Poll: Okafor or Buddy Hield

[gift]

Okafor probably has more value to more people, so you have to factor that in. If you're collecting assets, he is a more valuable one.

I'd rather have Buddy on the team I'm trying to win with though.

[Csfan1984]

 A hypothetical, we have a chance at both players right now.

 Without getting into what assets would be going out, which player would help the Celtics more short and long term, Buddy Or Okafor.

Very true this team could very much use both. A better 3pt shooter and a more efficient and reliable scoring big. Given Okafor's injury, and other issues couldn't C's trade of Smart, Dallas pick, Philly Second, and 2017 Net/C's pick rights for Okafor? I'd believe that would be more than enough. C's have a ton of options and can easily offer different trades and still get Heild.

[hwangjini_1]

Okafor is a better prospect than Hield. Okafor is two years younger than Hield, and his freshman numbers blow Buddy's freshman numbers out of the water.

The problem is, I think Philly would want more than just the Brooklyn pick for Okafor. So the question is probably Buddy plus picks for Okafor.

while it depends upon how the ping pong balls land, right now philly could realistically have two of the first four picks. i dont see why they would trade okafor for another pick in the same range or worse.

[Evantime34]

Okafor is a better prospect than Hield. Okafor is two years younger than Hield, and his freshman numbers blow Buddy's freshman numbers out of the water.

The problem is, I think Philly would want more than just the Brooklyn pick for Okafor. So the question is probably Buddy plus picks for Okafor.

while it depends upon how the ping pong balls land, right now philly could realistically have two of the first four picks. i dont see why they would trade okafor for another pick in the same range or worse.

If they land Simmons I could see them moving Okafor because he would decrease the space that Simmons needs to excel. Completely agree they wouldn't do it for a pick in the same range they picked Okafor at last year. I'd expect the Sixers to ask for a lot more than just the Brooklyn pick.

[The Rondo Show]

Okafor is a better prospect than Hield. Okafor is two years younger than Hield, and his freshman numbers blow Buddy's freshman numbers out of the water.

The problem is, I think Philly would want more than just the Brooklyn pick for Okafor. So the question is probably Buddy plus picks for Okafor.

This "younger age" adv is overrated.

Hield is as the complete as they come plus add some. 

Okafor developing fully in the NBA or college, why does it matter?  Maybe you could adv a little quicker in the NBA. But you still have to perfect your ft shooting, your body, your skills etc.

Hield chose to stay in college ball to perfect his game. And now will get rewarded for it

I don't think it's overrated. Studies have shown that on average players peak at at age 27 then begin to decline. Two extra years of development is important.

Hield has improved a lot in college but I see a lot more room for improvement (i.e. more upside). I don't think Buddy will come into the NBA and dominate right away. A lot of his shots he gets off in a tiny window, in the NBA the defense and athleticism makes that window shrink.

Last year is looking like it might be a truly great draft. This year looks like it probably will be an OK at best draft. Hield is probably going to go in the 3-7 range of an OK draft while Okafor went 3 in a very good draft. I like Hield, but taking him over Okafor in terms of value seems like a bad idea.

Well said. Plus the idea that Hield is "as complete as they come" is extremely far off. It takes one game of game tape to see he's from from complete. He's skilled, smart and has a high motor. He's a great shooter and willing rebounder for his position.

His defense, passing, ball-handling, penetration and shot selection -- you hit the nail on the head regarding college vs. pro defenses -- leave a lot to be desired though.

[Denis998]

Okafor is riddled with injury problems and a bum knee

[The Rondo Show]

Okafor is riddled with injury problems and a bum knee

Lol what in the world? He had a partially torn meniscus and is supposed to be 100% in 4-6 weeks.

[The Rondo Show]

Today Via J. Givony of DrafExpress & TheVertical:

Most observers think Hield’s NCAA tournament performance is dramatically boosting his draft stock, but that may not be the case.

“It’s nothing we didn’t know or haven’t seen already, but it’s good to see him doing this on the biggest stage he’s played on in his college career so far,” an NBA general Manager told The Vertical.

Today’s NBA leans toward bigger wings who can defend multiple positions, create for themselves and others, and stretch the floor beyond the 3-point line. Hield can do the most important of those three things – shoot – but falls short in the other two areas. At 6-foot-4 ½ in shoes, he’ll likely defend mostly shooting guards, and his passing metrics rate as the third-worst (ahead of only Brown and Indiana’s Troy Williams) among the 45 college guards or wings in the DraftExpress Top-100 rankings.

Hield’s NCAA tournament run should be celebrated and enjoyed by basketball fans. His matchup on Saturday night against Villanova is a must-watch game most who follow sports, but don’t be surprised that NBA general managers are just as likely to be roaming around gyms in Serbia or France while it’s happening.

[Celtics18]

I'd vastly prefer Buddy Hield to Jahlil Okafor.  Jah's extremely talented, but I don't trust him to use his talents to become a leader on a winning team--probably ever.

On the other hand, I can easily see Buddy being an integral part of a contender as a big time scorer.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Buddy Hield ends up being better than anyone else in this draft as a pro (and, yes, that includes both Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram).

[Rondo9]

Today Via J. Givony of DrafExpress & TheVertical:

Most observers think Hield’s NCAA tournament performance is dramatically boosting his draft stock, but that may not be the case.

“It’s nothing we didn’t know or haven’t seen already, but it’s good to see him doing this on the biggest stage he’s played on in his college career so far,” an NBA general Manager told The Vertical.

Today’s NBA leans toward bigger wings who can defend multiple positions, create for themselves and others, and stretch the floor beyond the 3-point line. Hield can do the most important of those three things – shoot – but falls short in the other two areas. At 6-foot-4 ½ in shoes, he’ll likely defend mostly shooting guards, and his passing metrics rate as the third-worst (ahead of only Brown and Indiana’s Troy Williams) among the 45 college guards or wings in the DraftExpress Top-100 rankings.

Hield’s NCAA tournament run should be celebrated and enjoyed by basketball fans. His matchup on Saturday night against Villanova is a must-watch game most who follow sports, but don’t be surprised that NBA general managers are just as likely to be roaming around gyms in Serbia or France while it’s happening.

Still gets no respect. 

[chilidawg]

6'4 makes him bigger than any of our current guards, so I'm not too worried about his height.

[max215]

Do you want the better prospect with a questionable fit in the modern NBA or the inferior prospect whose skill set fits the NBA  perfectly?

[Ilikesports17]

I'd vastly prefer Buddy Hield to Jahlil Okafor.  Jah's extremely talented, but I don't trust him to use his talents to become a leader on a winning team--probably ever.

On the other hand, I can easily see Buddy being an integral part of a contender as a big time scorer.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Buddy Hield ends up being better than anyone else in this draft as a pro (and, yes, that includes both Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram).

Okafor won a title with duke just last year. You can't expect 19 year old kids to carry teams to a ton of wins. Towns has way more talent around him, is the superior player and still the TWolves are the 5th worst team in the NBA.

[greece66]

Hield is 22; most players are drafted at 21 or younger.

There are two ways in which these two extra years might give a false impression of his talent.

First, he has a significant advantage over other players.

In the 18-22 range, a couple of years make a big difference.

Hield had 1-3 years more of high level basketball playing and training; he also had more time to improve his strength, speed etc

At least part of his recent success can be explained away by these factors.

Second, as a player spends more time in the NCAA it is harder to see how his skills will translate into the NBA. Add to this the danger is that the player gets used to NCAA levels of competition and might take longer to adjust to the NBA.

Clearly, being drafted young is no guarantee of success. James Young was drafted at 19, and his skills have not translated well either.

Still, I doubt Hield will maintain anything close to his present FG% and scoring against NBA defenders. DraftExpress has him at nr 7 of a weak draft class despite all the recent success. At least for now, it is best to remain a bit skeptical.

[Celtics18]

Hield is 22; most players are drafted at 21 or younger.

There are two ways in which these two extra years might give a false impression of his talent.

First, he has a significant advantage over other players.

In the 18-22 range, a couple of years make a big difference.

Hield had 1-3 years more of high level basketball playing and training; he also had more time to improve his strength, speed etc

At least part of his recent success can be explained away by these factors.

Second, as a player spends more time in the NCAA it is harder to see how his skills will translate into the NBA. Add to this the danger is that the player gets used to NCAA levels of competition and might take longer to adjust to the NBA.

Clearly, being drafted young is no guarantee of success. James Young was drafted at 19, and his skills have not translated well either.

Still, I doubt Hield will maintain anything close to his present FG% and scoring against NBA defenders. DraftExpress has him at nr 7 of a weak draft class despite all the recent success. At least for now, it is best to remain a bit skeptical.

Buddy Hield is much better now than when he entered college.  He's gotten better by working on his game. 

I think that what he's been able to do will translate quite nicely to the next level.  While it's true that he will be playing against defenders who are bigger, stronger and faster than the ones he's faced in college, I think it's conversely true that his offense could really flourish in the more wide open NBA system.  He is already very adept at working off screens and getting his shot off with just a sliver of daylight.

 He's being compared a lot to the likes of JJ Redick, who took a while to find his NBA groove.  I think Hield is already a better driver and finisher at the rim than Redick.  That will help him against players aggressively trying to close out on him.

Like Redick, Hield looks like he'll be a one position player in the pros.  He's a shooting guard, and that's it.  But, put him next to a lead guard who can really get in the paint and collapse defenses, and he could be scary good from very early on.

It's not like any of the other top prospects don't have risks involved with them as well.  I've been well aboard the Buddy bandwagon since seeing him play early in the season.  I'm staying on the wagon and going on record saying that I would love to see this kid in Celtics Green this June.