Is He the Right Man?

[carolina-chuck]

We should go back to having mj draft the players. He's the best at drafting

Sent from my SCH-I545 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

 

Im not saying that MJ was ever good. I'm trying to show just how bad we are even when MJ isnt picking.

[carpanfan96]

Same here. It happened to everyone.

 

I'm not sure why anyone was shocked by Zeller being picked, he was linked with Charlotte before the draft and insiders were saying that Charlotte wouldn't pass on him no matter who was available. 

 

Biz and MKG weren't horrible picks, the team wasn't trying to compete. They were trying to build a team long term, they took two projects that were defensive stoppers with suspect offense. 

 

Zeller himself is a project as a stretch 4, they expect him to be able to develop a 3pt shot and then be able to use that and his drive ability to develop into a stretch 4 with some playmaking ability. 

 

The whole point was to get talent and stay bad enough to build a deep young core of guys.The OKC formula, which apparently was ended abruptly and a year earlier then OKC did. Remember we are just counting the Cho years here. 

 

That's why most of the NBA experts, insiders and so forth were shocked by the Jefferson pick up. 

[carolina-chuck]

I'm not sure why anyone was shocked by Zeller being picked, he was linked with Charlotte before the draft and insiders were saying that Charlotte wouldn't pass on him no matter who was available. 

 

Dont tell me you were not shocked.

 

Sure, I get all the sources before the draft linking Zeller to Cho. But, that was before we ever knew that both McLemore and Noel were going to fall right into our laps.

 

[carpanfan96]

Dont tell me you were not shocked.

 

Sure, I get all the sources before the draft linking Zeller to Cho. But, that was before we ever knew that both McLemore and Noel were going to fall right into our laps.

 

 

 

No I wasn't shocked at all. Cho really liked Zeller and had him #1 on their board. All the insider's with connections to Charlotte and even those without were saying Zeller for Charlotte. 

 

I didn't expect Charlotte to take anyone else but Zeller. Rich Cho overrode everyone in the building for that pick just like he did for Biz. His future in the NBA is tied to those two players developing. 

[Buzz]

I'll admit, when McLemore and Noel dropped I couldn't believe it.

 

So for Cody to develop, what does his ceiling need to be.  Because being a hard working 6th man or glue guy isn't going to cut it.

[carpanfan96]

I'll admit, when McLemore and Noel dropped I couldn't believe it.

 

So for Cody to develop, what does his ceiling need to be.  Because being a hard working 6th man or glue guy isn't going to cut it.

 

For Cho's vision, he needs to develop a 3pt game to stretch the floor and continue to improve on his driving ability. Toughen up and add a bit of weight. Probably needs to get to a 16pt-8reb-3asst-1blk kind of player to be a success for where he was drafted. 

[Proudiddy]

Good stat line cpf96...

Here is why I've said that Cody WILL be a good to possibly great pick.

Dirk, with a similar body and skill set, only averaged 8 ppt and ~3 ppg as a rookie averaging about 20 mpg. The only reason that his ppg finished that high is because he started getting significantly more minutes as the season wound down and finished with a season-high of 29 points in an April game (basically the end of the season). Everyone knows he continued to work tirelessly on his range and that fade away and became the Dirk we all know now.

So, Cody, again, with a similar body and skill set, is currently averaging 5 ppg and 4 rpg. He's also shown himself to be a deft passer - which Dirk has never been, and he has been a willing defender and shown a capacity for getting big blocks. Now, I know Dirk is setting the bar awfully high, but as I said, their frames, footwork, athleticism, and skill set are very similar at this same point starting out in each of their careers. They've said Cody showed great ability in hitting 3s in pre-draft workouts and we've seen nights where he hits multiple 15-20 footers. He needs minutes and confidence. Give him another offseason to work on a go-to move or two, and he could be much more than "just another guy." But, we'll have to wait and see.

[Buzz]

For Cho's vision, he needs to develop a 3pt game to stretch the floor and continue to improve on his driving ability. Toughen up and add a bit of weight. Probably needs to get to a 16pt-8reb-3asst-1blk kind of player to be a success for where he was drafted. 

 

I know it's early, but do you think he can eventually get there?

 

What worries me more than his weight and physicality is his seemingly passive demeanor.  If he does develop his jump shot I worry about how good he can be if he continues to be as passive as he has been. 

 

Given his size, his focus on his outside shot and always being up around the top of the key does not help the team with rebounding.  There are many times where he is running in for a rebound from outside, and he's a 7 foot power forward. 

 

Also at 7 foot, I wonder if the long term plan would be to move him to center down the road if he does not work out at PF, or if he would even be capable of playing Center.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love for him to work out and eventually be an all-star, but I hated the pick when it happened, and everything I've seen so far does not convince me.  He was supposed to be one of the most 'NBA ready' players coming out.

[carolina-chuck]

Good stat line cpf96...

Here is why I've said that Cody WILL be a good to possibly great pick.

Dirk, with a similar body and skill set, only averaged 8 ppt and ~3 ppg as a rookie averaging about 20 mpg. The only reason that his ppg finished that high is because he started getting significantly more minutes as the season wound down and finished with a season-high of 29 points in an April game (basically the end of the season). Everyone knows he continued to work tirelessly on his range and that fade away and became the Dirk we all know now.

So, Cody, again, with a similar body and skill set, is currently averaging 5 ppg and 4 rpg. He's also shown himself to be a deft passer - which Dirk has never been, and he has been a willing defender and shown a capacity for getting big blocks. Now, I know Dirk is setting the bar awfully high, but as I said, their frames, footwork, athleticism, and skill set are very similar at this same point starting out in each of their careers. They've said Cody showed great ability in hitting 3s in pre-draft workouts and we've seen nights where he hits multiple 15-20 footers. He needs minutes and confidence. Give him another offseason to work on a go-to move or two, and he could be much more than "just another guy." But, we'll have to wait and see.

I wouldnt compare Zeller to Dirk. I dont that thats his game. I was optimistic that he could be that or a Bosh after we took him, but watching him now hes still really the same player he was at Indiana.

I think we're overreacting on Zeller due to his ability to drain the 3s in "predraft workouts". I mean Tom Crean is a smart man and why would he not utilize that part of Zeller's game over there? There has to be a reason. Im not saying that Zeller cant shoot bc he can. It's just that Zeller is a stretch four that is good in transition running the floor. He really needs to get his post game going and his game will take off. Thats my only problem with him right now.

Yall may not agree with me but Im telling yall that Zeller is more "Al Jefferson" than Dirk or Bosh. Thats really my opinion.

[carolina-chuck]

For Cho's vision, he needs to develop a 3pt game to stretch the floor and continue to improve on his driving ability. Toughen up and add a bit of weight. Probably needs to get to a 16pt-8reb-3asst-1blk kind of player to be a success for where he was drafted.

Id be ecstatic with that statline.

[chubs2496]

I wouldnt compare Zeller to Dirk. I dont that thats his game. I was optimistic that he could be that or a Bosh after we took him, but watching him now hes still really the same player he was at Indiana.

I think we're overreacting on Zeller due to his ability to drain the 3s in "predraft workouts". I mean Tom Crean is a smart man and why would he not utilize that part of Zeller's game over there? There has to be a reason. Im not saying that Zeller cant shoot bc he can. It's just that Zeller is a stretch four that is good in transition running the floor. He really needs to get his post game going and his game will take off. Thats my only problem with him right now.

Yall may not agree with me but Im telling yall that Zeller is more "Al Jefferson" than Dirk or Bosh. Thats really my opinion.

Al Jefferson has a vertical of 2 inches. Zellers is pretty crazy for a big man. He's really athletic. That's anti- Jefferson. Now if your saying he should model his game around him that's a different story. Cody would be great in the post with a few of big ALS moves. If zeller got people up in the air like Jefferson does then he would have an easy dunk every time. Whereas Jefferson has to pump fake at least 3 more times.

I think everyone should give zeller a few seasons. Hell we have given 3 to biyombo and a full season to mkg. And those guys are untouchable on this board. Give zeller some te to adjust and get some confidence.

[WOW!!]

I think you guys should chill and let the process happen. MKG is a 5 tool player with better Jump shooters around him and more time with Big Al you'll see his value. 

 

People should have know it might take a little time foe Cody to develop into the stretch 4 we need. So give it time.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/2983/lamarcus-aldridge

 

It took Aldridge at least a season.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Zeller isn't seeing the court enough (in my opinion)...

 

He was the fourth pick in the draft and he's not even playing half the game. Over the past seven games he's averaging only 13 minutes per game... That's pathetic. He's only played at least half the game twice out of 36 games this year.

 

When he sees time (i.e. the Bucks game) he actually gets a chance to get in rhythm: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks

 

Due to the fact that he's not getting the amount of time that these other bigs mentioned got (Aldridge/Drummond); I believe it will take him longer to fully develop (possibly two years).

 

However the thing about Zeller is that he is a pretty straight forward player, as in you know what you're going to get... so you never know; he might end up being just a role player.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Al Jefferson has a vertical of 2 inches. Zellers is pretty crazy for a big man. He's really athletic. That's anti- Jefferson. Now if your saying he should model his game around him that's a different story. Cody would be great in the post with a few of big ALS moves. If zeller got people up in the air like Jefferson does then he would have an easy dunk every time. Whereas Jefferson has to pump fake at least 3 more times.

I think everyone should give zeller a few seasons. Hell we have given 3 to biyombo and a full season to mkg. And those guys are untouchable on this board. Give zeller some te to adjust and get some confidence.

 

He's really missing having a great pump fake... if you watch him; you'll notice that it's way to slow. 

 

Jefferson has a real quick fake that gets his defender off the floor than does his patented spin move to the baseline and finishes with the right hand.

 

Just my opinion, but Zeller needs to spend a little time with the centers in practice.