VDesai wrote:I like Cole. He was DEFINITELY underused last year. One of Woodson's numerous errors last year. He played well whenever called upon and the guy knows how to rebound and deter people in the paint. Aldrich to me has similar tools and could be as effective as Joel Pryzbilla. Joel was a high draft pick and a late bloomer who took 3-4 years to be effective. For a number of years on the Blazers Joel was good for 7-9 rebounds, 1.5-2 blocks in around 25-27 mins of play. I can see a similar role for Cole.

fitzfarm wrote:Nice ... I think cole should start he dose everything chandler did and a lot more he can actually put the ball on the floor and score... Chandler could never put the ball on the floor and if he did it was a automatic turnover... Not only dose cole do all the dirty work he's a rebounding and shot blocking machine ! Cole brings the toughness we were missing all last year... Woodson must have been slAping himself in the face for having this guy ride the pine all last year... Congrats cole well deserved

IronWillGiroud wrote:

nixluva wrote:

IronWillGiroud wrote:

nixluva wrote:

IronWillGiroud wrote:guy's a bum unless he can morph into luc longley or bill wellington?

He's not a BUM!!! You need to do some research on this kids production despite not getting minutes. If he was getting starter minutes he'd likely be a 10/12/2 Center. The whole idea is to hope you have a serviceable center like Phil has had in the past.

I'v heard this **** about bums all the time,

just because he's a bum now doesn't mean he has to stay one.

people develop.

the Zen Master might prove to be the spark that settles the Tao within young Cole

Dude was never a bum. He just never got a shot to play meaningful minutes.

That's exactly how you define every bum,

they didn't get a shot to play for a reason, the impetus is on them to drop the buckets and work their way out of bumhood

i agree that they either have it or don't, but it's up to the bum to come correct.

Cole Aldrich will surprise on the boards this season with Tyson Chandler gone. He might even get Fisher to name him starting center a third of the way through the season. it certainly won't be amare or bargs to hold that position throughout the season.

fishmike wrote:You guys are way higher on him then i am

lol

nixluva wrote:Cole has good production and his advanced stats show he should be productive with minutes.

Advanced Stats
Season  Pos G   MP  PER  TS%  eFG%  FTr  3PAr  ORB%  DRB%  TRB%  AST%  STL%  BLK%  TOV%  USG%  ORtg  DRtg  OWS  DWS  WS  WS/48
2013-14	 C  46  330 19.1 .620 .541  .492 .000  12.8  33.8  23.0  6.4   1.3   8.1   19.5  13.0  120   100   0.6  0.6  1.2 .178

That's raw balls in your area

Swishfm3 wrote:

fishmike wrote:You guys are way higher on him then i am but he's a good piece to have in the fold

Kid is good. Always has been. He is going to have a break out season.

Jmpasq wrote:

Swishfm3 wrote:

fishmike wrote:You guys are way higher on him then i am but he's a good piece to have in the fold

Kid is good. Always has been. He is going to have a break out season.

then leave us in FA, should of tried adding an option year. Was impressed with him in the summer league game
Marc Berman of New York Post tweeted "Cole Aldrich doesn't belong in summer league. Too advanced. Would be good for roster especially with Lamar Odom's uncertainty".

Have there been any reports of how his new deal is structured? Hopefully Phil added a team option after this season.

As this will be his second year with the club, we would then have his early Bird rights, correct?

Phil was at the game, and saw a still young center who looked smooth in the his offense and active on D. Don't think it was a coincidence that they signed him when they did. Not even sure how many days he had practicing with the team, but he still looked like he knew what he was doing.

Don't know if there is another gear in this guy's game that we have not seen- perhaps some kind of 10-15 foot game, but he is a perfect 15-25 minute guy.

One reason, besides his contributions on the floor, that Pau would be good for the team is that a guy like Aldrich could learn from him.

If he has another game like today's I would close him down. Nothing to prove in the SL, and Tyler needs as much work as possible.

Tyler is another story. Amazed that this kid, with all his athleticism and raw, has not found some signature shot(s) on the offensive end (same can be said for Aldrich, to be honest, although he does have that hook). Not sure how big guys think these days.

fitzfarm wrote:Center- cole,Sammy,Tyler
Power forward- amare,Tyler,early
Small forward- melo,shump,early
Shooting guard- jr,thjr,Greek 2
Point guard- Jose,Larkin,Pablo

I mean that's not terrible, man.

I like how you listed Cole first for the centers. He'd be my starting 5. This guy's a walking double-double + legit rim protection (something Tyson never really provided). We saw in yesterday's SL game -- not sure if "effortless" is the right word (the things Cole provides are all based on effort)---it's just so damn evident how rebounding and rim protection come so naturally for him. I mean, I know he had an impact but he didn't even have his best game yesterday. He got beat down court at least once, didn't challenge every shot he could have and had problems handling Bernard James inside...Still, dude had what, 8/15/3? 15 rebounds, 10 of which came at just about 1 min into the 2nd half! He's got to play, man. Period. Give this kid 30/35 mins a night and let him do his thing. Let him PRODUCE!! Dalembert doesn't need to start on this team. I'm not even sure he has a lot left. Up to me, he'd back up Aldrich next season. If we got Cole for the minimum (with hopefully a team option for the following year, which would bridge him right to his full Bird rights) -- man, what a steal that is! Bottom line: Cole Aldrich = production. So glad to have him back...Who was it, Berman saying a week or 2 ago that Cole wouldn't be back? WTF does that guy know man, seriously.. LOL.

Some good first steps, but I think the roster still needs further refinement. There are extra parts at certain positions (namely SG) and not enough in place at other spots. If Greek 2 is really going to Europe (which I agree with, at least for the year -- let him go over there, develop further and get paid more than a DL check, then we'll see the following year. Roster's way too crowded out on the wing right now anyway. You figure something's gotta give there...But so far I really like what I see outta TA). Make some time for Wayne Ellington -- no one's talking about him. That dude can shoot/score! Probably the best outside shooter on the team now.

Just some tweak ideas to reshape the roster a little better:

(1) See what we could get for Shump -- maybe a big man. Can't give him away obviously, but see what's out there. Greek 2 kinda makes Shump expendable anyway, no? I'd also see what I could get for THJ. No way is this guy untouchable as far as I'm concerned. I like him--he can shoot-- but I don't love his game or see all-star potential like some of you guys do..

(2) I want another legit 6'10"-ish PF that can rebound and post up/score on the block. I'm not sold on Tyler at all. I don't think he's that guy. I want something better in place here...Can we get Jordan Hill? If we can't sign him outright (probably commands a little more than what we can offer, plus he might be a RFA and I think the Lakers want him back), maybe a S&T with the Lakers involving Shumpert -- something like Shump/cash or Shump/future 2nd round pick for a resigned Jordan Hill? If not see what else is out there. PF Richard Howell's not quite 6'10" but he's out there -- dude's a wide, strong burly body that rebounds well and is skilled around the rim (think DeJuan Blair). We could get that guy for peanuts right now. Maybe that'd be enough. They need to think upgrade over Jeremy Tyler here.

(3) If Melo walks out on us, I want another legit SF in place right away--someone with some skill, preferably a guy that can score. We'll need something else to go along with Early...I'd immediately sign 6'9" Devin Ebanks. Dude's an excellent scorer, he's long and he can help out on the glass (15 & 13 yesterday for the DL select team). Killed it in the DL this past year. This dude's legit...Up to me Ebanks and Howell would be my instant forward upgrades and then I'd look to come up with another young, impact C somewhere...Back to SF -- maybe work out a minor trade with N.O. for Luke Babbitt? A trade for Luke Babbitt and C Jeff Withey would be a homerun (I'd also like to see more depth at C behind Cole). Dalembert/Tyler doesn't do it for me here at all. Too bad New Orleans isn't in on Melo -- they have quite a few young pieces I'd gladly take back in a Melo S&T (Babbitt, Withey, Ajinca, Russ Smith). Another SF option I really like is 6'8" DeQuan Jones. Dude automatically becomes a top 5 athlete once he reenters the league (he did some nice things for Orlando) and he's skilled..

(4) I'd love to see Pablo traded or let go -- would love to have a younger 3rd PG in place -- somebody that could give me more than Pablo at this stage of his career. Don't like having 2/3 of our PG rotation on the older side. Again, like Ebanks, Howell, etc., we could upgrade this spot real cheap as well if we really wanted to. Jerryd Bayless is my guy here -- just love the talent level, I don't even care if he's not a natural point. Like a Cole Aldrich, this is a guy that could just flat out produce if given the time. I think he could be a stud and I'd love to bring him in and give him an opportunity to prove it...If they have no interest in Bayless and nothing else is out there, I say buy out Pablo, sign either Seth Curry or Kalin Lucas and call it a day. Pablo makes no sense on this team anymore. Take a shot -- go younger & look for higher upside/potential here over Prigioni..