Okafor or Bender ? ( POLL)

[rondohondo]

About Bender ?..a concern ...I'm a bit worried about the genetic thing of ACL tear ?   His brother has had a time with his knee early in life ........wonder if it might be prediction of future for this kid.

so have you done the research off all the family members of every draft prospect this year ?

[The Oracle]

This would be great to add second question to. "Did you like Okafor over Porzingis last draft?"

Who didn't?

Well I didn't, thought Porzingis was a better prospect.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's draft board last year was Towns and Porzingis at 1 and 2 in either order.  I thought for sure they would pull off the trade to N.Y. and snag him.  I don't believe that the C's have any interest in Okafor other than to use in another trade.  I had zero interest in Okafor last year.

Well, the rumors are that if they moved up to 4 they would have taken Winslow (ugh). So I doubt Porzingis was 2nd on their draft board.

The rumor mill is chock full of misinformation.  Their has never been any real confirmation that the C's wanted Winslow, let alone Winslow for themselves.  It is highly likely they were picking a player in that range to be traded.  I have always believed the most likely scenario was that they were acquiring a player to be used in trade for Porzingis.  There was some information come out 3 or 4 months after the draft that also suggested this.

[Androslav]

What are we comparing?
If it is the next years on floor production then Okafor is the clear choice. However, I dont think he moves the needle. Realistcaly we probably wont be in a position to win a championship next year. We wont be untill we get a star.
Bender has the higher ceiling. He has none of the violent character, defensive and durability issues. Okafor is something like a B.Lopez/Monroe mix. Not exactly a modern NBA type of big man mold. Bender is the exact opposite of Okafor playstylewise. He is the prototype future big. He could shoot, run, pass, drible and switch adequatly. The key word here is - could. But if he can that is too much of skill for him not to be a championship piece. We are talking about developing projects in both cases here. Bender just needs more work. He is 2 years younger thou. Cleveland has 2 more strong years in them, we can afford to develop.

[ahonui06]

Only reason I would take Bender over Okafor is because Celtics wouldn't need to give up anything to take him. Boston could take Bender at #3 and still have 7 other picks to play with.

[The Oracle]

What are we comparing?
If it is the next years on floor production then Okafor is the clear choice. However, I dont think he moves the needle. Realistcaly we probably wont be in a position to win a championship next year. We wont be untill we get a star.
Bender has the higher ceiling. He has none of the violent character, defensive and durability issues. Okafor is something like a B.Lopez/Monroe mix. Not exactly a modern NBA type of big man mold. Bender is the exact opposite of Okafor playstylewise. He is the prototype future big. He could shoot, run, pass, drible and switch adequatly. The key word here is - could. But that is  too much of skill for him not to be a championship piece. We are talking about developing projects in both cases here. Bender just needs more work. He is 2 years younger thou. Cleveland has 2 more strong years in them, we can afford to develop.

^^Exactly^^The C's are not lining up to contend for a title next year.  Outside of durant this years free agent market is super weak and there is very little chance he signs anything other than a 1+1 year deal with OKC lining him up with both Westbrook's and Ibaka's free agency and a much larger contract.  Next years free agency is very strong.  The C's should load up on cheap young talent adding to the core of I.T., Smart, Crowder and K.O. looking to develop this year and conserve cap space.  Bender will be fine off the bench in a Jerebko role for the next year developing that is if they don't trade the pick/Okafor ++ for Porzingis or Butler.

[arctic 3.0]

With all the positive reviews of this kids skill set, mental fortitude and physical traits we should be ecstatic  that he will likely be available at 3.

I've looked from afar as a new breed of big man has emerged,
Davis, Towns, porzingus... I've schemed up outrageous mock trades that would land one of these guys on the c's.

Now a prototypical 21st century big man is at our door step.

We should take the risk.

[alldaboston]

This would be great to add second question to. "Did you like Okafor over Porzingis last draft?"

Who didn't?

Well I didn't, thought Porzingis was a better prospect.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's draft board last year was Towns and Porzingis at 1 and 2 in either order.  I thought for sure they would pull off the trade to N.Y. and snag him.  I don't believe that the C's have any interest in Okafor other than to use in another trade.  I had zero interest in Okafor last year.

Well, the rumors are that if they moved up to 4 they would have taken Winslow (ugh). So I doubt Porzingis was 2nd on their draft board.

The rumor mill is chock full of misinformation.  Their has never been any real confirmation that the C's wanted Winslow, let alone Winslow for themselves.  It is highly likely they were picking a player in that range to be traded.  I have always believed the most likely scenario was that they were acquiring a player to be used in trade for Porzingis.  There was some information come out 3 or 4 months after the draft that also suggested this.

MassLive's Jay King said this:

According to a source inside the Celtics front office, the team targeted Justise Winslow as high as No. 4

Source: http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/boston_celtics_draft_rumors_da.html


The very respected Zach Lowe said this:

Porzingis was there at No. 4, though not without some drama. The Boston Celtics were hell-bent on moving up to draft Justise Winslow and offered the Charlotte Hornets four first-round picks -- including one of Brooklyn's unprotected picks -- for Charlotte's No. 9 pick. But that was Boston's fall-back plan, sources say. The Celtics initially chased Charlotte's pick with the idea of sending it to the Knicks, along with Boston's No. 15 pick, to vault all the way into the Knicks' draft slot -- where the Celtics would take Winslow. Charlotte refused Boston's pitches, and the scenario died. The Knicks downplay their interest in Boston's offer, though it's fascinating to consider how the draft might have played out -- and which fan base would be chanting "POR-ZIN-GIS!" today -- had the Celtics swooped in for Winslow at No. 4.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14262815/after-lost-decade-knicks-find-right-path

My point is, it's been reported everywhere. Danny wanted Winslow at 4. We should be happy any trades didn't go through. He didn't want Porzingis.

[rondohondo]

This would be great to add second question to. "Did you like Okafor over Porzingis last draft?"

Who didn't?

Well I didn't, thought Porzingis was a better prospect.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's draft board last year was Towns and Porzingis at 1 and 2 in either order.  I thought for sure they would pull off the trade to N.Y. and snag him.  I don't believe that the C's have any interest in Okafor other than to use in another trade.  I had zero interest in Okafor last year.

Well, the rumors are that if they moved up to 4 they would have taken Winslow (ugh). So I doubt Porzingis was 2nd on their draft board.

The rumor mill is chock full of misinformation.  Their has never been any real confirmation that the C's wanted Winslow, let alone Winslow for themselves.  It is highly likely they were picking a player in that range to be traded.  I have always believed the most likely scenario was that they were acquiring a player to be used in trade for Porzingis.  There was some information come out 3 or 4 months after the draft that also suggested this.

MassLive's Jay King said this:

According to a source inside the Celtics front office, the team targeted Justise Winslow as high as No. 4

Source: http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/boston_celtics_draft_rumors_da.html


The very respected Zach Lowe said this:

Porzingis was there at No. 4, though not without some drama. The Boston Celtics were hell-bent on moving up to draft Justise Winslow and offered the Charlotte Hornets four first-round picks -- including one of Brooklyn's unprotected picks -- for Charlotte's No. 9 pick. But that was Boston's fall-back plan, sources say. The Celtics initially chased Charlotte's pick with the idea of sending it to the Knicks, along with Boston's No. 15 pick, to vault all the way into the Knicks' draft slot -- where the Celtics would take Winslow. Charlotte refused Boston's pitches, and the scenario died. The Knicks downplay their interest in Boston's offer, though it's fascinating to consider how the draft might have played out -- and which fan base would be chanting "POR-ZIN-GIS!" today -- had the Celtics swooped in for Winslow at No. 4.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14262815/after-lost-decade-knicks-find-right-path

My point is, it's been reported everywhere. Danny wanted Winslow at 4. We should be happy any trades didn't go through. He didn't want Porzingis.

I've also read rumors he wanted porzings at #4 , I will try to dig up the article . Only Danny really knows though , just like oden vs durant in 2007 .

[Csfan1984]

Wasn't it another rumor that Porzinigis had a promise in 2014 draft by C's if he stayed in at 17. I know they had their eyes on Porzingis well before 2015

[Quetzalcoatl]

Okafor would be nice.  Murray would probably be a slightly better Booker / CJ McCollum, but probably still just below All-Star Level.  Bender might be a legit All-Star as a SF or PF, but could be out of the league in a couple years.  He could be a really elite role player. 

It's like trying to buy put options on stock. The ones with the highest variance have the highest transaction cost.  Murray is probably the safest option of the 3, Okafor is slightly safer but would probably require a throw in and Bender has the highest potential to be a multi-year All Star, but he could never amount to anything.  It's a tough choice.

[alldaboston]

This would be great to add second question to. "Did you like Okafor over Porzingis last draft?"

Who didn't?

Well I didn't, thought Porzingis was a better prospect.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's draft board last year was Towns and Porzingis at 1 and 2 in either order.  I thought for sure they would pull off the trade to N.Y. and snag him.  I don't believe that the C's have any interest in Okafor other than to use in another trade.  I had zero interest in Okafor last year.

Well, the rumors are that if they moved up to 4 they would have taken Winslow (ugh). So I doubt Porzingis was 2nd on their draft board.

The rumor mill is chock full of misinformation.  Their has never been any real confirmation that the C's wanted Winslow, let alone Winslow for themselves.  It is highly likely they were picking a player in that range to be traded.  I have always believed the most likely scenario was that they were acquiring a player to be used in trade for Porzingis.  There was some information come out 3 or 4 months after the draft that also suggested this.

MassLive's Jay King said this:

According to a source inside the Celtics front office, the team targeted Justise Winslow as high as No. 4

Source: http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/boston_celtics_draft_rumors_da.html


The very respected Zach Lowe said this:

Porzingis was there at No. 4, though not without some drama. The Boston Celtics were hell-bent on moving up to draft Justise Winslow and offered the Charlotte Hornets four first-round picks -- including one of Brooklyn's unprotected picks -- for Charlotte's No. 9 pick. But that was Boston's fall-back plan, sources say. The Celtics initially chased Charlotte's pick with the idea of sending it to the Knicks, along with Boston's No. 15 pick, to vault all the way into the Knicks' draft slot -- where the Celtics would take Winslow. Charlotte refused Boston's pitches, and the scenario died. The Knicks downplay their interest in Boston's offer, though it's fascinating to consider how the draft might have played out -- and which fan base would be chanting "POR-ZIN-GIS!" today -- had the Celtics swooped in for Winslow at No. 4.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14262815/after-lost-decade-knicks-find-right-path

My point is, it's been reported everywhere. Danny wanted Winslow at 4. We should be happy any trades didn't go through. He didn't want Porzingis.

I've also read rumors he wanted porzings at #4 , I will try to dig up the article . Only Danny really knows though , just like oden vs durant in 2007 .

I'd be interested in reading that article. If it's true, it's interesting that we see these varying rumors.

As CsFan1984 notes, your argument gains credence because, as he said, apparently we wanted Porzingis at 17 in 2014 (which I do recall reading). Which I find interesting. 2014 Porzingis is the same age as current bender. But he was more along the lines of mid first round pick, while bender is a top 3 pick.

[Csfan1984]

So Dirk, Porzinigs are missed but maybe now Bender answers the call? Jk

[slightly biased bias fan]

I can't believe that people are even considering Bender.

You don't take a guy like Bender at 3, with such boom and bust potential you just don't dump a 3rd pick like that especially when people on here are continuously whinge we can't contend. he is a major project, if you've watched him or read scouts reports, his jumper is broken, he has no go to move in the post, he lacks in game instincts and was a bench player in the Israeli league! Just think for a second that Rubio was a prodigy and a starting PG for several years at Barcelona (the biggest club in Europe) and even he sucked at the beginning and is only now starting to come good and has been in the league for 7 years. I don't know how you can take a guy like that at 3, maybe a mid rounder but not at 3.

[Future Celtics Owner]

This would be great to add second question to. "Did you like Okafor over Porzingis last draft?"

Who didn't?

Well I didn't, thought Porzingis was a better prospect.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's draft board last year was Towns and Porzingis at 1 and 2 in either order.  I thought for sure they would pull off the trade to N.Y. and snag him.  I don't believe that the C's have any interest in Okafor other than to use in another trade.  I had zero interest in Okafor last year.

Well, the rumors are that if they moved up to 4 they would have taken Winslow (ugh). So I doubt Porzingis was 2nd on their draft board.

The rumor mill is chock full of misinformation.  Their has never been any real confirmation that the C's wanted Winslow, let alone Winslow for themselves.  It is highly likely they were picking a player in that range to be traded.  I have always believed the most likely scenario was that they were acquiring a player to be used in trade for Porzingis.  There was some information come out 3 or 4 months after the draft that also suggested this.

Did you post on this blog last year that you wanted KP and were willing to trade to get the #4 pick to get him?

It's ok if you didn't. There can be a lot of group-think on this blog at times, and some people just do not feel it is worth it to stir something up.

I was really angry with Ainge after the deadline, even though he did a remarkable job getting IT( which I agreed with), because he should have waived:Bass, Gigi, and Jonas. Had Ainge done that we would have had the 11th pick at minimum. Just so happens Ainge's guy fell to 10 and my best friend Myles Turner went 11.

Anyways, it was pretty clear to me that we could possibly get KP and Myles Turner. there was no secret that the 4th pick was a tier below and NY was in a position where they were desperate for guards for the upcoming season and they were keeping Melo.

Started a push on here to trade IT and AB for the 4th pick( at the time it was an overpay, maybe we could get away without giving up that much) and the 19th for Kristaps and etc., then grab Myles Turner for 16,19,KO/Sully, Zeller, and ET( also an overpay, IMO Ainge could have negotiated something better)

Looking at it a year removed, having a front-court core duo of Kristaps/Myles Turner is as good as it gets. I got reemed for the trade proposals and for insinuating we should have waived Bass, Gigi, and Jonas; just to lose 3 games.....which we would have lost at least 3 games.

Just wondering if you received the same reaction for wanting to trade for the 4th pick/ draft KP.

What sucks is that Brandon Ingram had already caught my eye and inviosioning that front-court with him ( he was ranked 7 and up, and in some mocks was not coming out freshman year).

Smart
Ingram
Myles Turner
Kristaps
and another top pick 1-6

Also before drafting in this draft for Ingram we would have had a horrible record, but a proud and super young team. So our pick would have also been a top pick too possibly.

[PhoSita]

Bender is Tyler Zeller.

Because he's white and skinny and has sort of sharp facial features?

Seriously I don't know where this outrageous and uninformed notion is coming from.