Rumor: Celtics, among others, in contact with Sixers about Noel/Okafor

[hpantazo]

If Ainge really wants to swing for the fences and take a gamble, knowing we have two more Nets picks coming in the next two years, we could offer to trade #3 for Embiid. My guess is either Phili knows Embiid is healthy now and they've gotten glimpses of what he can do, or that they know for sure Noel and Okafor combo doesnt work, and are hoping a Noel and Embiid combo fits better.

[LarBrd33]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential.  Philly might be getting 75 cents on the dollar, but they have a position log jam.   Boston gets a better prospect.  Philly alleviates their position jam.  Boston alleviates the position log jam they'd have if they draft another guard.   We need a big.  They need a guard.   Danny likes Okafor.  Philly likes Dunn.  Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

[Rondo9]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential. 

Yet Philly really wants Dunn.

[BDeCosta26]

It's crazy to me that after three years of tanking Philly is trying to break up the one strength they have before they even see how it plays on the court.

Why not rebuild your team around your 3 lotto 7 footers?  There's enough minutes for all of them, and none of them can play a full season at starters minutes without getting hurt anyways.

Cause they tried that this year, and it was terrible. In today's NBA you need to have at least one big who can shoot consistently from 18+. On top of that, Okafor can't guard 4's AT ALL, and putting Noel on 4's takes away from his biggest strength, rim protection. Who knows if Embiid will ever play.

They have to move AT LEAST one of those guys if they're gonna take Simmons, and they should move one of them anyways.

[Beat LA]

It's crazy to me that after three years of tanking Philly is trying to break up the one strength they have before they even see how it plays on the court.

Why not rebuild your team around your 3 lotto 7 footers?  There's enough minutes for all of them, and none of them can play a full season at starters minutes without getting hurt anyways.

Cause they tried that this year, and it was terrible. In today's NBA you need to have at least one big who can shoot consistently from 18+. On top of that, Okafor can't guard 4's AT ALL, and putting Noel on 4's takes away from his biggest strength, rim protection. Who knows if Embiid will ever play.

They have to move AT LEAST one of those guys if they're gonna take Simmons, and they should move one of them anyways.

In fairness to Okafor, can he guard anyone, lol?

[jpotter33]

Danny is not going to trade the #3 for either Noel or okafor

That ship has sailed

He was going to not knowing the Celts would get the 3rd pick . Maybe 6-8

If Philly wants Dunn , take him 1st

What a greeedy team

That's my point! Jut take the guy you want for the love of God.

I doubt they want to pass up the only player in the draft with superstar potential for a guy who projects as a starter. 

If they want Dunn, they'll trade one of the bigs for a pick in the range he's expected to be selected (3-7).

It would be a win for the Celtics if they could get Okafor for #3.  Can't wait for draft night.

Except it's been pretty firmly reported by several different sources that Okafor's value isn't at the third pick level right now. Ford, Kyler, and others have all reported this.

[hpantazo]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential.  Philly might be getting 75 cents on the dollar, but they have a position log jam.   Boston gets a better prospect.  Philly alleviates their position jam.  Boston alleviates the position log jam they'd have if they draft another guard.   We need a big.  They need a guard.   Danny likes Okafor.  Philly likes Dunn.  Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

You edited out the part of my post where I said there were also separate reports that the Sixers, despite trying desperately, could not get a top 5 pick in this draft for Okafor. Whether that reflects his talent, or the fact that the whole league has known since the all-star break that the Sixers are desperate to trade one of their bigs, or both, who knows. But it is true nevertheless.

[max215]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential.  Philly might be getting 75 cents on the dollar, but they have a position log jam.   Boston gets a better prospect.  Philly alleviates their position jam.  Boston alleviates the position log jam they'd have if they draft another guard.   We need a big.  They need a guard.   Danny likes Okafor.  Philly likes Dunn.  Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Except that everyone with inside knowledge says that Philly is not getting #3 for Okafor. NBA GMs seem much less infatuated with Okafor than you, Lar.

[jpotter33]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential. Philly might be getting 75 cents on the dollar, but they have a position log jam.   Boston gets a better prospect.  Philly alleviates their position jam.  Boston alleviates the position log jam they'd have if they draft another guard.   We need a big.  They need a guard.   Danny likes Okafor.  Philly likes Dunn.  Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Where are you getting this from?? There's a projected top-8 that have All-Star level potential ceilings, and depending who you talk to, only Simmons and Ingram are considered to be locks for multiple-time All-Stars with Dunn thrown in there occasionally, too.

[hpantazo]

Okafor is a best a lesser version of Love. How effective was Love in the NBA Finals? The only poor defensive big man who can't shoot from 18 feet out that was even on the floor in the finals was Ezeli, and he cost them the series. These things matter.

[Tr1boy]

Okafor is a best a lesser version of Love. How effective was Love in the NBA Finals? The only poor defensive big man who can't shoot from 18 feet out that was even on the floor in the finals was Ezeli, and he cost them the series. These things matter.

Okafor is a monster around the post and can't be denied.  Draymond Green would have a rough time trying to handle a near 300 pound guy

[hpantazo]

Celts and Sixers trade talk heats up. Philly really really wants Dunn per Tim Welsch. @CSNNE

Great, then we should expect more than just Okafor in return.

Okafor was a #3 in what may have been a stronger draft for bigs.

The Celtics reportedly already stated a few weeks ago that they want more than Okafor for #3.

Posturing.  Believe it when I see it.

#3 for Okafor makes too much sense for both teams.

Apparently, there's no players at #3 with all-star potential. Philly might be getting 75 cents on the dollar, but they have a position log jam.   Boston gets a better prospect.  Philly alleviates their position jam.  Boston alleviates the position log jam they'd have if they draft another guard.   We need a big.  They need a guard.   Danny likes Okafor.  Philly likes Dunn.  Makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Where are you getting this from?? There's a projected top-8 that have All-Star level potential ceilings, and depending who you talk to, only Simmons and Ingram are considered to be locks for multiple-time All-Stars with Dunn thrown in there occasionally, too.

LB33 considers Ford's draft tiers the bible. Those tiers haven't quite held up well in the past though.

[Beat LA]

I really don't understand the fascination with Okafor and Noel, as I wouldn't trade for them, but to each his own.  More to the point, though, drafting Simmons and trading for Dunn would never work on the court, imo - both guys need the ball in their hands, especially Simmons, and the guy not only can't shoot, but also just flat out won't, haha.  The only way that getting Dunn makes any sense for the Sixers, to me, would be if they took Ingram first overall.  He and Dunn could at least coexist on the floor at the same time because at least Ingram, unlike Simmons, can actually shoot, lol .

That said, I don't care about the 76ers, hehe .  If they want a guard, trade them Smart and Young for 24 and 26.  No way am I letting them get their hands on Dunn.

[jpotter33]

I really don't understand the fascination with Okafor and Noel, as I wouldn't trade for them, but to each his own.  More to the point, though, drafting Simmons and trading for Dunn would never work on the court, imo - both guys need the ball in their hands, especially Simmons, and the guy not only can't shoot, but also just flat out won't, haha.  The only way that getting Dunn makes any sense for the Sixers, to me, would be if they took Ingram first overall.  He and Dunn could at least coexist on the floor at the same time because at least Ingram, unlike Simmons, can actually shoot, lol .

That said, I don't care about the 76ers, hehe .  If they want a guard, trade them Smart and Young for 24 and 26.  No way am I letting them get their hands on Dunn.

TP. That's a really good point. Brown has said that he would essentially use Simmons as a point guard, but you're right that both are ball-dominant and wouldn't necessarily be ideal fits together, especially both being non-shooters on a team FULL of non-shooters, though apparently fit isn't a major concern in Philly lol

Wow. That's a really good insight. That makes it seem even more likely that we could actually possibly nab Simmons. I can't wait for Thursday!

Granted, I still think Danny would INSIST that they work it out where we get Simmons rather than settling for just Okafor or Noel if he knows how envious they are of Dunn. Danny's a pretty shrewd dealer like that.

[dreamgreen]

Now CSN is saying #3 pick for one of Noel/Okafor. Said Ford is reporting (guessing) AB for one of them.