Like Randolph, does Jefferson need the right situation

[arctic 3.0]

Z Randolph was called a looser for years, he put up good numbers but couldn't win in Portland or New York. He developed a bad rep and was written of by many. Now in Memphis he is proving all the naysayers wrong.
Al Jeff has very similar career numbers and has not lived up to expectations. Could he be the next Randolph?
IMO a high post low post combo of kg and al could really make some noise.
Is there any way to get him with out loosing kg or pierce?
Would Utah do a sign and trade for bass (who improved his value in the playoffs), lee (or bradley) and the 16 pick?
If we could some how add al without giving up pierce and kg I think I'd change my mind on tanking.
Rondo, Williams
Pierce, terry
Green, ?
Kg, sully
Al, ?
Need a wing and a back up center ( dal for the mid level?)

[bfrombleacher]

Well, Randolph is a second fiddle right now isn't he? Plus, he was a headcase, Al Jeff is not.

But you're right. Al Jeff is no chopped liver.

If we can package these for Al Jeff I'd be more than happy. I'd do it twice*. Rondo, Green and Al Jeff would be fantastic.

[miraclejohan]

I've always said my dream scenario is for AL to return to Boston with KG here so he can light a fire and teach accountability on defense.  Don't see that happening now, but I would welcome Al Jeff back here for another shot in a heart beat....just not giving up Rondo, Green, or Sully for him. 

[CoachBo]

Sigh.

NO interest whatsoever in Jefferson.

Not interested in throwing defense off the side of the boat in any rebuild.

[Fafnir]

I don't think Jefferson has the quickness to become a solid defender like Z-Bo has in Memphis.

Also Jefferson isn't an impact rebounder, he gets decent overall numbers but his team rebounding is poor to the point his team usually does better when he's off the floor. Z-bo is a hugely impactful rebounding PF, that gives him two ways to impact the game.

[BleedGreen1989]

I think it's a decent comparison but like Randolph, I only have interest in Al if we can pair him next to a very good defensive center ala Marc Gasol

[Michael Anthony]

Randolph is hard, Jefferson is not - that matters in the post season.

[pearljammer10]

Sigh.

NO interest whatsoever in Jefferson.

Not interested in throwing defense off the side of the boat in any rebuild.

Agreed.

I loved Al Jefferson when he was in Boston dont get me wrong. He was young and easy to root for on a team with nothing to loose. He was fun to watch and put up good numbers on a bad team when he got the chance.

But this has been his story everywhere he goes, and I feel like Im beating a dead horse with this response. Every team he went to has declined in performance and has hardly made the playoffs. He has a loosing mentality at this point and I just dont think he can be saved. He also doesnt have the off court issues as Randolph but I think Randolph has always been more talented than AJ.

[Monkhouse]

Sigh.

NO interest whatsoever in Jefferson.

Not interested in throwing defense off the side of the boat in any rebuild.

Agreed.

I loved Al Jefferson when he was in Boston dont get me wrong. He was young and easy to root for on a team with nothing to loose. He was fun to watch and put up good numbers on a bad team when he got the chance.

But this has been his story everywhere he goes, and I feel like Im beating a dead horse with this response. Every team he went to has declined in performance and has hardly made the playoffs. He has a loosing mentality at this point and I just dont think he can be saved. He also doesnt have the off court issues as Randolph but I think Randolph has always been more talented than AJ.

I agree Z-Bo has more talent than Al. But I think Al is still better fit for the Celtics. With Z-Bo, you'd need a really good Center, whereas Al can take over games by grabbing boards, and posting up. Unfortunately, his defense is still abysmal, which is why if KG/Pierce ever retires. The team of Rondo, Bradley, Green, Smith, and Jefferson can definitely go top 3 in EC. If it means trading Sully, and some other players to get Jefferson/Smith I don't mind doing it.

I hope we draft Dieng so in the future he can be a really good solid role player.

[bfrombleacher]

All these no's...

For CLee, Bass and a pick, hell yeah do it! Come on! Even if it's for a little more than that (like AB) you should do it.

[Evantime34]

Sigh.

NO interest whatsoever in Jefferson.

Not interested in throwing defense off the side of the boat in any rebuild.

Agreed.

I loved Al Jefferson when he was in Boston dont get me wrong. He was young and easy to root for on a team with nothing to loose. He was fun to watch and put up good numbers on a bad team when he got the chance.

But this has been his story everywhere he goes, and I feel like Im beating a dead horse with this response. Every team he went to has declined in performance and has hardly made the playoffs. He has a loosing mentality at this point and I just dont think he can be saved. He also doesnt have the off court issues as Randolph but I think Randolph has always been more talented than AJ.

Is he really that bad on defense? He is the type of player that has the tools to be very good on defense (size, strength, quickness) but doesn't always bring it. Since KG got here Doc has demanded great effort on the defensive end and on rotations. I think Doc could get him to be more consistent with his defensive effort.

A good example of his upside is how he played much better defense in wins last year showing that he can put his defense together for games at a time. His defensive rating overall is 107.6 which isn't very good but in wins his rating is 102.8 which is pretty good.

His defense is good in two areas, post defense (.79 points allowed per possession) and defending the roll man on pick and roll (.98 points allowed per possession).

I don't think it is a stretch to say that Jefferson will probably improve defensively on this team. Can you think of any player that came to the Celtics from another team and regressed defensively? While he might never be elite defensively he is one of the best pure post scorers in the game, for a team that struggled mightily to score he would be a smart move.

[arctic 3.0]

On Al's D
I just don't think there is a player available who brings top tier d, rebounding and low post offense.
Big Al's strengths compliment this team in two ways. He grabs boards and is a go to low post threat.
He isn't a bad shot blocker and he has the muscle to guard bigger bigs. Something we just can't ask kg to do with out burning him out.
While his d overall is suspect I believe that next to kg and with docs guidance he will improve.
He is a huge upgrade over bass, is a stand up guy and likes boston.
When kg finally retires we can try and land a mobile defense first big to pair with al.
But no one will ever replace kg.

[Lucky17]

I wonder how Al Jefferson would look playing alongside Marc Gasol.

[Fafnir]

Jefferson isn't quick, he's a plodder, slow feet even for a Center.

His man on man defense isn't bad, its his team defense that causes issues. Slow team defender who often gets lost.

[LooseCannon]

I just don't think there is a player available who brings top tier d, rebounding and low post offense.

If I could only get a player who hits two out of those three, I think I'd go for a defender/rebounder who doesn't have a good low post offense.