Okafor or Bender ? ( POLL)

[The One]

Okay guys, let's think about it this way:

Okafor or Porzingis?

Which player has the greatest impact in modern NBA gameplay? Who would fit CBS system best?

I'll let you guys discuss

Well, probably Porzingis because he's better defensively.

But Bender is not like Kristaps, is he?

I see more of a young Pau for Dragan.

[ashanm10]

Okay guys, let's think about it this way:

Okafor or Porzingis?

Which player has the greatest impact in modern NBA gameplay? Who would fit CBS system best?

I'll let you guys discuss

Well, probably Porzingis because he's better defensively.

But Bender is not like Kristaps, is he?

I see more of a young Pau for Dragan.

Now let's think, why is Zinger better defensively? Older, stronger, more experience

I too get a Pau feeling from Bender but more versatile. Dragan played SF too lol..
Pau doesn't seem like a defensive stud but he made plays and I believe Bender could be better on the defensive end than him

[mmmmm]

Now Bender is more skilled offensively than Okafor??  The guy has literally scored 15 points this year.  ALL YEAR.  TOTAL.

No, that is not correct.  You are looking only at his appearances in 10 EuroLeague/EuroCup games, in which he played minimally (just 8.6 mpg). 

In his 26 IBSL games so far he has scored a total of 141 points (13.7 mpg, 5.42 ppg).

[Evantime34]

I'm really torn on this poll. I think these are far and away the best two options.

I really like Bender's fit with his ability to hit 3's on offense and guard multiple positions on defense. On the other hand I don't think he will contribute a ton for a few years. With the team we currently have I don't see him as better than our 4th or 5th big right now, but I think he has the chance to be our best big by the end of his third year.

On Okafor, I think he would give us the scoring punch we need. When our offense gets bogged down we don't really have a guy other than Isaiah who can score to break us out of a drought. I also think that with the NBA turning small, there is going to be less and less players getting minutes who can guard Okafor. Sometimes it pays to zig when the rest of the league zags. Another part of me wonders if it makes sense to pay a premium for a center, considering most teams go small to end games, do we want to give up a franchise level pick for a guy who might not close games.

 I think Okafor will be able to develop on the defensive end because of his length and basketball IQ, similar to the way Sully developed defensively. I also believe that being in Boston would help Okafor a ton in terms of developing defensively. In the end I voted for Okafor because if Okafor and Bender came out in the same year I'd expect Okafor to be in play for a top 2 pick while Bender is not.

[rondohondo]

I want Bender over Okafor, and it's not even close for me.....

“Dragan is more advanced at his age than Kristaps Porzingis was when he was 18,” a longtime NBA scout said. “Dragan has great length, and he can block shots. He can run the floor, and his ability to finish at the rim is exceptional. His shot is getting better all the time. On defense, he has the ability to guard the 4 or the 5. He needs to gain weight and strength, but his potential is jaw-dropping.”
– via Bleacher Report

 

That summer (2013), the Bender brothers traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to play in a Euroleague youth tournament. In one game, Dragan, who was two years younger than virtually every other player in the tournament, matched up against Kristaps Porzingis. Dragan scored 11 points against the future NBA lottery pick and, according to several observers who witnessed the matchup, held his own against the older Porzingis. “That was the day things changed for me,” Bender said. “That was when I realized I could have a shot at going places.”
– via Bleacher Report

[PickNRoll]

Now Bender is more skilled offensively than Okafor??  The guy has literally scored 15 points this year.  ALL YEAR.  TOTAL.

No, that is not correct.  You are looking only at his appearances in 10 EuroLeague/EuroCup games, in which he played minimally (just 8.6 mpg). 

In his 26 IBSL games so far he has scored a total of 141 points (13.7 mpg, 5.42 ppg).

OK.  That wasn't obvious looking at the various sites.  Thanks.

I guess my point still stands?  5 ppg?  Okafor has dominated NBA games offensively.  In fact he did it against our big men once this year.

[Ilikesports17]

Now Bender is more skilled offensively than Okafor??  The guy has literally scored 15 points this year.  ALL YEAR.  TOTAL.

No, that is not correct.  You are looking only at his appearances in 10 EuroLeague/EuroCup games, in which he played minimally (just 8.6 mpg). 

In his 26 IBSL games so far he has scored a total of 141 points (13.7 mpg, 5.42 ppg).

OK.  That wasn't obvious looking at the various sites.  Thanks.

I guess my point still stands?  5 ppg?  Okafor has dominated NBA games offensively.  In fact he did it against our big men once this year.

which is valuable to note because our big men are about the same level defensively in the post as most IBSL bigs.

[number_n9ne]

This is a wash for me. I've advocated for both in the past. My priority is a young, elite big that can grow with Stevens. Both fit in different ways. I will be happy with either outcome as long as the trade for Okafor doesn't give up more than #3, Rozier, and a future late 1st/early second (which I find more than reasonable considering they were calling for the BKN pick and Rozier before the lottery on the Philly boards.)

I think I'd actually like to see #16, #35, and Johnson moved for a vet. Maybe to the Thunder who have 0 picks in this draft for a guy like Ibaka who has been supplanted by Adams and Kanter and is a free agent next summer. I think he'd fit well next to either Okafor or Bender.

Zizic at #23, Maker at #31, Bentil at #45, Blossomgame at #51, and Felder at #58. Send some overseas.

Resign Turner and Sullinger to team friendly, tradable deals. I'm not a huge Sully fan but I'd rather own his contract as a trade piece than let him walk for nothing.

Lineup:
Thomas/Bradley/Crowder/Ibaka/Okafor (or Bender)
Smart/Hunter/Turner/Sullinger/Olynyk
Rozier (or Felder)/Young/Blossomgame/Mickey/Maker

Overseas:
Felder (if Rozier is traded)/Thorton/Bentil/Zizic

[mmmmm]

Now Bender is more skilled offensively than Okafor??  The guy has literally scored 15 points this year.  ALL YEAR.  TOTAL.

No, that is not correct.  You are looking only at his appearances in 10 EuroLeague/EuroCup games, in which he played minimally (just 8.6 mpg). 

In his 26 IBSL games so far he has scored a total of 141 points (13.7 mpg, 5.42 ppg).

OK.  That wasn't obvious looking at the various sites.  Thanks.

I guess my point still stands?  5 ppg?  Okafor has dominated NBA games offensively.  In fact he did it against our big men once this year.

If you use that method of comparison, then Tyler Zeller has also dominated NBA games offensively.

It is useful to try to use comparable context.  Okafor was a young big on a crappy young team with nothing to lose and on which he was the featured scorer.  Bender was a young big on a veteran-dominated team trying to win their league championship with several more featured veteran scorers way ahead of him on the totem pole.

Jordan Mickey got no usage on the Celtics.  Anthony Brown, taken right behind him at #34, got 599 minutes of play and Richaun Holmes, taken at #37 got 702 minutes of play.  Does that mean Brown and Holmes are better players?   No.  It means Brown and Holmes played on the crappy Lakers and Philly teams that could afford to play a rookie more.   Mickey was on the Celtics, a team fighting for playoff seeding.

[alldaboston]

This is a wash for me. I've advocated for both in the past. My priority is a young, elite big that can grow with Stevens. Both fit in different ways. I will be happy with either outcome as long as the trade for Okafor doesn't give up more than #3, Rozier, and a future late 1st/early second (which I find more than reasonable considering they were calling for the BKN pick and Rozier before the lottery on the Philly boards.)

I think I'd actually like to see #16, #35, and Johnson moved for a vet. Maybe to the Thunder who have 0 picks in this draft for a guy like Ibaka who has been supplanted by Adams and Kanter and is a free agent next summer. I think he'd fit well next to either Okafor or Bender.

Zizic at #23, Maker at #31, Bentil at #45, Blossomgame at #51, and Felder at #58. Send some overseas.

Resign Turner and Sullinger to team friendly, tradable deals. I'm not a huge Sully fan but I'd rather own his contract as a trade piece than let him walk for nothing.

Lineup:
Thomas/Bradley/Crowder/Ibaka/Okafor (or Bender)
Smart/Hunter/Turner/Sullinger/Olynyk
Rozier (or Felder)/Young/Blossomgame/Mickey/Maker

Overseas:
Felder (if Rozier is traded)/Thorton/Bentil/Zizic

TP. I think the part in bold is important. It would be fantastic if we can develop a coach-player relationship along the lines of Pop-Duncan. Obviously they won't be as good, but imagine if Okafor and Brad were with each other for over a decade! I think that'd be pretty awesome.

I also like the ibaka idea. I've said it before on this forum: current ibaka screams 2015 Batum in Portland. Batum wasn't really fitting in and was struggling last season. Hornets traded for him, and in a new situation he looked rejuvenated. Ibaka in a new situation (especially here, as a floor spacer and rim protector) could be very effective.

Sign me up for that lineup.

[hwangjini_1]

A lot of people here probably know how I feel about Okafor by now - I'm not a fan at all.

But if had to choose between trading for Okafor or drafting Bender, I would definitely take Okafor.  It would kinda be a no brainer.

I guess that says a lot about how I feel about Bender...

we shall see. for us at cb judging bender is near impossible. all of our normal criteria and tools for assessment dont work well. too little of the data we are used to using.

yet, bender has been HIGH on scouts radars for years now and the current evidence, which is thin thin thin, shows a lot of upside for bender.

so, we wont know for another 2-3 years on bender will we? it will be fun to see how he turns out, regardless of whether he is a celtic or not....though, unlike you, i hope he is one. 

[Future Celtics Owner]

Okay guys, let's think about it this way:

Okafor or Porzingis?

Which player has the greatest impact in modern NBA gameplay? Who would fit CBS system best?

I'll let you guys discuss

Well, probably Porzingis because he's better defensively.

But Bender is not like Kristaps, is he?

I see more of a young Pau for Dragan.

Now let's think, why is Zinger better defensively? Older, stronger, more experience

I too get a Pau feeling from Bender but more versatile. Dragan played SF too lol..
Pau doesn't seem like a defensive stud but he made plays and I believe Bender could be better on the defensive end than him

I'll tell you one huge reason. Length. KP has like a 7'7'' wingspan and probably a 9'5'' standing reach.

[hwangjini_1]

Okay guys, let's think about it this way:

Okafor or Porzingis?

Which player has the greatest impact in modern NBA gameplay? Who would fit CBS system best?

I'll let you guys discuss

Well, probably Porzingis because he's better defensively.

But Bender is not like Kristaps, is he?

I see more of a young Pau for Dragan.

Now let's think, why is Zinger better defensively? Older, stronger, more experience

I too get a Pau feeling from Bender but more versatile. Dragan played SF too lol..
Pau doesn't seem like a defensive stud but he made plays and I believe Bender could be better on the defensive end than him

I'll tell you one huge reason. Length. KP has like a 7'7'' wingspan and probably a 9'5'' standing reach.

just looked it up and saw porzingas at 7'6" and 9'6" respectively. lose an inch here, gain it  back there.

[Ilikesports17]

Okay guys, let's think about it this way:

Okafor or Porzingis?

Which player has the greatest impact in modern NBA gameplay? Who would fit CBS system best?

I'll let you guys discuss

Well, probably Porzingis because he's better defensively.

But Bender is not like Kristaps, is he?

I see more of a young Pau for Dragan.

Now let's think, why is Zinger better defensively? Older, stronger, more experience

I too get a Pau feeling from Bender but more versatile. Dragan played SF too lol..
Pau doesn't seem like a defensive stud but he made plays and I believe Bender could be better on the defensive end than him

I'll tell you one huge reason. Length. KP has like a 7'7'' wingspan and probably a 9'5'' standing reach.

In 2015 (when he was 17 I think) Bender measured a 7'2" wingspan and a 9'3" standing reach.

He could have grown since then (I kinda expect that he has) but there is still a pretty big disparity in wingspan and I think KPs standing reach is probably more like 9'6"

[boscel33]

Okafor over Bender. 

I'll get my scorer elsewhere, like Parsons or Bazemore via FA, unless I can swing a S&T with GSW for Barnes.