Bill Simmons suspects the Celtics don't like this bad draft. Okafor was target.

[LarBrd33]

Listened to the most recent Bill Simmons podcast with Joe House.  Celtic talk around 34:30:  http://thebillsimmonspodcast.tumblr.com/post/139803507038/joe-house-on-curry-vs-cp3-and-the-dud-potential

Bill admits the Celtics offered the Brooklyn pick for Okafor.  Both he and House agreed they would have traded the Brooklyn pick for Okafor.  Joe House: "oh god yes".  They both like Okafor's game.  Believe he could have fit with Boston. 

They go into the draft a bit.  Bill suspects the Celtics don't like this draft.  Ben Simmons has nice potential, but they question his aggressiveness.  He can't shoot and he's soft.   Ingram is years away.   They cite an article that said the second half of the 2015 lottery (Stanley Johnson, Kaminsky, Winslow, Turner, Lyes, Booker, etc) being better than the 2016 draft.

Bill lamented the fact we might end up with multiple lottery picks in one of the worst drafts in a while. 

Bill's a bit of a pessimist, but it's interesting.  He obviously has ties in the league, so him confirming that Okafor was the target locks it in for me.  I 95% believed the report.  I'm up to 100%. 

That said, I agree with the CelticsBlog article today that suggested the Brooklyn pick wouldn't have been the only piece we offered:  http://www.celticsblog.com/2016/2/24/11104604/deciphering-the-celtics-deadline-day-jahlil-okafor-talks 

First of all, I can't imagine for the life of me why Philly would give up a guy like Okafor (who might end up being better than every single player in this draft) for a draft pick that can very easily fall outside the top 5.  Second of all, if you listen to Ainge's radio interview (before it was revealed Okafor was the target), he references offering a big "package" including the Brooklyn pick.   Have to wonder what else we would have been sending to Philly.   I suspect it was either Marcus Smart or Avery Bradley.  Interesting to see the Philly blogger in that CelticsBlog article saying he wouldn't trade Okafor for Marcus Smart and the Brooklyn pick if it falls outside the top 2. 

B.M.: There seemed to be some indication that talks could begin again later. From Ainge's aggressiveness you'd have to think he likes Okafor more than this draft himself. What do you think it would take from Boston's end to move Okafor in June? With the BKN pick, there's the wild possibility that PHI could end up with 3 picks in the top five, which has to be unprecedented.

J.P.: If the Brooklyn pick is top two, then yeah, I make the trade. Personally, not going to be much interested otherwise. Maybe Philly would be interested in the Brooklyn pick, Marcus Smart and other filler, but that doesn't appeal to me.

Nonetheless, it's going to be an interesting Summer.  Philly will inevitably move one of their bigs and Ainge might be anxious to get rid of draft picks.   HOpefully a deal goes down. 

[Granath]

I suspect you're full of s**t. There's no chance that Ainge would offer the Brooklyn pick and Smart for Okafor at this juncture of their careers.

If the Brooklyn pick was 6th or 7th? Then maybe. But now? Not a snowball's chance in hell.

[LarBrd33]

I suspect you're full of s**t. There's no chance that Ainge would offer the Brooklyn pick and Smart for Okafor at this juncture of their careers.

If the Brooklyn pick was 6th or 7th? Then maybe. But now? Not a snowball's chance in hell.

Ainge called the offer a "risk".  Offering the Brooklyn pick for Okafor is in no way a "risk" for Boston.  That's a no-brainer.  Had to include addition pieces. 

[Eddie20]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

[cltc5]

I couldn't agree more.  Outside of the top two this draft is garbage.  Simmons is overhyped and Ingram is a string bean.  Last years draft was way better.  Thank god we didn't tank

[LarBrd33]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak. 

[Eddie20]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on that draft.

I'm referring to your title "Simmons suspects Ainge doesn't like this bad draft".

[Dino Pitino]

He obviously has ties in the league, so him confirming that Okafor was the target locks it in for me.  I 95% believed the report.  I'm up to 100%. 

What were his exact words when he "admitted"/"confirmed" it?

p.s. the Nets pick AND SMART? Hahahaha, no.

[Ilikesports17]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak.

Smart and a top 6 pick for Okafor is not a risk for philly.

[LarBrd33]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on that draft.

I'm referring to your title "Simmons suspects Ainge doesn't like this bad draft".

Plenty of folks recap podcasts and radio interviews here.

[LarBrd33]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak.

Smart and a top 6 pick for Okafor is not a risk for philly.

Actually, if Smart stays at his current level of play and the draft pick busts... yeah, that's a risk.   Okafor will very easily be a 20 and 10 guy long-term.  I doubt Smart was included in the offer though.  Probably a lesser asset than Smart.

[Dino Pitino]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak.

Dude, the ESPN report was just reiterating the Bulpett report. This has to be the 10th time you've had that pointed out. You persist in misrepresenting it as a separate, independent report. It is incredibly annoying. Is that the point? Do you get off on annoying people?

EDIT: Oh god, just noticed this...



...so, yeah, I presume you do.

[Eddie20]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on that draft.

I'm referring to your title "Simmons suspects Ainge doesn't like this bad draft".

Plenty of folks recap podcasts and radio interviews here.

Yes, but you're starting a thread with what Simmons thinks about the draft. That's like me starting a thread in the off-topic section about your predictions on the Kentucky Derby.

[LarBrd33]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak.

Dude, the ESPN report was just reiterating the Bulpett report. This has to be the 10th time you've had that pointed out.

Lol.  The level of denial about Okafor being the target is hilarious.  Why can't some of you guys accept it?  We offered the Brooklyn pick + additional assets for Okafor.  Supposedly, we also tried to grab him on draft day.  It is what it is, man. 

And no, everyone isn't just relaying the Bulpett report.  It's out in the open now.  Okafor was the target.  Bulpett was just the first to break it.  After that radio interview, someone was going to come out with it. 

I know some of the idiots on RealGm are wishing that the target was Anthony Davis or Karl Towns... had that been the case, someone would have disputed the Bulpett report by now and cashed in on the web traffic... but nobody is going to do it, because everyone knows it was Okafor.

[indeedproceed]

Why do you put so much stock in what Simmons and House say? You've mentioned them before when they said they would trade the pick for Hayward. They're both fans and House is especially awful. Honestly, when has House brought anything remotely close to insight on the podcast?

As far as the Okafor thing goes, Bulpett reported it, the ESPN team covering the televised Celtic game reported it, and now Simmons is confirming it.   It happened.   Either that means the Celtics are high on Okafor or low on the draft.  THere's also plenty of sources calling this draft weak.

Dude, the ESPN report was just reiterating the Bulpett report. This has to be the 10th time you've had that pointed out.

Yeah its pretty obvious he's referencing the other report, and agrees with it.