Free Agency Targets: Arron Afflalo or Pau Gasol

[carolina-chuck]

http://fansided.com/2014/05/25/nba-rumors-charlotte-hornets-interested-arron-afflalo/#!RrDFk

NBA Rumors: Charlotte Hornets interested in Arron Afflalo

By: Andrew Melnick

"After naming Steve Clifford head coach and signing free agent big man Al Jefferson away from the Utah Jazz, the Charlotte Hornets (Bobcats) were one of the most improved teams in the league. They finished with a record of 43-39 and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2010. Although they were swept by the Miami Heat and still have not won a postseason game (The Orlando Magic swept them in 2010), it was a huge step in the right direction for the Hornets.

To further upgrade their talent, the Hornets will be busy in the draft where they have three picks and in free agency, likely again chasing Los Angeles Lakers’ big man Pau Gasol.

They also could use those assets to facilitate a trade and one target could be the best player on a division rival – Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo. Afflalo was very productive and has a good contract, but he is blocking last year’s number 2 overall pick, Victor Oladipo.

The Orlando Magic guard is a proven shooter/scorer (averaged 18.2 points last season on 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range). The Bobcats most obvious need is wing scoring, particularly from a player who can stretch the defense from 3-point range. He could be available with the Magic focusing on the development of Victor Oladipo…

…He would immediately become the third scoring threat for Charlotte, providing the offense Gerald Henderson couldn’t always give last season.

Afflalo had the best season of his career, averaging 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game."

It's going to be a very exciting and interesting off-season!!!! I am so pumped up right now.

I know that some fans wouldn't like the idea of adding an old Pau Gasol, but I would be extremely excited about it. Gasol still has imo a very good 2-3 years left in the tank. An Al Jefferson / Pau Gasol would be straight up nasty in the paint.

Coach Clifford has coached both Gasol (Lakers) and Afflalo (Orlando) before.

Adding either Gasol or Afflalo + good picks will help this team going forward.

2014-2015

PG: Kemba Walker / Elfrid Payton

SG: Gary Harris or Nick Stauskas / Gary Neal

SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist / Jeff Taylor

PF: Pau Gasol / Cody Zeller

C: Al Jefferson / Bismack Biyombo

What are the chances that we could end up with "both" guys? Maybe package no24, no45, and player(s).

2014-2015

PG: Kemba Walker /

SG: Arron Afflalo / Gary Harris or Nick Stauskas / Gary Neal

SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist / Jeff Taylor

PF: Pau Gasol / Cody Zeller

C: Al Jefferson / Bismack Biyombo

[John_Sutter]

Pau just isn't a PF. That's where he slides in on our team, but we would be very bad defensively with an Al/Pau pairing down there. I like Afflalo a lot, but I'd rather see us look for post D first, as I think wing scoring is easier to come by in this draft.

[Night Prowler X]

Rather have PJ or Stauskas than Afflalo.

Hell no to Pau.

[bLACKpANTHER]

Gasol won 2 titles in LA at PF and Bynum at C

[bLACKpANTHER]

Rather have PJ or Stauskas than Afflalo.

Hell no to Pau.

 

Afflalo average 18 ppg............

I would be more than surprised if PJ or Staus averaged 10-14 ppg

 

I think i just came to the realization that Bobcats/Hornets fans have been so used to building ONLY through the draft that we totally forget that a PROVEN free agent is way better than an unproved question mark coming into the league.

 

No way PJ or Staus can give the team what we need in their rookie year. Afflalo is exactly what the doctor ordered. Can you imagine what this team would have looked like if Henderson was shooting 43% from 3pt range?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Pau is not a good defender but offensively he fits in just fine and I'd love Afflalo.

 

He's super underrated and if he played for a big-market team he'd be an all-star. 18 points per game on 45% shooting from the field and 42% shooting from three, yes please.

 

But the number nine pick will probably be involved in the trade for Afflalo.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

This team is set up to win now, I keep telling people not to get attached to the 9th pick because I doubt we use it.

 

 

[John_Sutter]

I like Pau as much as the next guy, but let's not forget his aging when we compare him to those LAL champ

Whatever we do, I hope we don't overpay Greg Monroe. That would be a an incredibly slow, plodding front court.

Unrelated: thoughts on Spencer Hawes?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Spencer Hawes would be a great back-up center but he'd probably cost too much.

[scarface]

If they can get Pau Gasol for a reasonable price and Zeller can learn from one of the best offensive PF in the past decade then I would be all for it. 

 

If they can get Affalo as well (for #24, #45 & Henderson) and then get Stauskas, Hairston or Gary Harris @ #9 then this offensive will be much better than last years. 

[carolina-chuck]

Pau is not a good defender but offensively he fits in just fine and I'd love Afflalo.

He's super underrated and if he played for a big-market team he'd be an all-star. 18 points per game on 45% shooting from the field and 42% shooting from three, yes please.

But the number nine pick will probably be involved in the trade for Afflalo.

I think we can get away without having to give up the no9 pick for Afflalo. Orlando already have two high lottery picks. I think the no24, no45, and maybe Taylor or Biz could get Afflalo here.

[CarolinaNCSU]

I doubt Afflalo will be traded for a package focusing mainly on the 24th pick. I'm sure they've actually already had better offers than that in the past.

 

24 and a future 1st may be more like it, if 9 is off the board as a trade chip for Charlotte. Although it shouldn't be. 

[carolina-chuck]

I doubt Afflalo will be traded for a package focusing mainly on the 24th pick. I'm sure they've actually already had better offers than that in the past.

24 and a future 1st may be more like it, if 9 is off the board as a trade chip for Charlotte. Although it shouldn't be.

I can def see that.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I'm fine with giving up 9 and Henderson for Afflalo and Nelson.

PG: Walker, Nelson (trade), Clarkson (draft)

SG: Afflalo (trade), Hairston (draft), Neal

SF: Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Taylor, Douglas-Roberts (re-sign)

PF: ???, Zeller, O'Quinn

C: Jefferson, Biyombo, Haywood

If my calculations are right, we would still have $8 mil to sign a power forward. That would definitely be able to get us Glen Davis who I think would be a good fit beside Al. He'd definitely help clog the pain on defense.