Zach Lowe's April 7 piece on possible FA steals

[Rick Robeys Return]

Lowe has produced another excellent piece which raises a number of interesting topics for discussion. He has good takes on Crowder (this years 2013 Demarre Carroll) and Jerebko. He opens the article by talking up Bismack Biyombo as a possible steal, under the right conditions, but I wanted to raise another big, who gets only passing mention by Lowe, but who I think is starting to figure it out..Alexis Ajinca.

Ajinca was drafted in 2008, but has only played four years in the NBA as he went back to play in France just prior to his recent stint in NO. His number show consistent and steady improvement over the years, and I think he would be an excellent, complimentary Center behind Zeller. I encourage folks to go have a look at his stats: <http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/ajincal01.html> but some highlights:

His Per has gone from 14.6 last year to 20.4 this year.
His True Shooting is likewise up from .589 to .601, while shooting a career 80% FT
His offense rating has gone up every year, just as his defensive rating has come down. Over last two years ORtg: 110,  114; DRtg:107, 103.
His Asst % has also gone up every year, 6.6% last year, 8.4% this year.

As Lowe noted, he does foul at a high rate, but even this has gotten better every year.

It usually takes bigs a few years to figure things out, and I think Ajinca is doing just that.
I see him as a nice pairing with KO, to compliment the Sully/ Zeller unit.

[Evantime34]

other than our own guys the one I really want is Biyombo. The rest don't really interest me. I don't think Ajinca is anything special.

[CFAN38]

other than our own guys the one I really want is Biyombo. The rest don't really interest me. I don't think Ajinca is anything special.

If the Cs dont draft a young Center I think Biyombo is a great pick up. He is still very young and years away from his prime. He also is a great fit next to KO. I think the Cs could put the type of unit around him that would see him excell. Ben Wallace was very limited on Offense but when placed on the court with 4 shooters (Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace) he thrived. Who is to say Biyombo couldn't do the same (likely at a lower level of production).

[Lucky17]

Lots of discussion of Biyombo here.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=76899.0

[Quetzalcoatl]

I know that Lowe specifically says "he is too old for a young team on an upswing," but Teletovic would be so great in Brad's system. 

I'm scared that Danny will be enamored with Ed Davis, though.  He is such a Danny guy

[fairweatherfan]

Ajinca would be a nice backup C I think, but if we generally agree Zeller isn't a long-term solution as a starting C, we'd need to get rid of one of them sooner or later.  Depends on what each would cost I think.

[saltlover]

I know that Lowe specifically says "he is too old for a young team on an upswing," but Teletovic would be so great in Brad's system. 

I'm scared that Danny will be enamored with Ed Davis, though.  He is such a Danny guy

Ed Davis signed a minimum deal in LA last summer.  If Danny was so enamored with him, I don't think it would have been difficult to sign him last year.

[Rick Robeys Return]

The more I watch the less I get the Biyombo love. Not to be too impressionistic about one game, but with the Charlotte front court out (Zeller and Al Jeff) he is getting absolutely killed tonight versus Miami. A terrible performance.