Aminu

Wanted some opinions on what is going to happen to this guy in the offseason. We know he is an elite rebounder and above average defender for his position. Still young and athletically gifted. He messes up proper floor spacing because no one respects his shot and he has not shown much improvement in this area. What is a guy like that worth monetarily and what do you think he ultimately gets from either the Pelicans or another team?

I think we offer what Dell thinks he deserves but I see some team out there offering him more than he's worth and him taking it, i dont think he will be with us next year. He is only 22 though and will get better, im curious to see what happends.

IMO worth about 2.5 mil as a high energy defender and rebounder off the bench. If Miller finds a groove though, he could be sending Aminu right out of NOLA.

I say 3 mil/year avg...would be 5 or so but he cant shoot....we might overspend & give him 5 though because i dont see Monty wanting to just watch him leave after investing so much time into him....depends on if Monty thinks he will improve that jumper....i for 1 would be disappointed to see him go i would hate to see him leave and break out even further elsewhere

I think we will try and bring him back but some other more desperate team will offer more per year.

The #1 problem is we have TOO much money to spend. I hope we don't overspend on him but I do want him back.

3.5 mil would be my limit and let him test out the waters.

So did Dell mess up when he didn't extend the qualifying offer to Aminu this past offseason? I think his qualifying was something like 3.2 million if I am not mistaken?

Naa in Dell I trust.

No, I don't think Dell messed up on that one. Aminu was a top-ten pick which made his qualifying offer pretty high. He's still a developing player and shows some NBA-starter tools as a rebounder at his position. But he still seems to me to be a PF player trapped in a SF body. Unless he can significantly upgrade his handle and jumper, he's not going to be a starting caliber SF. In a way he reminds me of a (very) poor man's James Worthy, another super athletic ACC power forward converted to SF in the NBA. Worthy thrived in the Lakers up-tempo, fast break offense, orchestrated of course by the greatest point guard in NBA history. Aminu is best suited to a similar system, which obviously is light years away from what the Hornets do and what the Pelicans are likely to do. I like him at the right price, but barring a pretty great leap forward on his skills, we aren't going to get the most of out of him. With an up tempo team like the Nuggets, he could be a valuable player if not a starter.

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Originally Posted by new city champ

No, I don't think Dell messed up on that one. Aminu was a top-ten pick which made his qualifying offer pretty high. He's still a developing player and shows some NBA-starter tools as a rebounder at his position. But he still seems to me to be a PF player trapped in a SF body. Unless he can significantly upgrade his handle and jumper, he's not going to be a starting caliber SF. In a way he reminds me of a (very) poor man's James Worthy, another super athletic ACC power forward converted to SF in the NBA. Worthy thrived in the Lakers up-tempo, fast break offense, orchestrated of course by the greatest point guard in NBA history. Aminu is best suited to a similar system, which obviously is light years away from what the Hornets do and what the Pelicans are likely to do. I like him at the right price, but barring a pretty great leap forward on his skills, we aren't going to get the most of out of him. With an up tempo team like the Nuggets, he could be a valuable player if not a starter.

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Great post and I agree about him being a PF in a SF's body, he would thrive on a fast break team like miami, denver, atlanta etc, running the floor most PF's wouldnt be able to keep up with him, he could use it as an advantage rather than a disadvantage

Aminu will be a beast one day in this league.

And what happen to his post moves he was showing off beginning of the season? He ws looking pretty decent in the post.

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

And what happen to his post moves he was showing off beginning of the season? He ws looking pretty decent in the post.

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Ya he was showing nice touch around the basket

Aminu has been very predictable. Every tiem he catches it, he runs into the lane no matter what. A couple times last night, he halted ball movement to run into the lane with 3 nuggets players. He was lucky on his kick outs last night, but it's something we should watch.

Positive side of this thought: He should some pretty good pump fakes to create more of a lane for himself to drive the basket. I had no clue why those pump fakes were even getting attention from Denver, but it worked! lol

With Chief you can see the skill set developing, energetic rebounder, long defender, explosive on the break. Add a turn around jumper from the block and you've got a guy with an NBA game--with the right team. And that is with a team that pushes the ball. That's his highest and best use. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have him and I'd love to see the Pels fast break much more than the current squad does (just thinking about Aminu and Davis running the wings makes me drool), but I don't think that's what Monty is about. And so I'm not sure Aminu reaches his potential with us.

He makes his free throws; hence, a decent sign for his future jumper. His lengthy extremities don't help in rapid development of coordination.....but we are talking about a 7'3" reach. 3.5 million was about right. I believe he would extend the offer if he could do it today.
He didn't know if Aminu would be burried on the bench or starting at this point of the year. I like the fact that we still have length on the court when Davis is out of the game. If not starting Aminu could back-up SF and PF.

he is a keeper. with a true PG I think he will become one of the more efficient players in the league.

Thats what messes with my head, he is a good FT shooter but his jumper sucks? If only it didn't... dude is 6"9 with a 7"3 wingspan and athletic, if only he could shoot...

I really want to see Aminu back with the Pelicans...

BUT

Aminu is the ultimate tease player. He has shown that he has the ability and athletisism to be a great SF, unfortunately consistance has been his achilles heal. And having said that, I see no hope of that changing. I agree with GURU, some team will bite on his athletic ability and over pay but I hope Dell sets Aminus value at about what he's making now and sticks to his guns. With as much monsy as the Pelicans have to play with this offseason it will be dangerously tempting to over pay for Aminu, but he just isn't starter material. If Miller can keep doing what he did last night Aminu's chances of returning are getting smaller.

3.2 million for next season would have fair for Aminu. Demps should have taken the option. He'll probably get around 4 million next season.

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Originally Posted by Pelicans78

3.2 million for next season would have fair for Aminu. Demps should have taken the option. He'll probably get around 4 million next season.

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But does Aminu play like this knowing he is making money next year? I think the fact that we declined his option was some motivation to get better.

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Originally Posted by Inner_GI

But does Aminu play like this knowing he is making money next year? I think the fact that we declined his option was some motivation to get better.

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That is a great point and one that I have contemplated myself.

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Originally Posted by Davisistheman

I really want to see Aminu back with the Pelicans...

BUT

Aminu is the ultimate tease player. He has shown that he has the ability and athletisism to be a great SF, unfortunately consistance has been his achilles heal. And having said that, I see no hope of that changing. I agree with GURU, some team will bite on his athletic ability and over pay but I hope Dell sets Aminus value at about what he's making now and sticks to his guns. With as much monsy as the Pelicans have to play with this offseason it will be dangerously tempting to over pay for Aminu, but he just isn't starter material. If Miller can keep doing what he did last night Aminu's chances of returning are getting smaller.

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We have a salary floor to meet next year as does every team. Who is going to be available worth spending some money on? Not saying I disagree with your assessment but I don't see much available that gets me excited free agency wise.

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Originally Posted by Pelicans78

3.2 million for next season would have fair for Aminu. Demps should have taken the option. He'll probably get around 4 million next season.

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If Aminu becomes as good as people believe he can become then locking him up on a long term deal this offseason will be much cheaper than paying him his tender and then let him develop another year before locking him up long term.

On the other hand if Aminu flames out then the deal you get him to sign this off season will likely have multiple team options and you can bail without too much commitment.

Whether he booms or busts, this was the year to make a contract year. Demps made the right call.

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Originally Posted by SaintBrock

So did Dell mess up when he didn't extend the qualifying offer to Aminu this past offseason? I think his qualifying was something like 3.2 million if I am not mistaken?

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Yes, I thought then and still do think it was a mistake not to extend the QO. For that cost, he was worth the risk.

Here's the thing. Hind sight is 20-20. Most everyone was cheering for the move when it happened because Aminu had just come off a horrible season, and he still hasn't proven he has the basketball I.Q. to be trusted. Sometimes he flashes, but a lot of times he makes really stupid mistakes. He has elite tools, and he is only 23, so I am guessing that Dell is planning on locking him up for 4 years, $12-15 million or something along those lines. I think he'll take a little less to stay here because he respects Monty and knows that Monty has put in a lot of time (and will continue to do so) to develop his game. Monty has mad respect from his players, and I think that is going to go a long way when it's time to re-sign Aminu this off season.

More importantly, Demps made the move because it gives us cap flexibility moving into the off season. You look at $3.2 million and think, "that's nothing, we could have afforded that." But in reality, that is the difference between us being able to offer a max contract and not being able to do so. If Aminu was locked into the books at $3.2, we don't have the space to offer the max. Demps is playing chess. Let him work gentlemen.