Where is Alexis Ajinca?

[ELEVATION]

I have a few questions:
(1)Has anyone heard the updates on Ajinca?
(2)Is his injury ok?
(3)Will he be at trainging camp in Wilmington?
(4)Are the Bobcats planning to play him this season or send him to the NBDL?
(5)What will be his role for the team this year?

[ammofan]

My answer to all:

NO CLUE!


He better be really good.......we passed up to manny good players for him

[SWedd523]

hiding.:rolleyes:

I've only seen him in a couple of the videos posted for the Bobcats, and even then he wasn't playing, he was just walking around.

There was too much talent to be had in his place for him to not contribute somewhat to our team. I hope he's not just a wasted talent...

[MattD]

I have a few questions:
(1)Has anyone heard the updates on Ajinca?
(2)Is his injury ok?
(3)Will he be at trainging camp in Wilmington?
(4)Are the Bobcats planning to play him this season or send him to the NBDL?
(5)What will be his role for the team this year?

Yes...

he is working out in Charlotte,
his injury is fine (wearing a knee brace though)
he will be at training camp (why would he not be???)
No one knows the answer to that question, not even larry or rod
again, who knows... it depends on so much

So much talent to be had in his place? Who matches his potential/skill ratio and is that important to give a roster spot? Would they help us win now? Give me a break.

He's on the team, the decisions been made, hes working out, I dont see what the problem is. He is a big risk reward type guy, who knows how itll go.

[amour217]

He's out chasing that black cat Pepe Le Pew's usually after

[Slam]

So much talent to be had in his place? Who matches his potential/skill ratio and is that important to give a roster spot? Would they help us win now? Give me a break.

He's on the team, the decisions been made, hes working out, I dont see what the problem is. He is a big risk reward type guy, who knows how itll go.

:yeahthat:

I'm amazed at the heat the kid has been getting from some fans over the past couple of weeks. You'd think he was drafted in the top 5 of the draft and was touted as being "NBA ready" or something.

[SWedd523]

So much talent to be had in his place? Who matches his potential/skill ratio and is that important to give a roster spot? Would they help us win now? Give me a break.

match his potential/skill ratio? How about Courtney Lee, Mario Chalmers, CDR, or Bill Walker? Or how about Donte Green who is just as big and probably more talented? Maybe Ben Wallace Jr. (Joey Dorsey)? Maybe Darrell Arthur? Or hell, maybe even DeAndre Jordan since we're talking about big risk reward guys, since he was looking at a top 5-10 choice before the draft?

I don't see how we can't give him heat Slam. This draft has been touted as one of, if not the, deepest drafts in history. He was the 20th pick, not a LATE first rounder or even a second rounder. We can't just give him a free pass just because. We traded up INTO that spot and had the chance to do other things with it.

If he shows up and proves me wrong then I'll gladly stand corrected. But I can't help but hope we went in a different direction

[Slam]

You can't give him heat Swedd because you can't have high expectations of him. We all know he is green - but with a great skill set for a kid his size. "If" he pays off, he'll be the steal of the draft. It's always a crap shoot drafting, but you can't teach size, and he has the biggest wing span in the history of the NBA, plus a smooth jumper out the 3pt line. Sounds at least promising.

I don't know him from a bar of soap, never even seen him play, but I'm not ready to write him off or bust his nuts for a couple of years at least. He's going to time - something we all knew.

As far as the guys you listed we could have picked instead:

Courtney Lee - we already have a back log at the wings
Mario Chalmers - we had just used the #9 on a back up point
CDR - see the back log issue
Bill Walker - bad knees, bad attitude and the back log issue
Donte Green (who is just as big and probably more talented) - no where near as big, a gunner and a SF so the back log problem
Joey Dorsey - it might have been nice to have a "grunt" guy like Dorsey but you can usually find those one dimensional players pretty easily
Darrell Arthur - Might have been nice, but health conerns - then of course there is the pot/hookers in the bed room kicked out of rookie camp issues!!
DeAndre Jordan - EO50 is our starting 5, Nazzy our back up, would we have needed him when we already have Hollins on the roster - who seems the same but a MUCH better foul shooter?

I get what you are saying, but I am down with Matty on this one. Ajinca is a hell of a package with his size and skill set. If he "gets it", he's going to be a steal.

The only other guy around that spot that I thought would have been better was Randolph, but we would have had to find a way to moce up 6 spots to get him.

[davcbow]

I think like you do Big Slam, he is a big guy but a little skinny, he will gain size. He has a wing span like no other. He can shoot the long range if he needs to, he can block shots very well, I've seen a few video's of him in action over seas and he was a blocking monster. There is more to this guy than a lot are wanting to give him and that's why LB wanted him. I call him frenchy because I can't spell his name without looking it up. I think we should all back off of him and let him progress like LB wants him to progress. In a year or so he could be like you said "the steal of the draft". :cool:

[SWedd523]

Slam, I agree with what you're saying. But at the same time it sounds like you're being a little TOO optimistic. He has all the natural gifts, but he hasn't proven that he can put those to work yet. Look at the summer league. I mean sure, its just the summer league, but still, his stats were abysmal at best.

As for him developing, the NBA is definitely not a development type league anymore. Look at Boston for that. Also, Larry brown isn't going to stick around for more than a few years just because of his age or eventual dissatisfaction. Besides, aren't we developing Hollins and Davidson? If so then where are they going to go?

We really didn't have too many options at our spot so I guess Ajinca was about it for us. I just see him getting better if we're tough on him more so than us babying him and giving him the benefit of the doubt just because he has potential.

I would LOVE to be proven wrong, so please don't assume I hate this pick.. He's going to be good if he realizes his potential, and God knows we need a good PF

[WAM9]

I understand what you guys are saying but I have to interject that I think it is ridiculous to be hammering this kid at this point in the summer.

He was not supposed to be NBA ready immediately. He played in summer league only and was injured during it. If he wasn't NBA ready at the draft, who in the hell thinks he would magically become NBA ready by the summer league?

He has been in Charlotte working out with everyone else for a while now...it's September...what more could you ask for?

NEWSFLASH...Ajinca will probably not be a force this year season...He is a young project...That doesn't mean he is a bust.

I know it's the off season and it's slow but we haven't even started training camp yet (which of course he will be at)...Please have some patience...

[ziggy]

Via Rick Bonnell's latest blog
http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2008/09/browns-candor-o.html


He said, based on pickup games the past month, he wouldn’t be reluctant to use rookie center Alexis Ajinca in regular-season games.

[Slam]

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/08/fullj.33dde233d57b0c52d00a1b6640139681/33dde233d57b0c52d00a1b6640139681-getty-82921743ks011_bobcats_media.jpg

[dnbman]

If this guy becomes good, we should call him "Mr. Fantastic."

(sadly, "Plastic Man" is already gone.)

[TheBeagle]

If this guy becomes good, we should call him "Mr. Fantastic."

(sadly, "Plastic Man" is already gone.) HA! Yes, but Plastic Man went to a good place with one of my all-time favs Stacey Augmon!!!

As to Ziggy's quote of Bonnel blog, in the coach's press conference on bobcats.com, coach says he has always been viewed as future potential, but his play has been such the last couple weeks that he'll find minutes for him. That amazing news....in a good way!

[GoBobs]

If this kid realizes his potential he will be GREAT. Everyone knows about his height and great wingspan, but he has great fundamentals to. He has great hands which will be important for catching passes off the pick and roll and a killer stroke which he can shoot from three. For someone his size he is also great at the line.

That is a pretty nice combination for a player his age. Yes, some guys develope and some don't and for every andrew bynum there are going to be 10 guys that don't work out but you still have to take your shots.

[amour217]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/LePew.jpg

[SWedd523]

I understand what you guys are saying but I have to interject that I think it is ridiculous to be hammering this kid at this point in the summer.

He was not supposed to be NBA ready immediately. He played in summer league only and was injured during it. If he wasn't NBA ready at the draft, who in the hell thinks he would magically become NBA ready by the summer league?

He has been in Charlotte working out with everyone else for a while now...it's September...what more could you ask for?

NEWSFLASH...Ajinca will probably not be a force this year season...He is a young project...That doesn't mean he is a bust.

I know it's the off season and it's slow but we haven't even started training camp yet (which of course he will be at)...Please have some patience...
So we're supposed to expect him to suck? I never said I was asking for an all star season. I'm simply asking for him to play like he at least can remotely realize his potential.

All I want is for him to improve over the year. If he can get better and consistently show he's working hard and trying to be good then I'm all for it.

[Ghost Kat]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/LePew.jpg

Love it....


There may have been "better" big men on the board when we pick him up, But I'm guessing most of you see some potential in this kid. I've said before he's basically next years draft pick. He's not going to be a big minute man but he atleast gives you something new to throw at a team. He may not produce big this year but compared to the bigs of our past is he any worse? I would take Pepe over Primo any day!

[WAM9]

So we're supposed to expect him to suck? I never said I was asking for an all star season. I'm simply asking for him to play like he at least can remotely realize his potential.

All I want is for him to improve over the year. If he can get better and consistently show he's working hard and trying to be good then I'm all for it.

No, we're not supposed to expect him to suck. There is a huge difference between a young, developing player and one who sucks.

What makes you say he hasn't played well? I haven't been able to watch him in the pick up games but one guy that has watched him is Larry Brown and he was actually quoted as saying that he liked what he has seen so far from Ajinca.

My point is that we are one day into training camp and it seems silly to think that he isn't working hard or progressing. Patience my friend:)

[Muttley]

No, we're not supposed to expect him to suck. There is a huge difference between a young, developing player and one who sucks.

What makes you say he hasn't played well? I haven't been able to watch him in the pick up games but one guy that has watched him is Larry Brown and he was actually quoted as saying that he liked what he has seen so far from Ajinca.

My point is that we are one day into training camp and it seems silly to think that he isn't working hard or progressing. Patience my friend:)

Seriously!
Some people hear we drafted a french guy and think it was automatically the worst draft decision ever. Anyone who expects a rookie (outside of the top 3 or so picks) to come in and start immediately (especially a 20th pick) is mistaken.

[SWedd523]

No, we're not supposed to expect him to suck. There is a huge difference between a young, developing player and one who sucks.

What makes you say he hasn't played well? I haven't been able to watch him in the pick up games but one guy that has watched him is Larry Brown and he was actually quoted as saying that he liked what he has seen so far from Ajinca.

My point is that we are one day into training camp and it seems silly to think that he isn't working hard or progressing. Patience my friend:)

Summer league.... even before the injury.

I think we're both looking at each other too extreme. I never said he isn't working hard or progressing. I just want us to be tough on him, the PF's of the league aren't going to baby him just because he's a rookie.

I'm talking about giving him some tough love, I want the coaches to stay on his case and make sure he's progressing and not just enjoying life in America.

Muttley, I'm not expecting him to start? I'm expecting him to not suck. We haven't seen him perform exceptionally well other than flashes, so who are we to assume he's going to be special when he's obviously not going to be that great (at least when he starts)

[Muttley]

Summer league.... even before the injury.

I think we're both looking at each other too extreme. I never said he isn't working hard or progressing. I just want us to be tough on him, the PF's of the league aren't going to baby him just because he's a rookie.

I'm talking about giving him some tough love, I want the coaches to stay on his case and make sure he's progressing and not just enjoying life in America.

Muttley, I'm not expecting him to start? I'm expecting him to not suck. We haven't seen him perform exceptionally well other than flashes, so who are we to assume he's going to be special when he's obviously not going to be that great (at least when he starts)

Fair enough. I can't say he will be special. I can't say he won't. I do think Larry Brown will give him all the tough love he can handle. I think the fans should give him at least a season before putting him back on the plane to France.

[SWedd523]

I do think Larry Brown will give him all the tough love he can handle.

We know THATS true haha, and that backpack... do they do that in France?:D
We all want him to be great. I would love for him to be our missing piece. I just can't help but be pessimistic. That way if he doesn't meet expectations, I won't be as sad:biggrin:

[WAM9]

Summer league.... even before the injury.

I think we're both looking at each other too extreme. I never said he isn't working hard or progressing. I just want us to be tough on him, the PF's of the league aren't going to baby him just because he's a rookie.

I'm talking about giving him some tough love, I want the coaches to stay on his case and make sure he's progressing and not just enjoying life in America.

Muttley, I'm not expecting him to start? I'm expecting him to not suck. We haven't seen him perform exceptionally well other than flashes, so who are we to assume he's going to be special when he's obviously not going to be that great (at least when he starts)

I agree with you 100% that we should really push him to be the best he can be. So far, from what I have read, Larry Brown should be just the right guy to do that.

I still take exception to the "we haven't seen him perform exceptionally well". He played in 5 summer league games over a 1 week period in July. He averaged 15 minutes per game. That's it. That is all that we have officially seen from him. That means we haven't really seen him play at all. Now he has 2 days under his belt of training camp as well but it is safe to say that it is way too early to form a truly educated opinion about his potential. There just isn't enough court time yet.

By the way, over his last 2 summer league games, he averaged 7 points, 4 boards and 1 block per game. Not bad since he averaged less than 20 minutes per (with a runnning clock I think) in those 2 last games. Although those aren't number that make your head spin, I don't think they "suck" either. I have very high hopes Ajinca. Give him a little time too see at least how he looks in camp and how he starts the season. Hopefully he will prove himself to all of us.

[WAM9]

Larry Brown said yesterday that Ajinca was progressing better than expected. He said that he would be playing (meaningful minutes) by February or before. He went on and on about how athletic and smart the guy is. He also seemed very impressed with his shooting touch. These are all good things and I'm sure happy to see Ajinca working out well so far.

[davcbow]

Larry Brown said yesterday that Ajinca was progressing better than expected. He said that he would be playing (meaningful minutes) by February or before. He went on and on about how athletic and smart the guy is. He also seemed very impressed with his shooting touch. These are all good things and I'm sure happy to see Ajinca working out well so far.

He also added that if he played to start the season or too soon, he would probably just foul out very quickly. He has to learn the NBA basics of do's and not do's...:cool:

[WAM9]

Yeah, I think his exact qoute was that he would foul out during warmups:)

Still, it's great to hear LB talking about him in a positive manner.

[docend24]

i like the part about Brown ordering a baguette in French :)

I'm so glad Alexis has such an easygoing personality which will help him to overrun a language and cultural barrier. If we had given Sean May four years, we should give them Alexis too. We'll see.

[dav7z]

I would feel much better if he could break in to the rotation by Jan. Brown all so said hes not sceard to put him on the court now. But i think its best for Alexas and us to give him time to learn things with out pressure.