I watched the Nets game tonight and RJ played a really good game. He plays great D, rebounds, hustles, slashes to the bucket and run the floor. He played more than Van Horn and was in down the stretch, during crunch time. Kidd also ran plays designed for him on more than one occasion. The Nets obviously have alot of confidence in him already. He already looks to be a steal (judging not by the trade, but by where he was drafted). I look for him to be a very solid NBA. I sure would like to see more of EG and Tmo, hopefully that will come in time. I know EG was hindered by injury and did not play much in the preseason.
RJ was the only regret I had in the Griffin trade. I wish there were some way we could have traded Langhi or Walt instead of RJ.
The way I look at it, we got Kevin Garnett instead of Wally Szczerbiak in that trade. Sure, Scuzzbag is decent, but Garnett is a star. Griffin will be a star, while Jefferson will be "good". At least, that's the way I look at it.
I disagree. I don't doubt Eddie will be a star. But RJ has 3X's more potential than Wally. RJ is the next Shawn Marion. If RJ can get a consistent shot, he's an all-star.
Nike-Except for the fact that RJ is a much better athlete. RJ will be a good pro, just on athleticism alone. He will be great, once he establishes himself as an outside player. In HS, he was a center, and was asked to play predominantly inside (that's why he's a good shot blocker). In college, he played on a loaded Arizona squad, so he wasn't really give then chance to be the focal point. I'd compare RJ to Marion before I'd compare him to Shandon. Marion is a good player right now, based on athleticism. RJ's got the same freakish athleticsim as Marion.
I am HUGE Tmo fan but I think RJ has more potential than does tmo. RJ is going to make a heck of a player.. Collins and Armstrong won't amount up to much so their ineffeciencies make the Eddie trade on the Rockets favor.
NIKE, you took the "d"s out, too? Better be careful, Dreamshake is already fuming with verse and I for laughing at the $5.3m man's Knick debut.
I'm with most of you. I watched Jefferson last night and was pretty impressed. He didn't necessarily fill up the stat columns, but he was very active around the rim and the guy can just leap out of the gym! I definitely thought to myself that he'd look pretty nice in the ol' pin stripes.. Don't get me wrong. I'm very happy w/ Eddie Griffin and think he has more star power, but Jefferson's definitely a baller (not a hooper)...
IMO, RJ was the most physically-ready player in the 2001 draft. He is 6-7 220 lbs, which is a pretty strong frame for a guy who should be in his Sr. season in college. The sky is the limit for him, if he has a PG the caliber of Kidd. RJ is a great transition player to pair-up with a running PG like Kidd. I guarantee you the Nets front office went nuts when they considered the potential of Kidd leading the fast-break with Kittles, and RJ on the wings, and Martin as the trailer.
RJ is a talented player, and I always liked him. He'll be a good player. He is ready for the NBA sooner then T-Mo, but T-Mo is mroe talented and will be the better player down the road. RJ is a good defender, slasher, and scorer, T-Mo is a good scorer, and rebounder, and defender, shot-blocker and can step in and be a force at two key positions in the frontcourt, and may be able to play some minutes at center down the road in his career. Definitely I like T-Mo over RJ, and I don't think J will be a great player, just a good player. I don't see him being another Shawn Marion though. More a Michael Finley-type, though not quite as good.
I'm gonna save this message and in a couple of years repost it. EG is just 19 years old, we'll see what hes like when he is RJ's age.
IMHO: Jefferson like Jason Richardson and Joe Jo are talents supreme out of that draft to be sure ... but clearly the cream of the crop was Griffin. For pure delight in a well rounded athlete with size, speed, defense, coachability and a devleoping offensive arsenal .... ... well, Eddie Griffin shines above everyone. Kwame will get his kudos down the road. Curry and Johnson will get their nods early, and Jefferson and Richardson will get some excellent press .... but Griffin will be hurting opponents and making us scream by mid December and accelerating past all other rooks by All Star break in fundamental all-around game.
I agree with superkev, When Eddie is the age that Jefferson is now, it will not even be close. It was a good trade.
SuperKev-You are mistaking what I said. I KNOW EG will be better than Jefferson. All I said that the only regret I have in the trade, is letting Jefferson go to NJ. I do think Jefferson will be a better pro than Terrance Morris.
Stop the presses, RM you think Marion is better than Finley? Thats a joke, Finley is a top 10 2/3 man in the league. he defends,passes, scores, everything you would want out of that player. Marion can't hold Finleys jock
