Should we be trying to land Brook Lopez?

[PosImpos]

I guess my point is that Big Al seems to do the most with the tools he has -- Lopez does not.  That's not a good sign.

I don't agree with that at all, Big Al could be a much better team defender and team rebounder with better effort.

For a guy with decent rebounding numbers, he is an awful team rebounder. (doesn't take care of his guy or lets others by him to get the board)

I think you've watched Big Al a lot more than I have, so I'll defer to your experiences observing him play.  However, in general I wouldn't turn down the chance to get a young[ish] big man capable of putting up 20-10-2 with good efficiency.  Zach Randolph is a perfect example of how such a player, even if he is a terrible / feckless defender, can become a key piece in the right situation.

On the other hand, a 7 footer who's a poor rebounder and gets a lot of his offense from outside of 10 feet doesn't excite me much, unless he's a truly amazing shooter who can still post-up when necessary (e.g. Nowitzki).

[Chris]

I would like to point out that no one should be in favor of Al Jefferson, and not in favor of Lopez. 

They are both among the best offensive big men in the game, but are flawed otherwise.  Jefferson is a better rebounder, but horrendous defender, Lopez can defend a bit, but is not a good rebounder.  They are essentially the same players, except Lopez is younger, bigger, and until this season, less injury prone.

The "terrible rebounder despite being 7 feet" thing bothers me a heck of a lot more than the fact that Big Al is a bad defender.  I think if you pair Big Al with the right kind of athletic defensive 4 you wouldn't have such a bad interior defense. 

Lopez's poor rebounding, on the other hand, speaks to a bigger issue with him as a player, since he should have the physical tools to rebound passably well, and yet doesn't.

I don't really get your logic here, you can pair Lopez with a stronger rebounding 4 the same way you can help Big Al with a more mobile defensive 4.

I guess my point is that Big Al seems to do the most with the tools he has -- Lopez does not.  That's not a good sign.

A bad sign is going through as much of his career as Jefferson has, and never really making a team better, despite the numbers.  

I am by no means making a case for Lopez here.  While I think there is still a lot of potential there, he will cost way too much on the open market to take a flyer on him.  

But, the point is, they are essentially one in the same.  Players who put up the stats, but aren't winners.  They are both immensely talented (and no, Jefferson is not doing the best he can with what he has...if Big Baby can be a passable defender, Jefferson can be an excellent one), but are missing that little extra it takes to be driven to be the best basketball player they can be.  

While either of them could be quality pieces to a winning team if you put the right guys around them, they are likely to never be the players that their potential shows they could be.  

Honestly, the only real significant difference I see between them is that one of them used to play for the Celtics, and the other didn't.

[CelticG1]

I'm very concerned about the mental makeup of Brook Lopez. He is absolutely not a player I'd want to start a rebuilding project around.

Put him on a good team as a third option and I think he could be great.

But start a rebuilding project around him? No thanks.

I agree, not all that ethused about him, or Big Al.

Were the Magic really contemplating him as the center piece in the Howard deal? Never understood why the Magic Would even listen to that

[StartOrien]

I guess my point is that Big Al seems to do the most with the tools he has -- Lopez does not.  That's not a good sign.

I don't agree with that at all, Big Al could be a much better team defender and team rebounder with better effort.

For a guy with decent rebounding numbers, he is an awful team rebounder. (doesn't take care of his guy or lets others by him to get the board)

I think you've watched Big Al a lot more than I have, so I'll defer to your experiences observing him play.  However, in general I wouldn't turn down the chance to get a young[ish] big man capable of putting up 20-10-2 with good efficiency.  Zach Randolph is a perfect example of how such a player, even if he is a terrible / feckless defender, can become a key piece in the right situation.

On the other hand, a 7 footer who's a poor rebounder and gets a lot of his offense from outside of 10 feet doesn't excite me much, unless he's a truly amazing shooter who can still post-up when necessary (e.g. Nowitzki).

Zach Randolph is a good comparison, however I think there are some variables that complicate it.

- Randolph has a capable mid range game, both in shooting range and ability to start his move there.
- Randolph has turned into a pretty exception passer
- What made Memphis so good on the offensive end last year was their incredible commitment to the post.

[PosImpos]

I guess my point is that Big Al seems to do the most with the tools he has -- Lopez does not.  That's not a good sign.

I don't agree with that at all, Big Al could be a much better team defender and team rebounder with better effort.

For a guy with decent rebounding numbers, he is an awful team rebounder. (doesn't take care of his guy or lets others by him to get the board)

I think you've watched Big Al a lot more than I have, so I'll defer to your experiences observing him play.  However, in general I wouldn't turn down the chance to get a young[ish] big man capable of putting up 20-10-2 with good efficiency.  Zach Randolph is a perfect example of how such a player, even if he is a terrible / feckless defender, can become a key piece in the right situation.

On the other hand, a 7 footer who's a poor rebounder and gets a lot of his offense from outside of 10 feet doesn't excite me much, unless he's a truly amazing shooter who can still post-up when necessary (e.g. Nowitzki).

Zach Randolph is a good comparison, however I think there are some variables that complicate it.

- Randolph has a capable mid range game, both in shooting range and ability to start his move there.
- Randolph has turned into a pretty exception passer
- What made Memphis so good on the offensive end last year was their incredible commitment to the post.

Big Al is a pretty good mid-range shooter at this point, too, though he definitely isn't much of a passer.

[StartOrien]

Big Al is a pretty good mid-range shooter at this point, too, though he definitely isn't much of a passer.

Truth. But he still doesn't seem to be able to initiate his offense from out there the way Randolph can. Jefferson can hit the shot, Randolph can create it, or get himself into the paint to get a better one.

Also, I think people underrate how impressive Memphis' commitment to the post was last year. It was uncanny discipline that I hope they can continue, but I don't know how easy it would be to replicate it. 

[LooseCannon]

I don't think Lopez or Jefferson will ever make an All-Star team, so I don't think either player should be pursued with the intention of making them part of the Celtics core.  I would accept trying to acquire one as the 4th or 5th best player on the team and paying a salary commensurate with that status.

[CelticG1]

I don't think Lopez or Jefferson will ever make an All-Star team, so I don't think either player should be pursued with the intention of making them part of the Celtics core.  I would accept trying to acquire one as the 4th or 5th best player on the team and paying a salary commensurate with that status.

Agreed. Look athow crappy those teams have.been with those 2

[j804]

No way this guy is soft literally stands there or
Moves and gets out the way when people drive to the rim

[CFAN38]

i don't see any way that it happens but if we could land him I would take brook in a heart beat.There are very few 7's in the nba who can store with there backs to the basket if we could land one that's young and for reasonable $$ then we definitely do it.

[Celtic#9]

Who cares how he rebounds if we can get Kevin Love to go with him.

[SHAQATTACK]

To land a player of Loves caliber , DA is going to have to do first convince Love to leave after matching a max contract money.

Danny is gonna need a blockbuster deal , that will swing another player or two make Boston attractive to someone like Love.

Have no idea , what he could figure out?

[2short]

Who cares how he rebounds if we can get Kevin Love to go with him.

Very true.  Lopez could be a very good center for us depending on who the other guy is down low.  Sort of like Perk, he was good for us in the situation with KG.  As far as Al J , if he'd improve on his passing out of the post I'd be interested that would open things up and I could live with his less than stellar defense.  Great offensive moves on low post but if he doesn't pass the ball it doesn't mean much.  Remember how great Akeem became when he would kick the ball out?
I'd put all the $ towards getting love

[cman88]

I would go after brook lopez or Big Al....how many good 7footers are there in the NBA?

and I think having someone who can finish in the post would do wonders for this team(either now or in a rebuilding effort) when rondo drives to the hoop to have someone who can get it in

[Fafnir]

I would go after brook lopez or Big Al....how many good 7footers are there in the NBA?

and I think having someone who can finish in the post would do wonders for this team(either now or in a rebuilding effort) when rondo drives to the hoop to have someone who can get it in

Big Al's seven feet tall now?