What about Al Jefferson?

[Snowblind]

I was just thinking about the whole Bynum trade and how talks have stalled. I think Houston is going to beat us out for the 3rd team in the trade. So I started to think about other Centers we could look at acquiring via trade. One name that popped up in my head was Al Jefferson.

He would give us a post scorer (something a lot of teams lack, like OKC for instance), a good rebounder and good free throw shooter.

Now his downsides are that his defense isnt good and he has slow feet. I think he could be solid to around average post defender, but he will be a liability with the p&r. But I think he fits well with our current bigs (TT, Zeller, Leuer)

So, I was just thinking about what we could trade for him..

Cavs get : Al Jefferson, Utahs 1st (option to swap MIA's pick with Utahs first, plus they have GS's first locked up)

Utah gets: Andy, Luke Walton, our second round pick.

Utah has good scorers, rebounders and decent playmaking. They lack defense though. I think adding Andy to their big rotation would help with that.

Big Al would give us post scoring and rebounding (the scoring will take more pressure off of Kyrie obviously). I know we have a team that's trying to run more, but with Al's rebounding ability as long as he gets the board and gets it to our guards, I think we'll be fine.

So feel free to tear this idea apart, I don't care, just wanted to share an idea I had.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

Utah would never make that trade. They would want a first not giving up one of they traded him. They have a nice young core of Favors and Kanter so for them I don't think Andy would make sense. Being a Jazz fan I would not like it.

 

[Snowblind]

Utah would never make that trade. They would want a first not giving up one of they traded him. They have a nice young core of Favors and Kanter so for them I don't think Andy would make sense. Being a Jazz fan I would not like it.

Do you think the Jazz are gonna re-sign Jefferson? I would think they would want Kanter to take over at some point.

 

[B Mac]

The Cavs turned down a deal for Jefferson a couple of years ago because Byron Scott said he doesnt fit in his system. If I remember correctly we were giving up pretty much nothing in the deal and we still turned it down. I dont see him being a target a couple of years later.

 

[Ohio]

If we lose out on Bynum I'd definitely be interested.

 

[TrueCavsFan2]

It would take us Andy, a top-7 protected lottery pick in this years draft, Walton, and a second rounder just to get Al Jefferson. In a league of not many great Centers, it would be expensive.

Howard
Bynum
then there are guys like
Hibbert, Big Al, Tyson Chandler, etc.

Shouldn't get a max contract but will because of lack of great Centers in the league.

I'm all for him. Because of his size, defense will be there, and he is a great scoring big man which is hard to find. Getting him at a good price could benefit us a lot.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

I just don't see the Jazz trading him right now, they have cap space and a bunch of players on rockie contracts. Plus they would want a NBA STARTER back, as they are a playoff team.

 

[Mdog1]

I don't know what we could trade for him, but I just wish we had drafted him instead of Luke. If we don't get Bynum I don't want him personally though. A Jefferson and Bynum front court would be sick imo, especially if we are able to keep TT in the trades.

 

[Stark]

We wouldn't have anything to offer.

They have one of the best big men rotations in the league (Jefferson, Favors, Kanter, Millsap).

Millsap is still young, Favors and Kanter could both be all-stars in the future. I don't think Andy would fit well there.

 

[Homestar]

I'd like to fully pursue Jefferson next summer, but no sense in trading for him now. I feel similarly toward Bynum.

I'm surprised at the tone toward Jefferson in this thread. He's a 27 year old 20/10 center, of course he will get (and deserves) the max. I hope we are the team to provide him with it.

 

[RikSmits]

Why?

He makes $ 15 million this year and is an UFA next year. He doesn't play defense and generally has done little to make his teams much better. I wouldn't call him an empty stats guy but when have you ever seen him step it up a notch when it counted?

Pass.

 

[Biw]

Why?

He makes $ 15 million this year and is an UFA next year. He doesn't play defense and generally has done little to make his teams much better. I wouldn't call him an empty stats guy but when have you ever seen him step it up a notch when it counted?

Pass.

I don't want Jefferson, but to be fair he did lead that shitty Jazz team to the playoffs last season. He played pretty well in the playoffs too. Especially the last two games(Spurs did sweep them though).

 

[Homestar]

Why?

He makes $ 15 million this year and is an UFA next year. He doesn't play defense and generally has done little to make his teams much better. I wouldn't call him an empty stats guy but when have you ever seen him step it up a notch when it counted?

Pass.

Look at the teams he has been on.

I think you can call him a top 5 center.

A future big 3 of Irving-Gay-Jefferson would the foundation that makes us title contenders, IMO. Though, we are a longgggg way from that becoming a reality.

 

[NarlCavs]

At first I didn't think it would be the right move for the Cavs to pursue Jefferson but the more I looked and further checked out his strengths and weaknesses it started to make at least a little more sense.
Jefferson would bring a good post scoring presence to the Cavs and you know you'll get solid numbers from him. He is not the strongest defender but playing with and sharing time with Thompson, Zeller, and possibly Varejao could help cover for the weaker areas in his game while his strengths could help with those players weaker areas. Jefferson has had a pretty good PER most of the more recent seasons including 22.88 last season.

Like others have said, I wouldn't trade for him now but if the Cavs think he would fit here and if they can get him at a good price (don't think he's worth a max or near max contract) than I wouldn't be against signing him as a FA next summer depending on possible moves from now until then.

 

[Boom Outta Here]

The Cavs turned down a deal for Jefferson a couple of years ago because Byron Scott said he doesnt fit in his system. If I remember correctly we were giving up pretty much nothing in the deal and we still turned it down. I dont see him being a target a couple of years later.

Scott had said last year that all he expects to get from the center position is solid defense and the ability to run the floor well. Any scoring is simply a bonus. That doesn't describe Jefferson, but I don't know if that comment was based on system philosphy or just the current make-up of the roster.