What do you think Alexis Ajinca will be like 2 seasons from now?

[ziggy]

If we can lock this guy in a weight room 12 hours a day and have him learn under one of the greatest coaches in basketball history the other 12 ( who needs sleep ;) ) What can Alexis become?
I remember Dwight Howard's rookie year he didn't have the NBA body that he has now and at times he looked lost out on the court, but two seasons later, everyone in the NBA knew that he was going to be unstoppable. I'm not saying that Alexis will become another Dwight, but with his length, athleticism and range he still could become pretty damned good.

What will he be 2 years from now?

[BRNC]

He really needs some muscle mass...20-25 lbs at least...but I can see him as a Pau Gasol type player...better athletically....solid numbers...he seems to be a good kid willing to work and he is lucky to have a great coach willing to teach him...that's my take Ziggy...and Ziggy I hate being a player we no longer have on the team...thought you were going to change them?

[ziggy]

and Ziggy I hate being a player we no longer have on the team...thought you were going to change them?

just updated.

[Lewey]

I can only hope he turns into a Dwight type player, as you said, he has all the intangibles there. I believe by year 3 he'll be a player every team has to worry about.:wow1:

[fatlever]

brad sellers with better defense and rebounding.

he needs a stint in the d-league to develope a scoring mentality. he's never been the go-to guy on a team, always a young project who doesnt get shots. plus it will teach him how to stay out of foul trouble.

[davcbow]

I can only hope he turns into a Dwight type player, as you said, he has all the intangibles there. I believe by year 3 he'll be a player every team has to worry about.:wow1:

I 2nd that, LB see's something special in this guy that is why he pushed so hard to get him in the draft. Give it some time guys and you all will see. Have the faith....:cool:

[tamburello]

I think he'll be a Mouhamed Sene or Ian Mahinmi, literally nothing. He'll be a 6 foul against dominant big men. He'd be yet another athletic and low BBIQ big. There is no way he could be like Dwight Howard or KG. I remember Pau Gasol when he was 20 and I assure you that Ajinça is absolutely not tiptoing around being a Gasol.

But, did somebody say range? Oh, Nikoloz Tskitishvili had a better range and you all remember how he ended up in the NBA.

I'm afraid our 20th pick will end up being wasted.

[dnbman]

I think he'll end up being a poor man's Dirk with less ability to score in crucial situations, but more block shots.

[ziggy]

brad sellers with better defense and rebounding.

Brad Sellers? Wow, he was horrible.

[Slam]

Tyson Chandler with a jump shot.

[fatlever]

Brad Sellers? Wow, he was horrible.


maybe sellers was harsh. i was mainly speaking on offense... i dont think ajinca will be like sellers at all on defense.

well, sellers was horrible for a few reasons
a) he was drafted 9th, so horrible is relative
b) he didnt play defense or rebound
c) he came along at a time where 7-footers were not supposed to be jumpshooters

ajinca
a) drafted in the 20s, not as high expectations
b) ajinca has the ability to be a good rebounder and defender, which i think will be his biggest strengths as a player. i dont think anjinca has the mindset to be more than a 10ppg scorer
c) nba is much more accepting of jumpshooting 7-footers now

but when you see ajinca standing around shooting j's in warmups, tell me he doesnt remind you of sellers.

in 3 years, if ajinca can give us 10ppg, 7rpg, 2bpg in 25mpg and defend mobile bigs, then i would consider it a success.

[GoBobs]

The next Wilt

[Dead_Real]

LMA please

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Very similar to Hedo Turkoglu.

[TheBeagle]

The next Wilt I like your thinkin' there!!! I've been in awe of the guy since game 1 when he outfought the inside guy at the FT block and get an offensive rebound. He's so athletic and quick in getting up and down the floor and long wingspan, the sky's the limit. Like Lafayette says, he needs consistent game minutes, so though I'll hate to not see him at the arena, he needs some NBDL time.

I think he'll be a longer, less abrasive Rasheed Wallace in that he'll have an inside/outside game, block shots, rebound, pass out of post, and has very good basketball smarts like Sheed. That would be good enough, but I really think if things happen, and he has the desire, he could be a star, and the 4 for the forseeable future!

[GoBobs]

Well the sky is really the limit. One thing that we have to remember is he is only 20 so he is like a college freshman. He reminds me a lot of a young Deeke with his ability to guard the rim and change every shot down low. He is so tall he doesn't need bulk to be an effective player although it would help with his rebounding if he added weight.

There are plenty of tall guys that make the leauge just by being tall. What sets this guy apart is he has quick hands and feet for a tall guy and he has soft enough hands that he is also a good shooter.

[tamburello]

Very similar to Hedo Turkoglu.

I hope this is only a joke.

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

http://i.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/mike_fish/03/02/howard.insider/p1_dwighthoward_Damian%20Strohmeyer.jpg

this is dwight in high school...i don't see frenchie making dunks like this anytime soon...but one can only dream!

[ReesieNCPantherCatfan1]

Don't compare him to Sene, or Big Slam will tell you that your argument is wrong and invalid. Just kidding slam. I hope he will be a good player for us, but I really don't expect it to happen. I think potential will only take you so far (look at twiggy, he has all the athletic potential of Lex, and zero results) I didn't like that he didn't dominate against lesser talent in france. I hope I am wrong, and he gains 50 lbs and is a shotblocking, 3 point shooting beast, but I am expecting him to be a 10th man by then

.
I think he'll be a Mouhamed Sene or Ian Mahinmi, literally nothing. He'll be a 6 foul against dominant big men. He'd be yet another athletic and low BBIQ big. There is no way he could be like Dwight Howard or KG. I remember Pau Gasol when he was 20 and I assure you that Ajinça is absolutely not tiptoing around being a Gasol.

But, did somebody say range? Oh, Nikoloz Tskitishvili had a better range and you all remember how he ended up in the NBA.

I'm afraid our 20th pick will end up being wasted.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

I never actually got to see Nikoloz Tskitishvili play.

Was he really that bad? >.>

[Keetch]

Tim Duncan! HA just kidding. Having seen Ajinca up close a few games now, I must say I have NO IDEA what he might become. He's definitely NOT Dwight Howard though my goodness. He is kind of a freak in that he lacks any potential to gain the athleticm and strength of elite players; but has such height and alien LENGTH matched with reasonable athleticism; that he could turn out pretty good. Or not.

My cup is at about the half-way mark and I can't decide if its half-full or half-empty; but comparing him to all-stars is wayyyy premature.

[coordinator0]

How about a Josh Smith type of player? Like you guys have said he can be a good defender, block shots, and may develop an outside shot. I doubt it, but I haven't heard that one yet and thought I'd throw it out there. :biggrin:

[Marvel]

BUST,if i'm right in 3 years from now yall got to give me credit aight.Either that or he ends up being traded in which case he becomes a bench rider or a D League hopeful:p.

[Marvel]

I never actually got to see Nikoloz Tskitishvili play.

Was he really that bad? >.>


He was worse

[G-Force for MVP]

he needs more meat on those bones fast

[Muttley]

Does anyone else see any Garnett in this kid? I mean, KG still looks skinny compared to some of the guys he's up against, but he still plays great offense and defense. I cannot say that Alexis will learn to play like Garnett, but I can definitely see the potential. If Alexis hits the the gym, picks weight up and puts it down, and eats his protein and vitamins, I could see him becoming very dominant.

I could also see him failing out of the league in a few years... but I really hope it works out the other way.

[Keetch]

Does anyone else see any Garnett in this kid?

Sorry Muttley but I don't.

[TheBeagle]

BUST,if i'm right in 3 years from now yall got to give me credit aight.Either that or he ends up being traded in which case he becomes a bench rider or a D League hopeful:p. I'll give you credit if he's a bust, if you give me credit if he is our regular 4 of the future!

[Muttley]

Sorry Muttley but I don't.
Fair enough.

[amour217]

I'm not sure if I see him as a superstar in 2 seasons, but it would be nice. I think all of us on here agree it's too early to figure out...I mean he can turn out to be a poor-man's Dirk or a decent role player or the next Manute Bol. who knows?

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

frenchie and may need to exchange their diets