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

[alldaboston]

Welsh said:

- Cs more interested in Noel than Okafor,
- Sixers would want the #3 pick to ensure Dunn selection,
- Sixers want to do this before Thursday,
- Sixers have been all over Providence doing background (highly likely to be true since Welsh coached Providence and would have strong contacts there stil)l, and
- Bender workout was awful to the Cs and other teams who saw it.

Really did not mention what else, if anything, that might be involved in such a trade other than the 3 and Noel. I'd be shocked and disappointed if it was a straight deal of the #3 for Noel myself.

I think Okafor we could fetch without 3. let some other lotto team trade them the pick for dunn for noel

This is how I feel as well. I view Okafor as the better prospect and player. If we can get him for less than 3, then by all means sign me up.

[colincb]

Just saw Welsh on the CSSNE SportsNet Central show (the one without Felger).

- Said he was told by the Dunn camp that the Sixers told them that they wanted to get it done before Thursday with the Cs. Again Welsh coached Providence college for 10 years, so I believe him on this.

- Was very unclear as to what might be involved other than one of the Sixer bigs and the 3rd pick. It didn't sound to me like he knew anything about that (which I would expect.

- Reiterated that Bender sucked at the overseas workout for the Cs and other clubs.

[Celtics18]

Keeping my fingers crossed that we land Nerlens.

[jpotter33]

Just saw Welsh on the CSSNE SportsNet Central show (the one without Felger).

- Said he was told by the Dunn camp that the Sixers told them that they wanted to get it done before Thursday with the Cs. Again Welsh coached Providence college for 10 years, so I believe him on this.

- Was very unclear as to what might be involved other than one of the Sixer bigs and the 3rd pick. It didn't sound to me like he knew anything about that (which I would expect.

- Reiterated that Bender sucked at the overseas workout for the Cs and other clubs.

Well, it seems VERY unlikely that it will get done before Thursday just in case Ingram drops. I wonder why they're so adamant at getting it done before Thursday. Perhaps they know that other trades could very well happen on draft night itself if they wait.

This seems pretty certain now that we'll end up trading the pick no matter what. But, man, Philly isn't doing themselves any favors by showing how desperate they are for Dunn. I'm really hoping Danny can exploit this desperation to either get Simmons or another good, valuable piece alongside one of the bigs, preferably Noel.

EDIT: So do they love him enough that they would pick him number one if Danny doesn't budge? I bet they're 50/50 on that right now. His ceiling might not be quite as high as Simmons', but he's definitely a much, much better fit on that squad than SImmons, especially due to their lack of any competent rotational guards.

[LarBrd33]

Welsh said:

- Cs more interested in Noel than Okafor,
- Sixers would want the #3 pick to ensure Dunn selection,
- Sixers want to do this before Thursday,
- Sixers have been all over Providence doing background (highly likely to be true since Welsh coached Providence and would have strong contacts there stil)l, and
- Bender workout was awful to the Cs and other teams who saw it.

Really did not mention what else, if anything, that might be involved in such a trade other than the 3 and Noel. I'd be shocked and disappointed if it was a straight deal of the #3 for Noel myself.

I think Okafor we could fetch without 3. let some other lotto team trade them the pick for dunn for noel

This is how I feel as well. I view Okafor as the better prospect and player. If we can get him for less than 3, then by all means sign me up.

I've been leading the Nerlens Noel bandwagon since before he was drafted... and I'm telling you that it makes ass sense for him to be worth the #3 while Okafor isn't.  I'd love his defense, obviously.  But he's on the final year of his rookie deal.   I mean, look... maybe both of them are worth #3.  But this narrative over the last couple days that Okafor can only fetch the #6 while Noel is worth the #3 is asinine... especially considering that there's no consensus players in the 3-7 range.  The guy picked 7 might be interchangeable with the guy picked 3.  So why are people banging their skulls against a wall claiming that Okafor can only fetch 6 and Noel can fetch 3.  It's ridiculous.

Can't wait for Thursday so this madness will end.

[jpotter33]

Welsh said:

- Cs more interested in Noel than Okafor,
- Sixers would want the #3 pick to ensure Dunn selection,
- Sixers want to do this before Thursday,
- Sixers have been all over Providence doing background (highly likely to be true since Welsh coached Providence and would have strong contacts there stil)l, and
- Bender workout was awful to the Cs and other teams who saw it.

Really did not mention what else, if anything, that might be involved in such a trade other than the 3 and Noel. I'd be shocked and disappointed if it was a straight deal of the #3 for Noel myself.

I think Okafor we could fetch without 3. let some other lotto team trade them the pick for dunn for noel

This is how I feel as well. I view Okafor as the better prospect and player. If we can get him for less than 3, then by all means sign me up.

I've been leading the Nerlens Noel bandwagon since before he was drafted... and I'm telling you that it makes ass sense for him to be worth the #3 while Okafor isn't.  I'd love his defense, obviously.  But he's on the final year of his rookie deal.   I mean, look... maybe both of them are worth #3.  But this narrative over the last couple days that Okafor can only fetch the #6 while Noel is worth the #3 is asinine... especially considering that there's no consensus players in the 3-7 range.  The guy picked 7 might be interchangeable with the guy picked 3.  So why are people banging their skulls against a wall claiming that Okafor can only fetch 6 and Noel can fetch 3.  It's ridiculous.

Can't wait for Thursday so this madness will end.

Either way, whatever you want to believe, Philly is absolutely killing their bargaining power by letting it slip how in love they are with Dunn. Even if he was worth the #3 pick straight up, Danny can manipulate this and force the Sixers to either A) work out a much more beneficial deal for us with either more than Okafor/Embiid coming over OR picking Simmons for us, B) work out some sort of deal with LA for Dunn/Russell, which would mean Ingram would fall in our laps, or C) take Dunn #1. Whatever way it goes, Danny is going to better our position with this knowledge.

[walker834]

Welsh said:

- Cs more interested in Noel than Okafor,
- Sixers would want the #3 pick to ensure Dunn selection,
- Sixers want to do this before Thursday,
- Sixers have been all over Providence doing background (highly likely to be true since Welsh coached Providence and would have strong contacts there stil)l, and
- Bender workout was awful to the Cs and other teams who saw it.

Really did not mention what else, if anything, that might be involved in such a trade other than the 3 and Noel. I'd be shocked and disappointed if it was a straight deal of the #3 for Noel myself.

I think Okafor we could fetch without 3. let some other lotto team trade them the pick for dunn for noel

This is how I feel as well. I view Okafor as the better prospect and player. If we can get him for less than 3, then by all means sign me up.

I've been leading the Nerlens Noel bandwagon since before he was drafted... and I'm telling you that it makes ass sense for him to be worth the #3 while Okafor isn't.  I'd love his defense, obviously.  But he's on the final year of his rookie deal.   I mean, look... maybe both of them are worth #3.  But this narrative over the last couple days that Okafor can only fetch the #6 while Noel is worth the #3 is asinine... especially considering that there's no consensus players in the 3-7 range.  The guy picked 7 might be interchangeable with the guy picked 3.  So why are people banging their skulls against a wall claiming that Okafor can only fetch 6 and Noel can fetch 3.  It's ridiculous.

Can't wait for Thursday so this madness will end.

I don't think either player is worth the 3.  I think this is more Dunn's camp pushing for something to happen here.  Bender and Brown are similar prospects as far as value. But both Noel and Okafor we know what they are in ways.   Noel is on the last year of his deal like you say and Okafor we know what he is in ways and he is going to struggle on the defensive end.  Both offer us something we don't have as far as a low post scorer and shotblocker in Noel. But overall I feel like Brown and Bender are less limited.  The issue is we have KO and Smart who are similar.  Brown and Bender are probably better versions of that.  But they are better all around prospects than Noel or Okafor.

To me it's do we just keep adding chips in hopes of something bigger or do we try to get players who fit and build a team from here.  I feel like we are selling ourselves short somewhat that way.

I don't think any of these guys are superstars.  I feel like all 4 are similar in value.  NOel and Okafor fit a need moreso.  I just don't know if it's worth it.

I would take a chance on Brown or Bender honestly.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Mix and Match a 3 team deal with Sac....to get Cousins here...it can be done.

[LarBrd33]

Maybe Philly wants Kris Dunn, because they lack elders on the team.   He'll be 23 years old next season... wouldn't that make him the oldest player on the roster?

[sawick48]

Just saw Welsh on the CSSNE SportsNet Central show (the one without Felger).

- Said he was told by the Dunn camp that the Sixers told them that they wanted to get it done before Thursday with the Cs. Again Welsh coached Providence college for 10 years, so I believe him on this.

- Was very unclear as to what might be involved other than one of the Sixer bigs and the 3rd pick. It didn't sound to me like he knew anything about that (which I would expect.

- Reiterated that Bender sucked at the overseas workout for the Cs and other clubs.

If this is true all Danny needs to do is shop around in the hopes there is another team in the top 6 with a Dunn fetish.  Poach an unprotected 1st from the highest bidder, swap to move down or acquire some meddling talent (i.e. NOT Okafor for #3 straight up) and we're adding more valuable assets rather than flipping them for the sake of flipping them (especially for an outdated, irresponsible player like Jahlil)

[LarBrd33]

Maybe Philly wants Kris Dunn, because they lack elders on the team.   He'll be 23 years old next season... wouldn't that make him the oldest player on the roster?

I'm joking, but it is pretty funny that Dunn is 2 days younger than Joel Embiid and a month older than Nerlens Noel. 

[CelticSooner]

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.

The bubble tea guy shouldn't be questioned.

[tankcity!]

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

im having trouble interpreting this post.

It's not the post, Thats what they said on Sports tonight.

 And yeah it didn't make sense. I don't think Ford is on top of this. AB for Okafor/Noel doesn't get Philly what they want which is Dunn. #3 gets you Okafor, MAYBE Noel, DA wants a bit more. Which he should, he's not the one seeking out the pick.

So we're at a point now where Boston would struggle to get Nerlens Noel for the #3 pick?  Interesting.

Honestly I'd be happy with either.  I'd love to have Noel.  It's comical to me people think Okafor is not worth the #3, but Nerlens is worth more than #3.  When you consider that this is the last year of Noels' rookie contract, it's pretty funny.

I'm looking forward to Thursday so I can stop reading stupid things one way or the other.

Keep the pick.  Trade it.  Whatever.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=84922.0

"Jeff Teague or trade Okafor for the 3rd pick and draft Sunn? Dunn vs Teague? I like dunn

Kyler: You are assuming thats possible to do... Boston not moving the 3 just for Okafor, would take a lot more."

Yeah.  That was the same day Kyler said Okafor was better than every prospect available at #3 and that it wasn't even close.  So that was pretty funny.

If Philly decides they are willing to move Okafor for #3, I expect us to take it - unless we have some grander plan in place to trade the 3rd pick as a means to lure Kevin Durant.  Otherwise, it's a pretty easy decision to make.  You grab the BPA - and that's Okafor.

There comes a time when you just have to admit you're wrong. And you're believing Tim Welsh's report. Is he even reliable?

K... if we land Okafor for less than the #3 pick I'll admit I am wrong - in between tears of pure joy.   Until then... I'll believe it when I see it.  PM me in a few days if we get Okafor for less than the #3 pick.  Until then, hold off on your proclamations I'm wrong, because you read some posturing leading up to the draft.

We've been prepared to give up more than that pick for Okafor for over a year.   As recently as the trade deadline, we were trying to trade a large package including the pick for Okafor.  If Boston is saying they need a "lot more" than just Okafor for the #3 pick - they lyin.  Likely just some nonsense trying to drive up the price of the pick with hopes of using it for a bigger fish than Okafor - like Cousins.

If we don't have a shot to land a established star for the pick, and Philly offers us Okafor for #3, I expect us to do it

That's not the point because you are already wrong with your prediction. You said it would take more than the #3 overall pick and that the market for Okafor would be high when I told you it wouldn't. So that is a separate argument.

This argument is about the fact that none of the reports are saying Celtics would trade 3 for Okafor. So you're just stating an opinion with no base to back it up. I can talk out of my butt too, but it brings nothing to the board. So yeah, we'll see if this deal goes down.

[walker834]

Maybe we'll just take Dunn and keep holding the Dunn card.  He's probably the best player on the board although its debateable between him, brown, bender or hield. I don't think Dunn wants to play here though.

The C's are in a conundrum here.  I really feel like we should make a hard run at Butler as hard as we can or just draft Brown or Bender.

If all else fails just continue to draft. It's going to hard with all the picks we have though.

[uconnceltic]

If I was Danny Ainge I would take Dunn at the three spot and then move someone else for a big man and make Dun the point guard of the future.