Does anyone else think the #3 for okafor is completely unrealistic?

[dannyboy35]

I even hear radio and tv guys talking about this possibility. It just sounds crazy for Philly. They will get way better offers.

[LarBrd33]

I guess it depends on what this draft looks like closer to draft night.   SOme people think it's good.  Some people seem to think it's garbage. 

I brought it up in another thread... some people have Jaylen Brown going 3rd and I've heard him called a poor man's Justice Winslow.  Winslow went 10th last year.  Does that mean the 3rd best player in this draft would have gone 11th last year?

If that's the case, I have no idea why Philly's best offer for a 20 year old big man rookie who has the potential to dominate inside... would be a player who would have been drafted 11th last year. 

Okafor might actually end up better than anyone in this entire draft. 

On the flip side, there's those that think a handful of months as a sitting duck in Philly has irreparably destroyed Okafor's trade value.  There's those who think Philly is desperate to move him and have no leverage.  There's those who think Okafor's stats were empty (as opposed to a prospect who put up worse stats on the College level) and that he has peaked at the age of 20.   There's those who think he's a career loser despite being a year removed from winning a National Championship.  There's those who think this team has some real gems outside of the top two picks and that PHilly might be anxious to grab one of the guards like Buddy Hield. 

So who knows... it's possible.

What we do know (widely accepted outside of this forum) is that Ainge tried trading a package built around the pick for Okafor at the deadline and that according to Ainge it was close, but Philly backed out.  My guess is, they backed out because of uncertainty surrounding where the pick would land.  It could have fallen much further than 3rd.  So perhaps now that they see it's locked in at 3rd, they'll be ready to make an actual move.  On the other hand, they probably had interest in the pick because of it's potential to end up in the top 2... so now that it's not top 2, they might not have any interest at all.   They could look to trade Okafor for a more established player.   Despite the idea that the league is "going small", big men still have a place in this league.  Star big men prospects are always going to be super valuable.  And this league is littered with guards.   They could just offer him up to the Suns for Bledsoe or Knight, for instance.  Why settle on an unknown prospect? 

[PaulP34]

Who's gonna offer them more then the 3rd pick ? LA isn't gonna trade their pick for him. Don't forget we got more assets then anyone in the NBA between draft picks and players with great contracts. Celtics have the ball in their court

[LarBrd33]

Who's gonna offer them more then the 3rd pick ? LA isn't gonna trade their pick for him. Don't forget we got more assets then anyone in the NBA between draft picks and players with great contracts. Celtics have the ball in their court

Who says they need to trade him for a pick?  Heh.  Maybe they'll trade him for Jimmy Butler.

[The Rondo Show]

What we do know (widely accepted outside of this forum) is that Ainge tried trading a package built around the pick for Okafor at the deadline and that according to Ainge it was close, but Philly backed out.  My guess is, they backed out because of uncertainty surrounding where the pick would land.  It could have fallen much further than 3rd.  So perhaps now that they see it's locked in at 3rd, they'll be ready to make an actual move.  On the other hand, they probably had interest in the pick because of it's potential to end up in the top 2... so now that it's not top 2, they might not have any interest at all.   They could look to trade Okafor for a more established player.   Despite the idea that the league is "going small", big men still have a place in this league.  Star big men prospects are always going to be super valuable.  And this league is littered with guards.   They could just offer him up to the Suns for Bledsoe or Knight, for instance.  Why settle on an unknown prospect?

Should be noted that the front office changed after the trade deadline. However, Colangelo inherited the same situation with way too many centers. One has to go. Most Philly writers believe Okafor is the odd-man out. Let's hope they're right.

[greenrunsdeep41]

Am I the only person worried about helping philly build a two-decade long super team? They're starting to look like they are going to be real tough for a long time. How about we don't help.

[TwinTower14]

Say it happens...philly would have Dunn, Noel, Embiid and Simmons to build around? Not too shabby.

[Who]

Depends on which big man Philly wants to keep. I believe a trade package built around the #3 pick would be a good starting point for trade talks should they choose J.Okafor to be the odd man out. So no, not unrealistic. It just depends on which big they choose to trade.

I'd like to see Philly move J.Okafor and J.Embiid. I think Noel should be their center. Not sure how Colangelo will view Noel though. Not known for having defensive centers.

[Snakehead]

By itself, maybe.  I think like 3 and Rozier though? 

I think they may want a bit more along those lines.  But I think getting the third pick and getting a guard makes a lot of sense for them.  Keep in mind they are most likely getting Simmons.  I think shedding a big is really necessary for them and the right move.  Don't let any playing time issue effect Simmons.  Also, get the team better immediately (while still being young).  I don't think the new GM will be as likely to just collect pieces with no care for fit like Hinkie was.  Or be so tied to Hinkie's picks as well.

[NHCelticsFan]

I would be willing to add James Young to the deal

[MattyIce]

Say it happens...philly would have Dunn, Noel, Embiid and Simmons to build around? Not too shabby.

and dario saric

[TwinTower14]

Say it happens...philly would have Dunn, Noel, Embiid and Simmons to build around? Not too shabby.

and dario saric

So healthy Embiid, Simmons, Saric, Noel and Dunn or Murray. Hinke is executive of the year

[Chief Macho]

why is philly trading okafur?   so they can keep worse players in embiid and noel?

[mctyson]

I even hear radio and tv guys talking about this possibility. It just sounds crazy for Philly. They will get way better offers.

Why? Okafor was a #3 pick.  Last year.  Trading him for a #3 pick would, quite literally, would be perfect value.

[celticsclay]

I guess it depends on what this draft looks like closer to draft night.   SOme people think it's good.  Some people seem to think it's garbage. 

I brought it up in another thread... some people have Jaylen Brown going 3rd and I've heard him called a poor man's Justice Winslow.  Winslow went 10th last year.  Does that mean the 3rd best player in this draft would have gone 11th last year?

If that's the case, I have no idea why Philly's best offer for a 20 year old big man rookie who has the potential to dominate inside... would be a player who would have been drafted 11th last year. 

Okafor might actually end up better than anyone in this entire draft. 

On the flip side, there's those that think a handful of months as a sitting duck in Philly has irreparably destroyed Okafor's trade value.  There's those who think Philly is desperate to move him and have no leverage.  There's those who think Okafor's stats were empty (as opposed to a prospect who put up worse stats on the College level) and that he has peaked at the age of 20.   There's those who think he's a career loser despite being a year removed from winning a National Championship.  There's those who think this team has some real gems outside of the top two picks and that PHilly might be anxious to grab one of the guards like Buddy Hield. 

So who knows... it's possible.

What we do know (widely accepted outside of this forum) is that Ainge tried trading a package built around the pick for Okafor at the deadline and that according to Ainge it was close, but Philly backed out.  My guess is, they backed out because of uncertainty surrounding where the pick would land.  It could have fallen much further than 3rd.  So perhaps now that they see it's locked in at 3rd, they'll be ready to make an actual move.  On the other hand, they probably had interest in the pick because of it's potential to end up in the top 2... so now that it's not top 2, they might not have any interest at all.   They could look to trade Okafor for a more established player.   Despite the idea that the league is "going small", big men still have a place in this league.  Star big men prospects are always going to be super valuable.  And this league is littered with guards.   They could just offer him up to the Suns for Bledsoe or Knight, for instance.  Why settle on an unknown prospect?

This is some stretched logic. Kind of reminds me of team a beat team b so they can also beat team c type stuff. Most people don't think Brown will go third, and if someone does have him going third they certainly think he is better than poor man's justice winslow. I think right now we are just all kind of guessing cause there is a decent amount of mystery around some of the top prospects. If Philly were enamored with Murray or Dunn after seeing them workout perhaps they would trade Okafor for a number 3 picks and a small additional piece (late first). I think Okafor showed enough in his rookie year that he is probably worth the number 3 pick. I wouldn't hate it if we did a trade like this.