Knicks have officially waived Kelenna Azubuike http://twitter.com/#!/FisolaNYDN/status/42389931791888384
I'm guessing his knee is really missed up. If not, we should take a look. He's a very good shooter and pre-injury, was pretty athletic and a good defender.
NYK can now sign Jeffries and one other player such as Dan Gadzuric, T.J. Ford, Leon Powe, Rasual Butler or Earl Barron if Bucks let him go. http://twitter.com/#!/AlexKennedyNBA/status/42392857813856256
From Alan Hahn Azubuike told me last week he was 80 percent. With little time left in season, no chance for him to play. Knicks had to move on for spot.
Azubuike doesn't make any sense for the Bulls right now. He's been out 15 months and still isn't healthy. Gar should give him a call and ask him how he's doing with his rehab, promising to call again after the season.
If we were to sign two people, I would take a risk on him for the summer league and next season. Looks like we may sign just one player. Keep the rest of the money for draft day deals. It's either Brewer or Butler.
Ralpho07 from realgm reported that R Butler should b signed by tonight or tomorrow. Spurs like him too, but Bulls think he goes well with Rose. Also considering signing a second player. Pax likes Azubuike, Gar wants Arroyo. So they are at a stalemate with the seco nd person
Arroyo is the smart move. I can live with Butler as well although its not spectacular. I would hand all back up point minutes to Arroyo and use Watson in 2 guard minutes when we go small , Brewer when we go big. Leave Korver as the designated sniper RazzButt for back up
In this situation -- and really only in this situation -- I would leave all personnel decisions up to Thibodeau. I find the report a little hard to believe, because it's not really about how Paxson or Gar like. This is a one season rental, so if Thibodeau isn't in lock-step they are not going to get playing time and make contributions.
Azu isn't a good defender. He somehow earned a reputation for that based on one game against Kobe but he is average at best. Lateral quickness is below average for a SG, overall defensive skills are nothing special although he is a good shotblocker for a SG. Hes 6'5 but for a guy with such great length he has extraordinary strength- he can certainly play the 3 as well. Really more of a natural 3 actually. Very good shooter, good finisher, good athleticism, handle is very suspect at SG and just adequate at SF, not a good passer, defense is average (maybe), good rebounder. Overall hes a pretty solid player and he can put up a quiet 15-20 ppg easily if you give him starters minutes, but outside of scoring and rebounding hes quite average and his defense is way overblown. But that was all before his most recent injury.
If the Bulls sign two players to the minimum, I would not mind the second player to be Azubuike. Chances are the second player doesn't play for us anyway. Let's see what he has when he is 100%. Looks like Butler will be signed. Not earth shattering, but more depth at SG.
Thanks for the run down. The Bulls seem to love those two-three tweeners who can board, and the franchise isn't, at least from an outside perspective, as concerned about handling skills. See Brewer, Korver, Watson in our two guard rotation. Deng also fits the bill as a four-three tweener. The Bulls' interest makes sense, given your description.
[video=youtube;A0NlYxfWVMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0NlYxfWVMU[/video] You get some glimpses of his athletic ability here but this vid probably makes him look like more of a below-the-rim guy than he is. Forgot that he had one of the best 3 pt %'s in all of the NBA this season (he blew his knee out 7 games into the next season and hasn't played since). This vid also highlights his shitty handle lol but also he hit a lot of clutch 3's late in games.
Well, if you've read the Azubuike thread on realgm, you know that I don't get this one. Azububuike hasn't played since '09. His patellar tendon has taken much longer to come back than expected. He says he's 80%. 80% of average doesn't help the Bulls this season. It's been opined that if we sign Azubuike for this year and next, we can get him cheap. Putting myself in his shoes, I only sign cheap for next season if I have doubts about my knee. So as I see it, if Azubuike agreed to a bargain deal, it's not necessarily good news for the Bulls. Since he doesn't help us now, don't sign him now. If we like him, revisit this offseason.
You are probably right transplant and it looks like he wont be signed by anyone this season. I am open to a summer league invite if his knee/leg is almost 100%
