Why Jahlil Okafor helps now and long term.

[JBcat]

My opinion on this:


He doesn't fit what the Celtics need in multiple ways.  Others have already talked about his lack of defense and his offense is limited to down low.


The other part of this is that this Celtics team doesn't need any more youth and doesn't need a player picked up in terms of long term needs. 


The Celtics need some veteran know how on the bench.  Someone who has done it before and can provide short burst of good NBA level play.   Someone the young players can go to for help.   Someone who helps the team when the NBA wall hits the 6 rookies.

We are lacking in young bigs though unless if you want count Yabu.  A young big to groom with our current crop of bigs makes some sense.

[dreamgreen]

I️ would wait for him to get bought out and offer him a two year minimum deal.

I'd do that.

[SHAQATTACK]

Danny is super cheap

he ll wait as long as he can before making any move ....if at all.

He is?   I remember this team paying tax before. 


More likely he will wait to see if a better vet gets bought out or put on the trading block.

i forgot they paid the tax before.   

[wdleehi]

My opinion on this:


He doesn't fit what the Celtics need in multiple ways.  Others have already talked about his lack of defense and his offense is limited to down low.


The other part of this is that this Celtics team doesn't need any more youth and doesn't need a player picked up in terms of long term needs. 


The Celtics need some veteran know how on the bench.  Someone who has done it before and can provide short burst of good NBA level play.   Someone the young players can go to for help.   Someone who helps the team when the NBA wall hits the 6 rookies.

We are lacking in young bigs though unless if you want count Yabu.  A young big to groom with our current crop of bigs makes some sense.

They don't have a young big on the level of Brown, Tatum Smart or even Rozier...

But Okafor isn't on that level either.   

[tazzmaniac]

Yes, an Okafor post but coming from a different view of short and long term Celtics.  When I'm saying we either low ball trade the 76ers with like a Nader and Bird or if gets a buy out we sign him.  If can do a multiple year sign we do it now if not we wait till after the season.  If we do get Okafor this year and going for multiple years signing Marcus Smart is very important as well. 

Okafor is a 21 year old turning 22 this season, offensive dominant center in the paint.  Yes, he has his limitations on defense but in his 3 years in the league he's average over a block a game and this year so far 2 a game. This year he's only playing 22 minutes a game and averaging 10 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.  For a back up center in a bad system that's good but in our team could be an offensive star in our second unit, plus could fill in as a starter easily. 

Also the reason Okafor would be a great fit in Boston is not just the coach who will get the most out of him.  But Horford and Baynes are the perfect mentors for Okafor.  Horford is an A class teammate who is the ultimate professional.  He'd be able to even further polish Okafor's offensive game, plus teach him defense correctly.  Baynes came into the league under Gregg Popovich, who I'm sure taught him plenty plus also learned under Tim Duncan.  Baynes would also be able to show him defense and how to be that bruiser in the paint. 

The short term why Okafor would help us is his offensive game on the block, plus in limited games this year his rebounding and blocking would be a be help in the second unit.  The long term of Okafor being in Boston is what really intrigued me after looking at this year's draft, we could have or might not have.

Long term effects on signing Okafor to a longer deal then just this year.  Say we don't get the Lakers pick this year, we still end up with a former number 3 pick in the draft who will be only 23.  He could technically still be in college but he'd have 3 years in the NBA and productive in the NBA in under 30 minutes a game.  But why could he be even more value if we do get the Lakers pick that falls in between 2-5.  Let's take a look at the potential top 5 picks and how they'd fit with the Celtics long term.

Michael Porter a 6'10 small forward or in the NBA could also play the power forward in a quick line up.  Plus also putting on some more size could play traditional power forward without a question.  I see him at the number one spot, so we don't have a chance at him but teams could try to go a different way who knows.  Honestly would be my hope for the Celtics. 

Marvin Bagley the 6'11 power forward they say is a freak on the court.  I'm sure could also play center of needed to specially in the NBA today being more positionless but I'm still traditional when comes to a line up. 

DeAndre Ayton a 7'0 center who is looking like to be the best center in the draft.  He's a cornerstone piece in the paint with a good offensive game and good defender, plus not a liability at the free throw line for a big.  Honestly one of the players I'm most interested in, in this draft.

Mohamed Bamba another 7'0 center with a lot of potential.  His offensive game isn't up to where you'd like to see but has glimpse of it.  Watched him in the high school all american game and he caught my attention.  He needs to put on some weight and strength, but he's got the defensive mind set of a Marcus Camby, DeAndre Jordan, Rudy Gobert. 

Luka Doncic the 6'7 international shooting guard/small forward.  Haven't gotten to watch a lot on him but the little I have, he's impressive.  He'll need more time I think then the other top 4 but international game sometimes development can transfer quickly. 

Why does Okafor become important to the Celtics if we get these draft players in the future.  Baynes is only on a one year deal, Horford is getting older and only would have two years left after this season.  Gives Horford plenty of time to teach Okafor and if we get any of the bigs in this draft. 

I'm going to show a couple line ups why he could be a big future here in Boston if this class does fall to us.  Mind you this is just a look at the starting line ups where they'd play if we start the rookies.  Plus got to remember Horford is only signed 2 more years at this point and getting older so will rest more, so Okafor can get minutes for him at either the center or could try some power forward.

If we get one of the two centers in this draft.
Center - Ayton or Bamba
Power Forward - Horford
Small Forward - Hayward
Shooting Guard - Brown
Point Guard - Irving

If we get one of the 3 forwards/guards
Center - Horford
Power Forward - Tatum, Bagley or Porter
Small Forward - Hayward
Shooting Guard - Brown or Doncic
Point Guard - Irving

Now what I'm looking at is the second unit with Okafor.  Plus what I think the starting line up would be without the new rookies.  Plus I'm saying we resign Marcus Smart, the Celtics would be great next year and have the young core to keep it going for years even after Horford and if we decide to move on from Hayward or Irving years down the line.

Starting 5
Center - Horford
Power Forward - Tatum
Small Forward - Hayward
Shooting Guard - Brown
Point Guard - Irving

Second Unit Multiple Lineups
Center - Okafor, Ayton or Bamba
Power Forward - Yabusele, Morris, Theis, Porter or Bagley
Small Forward - Morris, Ojeleye
Shooting Guard - Smart, Doncic
Point Guard - Rozier, Smart

Plus we still have a late first that we'd be able to go after a young guard.  In my perfect world I'd move up in this draft with our pick and one of the other 1st we have to draft for Collin Sexton from Alabama, watched him in the all american game and was really impressed. 

Had a good time putting this post together and wanted to see what others thought.

He's played 1 game.........

And that was a 34 point blowout loss when Embiid sat out.  Okafor's net rating in that game was -28.1.  In his 1st two seasons, his net ratings were:  -16.6 and -14.5. 

[sdceltsfan]

No one on here is talking about his recent comments to ESPN. He clearly wants to play. Everyone interprets him as "lazy" which is hilarious to me. The dude was close to a 20/10 player in year one, on a terrible team, with a terrible coach, terrible team defense, with terrible ownership. You don't think that just might have A LITTLE BIT of a negative mental impact on a young player who came from the polar opposite in college?

This guy will be a monster come playoff time under Brad Stevens and the tuttlege of Horford and Baynes.

This is about as high of an upside "buy-low" as there is in the NBA right now. Okafor would give us a competitive edge against Cleveland and Washington, and dare I say Golden State. The inside offensive production he will bring won't be answered, and would open things up on the perimeter. If he can lock down the block on the defensive end, we would be a very scary team, even without Hayward.

[2short]

TP for original poster and 2nd post.  Okafor has some strong points I just don't see how he fits with us and where he gets his minutes.  We'd have him for partial year and then he'd be off.  I honestly would rather start saving money for baynes.  Very important player to team which doesn't show in box score.

That said if price was Nader and bird.  Easy, in a heart beat.  I'd keep al at pf all the time. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

He could help if a Duke brotherhood is our ultimate goal here.

[tazzmaniac]

No one on here is talking about his recent comments to ESPN. He clearly wants to play. Everyone interprets him as "lazy" which is hilarious to me. The dude was close to a 20/10 player in year one, on a terrible team, with a terrible coach, terrible team defense, with terrible ownership. You don't think that just might have A LITTLE BIT of a negative mental impact on a young player who came from the polar opposite in college?

This guy will be a monster come playoff time under Brad Stevens and the tuttlege of Horford and Baynes.

This is about as high of an upside "buy-low" as there is in the NBA right now. Okafor would give us a competitive edge against Cleveland and Washington, and dare I say Golden State. The inside offensive production he will bring won't be answered, and would open things up on the perimeter. If he can lock down the block on the defensive end, we would be a very scary team, even without Hayward.

Coach Brown isn't terrible.  Popavich made him the Spurs player development coach.  Coach Brown is also very defensive focused.  They were a top 15 defensive team with Noel, MCW and a bunch of d-leaguers.  Okafor's defense is lousy.  Last season's Cavs/Sixers game, Lebron stopped driving the lane with Embiid protecting the lane but when Okafor came in 3 of the 4 next plays were Lebron drives to the basket.  Okafor is definitely buy low but the upside is a lot lower than you project. 

[flybono]

My opinion on this:


He doesn't fit what the Celtics need in multiple ways.  Others have already talked about his lack of defense and his offense is limited to down low.


The other part of this is that this Celtics team doesn't need any more youth and doesn't need a player picked up in terms of long term needs. 


The Celtics need some veteran know how on the bench.  Someone who has done it before and can provide short burst of good NBA level play.   Someone the young players can go to for help.   Someone who helps the team when the NBA wall hits the 6 rookies.

Young Players can be Coached up. Boston has the right Coach to do it.

[chiken Green]

I dont like it because I dont trust JO.. I Don't trust him to hustle and play with Fire like the rest of our guys do.. I dont trust him to Work hard.. I dont trust him to be able to shine without having the offense run through him..... I dont believe he is some kind of Undercover rebounding machine waiting to be released... I dont trust him to have quick feet on Defense. I dont trust him to not gum up the paint.. I trust him as much as I trusted Sully to not eat..  And all this stuff about him being a stud in the playoffs.. I dont trust that.. We are a team with speed and length that plays with space and Pace..  He doesn't fit.. We need everybody to play Defense... He is not Hakeem Reincarnated..  You dont change your offense to fit a 3rd string cast off.. 

[vjcsmoke]

I would rather try to extend Baynes next year.

Okafor can't play defense worth a lick.

If we traded anything more than filler plus 2nd round pick it would be an overpay at this point.

I like the team we have now.

Yes we can make one more move but I feel like DA will wait till it gets closer to the deadline before he does anything.

Still early in the season and we can't use the injury exception to trade for a lot of players until sometime in january.  A lot of players are still ineligible to be traded until then.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Okafor is comparable to Yabusele in that neither can protect the rim, switch on defence or stretch the floor well...thus in my opinion both are redundant, take into account Okafor's poor free throw shooting he is worth a 2nd round pick max. Baynes is the perfect big man next to a max guy, never going to take up much cap space, tough, hard working, great rebounder, can stretch the floor to a point, hit his free throws enough to stay in at crunch time and a great attitude.

[blink]

I would say pass on Okafor.  He can probably help some other team out, and he still has a lot of potential.  But he isn't a good fit for Brad's system, he isn't a great def player that can take minutes away from Baynes or even Theis at this point. 

I absolutely wouldn't use the DPE on him, no way no how.  If we do use it, find a veteran to help the 2nd unit.  Hopefully a solid scorer who isn't a def liability.