Mitch Kupchak " I'm not sure the gap between#2 and #3 is as big as people think"

[jpotter33]

It's hard to imagine why they wouldn't want Ingram. I could see them maybe not liking Simmons so much with their core group. What if Philly takes Ingram and the Lakers decide to take Bender because Mitch is in love with his skill and size combo? Maybe they pick up a couple extra firsts by trading with the Celts and the Celts end up with Simmons after all.

I'd be thrilled with either Ingram or Simmons. But maybe Mitch is just being weird.

I think they love Simmons, but they've just resigned with Philly drafting him. Ingram I don't think they're that in love with him from the looks of it, otherwise Mitch wouldn't saying this. Why would you want to devalue your pick, especially if it's hyped as a two player draft? And especially if your rival has the number 3 pick?

Yeah, I agree with this. I think they're not that high on Ingram, which sucks for them since he'd slot right in with that team.

But I honestly don't think that Simmons is a lock to go to Philly. If Hinkie was still in charge, there'd be no question that he'd take BPA. But I don't think Colangelo is like that. By picking Simmons, they'd ultimately have five valuable good NBA quality rotation players on their roster, but they'd all be 4's and 5's. That's just not an ideal situation. Combining that with Colangelo recently saying that he thinks you can only have so many rookies on a team and develop so many players at one time (https://www.reddit.com/r/sixers/comments/4j2hb5/jake_fischer_on_twitter_b_colangelo_to/), I really don't think that Simmons is a lock to go first to Philly, and I still wouldn't rule out a trade.

I actually think we could be an ideal trading partner for them, depending upon who they're looking at with the three pick. If they're looking at Murray or Hield, then something like Smart and #3 (maybe #16, too) for #1 might be a good deal for them with Smart being an ideal matchup with either of those two in the backcourt. However, if they're looking at Dunn, perhaps they're more inclined to a player like Crowder, since Smart wouldn't necessarily be a great fit alongside Dunn. Dunn and Hield are also older rookies who have more experience playing and need less development, which seems to be right up Colangelo's alley. Philly writers have even pegged us as the ideal trading partner if they're going to trade back in the draft: https://thesixersense.com/2016/05/21/rumors-could-the-philadelphia-76ers-trade-back/2/.

If Philly was interested, I'd propose a bigger deal: Smart, Crowder, and #3 for Okafor/Noel and #1. That's a pretty good turnaround for them if they're finally looking to turn the corner, which it seems they are since there's only so many rookies you can add each year. That'd give them the following lineup:

PG: Smart, Marshall
SG: Murray/Hield, Stauskas
SF: Crowder, Covington
PF: Saric, Holmes
C: Embiid, Okafor/Noel

With having the Lakers pick next year, too, they can then go our route and have someone else tank for them.

We'd also be set up nicely, too.

PG: IT, Rozier
SG: Bradley, Hunter
SF: ??, Young
PF: Simmons, Amir, JJ
C: Noel/Okafor, KO, Mickey

We'd need to find our starting small forward for the year, but luckily there are several available this summer - Durant, Barnes, Batum, etc..

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

This wuote was stated prior to the receiving the 2nd pick. He was more then likelytryng to hype up the 3rd oick value incase he  got stuck with it.  Yea. The gap isnt big but... Theres still a gap. I cobfirmed this on the lakers forum.. As few here agreed.. Laker fans are not really trying to see a rebuild. There forums speak for itself. At his point , the only thing that can change that is workouts

[Rondo9]

Okafor is likely gone.

[jpotter33]

This wuote was stated prior to the receiving the 2nd pick. He was more then likelytryng to hype up the 3rd oick value incase he  got stuck with it.  Yea. The gap isnt big but... Theres still a gap. I cobfirmed this on the lakers forum.. As few here agreed.. Laker fans are not really trying to see a rebuild. There forums speak for itself. At his point , the only thing that can change that is workouts

Ah, that would make sense if that's the case.

[PhoSita]

This wuote was stated prior to the receiving the 2nd pick. He was more then likelytryng to hype up the 3rd oick value incase he  got stuck with it.  Yea. The gap isnt big but... Theres still a gap. I cobfirmed this on the lakers forum.. As few here agreed.. Laker fans are not really trying to see a rebuild. There forums speak for itself. At his point , the only thing that can change that is workouts

Ah, that would make sense if that's the case.

Well then. Moving along then ....

[jpotter33]

This wuote was stated prior to the receiving the 2nd pick. He was more then likelytryng to hype up the 3rd oick value incase he  got stuck with it.  Yea. The gap isnt big but... Theres still a gap. I cobfirmed this on the lakers forum.. As few here agreed.. Laker fans are not really trying to see a rebuild. There forums speak for itself. At his point , the only thing that can change that is workouts

Ah, that would make sense if that's the case.

Well then. Moving along then ....

I still don't think it would preclude them picking someone like Bender at two, though. If he comes in and puts on awesome workouts, measurements, and interviews, I could definitely see him taking Bender after the Porzingis deal last year. But this definitely does put the quote into an entirely different perspective.

[alldaboston]

This wuote was stated prior to the receiving the 2nd pick. He was more then likelytryng to hype up the 3rd oick value incase he  got stuck with it.  Yea. The gap isnt big but... Theres still a gap. I cobfirmed this on the lakers forum.. As few here agreed.. Laker fans are not really trying to see a rebuild. There forums speak for itself. At his point , the only thing that can change that is workouts

Dang. Oh well. Fun while it lasted. TP for pointing it out.

[Future Celtics Owner]

My opinion on Mitch's comment is that I think he's trying to downplay expectations on himself in case he somehow screws up having the #2 pick after passing on Okafor and failing to get a big name FA last summer, and watching the team tank away Kobe's final season. Its like trying to say "hey guys , getting the #2 pick is no slam dunk you know".

Russell turned out to be solid for them.

He looks solid so far, but he is no star, solid is not what you want for the #2 pick. They missed on Okafor and Porzingis with that pick. It will haunt them long term.

Russell will be a borderline star in this league. He's very talented. It won't be a miss in my opinion and it won't haunt them.

I agree. I'd rather have Russell than Okafor, and I think he could turn out better than Porzingis. People don't realize how much Porzingis cooled down after the first month or two.

Okafor as well, he was blocking more shots. He came into the league 280lbs but has nimble feet, graceful moves, and great hands.
The things he has to get better and work on: stamina, lateral quickness, defensive rotations, take a ton more jump shots from 10'-15' and extend range so he can be a threat out to 19', get your shot blocked less(his fg% suffered bc he got his shot blocked so much), rebounding, block more shots, get up and down the court faster, ft%.

^^Most and maybe all of these things could happen with 3 things:
1)Sculpt his body- as opposed to most big men Okafor is blessed with a 280lb frame w/o being overweight and being so young. It's much easier to work with muscle once you have it and then get cut up.
Sculpting his body, getting leaner, and getting stronger should improve many of the weaker parts to his game.
2)Take more jumpshots- he was unbelievably reluctant to shoot even a 10' wide open at times. This is not talked about a lot but his reluctance to take jumpers severely affected his game. He can make the shots and I've seen him take step back's at 17' but he needs to be able to knock down 10'-15' shots at a very good rate bc that will open his game up and defenses won't pack it in as bad.
3) Time

[Future Celtics Owner]

It's hard to imagine why they wouldn't want Ingram. I could see them maybe not liking Simmons so much with their core group. What if Philly takes Ingram and the Lakers decide to take Bender because Mitch is in love with his skill and size combo? Maybe they pick up a couple extra firsts by trading with the Celts and the Celts end up with Simmons after all.

I'd be thrilled with either Ingram or Simmons. But maybe Mitch is just being weird.

I think they love Simmons, but they've just resigned with Philly drafting him. Ingram I don't think they're that in love with him from the looks of it, otherwise Mitch wouldn't saying this. Why would you want to devalue your pick, especially if it's hyped as a two player draft? And especially if your rival has the number 3 pick?

Yeah, I agree with this. I think they're not that high on Ingram, which sucks for them since he'd slot right in with that team.

But I honestly don't think that Simmons is a lock to go to Philly. If Hinkie was still in charge, there'd be no question that he'd take BPA. But I don't think Colangelo is like that. By picking Simmons, they'd ultimately have five valuable good NBA quality rotation players on their roster, but they'd all be 4's and 5's. That's just not an ideal situation. Combining that with Colangelo recently saying that he thinks you can only have so many rookies on a team and develop so many players at one time (https://www.reddit.com/r/sixers/comments/4j2hb5/jake_fischer_on_twitter_b_colangelo_to/), I really don't think that Simmons is a lock to go first to Philly, and I still wouldn't rule out a trade.

I actually think we could be an ideal trading partner for them, depending upon who they're looking at with the three pick. If they're looking at Murray or Hield, then something like Smart and #3 (maybe #16, too) for #1 might be a good deal for them with Smart being an ideal matchup with either of those two in the backcourt. However, if they're looking at Dunn, perhaps they're more inclined to a player like Crowder, since Smart wouldn't necessarily be a great fit alongside Dunn. Dunn and Hield are also older rookies who have more experience playing and need less development, which seems to be right up Colangelo's alley. Philly writers have even pegged us as the ideal trading partner if they're going to trade back in the draft: https://thesixersense.com/2016/05/21/rumors-could-the-philadelphia-76ers-trade-back/2/.

If Philly was interested, I'd propose a bigger deal: Smart, Crowder, and #3 for Okafor/Noel and #1. That's a pretty good turnaround for them if they're finally looking to turn the corner, which it seems they are since there's only so many rookies you can add each year. That'd give them the following lineup:

PG: Smart, Marshall
SG: Murray/Hield, Stauskas
SF: Crowder, Covington
PF: Saric, Holmes
C: Embiid, Okafor/Noel

With having the Lakers pick next year, too, they can then go our route and have someone else tank for them.

We'd also be set up nicely, too.

PG: IT, Rozier
SG: Bradley, Hunter
SF: ??, Young
PF: Simmons, Amir, JJ
C: Noel/Okafor, KO, Mickey

We'd need to find our starting small forward for the year, but luckily there are several available this summer - Durant, Barnes, Batum, etc..

If DA did not want to go the superstar way,
What do you think about trading for Jabari and Henson.
Then trading the pick for Okafor.
Walk away from the draft with minimum of: Thon Maker, Caris Levert,and maybe someone who falls and we do a trade.
Sign: Someone that will improve their value, if we can get Evan Fournier for a cheap deal or bargain I'd do it. Also because he is a RFA maybe we could do a sign and trade with the blazers for Crabbe( I forget the rules if it can be a 2 for 1) but Crowder would be a great fit there we would just need to make the salaries match/ add another for filler(still do not know if this can happen by the rules)

Rozier/Lavert( i like Lavert a lot)
Allen Crabbe/Fournier or just play James Young and Hunter/ Lavert
Jabari
Okafor
Henson

[dreamgreen]

For what it's worth I was listening to WEEI yesterday Butch and the other jack wagon. They both said they have heard the Fakers LOVE Dunn.

[hpantazo]

For what it's worth I was listening to WEEI yesterday Butch and the other jack wagon. They both said they have heard the Fakers LOVE Dunn.

Yeah, but those reports that they love Dunn were before they got the #2 pick I believe.

[dreamgreen]

For what it's worth I was listening to WEEI yesterday Butch and the other jack wagon. They both said they have heard the Fakers LOVE Dunn.

Yeah, but those reports that they love Dunn were before they got the #2 pick I believe.

Perhaps but correct me if I'm wrong. If their pick landed out of the top 3 it went to Philly right? If that the case it wouldn't matter who they liked.

[CroCorvus]

I have a strong believe that Simmons and Ingram will not be picked at no 1 and 2.

[crimson_stallion]

Funny because ive been thinking this for a while now.

Simmons is a clear #1 because he's a type of unique talent we havent seen since lebron. 

Ingram though - he is very talented sure, but he's  certainly no surefire superstar.  Will he become another Durant, or will he simple become a Nicholas Batum?  I don't think he has Durant's athleticism, scoring prowess, rebounding ability or passing ability.  I really think that he's like a Durant that's been nerfed in pretty much every single area.  He certainly could be a franchise player, but dont think its as certain as people  think.

I think Hield is just as good as Ingram - maybe better.  I think Dunn might not be that far behind either.

[crimson_stallion]

P.s
 
I think Murray 2 years from now will not even be a top 5 player from this draft.

I think the big dissapointments at the top will probably be Bender and Murray...followed by Ingram who will be nice, but not what people are projecting him to be