Okafor was Ainge's Mystery Man?

[tankcity!]

Man his stats are impressive for a rookie. He is only 20 years old. I would've been happy to knab him. Too bad. I think we will have to include someone like Bradley along with the Brooklyn pick to get him in the summer.

[tankcity!]

I feel like our coaching staff could do something with a guy that has the  physical gifts and natural skills that Okafor has. The problems he's having in Philly feel like the result of playing in a bad team without any semblance of mentorship.

If we're not getting a top-3 pick (which seems more likely than not) I'm happy to trade the Brooklyn pick for him.

Problem is, I don't know that this trade will be there for us if we aren't in the top 3.  The Brooklyn pick was enticing, because of the chance it could end up being top 2.   If they turned down that, it's because they were rightfully concerned it will not be that high.

Since we are on this topic, what about Bender? He's a big that can shoot, he certainly fits the bill of a CBS player. He is also super young (18). Only criticism is that he is too soft, but playing in Europe this is normal.

He doesn't seem very skilled or athletic in the videos I've seen so that concerns me. Besides it's hard to tell if someone can shoot from watching highlights.

[greece66]

I feel like our coaching staff could do something with a guy that has the  physical gifts and natural skills that Okafor has. The problems he's having in Philly feel like the result of playing in a bad team without any semblance of mentorship.

If we're not getting a top-3 pick (which seems more likely than not) I'm happy to trade the Brooklyn pick for him.

Problem is, I don't know that this trade will be there for us if we aren't in the top 3.  The Brooklyn pick was enticing, because of the chance it could end up being top 2.   If they turned down that, it's because they were rightfully concerned it will not be that high.

Since we are on this topic, what about Bender? He's a big that can shoot, he certainly fits the bill of a CBS player. He is also super young (18). Only criticism is that he is too soft, but playing in Europe this is normal.

He doesn't seem very skilled or athletic in the videos I've seen so that concerns me. Besides it's hard to tell if someone can shoot from watching highlights.

I've heard the same things about Porzingis; and before that about Giannis; and before that about Peja. At some point Americans will realize that Euros can play bball too smh

[chambers]

OKafor shoots .356 from the 10-16 distance and .682 from the FT line.

Granted, he is not Draymond Green, but he is nothing like Drummond or Deandre Jordan when it comes to shooting.

TP.
He's a rookie. People are acting like he's been in the league 3 years and he's a bust because he's had a few attitude issues in that crappy situation in Philly.

Dude's footwork is the reason he's so good on the offensive end, and it's the same reason he can be coached into being a solid defender.

He's a young Marc Gasol with more length and better footwork. He's WAY better than Marc Gasol or Pau were at that age.
The Wolves traded KG for an Al Jefferson that wasn't even as good as Okafur.

We'd be blessed to have pulled off a move like that for a pick with an unknown outcome.

[abbmack9]

Just a thought here, but if it's just Hinkie as gm without the presence of Colangelo, do you think the Sixers make this deal? Interesting to think about the Hinkie/Colangelo dynamic there.

[tazzmaniac]

OKafor shoots .356 from the 10-16 distance and .682 from the FT line.

Granted, he is not Draymond Green, but he is nothing like Drummond or Deandre Jordan when it comes to shooting.

TP.
He's a rookie. People are acting like he's been in the league 3 years and he's a bust because he's had a few attitude issues in that crappy situation in Philly.

Dude's footwork is the reason he's so good on the offensive end, and it's the same reason he can be coached into being a solid defender.

He's a young Marc Gasol with more length and better footwork. He's WAY better than Marc Gasol or Pau were at that age.
The Wolves traded KG for an Al Jefferson that wasn't even as good as Okafur.

We'd be blessed to have pulled off a move like that for a pick with an unknown outcome.

Okafor's offensive efficiency has improved significantly since the Sixers picked up Ish Smith.  For the season, Okafor is only being assisted on 43% of his field goals.  Most bigs are assisted over 50% (e.g.  Monroe is 55%, Jefferson is 58%, M. Gasol is 69%).  Okafor's productivity as a rookie is definitely being undervalued. 

[Sketch5]

Depending on were the Nets pick ends up draft night, say 3 or 4, DA may still be able to get Okafor with that pick, maybe add ours or the Dallas pick too. Wouldn't be a bad haul for Philly if the get Simmons or Ingram and can add Dunn to their mix.

Simmons/Ingram
Dunn
Noel

Would be a good young core.

Okafor would have a good shot at being our Franchise player under Stevens. And people complaining about giving up the Nets pick for him with out seeing were its going to be is silly. Simmons and Ingram as of now aren't head and toes over Okafor. Simmons can't shoot and Ingram may not have the frame to add enough weight to bang with the big boys.

It would have been a good gamble.

But like I said if Philly gets top 2, and the Nets pick is top 5, that trade may come back into play.

[playdream]

It is madness
I am ok to trade BKN pick for Davis/Towns/KD or Butler/DMC
Okafor is a force in the paint about Offense and Reb, but he can't block shots, can;t run with the qicker guys, below average shooter and has issues outside the court

[Rosco917]

interesting, I would have thought Noel would be the big the 76ers chose to move.

IMO Embiid will always be one step from a career ending injury, I don't care how he plays. They'll never get the big return in a trade, should the 76ers try to move him.

That would mean they have chosen Noel to go forward with. I'm not seeing it.

[nickagneta]

If we are trading with Philly, I would rather have Noel.

I guess Philly feels the same way.

[hwangjini_1]

If we are trading with Philly, I would rather have Noel.

I guess Philly feels the same way.

hard to say. maybe ainge only wanted okafur (thinking the team needs the offense more) and didnt ask about noel.

i think CBS could turn okafur into a very good player and could run a good portion of the offense through him. plus, he would be excellent at putting back missed layups by IT et al.

okafur is averaging 17 points 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on a god awful team that didnt have any pg for much of the season. playing with ish has increased his scoring and efficiency.

okafur is very, very good.

[Casperian]

I don't buy it.

I know Danny has terrible taste when it comes to big men, but I refuse to believe this rumor.

[greece66]

If we are trading with Philly, I would rather have Noel.

I guess Philly feels the same way.

hard to say. maybe ainge only wanted okafur (thinking the team needs the offense more) and didnt ask about noel.

i think CBS could turn okafur into a very good player and could run a good portion of the offense through him. plus, he would be excellent at putting back missed layups by IT et al.

okafur is averaging 17 points 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on a god awful team that didnt have any pg for much of the season. playing with ish has increased his scoring and efficiency.

okafur is very, very good.

Please no Noel. His offensive game is very, very raw. And besides Okafor is born a winner - he suffers having to play for a tanking team.

A last point, for several reasons, the front office (as well as Brett Brown) prefer Noel to Okafor, so if they are trading anyone it will be him.

[spikelovetheCelts]

OKafor shoots .356 from the 10-16 distance and .682 from the FT line.

Granted, he is not Draymond Green, but he is nothing like Drummond or Deandre Jordan when it comes to shooting.

TP.
He's a rookie. People are acting like he's been in the league 3 years and he's a bust because he's had a few attitude issues in that crappy situation in Philly.

Dude's footwork is the reason he's so good on the offensive end, and it's the same reason he can be coached into being a solid defender.

He's a young Marc Gasol with more length and better footwork. He's WAY better than Marc Gasol or Pau were at that age.
The Wolves
traded KG for an Al Jefferson that wasn't even as good as Okafur.

We'd be blessed to have pulled off a move like that for a pick with an unknown outcome.

He would be a great player to aquire. They have to trade a big. We don't have to give up to much. Maybe the will take Young and Rozier too. Ingram and Simmons you keep. They are studs. Bender may Blossom. But there are few back to the basket bigs in this world.
I also feel Philly is fearful that what big they trade will end up being better than the ones they keep so they don't make a move. They have a comfort zone at moment with Embrid's injury,

[tazzmaniac]

The Sixers want to be a fast paced defensive team so obviously Noel is the better fit for them.  The Sixers very offensive offense overshadowed the fact that they were a top 12 defensive team last year.  Noel is limited offensively but he's actually good in transition and in the pick and roll.  Noel has played much better offensively this year and last with Ish Smith as their PG. 

Unless they get an extremely good offer, I think the Sixers should wait to move one of their bigs until after Embiid comes back and they figure out which pairing works best.  I think it will probably be Noel/Embiid.