Why is everyone in love with Okafor?

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

[Eddie20]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

He's a stats on a bad team guy that actually contributes little to winning or anything other than what you see on the box score. He's the anti-Smart in that sense.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

He's a stats on a bad team guy that actually contributes little to winning or anything other than what you see on the box score. He's the anti-Smart in that sense.

Which is exactly why I don't understand the obsession with him on these forums. He's everything you don't want in a Celtic. Why trade the 3rd pick who could potentially be a superstar (we don't know) for him?

[danglertx]

There is an obsession on these forums with the front court of the worst team in the NBA.

[Goldstar88]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

Funny how we never hear of Okafor being a problem and having "attitude issues" when he was at Duke. He seemed to do pretty well there... If Okafor was in this draft it would be Simmons, Ingram, Okafor, and then everyone else. 

[PhoSita]

Because he can actually score inside and he's huge. The combination of skill and size he's got is tremendous.

He's unlike any big the Celts have had in decades in terms of pure centers.

He's flawed but I would be thrilled to see what Stevens can do with him.

[Eddie20]

Because he can actually score inside and he's huge. The combination of skill and size he's got is tremendous.

Now if he could only rebound and defend.

[Goldstar88]

Krzyzewski, who coached Okafor for one season, said people should not judge Okafor based solely on his most recent actions.

"Jah is one of the greatest kids ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever," Krzyzewski said following Duke's game against Indiana. "He did a couple of stupid things, and so knock him for it. Suspend him, but let's move on. Make him learn from it, but don't characterize him based on that. He's a special, special kid."

[vjcsmoke]

Agree CFF.  Okafor is the last guy I'd trade for.  He's a knucklehead off the court.  And on the court he can't defend, and he can't space the floor.  He has traditional 5 skills offensively, but this is the modern NBA.  Draymond Green is the type of Center we need, not Okafor.

[Goldstar88]

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski had enormous praise for star freshman Jahlil Okafor today on The Jim Rome Show. The Hall of Famer said he’s never had anyone better than the likely first overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft during his time in Durham.

“He’s as good as anybody I’ve coached at Duke,” Krzyzewski said. “I think, as a pro, I didn’t get a chance to coach Kyrie (Irving) only 11 games, he’s of that ilk, of Grant Hill’s ilk, actually Jason Williams, if he didn’t get hurt. You’re talking about National Player of the Year caliber and then the type of talent that translates into being a great pro.”

Coach K says Okafor’s skills translate off the court too.

[jpotter33]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

Funny how we never hear of Okafor being a problem and having "attitude issues" when he was at Duke. He seemed to do pretty well there... If Okafor was in this draft it would be Simmons, Ingram, Okafor, and then everyone else.

This. Okafor still has much more talent than anyone from three on. Hell, he might have even more talent than Ingram and Simmons. He was the number one prospect last year, and he was only ultimately eclipsed by what looks to be an All-NBA potential player in Towns.

[Chief Macho]

why would they trade him for a pick?   they won't.  so then it's going to cost Smart too.  which ainge isn't doing.

[PhoSita]

Because he can actually score inside and he's huge. The combination of skill and size he's got is tremendous.

Now if he could only rebound and defend.

Kids young.  No reason to believe he can't.

Coach K was happy to ride him to a NCAA title.  I believe he can be a big part of a really good team.

[max215]

Because he can actually score inside and he's huge. The combination of skill and size he's got is tremendous.

Now if he could only rebound and defend.

Kids young.  No reason to believe he can't.

Coach K was happy to ride him to a NCAA title.  I believe he can be a big part of a really good team.

Except that rebounding typically gets worse with age, not better.

[Eja117]

I don't get it, I really don't. For months everyone's been talking about how we should trade our pick for him if it's not top 2. And now that we have the 3rd pick I keep on seeing it. What is so great about Jahlil Okafor? I can't buy into it. Here's why:

He's not a team guy and clearly has some attitude issues (have we forgotten about the fight in Philly?)

He doesn't fit with Brad's system. Can't shoot and can't pass. He's gonna kill our spacing and be a black hole on offense.

Awful defender and subpar rebounder. We don't want another big who can't protect the rim, grab boards, or spread the floor.

I just don't get it guys.. Please someone explain why we should want this guy. I get that he has a great post game, but in the modern day NBA if you can't shoot, pass, or defend you're pretty useless. And it's not like his mediocre rebounding is going to make up for that.

I'm going to answer in the form of a question.....what's so great about Buddy Hield? What's so great about Amir Johnson or Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk? Or Jordan Mickey? Or Dragan Bender?