Going back a year or 2 ago, I liked Ajinca a lot for us but have since cooled on him. I can see what you're saying--he's big and he's got some skill, just had a nice game against the Clippers--but I think Jeff Withey might be the better buy of the 2 New Orleans FA centers, just thinking about potential cost and impact. Ajinca might be a little easier to acquire being an UFA (Withey's restricted), although not necessarily -- Withey's barely been playing for the Pels. Why hasn't he been playing? Do they have any interest in retaining him? If so, they're not showing it. He's had nice moments leading up to this year and now all of a sudden, he's in Monty's dog house. Why? I like Withey a lot as a backup C for us next year. I think he's just as big as Ajinca, 2 years younger and I think he can give us more than what Cole Aldrich has been giving us on both ends---Withey has more potential than Cole offensively and he could be a real impact shot-blocker if given enough playing time, evident by his numbers in this category going back to college. Ajinca, as others have pointed out, isn't a big-time rim protector. Withey has much more potential to help us in this area. He may come cheaper than what you're forecasting Ajinca may cost. A few more impact games for Ajinca like he had against the Clippers, the price will only go up. I kinda like that Withey hasn't been playing -- should keep the price tag down + I already know what he can offer. I think I prefer Withey but you're right -- Ajinca on that size and intriguing skill set alone (even if not completely realized yet) warrants consideration as a FA. Good call.
These are the big men I'm most interested in for next year:
Okafor - obviously draft target #1.
Towns - draft target after Okafor, Mudiay or Russell --- I still wouldn't sleep on Mudiay btw. Still my #2 draft target behind Okafor -- I think Mudiay winds up being a better player than Marcus Smart in the NBA.
---------------------------------
Enes Kanter - my #1 FA target, esp. if we target a PG in the draft.
JaMychal Green - I still want him bad. Find a way Phil.
DeAndre Jordan - secondary consideration behind Kanter. If the LAC have any interest in keeping him, I think he'll stay. LA's a great city, he's super tight with Blake Griffin and the Clippers have a very good team. If we wanted him, we'll have to overpay by a good margin and I don't think that's advisable.
Lavoy Allen - I think this guy could be a good fit. He's young, he can play both 4 & 5 and he shouldn't be too expensive. Dude's got a lot of Kurt Thomas to his game imho. If we got this guy to be our starting 4 and gave him enough minutes, he'd average a double/double, maybe even 15 & 10 or more.
Jeff Withey - tall, adept shot-blocker, shouldn't be too expensive.
Khem Birch - rebounding/shot-blocking hustle big that would come cheap. Birch/Withey together go a long way towards adding legit rim-protection.
Earl Barron - still around and doing a great job in the DL this year. Even adding to his game -- taking and making 3s now. He'd be a perfect reserve 5 to have on standby down on the depth chart.
2/1/2015 1:43 PM