That makes no sense. Supposedly Boston offered a package built around the Brooklyn pick (who knows what else we were offering) for Okafor and Philly ultimately turned it down.
WHy did they turn it down? Well, probably because there was still significant uncertainty about the Brooklyn pick. Had Brooklyn won a handful of games and the lotto balls bounced wrong, that pick could have been outside of the top 6.
I'm not getting your point here.
The uncertainty is exactly why they wouldn't have made the trade
if the rumors are true (which is still a big assumption).
At the time of the trade deadling, I think Brooklyn was in the #4 spot after Philly, LA and Phoenix. Minnesota was falling rapidly and closing in themselves. It was entirely possible Brooklyn could have had the 5th worst record by the time the end of the season came along, meaning that the pick could have fallen as far as 8th.
Would Philly trade Okafor for a pick that could have fallen as far as 7 or 8? Obviously they would have needed extra sweeteners added in in order to take that gamble, which Boston wouldn't have wanted to offer because the pick could have just as easily gone the other direction (as high as #1).
Now we now it is going to be a top 3 pick, which obviously changes everything.
Why else did they turn it down? Well, if it aint broke don't fix it. They were trying to tank it up. It worked out. Now they have the top pick to thank for their tankjob.
Because it WAS broke?
Philly didn't seem like they really wanted to have another disaster tank-a-thon, which is why they fired head honcho tanker.
The team was a laughing stock for about the third year straight, their two best prospects (Noel and Okafor) were completely incapable of playing effectively together, and their other top prospect (Okafor) still hadn't played a game.
It wasn't only broke, it was straight up shattered.
They need prospects with star potential who AREN'T centers - the #3 pick would give them the opportunity to do just that.
Why else? Well maybe because Okafor might end up better than every player in this draft. So why bother?
Because Dunn and Hield both have star potential, and both fit Philly better then Okafor does.
Because Bender would also be a better fit in Philly then Okafor.
Because just about everybody in the top 6 of this year's draft would be a better fit to Philly then Okafor.
Unless/until Embiid can show that he is (a) healthy enough to play and (b) as capable as everybody hoped he would be, the Sixers really can't afford to keep both Noel and Okafor. They go together like chalk and cheese - they are a terrible fit. They need a guard, a wing, or a versatile two-way big...and they need talent at multiple positions.
Makes more sense to trade Okafor and fill two needs with talented young prospects, then it does to keep moving forward with a frontcourt that makes no sense.
Also, can someone tell me where someone like Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield or Jaylen Brown would have gone in the 2015 NBA draft? I don't follow College ball, but someone said yesterday that Jaylen Brown is a poor man's Justice Winslow. Winslow went 10th in the 2015 draft. If Brown is a poor man's Winslow and some mocks have us taking him 3rd, doesn't that seem to suggest that the 3rd best player in this draft wouldn't have gone in the top 10 last year? Then, explain to me why the #3 pick alone would be equal value for a player who was taken 3rd last last year in a superior draft and is clearly an excellent big man prospect who can already contribute?
I think Hield and Dunn are more talented then then anybody from the 2015 draft outside of Towns.
Dunn is a 6'4" PG with elite length and outstanding athleticism, and great intangibles who can do pretty much everything (shoot, get to the rim, defend, rebound, pass, handle the ball) - he might be the most complete PG to make the draft since Chris Paul.
Hield is an elite scorer and probably the best shooter to make the draft since Steph Curry, while also having good size, good athleticism, outstanding intangibles, and the tools to become a very good defensive player.
Hard to say where they would go in the draft purely because talent isn't the only factor - age generally plays a heavy part in determining draft positions and Hield/Dunn are both old (22) for rookies which likely drags them down. But in terms of pure talent and star potential, I think they are above everybody from 2015 except Towns - and yes I'm including Porzingis in that.
Topic: Heild or Murray , or Okafor ? (Read 13224 times)