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

[CoachBo]

Can't believe people just crap all over the 20 year old Okafor like he's worth nothing. This talent would be a great get. Big man talent like him don't grow on trees in this league. He's got a shot at being special and you've seen him already for 1 year.

He's got a shot at being Al Jefferson but worse.

i see big al as his floor.  He might already be better offensively at age 20 than Jefferson was at 23.

And he plays hard. Jefferson is a loafer. Once he gets into shape and gets into a coherent system, he'll develop every aspect of his game. The idea of Stevens getting hold of him - instead of a stick figure whose workouts stink who needs five years of work at the minimum - is very enticing.

But that's an inconvenient narrative for the draftniks.

Do you honestly think it will take Bender 5 years to become Jerebko?  He might be Jerebko good by the start of the season.  Make the open 3, take easy buckets, play hard and play defense, that's all that is needed to fill a role immediately.  If he develops into a stud it will take a couple 3 years maybe.

Bender is never going to be a "stud."

[jpotter33]

If the Sixers think 25+26 will get them a top 8 pick, that's cool. let's outbid them with 16+23.

Yeah, for real. I about choked from laughing when I saw that. There are times when we overvalue our assets, but I've read numerous different things like this from Philly fans and pundits the last couple of days that suggest very similar things like this. Like their blog said they should trade Okafor for Wiggins straight up in a fair deal. 

[jpotter33]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

[heyvik]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

agreed...

[BitterJim]

Can't believe people just crap all over the 20 year old Okafor like he's worth nothing. This talent would be a great get. Big man talent like him don't grow on trees in this league. He's got a shot at being special and you've seen him already for 1 year.

He's got a shot at being Al Jefferson but worse.

i see big al as his floor.  He might already be better offensively at age 20 than Jefferson was at 23.

And he plays hard. Jefferson is a loafer. Once he gets into shape and gets into a coherent system, he'll develop every aspect of his game. The idea of Stevens getting hold of him - instead of a stick figure whose workouts stink who needs five years of work at the minimum - is very enticing.

But that's an inconvenient narrative for the draftniks.

Do you honestly think it will take Bender 5 years to become Jerebko?  He might be Jerebko good by the start of the season.  Make the open 3, take easy buckets, play hard and play defense, that's all that is needed to fill a role immediately.  If he develops into a stud it will take a couple 3 years maybe.

Bender is never going to be a "stud."

Source?

[LarBrd33]

My major concern with Okafor is how ball dominant he is (and needs to be to be effective) offensively.  Many of you are pointing out how talented he is and how he will probably keep improving due to his youth.  I don't disagree with either of those statements.  However, I don't see him changing from being a guy who needs to control the ball a lot on offense. 

I don't watch College ball.  THey won a national championship right?  From the stats it seems Cook, Winslow and JOnes had no trouble co-existing with him offensively.  I'm sure a guy of his skillset could fit in very well with any offense Stevens cooks up around him.

[aingeforthree]

You'd have to think Ainge is trying to pull Noel away somehow without the 3. Maybe for a future Brooklyn pick instead.

[Smartacus]

Don't know if this has been posted yet but...

Brian Geltzeiler...

League sources tell http://hoopscritic.com  that the Celtics' target in trade talks with Philadelphia is Nerlens Noel

https://twitter.com/hoopscritic/status/745318762857959424

[CoachBo]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

agreed...

Windhorst thinks Cleveland wants Bradley.

Sold.

[celticinorlando]

It better be more than just Noel for 3. That is a flat out horrible deal for Boston.
Guy has no offensive game, has bad knees and is a free agent soon. He does one thing and that is block shots. He just is not very good. It would be throwing the pick away

[Ilikesports17]

My major concern with Okafor is how ball dominant he is (and needs to be to be effective) offensively.  Many of you are pointing out how talented he is and how he will probably keep improving due to his youth.  I don't disagree with either of those statements.  However, I don't see him changing from being a guy who needs to control the ball a lot on offense. 

I don't watch College ball.  THey won a national championship right?  From the stats it seems Cook, Winslow and JOnes had no trouble co-existing with him offensively.  I'm sure a guy of his skillset could fit in very well with any offense Stevens cooks up around him.

Duke was built around Okafor, he finished second in player of the year voting. He was really a terrific player. But this was largely because he was SO dominant in the post. He immediately demanded double teams, he was a physical force and a terrifying offensive weapon. Now if he can reach that level of offensive dominance in the NBA, and its certainly not out of the question, his combination of physical tools and post skills are terrific, then he will really be valuable and he will really be a beast worth molding your lineup around. however, if he only gets to very good in the post, his flaws may not be worth putting up with.

[Celtics18]

My major concern with Okafor is how ball dominant he is (and needs to be to be effective) offensively.  Many of you are pointing out how talented he is and how he will probably keep improving due to his youth.  I don't disagree with either of those statements.  However, I don't see him changing from being a guy who needs to control the ball a lot on offense. 

I don't watch College ball.  THey won a national championship right?  From the stats it seems Cook, Winslow and JOnes had no trouble co-existing with him offensively.  I'm sure a guy of his skillset could fit in very well with any offense Stevens cooks up around him.

Apples                                                                           Oranges

[celticinorlando]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

agreed...

Windhorst thinks Cleveland wants Bradley.

Sold.

Send them 16, 23 and Bradley for love. Draft Dunn at 3.

[Ilikesports17]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

agreed...

Windhorst thinks Cleveland wants Bradley.

Sold.

Id imagine 3 gets you Noel and then some and Bradley + non-core piece gets you Love.

Even those who arent huge Love and Noel fans seem to be behind the idea of  a Love-Noel frontcourt because the complement eachother perfectly.

In a perfect world you get Philly to toss in that lakers or Kings pick or maybe even Saric, but Id imagine the filler with Noel would be a lot closer to Covington stauskas or 24.

[jpotter33]

So Cleveland is apparently trying to get in the first round of the draft. I'm wondering if we can entice them with one or both of our later picks for Love, though they'd still probably insist upon Bradley or Crowder in the deal.

I'm very intrigued by a possible Love/Noel frontcourt added to our current team.

agreed...

Windhorst thinks Cleveland wants Bradley.

Sold.

If it only cost Bradley, Amir, and say one of the other later first round picks and you knew that you could get something like Noel and Covington for the #3? Yeah, I think you have to do that. That's a really excellent fit in the frontcourt pairing, and you're adding another star to attract free agents. Is that enough to attract Durant to Boston? I don't know, but that's still easily a top-2 team in the East.