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

[esel1000]

I believe the reports as well... too much smoke. The day before the deadline there was a thread about Philly gauging interest in Okafor. I posted in that thread asking if people would trade the pick for Okafor and a few said they would...as would I. This isn't exactly a surprise, it would have been a great trade for us. Okafor's current production could be better than any of the prospects in this draft (I'll go ahead and say I hate this draft)  and he's going to improve...

Okafor gets a bad rep because he's the main man on a Philly team built to lose. He would have thrived 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.

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.

The reaction to this report is the equivalent of truthseekers who refuse to believe the Roswell incident was weather balloons simply because it's more exciting to believe it was UFOs.    Yeah, I get it... it's more fun to think Boston was on the verge of landing Anthony Davis or Karl Towns (both completely absurd ideas) for a draft pick... but the reality is that it was Okafor.  Okafor is exciting enough as-is depending on what else we were including. 

Ainge has had opportunities to dispute the report.  If you guys are that down on Bulpett's credibility and are that convinced that everyone is just "relaying Bulpett's report" when multiple sources have reported it without crediting Bulpett, you might want to get a petition together asking for the dismissal of Bulpett and send it to that tabloid rumor-rag he works for called the Boston Herald. 

But I do agree it's more fun to believe in the UFO (Kevin Durant) than the weather balloon (Jahlil Okafor)... it's nice to dream.

[Ilikesports17]

at this point Id say its basically fact that Okafor was the target.

[Ilikesports17]

The concern for me is not that the deal was based around the pick for Okafor, but what else were we willing to include.

I tihnk we have a core 5 of Thomas Bradley Crowder Smart Klynyk

if any were involved on top of the brooklyn pick I would be pretty ticked unless we were getting Covington back as well. Even then Id only probably part with Bradley.

[jpotter33]

I don't think it's too far out there to think Okafor was the target, though I'm not really that big on this draft either. However, I don't think there's any chance that both Smart and the Brooklyn pick were offered up. That's an overpay no matter how you slice it, especially given how awful Okafor's defensive numbers are and the questions about his maturity and character.

I still really question the fit of Okafor, though. I'd probably trade for him if the pick is outside the top-3, possibly even outside the top-2, though I'd really look hard at Brown. Mickey might actually be the ideal 4 to try and plant next to Okafor.

[LarBrd33]

at this point Id say its basically fact that Okafor was the target.

Regardless of who was first to report it, essentially every publication has reported it at this point, nobody from the Celtics has disputed it and nobody has reported an alternative.  It was Okafor. 

The only reason some people don't believe it is because it's more fun to believe in some alternative conspiracy theory.   I think that's a giant waste of time.  Instead of sitting here pretending like it was Jimmy Butler, why can't we just focus on the reality of the offer and what that means in relation to our future?   Will we still be able to make a compelling offer for a Philly big this summer?  Should we be concerned about the quality of this draft?  Would Okafor have flourished here?  There's plenty to explore with this story beyond the "maybe Ainge was actually referring to LeBron and just paid Bulpett to report a smokescreen" tinhattery.   

[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.

The reaction to this report is the equivalent of truthseekers who refuse to believe the Roswell incident was weather balloons simply because it's more exciting to believe it was UFOs.    Yeah, I get it... it's more fun to think Boston was on the verge of landing Anthony Davis or Karl Towns (both completely absurd ideas) for a draft pick... but the reality is that it was Okafor.  Okafor is exciting enough as-is depending on what else we were including. 

Ainge has had opportunities to dispute the report.  If you guys are that down on Bulpett's credibility and are that convinced that everyone is just "relaying Bulpett's report" when multiple sources have reported it without crediting Bulpett, you might want to get a petition together asking for the dismissal of Bulpett and send it to that tabloid rumor-rag he works for called the Boston Herald. 

But I do agree it's more fun to believe in the UFO (Kevin Durant) than the weather balloon (Jahlil Okafor)... it's nice to dream.

I think it was probably Okafor, I'm saying I listened to the podcast and nothing Bill said made it sound like he had actual sources. When he knows something because he talked to someone connected, he says so.

It doesn't mean Okafor wasn't the guy, Im just saying Bill Simmons mentioning it like he did isn't another confirmed source or anything.

Also, FTR, I'd be totally cool with moving the Brooklyn pick for Okafor, it's a great deal.

[BitterJim]

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.

The reaction to this report is the equivalent of truthseekers who refuse to believe the Roswell incident was weather balloons simply because it's more exciting to believe it was UFOs.    Yeah, I get it... it's more fun to think Boston was on the verge of landing Anthony Davis or Karl Towns (both completely absurd ideas) for a draft pick... but the reality is that it was Okafor.  Okafor is exciting enough as-is depending on what else we were including. 

Ainge has had opportunities to dispute the report.  If you guys are that down on Bulpett's credibility and are that convinced that everyone is just "relaying Bulpett's report" when multiple sources have reported it without crediting Bulpett, you might want to get a petition together asking for the dismissal of Bulpett and send it to that tabloid rumor-rag he works for called the Boston Herald. 

But I do agree it's more fun to believe in the UFO (Kevin Durant) than the weather balloon (Jahlil Okafor)... it's nice to dream.

I don't think anyone here honestly believes that Towns or AD were the target, but there are more than 3 players i the NBA.  It doesn't have to be Towns, AD, or Okafor

[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.

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

The reaction to this report is the equivalent of truthseekers who refuse to believe the Roswell incident was weather balloons simply because it's more exciting to believe it was UFOs.    Yeah, I get it... it's more fun to think Boston was on the verge of landing Anthony Davis or Karl Towns (both completely absurd ideas) for a draft pick... but the reality is that it was Okafor.  Okafor is exciting enough as-is depending on what else we were including. 

Ainge has had opportunities to dispute the report.  If you guys are that down on Bulpett's credibility and are that convinced that everyone is just "relaying Bulpett's report" when multiple sources have reported it without crediting Bulpett, you might want to get a petition together asking for the dismissal of Bulpett and send it to that tabloid rumor-rag he works for called the Boston Herald. 

But I do agree it's more fun to believe in the UFO (Kevin Durant) than the weather balloon (Jahlil Okafor)... it's nice to dream.

I think it was probably Okafor, I'm saying I listened to the podcast and nothing Bill said made it sound like he had actual sources.

Which is fine, but Bill DOES have actual sources.  He's friends with plenty of people on the Celtics, friends with GM's around the league, has connections with media at multiple local Boston and national publications.   I think it's kind of silly to paint him as an outsider who is only referring to a Bulpett report.  And if you listened to that podcast you also heard the cadence of his voice which was very much comes across as a knowing, "oh yeah, it was most definitely Okafor".   

[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.

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

The reaction to this report is the equivalent of truthseekers who refuse to believe the Roswell incident was weather balloons simply because it's more exciting to believe it was UFOs.    Yeah, I get it... it's more fun to think Boston was on the verge of landing Anthony Davis or Karl Towns (both completely absurd ideas) for a draft pick... but the reality is that it was Okafor.  Okafor is exciting enough as-is depending on what else we were including. 

Ainge has had opportunities to dispute the report.  If you guys are that down on Bulpett's credibility and are that convinced that everyone is just "relaying Bulpett's report" when multiple sources have reported it without crediting Bulpett, you might want to get a petition together asking for the dismissal of Bulpett and send it to that tabloid rumor-rag he works for called the Boston Herald. 

But I do agree it's more fun to believe in the UFO (Kevin Durant) than the weather balloon (Jahlil Okafor)... it's nice to dream.

I don't think anyone here honestly believes that Towns or AD were the target, but there are more than 3 players i the NBA.  It doesn't have to be Towns, AD, or Okafor

Referring to the different thread where someone here said they went to RealGm and some of their users believed it wasn't Okafor.  That same RealGM thread suspected the targets might be Karl Towns or Anthony Davis... which is downright ridiculous.  But I get why something like that is more appealing to imagine.  There's plenty of people in this world who decide to believe in fantastical myths over facts and reality.  Happens.

For instance, my mom sent me this image and commented, "Ugh... Trump's kid's are big game hunters": 



I tried explaining to her that was a picture of Steven Spielberg in front of a animatronic triceratops on the set of "Jurassic Park"... and even showed her this photo of Teddy Rosevelt photoshopped in front of that exact same triceratops...



... but nope... she believes Trumps kids are big game hunters. 

[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.

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. 

My default is to accept that Okafor was the target, because a major media report said so. But it was still only one report, which was then merely referred to by others. Why do you have such an obsession with cementing Okafor as the unquestionable target? Why are you trying to invent multiple reports and manufacture false certainty? Because you really, really like Okafor? Or is it because you have fun dominating the room a la Tony Clifton?

And no, everyone isn't just relaying the Bulpett report.

Yes, actually, that is literally what everyone has been doing so far. Including you.

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. 

Bulpett is still the only one to break it. If you have links to the contrary, then post them.

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.

You must've been banned there, eh? Or maybe someone there once upon a time kicked your dog? Whatever, it's not like only an idiot would wish for Davis or Towns, lol, only an idiot wouldn't. But anyway, that's not what the supposed insiders there said, they said that it wasn't Okafor, which is also what the guy at SoSH said, too, and the only player suggested by any of them as the real target has been Butler, not Davis or Towns.

If somebody besides Bulpett has independently reported it was Okafor, post it, and I'll be happy to see it and update my priors. But I'm not going to be bulldozed by you into seeing independent reports that don't exist.

[alldaboston]

What the hell do those pictures have to do with anything we are discussing 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.

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. 

My default is to accept that Okafor was the target, because a major media report said so. But it was still only one report, which was then merely referred to by others. Why do you have such an obsession with cementing Okafor as the unquestionable target? Why are you trying to invent multiple reports and manufacture false certainty? Because you really, really like Okafor? Or is it because you have fun dominating the room a la Tony Clifton?

And no, everyone isn't just relaying the Bulpett report.

Yes, actually, that is literally what everyone has been doing so far. Including you.

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. 

Bulpett is still the only one to break it. If you have links to the contrary, then post them.

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.

You must've been banned there, eh? Or maybe someone there once upon a time kicked your dog? Whatever, it's not like only an idiot would wish for Davis or Towns, lol, only an idiot wouldn't. But anyway, that's not what the supposed insiders there said, they said that it wasn't Okafor, which is also what the guy at SoSH said, too, and the only player suggested by any of them as the real target has been Butler, not Davis or Towns.

If somebody besides Bulpett has independently reported it was Okafor, post it, and I'll be happy to see it and update my priors. But I'm not going to be bulldozed by you into seeing independent reports that don't exist.

Dino would it make any difference at all if instead of ESPN or Bill SImmons saying, "The Celtics tried trading the Brooklyn 1st for Okafor" they said, "According to my independent sources, I can confirm independently of Bulpett that the Celtics tried trading the Brooklyn 1st for Okafor"... It's just silly.   The report is what it is... a report of what happened.  It's out in the open now.   Usually false rumors are met with stiff denials and follow-up reports disputing them.  That hasn't happened, because this is pretty straight-forward.  Okafor was being shopped.  Boston made an offer, because they like him.  Philly decided they didn't want to do it probably for the same reason Boston offered the Brooklyn 1st in a package to begin with:   this draft might be pretty bad and Okafor very likely will be better than what we end up with unless we defy the odds, land Ben Simmons, and Ben Simmons ends up better than Okafor.

[Dino Pitino]

Your attempt to equate being skeptical that Okafor was the target with idiotic conspiracy theorizing is an insult and straight up trolling. I'm reporting you, and I doubt I'm the first, but I find it hard to believe that the admins here knowingly tolerate the trolling of somebody whose avatar celebrates the most famous troll of all time, so I have to try at least once. Then again, maybe they know but they like the clicks your trolling produces, eh? Or would that line of thought be idiotic conspiracy theorizing?

[LarBrd33]

What the hell do those pictures have to do with anything we are discussing here?

My mother doesn't believe the Celtics offered the Brooklyn 1st for Jahlil Okafor.