Post by nets on Oct 15, 2007 9:57:35 GMT -5
Kelenna Azubuike is not a well known name around the league but he may be one day. He came to the New Jersey Nets as somewhat of a toss in during a draft day trade where the prize we were looking for was Channing Frye. At the time,we were embarassed as we didn't even know who the kid was when the Blazers offered him in the trade to move up to the #7 pick. His stats were promising and we needed a SG/SF so we took him but at closer look he may end up being the key to this trade.
Last year as the starting shooting gaurd for the Portland Blazers, Kelenna Azubuike scored 14.6 points a game and grabbed 7.1 rebounds. Which is not only high for a SG/SF but also high considering Greg Oden was clearing most of the boards followed by Channing Frye. I am not even sure how their was enough for this kid to grab.
He is 25 so calling him a prospect is a stretch but he has A potential and at SF, the scouts actually rate him better then Richard Jefferson who is an All Star quality guy.
So while I can't bench Jefferson to make room for unproven Kelenna, I can trade Jefferson or use Kelenna as the future SF and allow Jefferson to walk when his contract is up.
At the moment he seems like a guy that can add intangibles when he is out there. He can score from inside and outside as well as rebound and defend. His handle is not great but maybe that A potential will still fix that.
As it stands now, he and Ronald Steele are looking to lead the second unit with sophmore center Sean Williams holding down the fort in the paint.
Steele and Azubuike could be a combination that Nets fans will hear about for a long time.
Last year as the starting shooting gaurd for the Portland Blazers, Kelenna Azubuike scored 14.6 points a game and grabbed 7.1 rebounds. Which is not only high for a SG/SF but also high considering Greg Oden was clearing most of the boards followed by Channing Frye. I am not even sure how their was enough for this kid to grab.
He is 25 so calling him a prospect is a stretch but he has A potential and at SF, the scouts actually rate him better then Richard Jefferson who is an All Star quality guy.
So while I can't bench Jefferson to make room for unproven Kelenna, I can trade Jefferson or use Kelenna as the future SF and allow Jefferson to walk when his contract is up.
At the moment he seems like a guy that can add intangibles when he is out there. He can score from inside and outside as well as rebound and defend. His handle is not great but maybe that A potential will still fix that.
As it stands now, he and Ronald Steele are looking to lead the second unit with sophmore center Sean Williams holding down the fort in the paint.
Steele and Azubuike could be a combination that Nets fans will hear about for a long time.