Cole Aldrich Thread

[ohara831]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?playerId=19156&draftyear=2009

I'm not sure where we are going to be in this year's draft. But lets say we are anywhere from #13 - #18. Ford has Aldrich at #13 on his talent level. To me, seems to be a lot like Brook Lopez. I know we need a SG, but if we are in the mid teens, it is not likely we will have something good unless Gerald Henderson falls to us. But if he's gone too, I would not put it past LB to grab Aldrich. I really think he'd be an upgrade over Diop. Just curious what others think of him. He's got game around the paint, plays good defense, and his BBIQ is solid. If there is no SG there, and he would likely be the best available talent, I'd take him.

[Slam]

I (http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?playerId=19156&draftyear=2009) know we need a SG, but if we are in the mid teens, it is not likely we will have something good unless Gerald Henderson falls to us
I totally disagree.

[BETCATS]

At this point i am hoping we dont have a 1st round pick, so i dont think we could get 1st round talent.

However, if we are talking about KU big men, why not go all out and trade a future 2nd round pick for the draft rights to Sasha Kaun?

[SWedd523]

I hate to say it, but i typically like to stay away from white guys who ball before making it to the NBA.

Kevin Love? 10/9
Danilo Gallinari? 6/2
Joe Alexander? 4/2
Spencer Hawes? 11/7
Marco Belinelli? 9/2
Andrea Bargnani? 15/5
Adam Morrison? 4/2
J.J. Redick? 6/1
Oleksiy Pecherov? 3/2

That's all the white guys selected in the top 20 in the past 3 drafts. The only ones doing remotely well are Love, Hawes, and Bargnani. They just usually don't pan out well.

[SWedd523]

8/14/0/0 in Kansas' quarterfinal loss to Baylor

[SWedd523]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000056

Aldrich, the 6-foot-11 Kansas sophomore, posted a triple-double with 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots to lead the defending NCAA champions past the 11th-seeded Flyers 60-43 in the second round Sunday.


Say we pick in the 15-20 range and our top SG's are off the board, do we make a move and get some great young talent to help out Diaw?


Can't say that future with DJ, Lexy, and Aldrich wouldn't be nice:g:

[ohara831]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000056



Say we pick in the 15-20 range and our top SG's are off the board, do we make a move and get some great young talent to help out Diaw?


Can't say that future with DJ, Lexy, and Aldrich wouldn't be nice:g:

So, you're coming around, huh? I'm just thinking if there are no high quality SG's available at our pick, and he is the best player available, dont pass on him.

[SWedd523]

So, you're coming around, huh? I'm just thinking if there are no high quality SG's available at our pick, and he is the best player available, dont pass on him.
I don't know man, I can't figure him out. He's got the skills, but I don't know if he has the athleticism.

I wouldn't mind taking him if he's the best available, but he's not necessarily at the top of my board ;)

[Slam]

How does he score his points?

[coordinator0]

How does he score his points?

From what I've seen it's mostly on dunks and put-backs. Perhaps a Biedrins comparison is in order?

[Slam]

From what I've seen it's mostly on dunks and put-backs. Perhaps a Biedrins comparison is in order?
Is he as quick, long and athletic as Beans?

[SWedd523]

Is he as quick, long and athletic as Beans?
Best way I can compare him is a more skilled, less tenacious Hansbrough. He's taller and has better skills and moves, but doesn't work as hard. (then again, nobody does)

[coordinator0]

Is he as quick, long and athletic as Beans?

I'd say no at this point, at least on the athleticism and quickness. Swedd makes a good comparison, but i think he's a little better defensively.

[Slam]

Does he have a mid range J?

I'm thinking of a smaller big Z?

[SWedd523]

Does he have a mid range J?

I'm thinking of a smaller big Z?
Smaller Z when he was better, not current Z

[ohara831]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?playerId=19156&draftyear=2009

Here is the ESPN breakdown. Kinda like Kevin Love? Not a bad comparison. Solid perimeter game? Not too shabby.

Like I've been saying. He's not a SG, and if there is a solid one at our pick, fine. But if not, then this kid could present us with many floor options. Were we not all clammoring over Love at the last draft?

[Slam]

Were we not all clammoring over Love at the last draft?
Nope - at least, not me!!

[ohara831]

Nope - at least, not me!!

Well, you should have been! LOL

[ohara831]

Just think of our bench if we can bring Diaw, DJ, Vlad and Diop in as our main bench players. That gives us help in the depth which we need.

[Slam]

Just think of our bench if we can bring Diaw, DJ, Vlad and Diop in as our main bench players. That gives us help in the depth which we need.
We are playing Daiw $9 mil a year and Gana and Radman $6 mil each a year. I don't want to reduce them all to spot min playing rotation players.

[Slam]

Well, you should have been! LOL
I was alllllllllllllll over Mayo, Beasley, Westbrook and Randolph last draft.

Love - not so much.

[ohara831]

We are playing Daiw $9 mil a year and Gana and Radman $6 mil each a year. I don't want to reduce them all to spot min playing rotation players.

Understand that. I am more concerned about getting the best player out there who can help us the most. Whether 9 mil/yr or Rookie. Just get me the best to start and let the others come off the bench. A great bench is nothing to sneeze at.

[ohara831]

I was alllllllllllllll over Mayo, Beasley, Westbrook and Randolph last draft.

Love - not so much.

I agreed with you on all but Randolph. Not sure about him. But I love Love's BBIQ, passing ability, and he is scoring almost 11 pts/game and 9 reb / game as a Rookie. And he'll only get better. He'll be a good one for years to come.

[coordinator0]

Nope - at least, not me!!

+1. I really didn't want him in Charlotte, and i still think that he and Okafor would be an under-sized disaster. Now Diaw isn't big either, but at least he can guard the athletic 4's which Love cannot IMO. I'm happy with D.J. and Ajinca.

[ohara831]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58073/20090323/saunders_aldrich_could_be_top_10_pick/

People are taking notice of him.

[JamieMcNeill]

If this kid can bring some low-post offense and yet still play good d the way he has in this tourney. im all for him. white or not. Hes 6'11 which means he isnt undersized like many other center/pf options in the draft.

[Slam]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=TourneyWatch-090323


In a draft bereft of big men, Aldrich needed a breakout performance to move his stock firmly into the lottery -- possibly into the top 10. So far, Aldrich has delivered in a big way. He had 23 points and 13 boards against North Dakota State, and then came up huge versus Dayton, scoring 13 points, grabbing a whopping 20 boards and blocking a career-high 10 shots. It was only the sixth triple-double in NCAA tournament history.
Aldrich has been solid all season, but lately he has shown signs of being a dominant big man -- there isn't another center in the country putting up better numbers right now. He is not an ideal athlete and still needs to improve on the offensive end, but a team looking for a solid big man who can contribute on both ends of the floor may be safer with Aldrich than UConn's Hasheem Thabeet (http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&playerId=19024).

[SWedd523]

I really don't think he's much like Love at all. I mean they both have polish and nice post moves, but Love is known for his ability to be a great passer. Aldrich is more of an athlete (if that makes any sense).

Did I want Love? HELL NO. Love + Mek = Major Problems down low. He's performing better than I thought he'd be, but I'd much rather have DJ and build around than than have Love to build around.

[Slam]

A strong case could be made that Aldrich has had the strongest single game performance of anyone in Kansas' second round game against Dayton as he registered a triple double the hard way with 10 blocks including 13 points and 20 boards!

He also played extremely well in the Jayhawks opening game against North Dakota State registering 23 points and 13 boards.

The Kansas bigman has a 7-5 wingspan allowing him to play much bigger than 6-10 and also giving him a great chance to play center at the NBA level.

Aldrich has shown excellent development in his sophomore year and would have a good chance to be a lottery pick if he entered the draft this year. He would benefit by returning to KU and further developing his post moves, however he may find it difficult to turn down a guaranteed spot, and bolt.
asdasdasdasd

[JamieMcNeill]

17 pts 14 rbs 4 assists 4 blocks and 2 steals in the loss against Mich State

[ohara831]

17 pts 14 rbs 4 assists 4 blocks and 2 steals in the loss against Mich State

Yep. If he declares for the Draft, he will go somewhere in the late Lottery to mid teens. I see him anywhere from #13 - #18

[coordinator0]

He actually showed somewhat of a mid-range jumper in that game. It looks weird because he brings it back really far, but it got the job done. He might actually be a lesser version of Chris Kaman...

[Slam]

I actually wasn't that impressed with him at all. He labors up and down the court and he rarely leaves the ground when he rebounds but instead just sticks his arms up in the air.

His positioning isn't that great either.

With the lack of bigs in the draft, I think you have him in the right range though - and I'd probably take him over Mulllens - who I am less impressed with.

[SWedd523]

I actually wasn't that impressed with him at all. He labors up and down the court and he rarely leaves the ground when he rebounds but instead just sticks his arms up in the air.

His positioning isn't that great either.

With the lack of bigs in the draft, I think you have him in the right range though - and I'd probably take him over Mulllens - who I am less impressed with.
He benefits from being the biggest guy out there. I saw him on numerous occasions just stick his arms up and grab the ball before anyone else got to it. While he's in front of Mullins, I'd put him wayyy behind J Johnson and Brackins at the PF spot

[Slam]

Aldrich followed up his impressive early-round performances with a strong 17-point, 13-rebound, 4-assist, 4-block game in a losing effort versus Michigan State. Over the course of the past month, he's been the most productive big man in college basketball.
With so few big men in the draft, a few NBA executives I spoke with this week had Aldrich ranked as a Top 10 pick. While he could really use another year at Kansas to polish his low-post game, he'd take a risk by going back. Once you start cracking the Top 10, you have to think long and hard about the NBA. From what I'm hearing, the chances are pretty high that he declares for the draft and, at the very least, tests the waters.dasdasdasdas

[Slam]

I've been reading that he's going back to Kansas.

[SWedd523]

I've been reading that he's going back to Kansas.
Dumb move if he does so; he's going to suffer from the Joakim Noah effect and see his stock drop from people being able to assess his weaknesses better. If he wants to get paid, he'll come out now.


(I, however, have no issue whatsoever with him staying in school. I love to see guys go back to continue their education even if they have a chance to make millions)

[ohara831]

He's officially going back to Kansas. Will have to see if it helps him or hurts him. If he developes a better post game and also that outside 12-15 foot shot, it will help him go Top 5 next year.