jordan and Brown are trying to be on the players' side.

Does anyone remember when he had that argument with the Idiot? Was it before or after we brought in Nazr?

[ohara831]

Spectre, that is a very sound theory. Now, if that was true, I would not want them to give in to his wants. Okafor has no offense outside of 5 feet and he is not capable of guarding the faster more athletic PF's who can shoot from 15-18 feet out. He'd go out on them, then they would blow right by him. I'm not paying him $13 mil to be a sub standard PF. Damnit, I'd rather have Zach Randolph play my PF and take NY's #6 on top of it.

Heresy, yes I know. Zach the trouble maker. No one likes him. But if my PF can get me 20 - 10 and I get the #6 and keep #9, I'll figure something out. Hell, NY will do more than that, they are desperate as heck. But Okafor cannot play the PF for us. Period. Maybe I'll take Westbrook or Gordon at #6 and then Hibbard at #9. That way, if Okafor walks after this season, I have his replacement. I dont want mgmnt taking his side just so they dont hurt his feelings. If we invest $13 mil in him over the next 5 years and expect him to play our PF, we are dooming this team. His defense is interior, not perimeter, and he cant grab many rebounds 15 feet from the basket.

[Icky Thump]

Okafor isn't much over an average center either from what I can tell...

[Dunk]

Mek could be asked to different things in Coach Brown's system so having play the 4 more may make sense.