The Wise Move Is To Trade For Okafor... Not Cousins

[TheSundanceKid]

Tell me the price it would cost for both, then I can make a decision. Danny should be calling after both at the moment. Instinct leans me towards Okafor at the moment because his value is lower

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

Most here don't understand the concept of buying low. They want proven commodities and are willing to empty the cupboard for him. Okafor hasn't shown them enough and by the time he does, he won't be worth whatever the 76ers are willing to deal him for now.

Okafor has shown flashes of vast potential to combat with Cousins for the best offensive 5 in the league. Instead, the focus is placed on his negatives, while his are subsequently dismissed and vice cersa for Cousins. As long as he's dedicated and barring career threatening injury, he will be a star with or without the Celtics.

Okafor has zero chance if ever being even half the caliber of player Cousins is.   To even mention the two in the same sentence is laughable.

Cousins is a two way player, is a top 5 scorer, is an elite passing big, and has been one of the NBAs top rebounders since his rookie year.

Okafor is a skilled post scorer who is poor-to-mediocre in every single other aspect of the game.

Taking Okafor over Cousins to save money would be like taking Booker over Steph Curry because Booker is younger and is on a rookie ontract.

Given the choice would you rather trade for Booker on the cheap, or trade for Curry at whatever price it costs?

I already know the answer any sane person would give.

Dont allow your obvious personal / emotional bias against Cousins (or for Okafor) cloud your judgement of this proposed scenario. No GM in basketball takes Okafor over a 25 year old Cousins on a $16m a year contract.  Not one.

If we cant get a big name star then i am all for trading to acquire Okafor on the cheap.   Would be thrilled to do that.  If we have a shot at a legit superstar however, then no way in hell.

There are people here who would take him, and not one nba GM would take him over Cousins? I don't know about that. Okafor is a big time prospect himself.  Both he and Cousins are the two best young big men in the NBA right now I feel.

Okafor is more a projection at this point is all. He was a rookie last year.  Times change pretty quick.

I think Cousins has the edge but I can see some GM's just not wanting Cousins on their team.

Cousins has some pretty big flags.  Okafor does as well in different ways.

For the love of god, please tell me you did NOT just say Jahlil Okafor is better then Anthony Davis...because if you did, no words you write on this forum will ever be taken seriously again.

Anthony Davis?

He's not better than Noel, KAT, Porzingis, Myles Turner, Gobert, etc.

He's got potential, but's he's legit bad right now due to defense. His offensive issues I think are almost immediately solved by going to a team that actually moves the ball (which Philly might do based on what Simmons has done) well and has respectable shooters/spacing.

The defense and rebounding are like, Kanter bad if not worse. That's not useful in the playoffs.

[meangreenmachine]

Okafor is the guy you go after if you are content with Horford bringing the Atlanta treadmill to Boston; Boogie is the guy you get if you want to win banner 18 in the next 3-4 years.

Only an elite Twin Tower offense with a great perimeter defense will be able to topple Golden State.

[RockinRyA]

Most here don't understand the concept of buying low. They want proven commodities and are willing to empty the cupboard for him. Okafor hasn't shown them enough and by the time he does, he won't be worth whatever the 76ers are willing to deal him for now.

Okafor has shown flashes of vast potential to combat with Cousins for the best offensive 5 in the league. Instead, the focus is placed on his negatives, while his are subsequently dismissed and vice cersa for Cousins. As long as he's dedicated and barring career threatening injury, he will be a star with or without the Celtics.

Okafor has zero chance if ever being even half the caliber of player Cousins is.   To even mention the two in the same sentence is laughable.

Cousins is a two way player, is a top 5 scorer, is an elite passing big, and has been one of the NBAs top rebounders since his rookie year.

Okafor is a skilled post scorer who is poor-to-mediocre in every single other aspect of the game.

Taking Okafor over Cousins to save money would be like taking Booker over Steph Curry because Booker is younger and is on a rookie ontract.

Given the choice would you rather trade for Booker on the cheap, or trade for Curry at whatever price it costs?

I already know the answer any sane person would give.

Dont allow your obvious personal / emotional bias against Cousins (or for Okafor) cloud your judgement of this proposed scenario. No GM in basketball takes Okafor over a 25 year old Cousins on a $16m a year contract.  Not one.

If we cant get a big name star then i am all for trading to acquire Okafor on the cheap.   Would be thrilled to do that.  If we have a shot at a legit superstar however, then no way in hell.

There are people here who would take him, and not one nba GM would take him over Cousins? I don't know about that. Okafor is a big time prospect himself.  Both he and Cousins are the two best young big men in the NBA right now I feel.

Okafor is more a projection at this point is all. He was a rookie last year.  Times change pretty quick.

I think Cousins has the edge but I can see some GM's just not wanting Cousins on their team.

Cousins has some pretty big flags.  Okafor does as well in different ways.

For the love of god, please tell me you did NOT just say Jahlil Okafor is better then Anthony Davis...because if you did, no words you write on this forum will ever be taken seriously again.

Anthony Davis?

He's not better than Noel, KAT, Porzingis, Myles Turner, Gobert, etc.

He's got potential, but's he's legit bad right now due to defense. His offensive issues I think are almost immediately solved by going to a team that actually moves the ball (which Philly might do based on what Simmons has done) well and has respectable shooters/spacing.

The defense and rebounding are like, Kanter bad if not worse. That's not useful in the playoffs.

So rookies are better than an all-nba player? Okay its official, you are trolling. Almost all advance measures says anthony davis is a better player than kat now, despite davis' down year.

Davis is not a great offensive rebounder, but despite that, is one of the top rebounders yearly. Kanter despite his defensive ineptude, is actually a decent rebounder.

Maybe you are confusing Anthony Davis with Tyler Zeller.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I'm good with Okafor, especially for Smart and picks if that's at all possible. Cousins has not been and is still not available. It would cost a king's ransom. If we had one other all-star to pair with him and Horford, that'd be great. Otherwise, I wouldn't completely fleece the roster for him. We would probably become a glorified version of the Kings if we did.

[Csfan1984]

I'm okay with waiting for prices to bottom out to simply matching salary and one(Okafor) or two(Cousins) Nets picks. First team to hit that mark lands the deal. Cousins or Okafor doesn't matter. Just a good deal that improves the club.

[byennie]

Okafor has potential, sure, but he's barely starter material until he develops further. Cousins is up there with Davis, KAT, Aldridge among the top 5 big men in the game.

Among centers, he's maybe top-25? Some guys who are definitely better options at center right now:

Cousins, KAT, Anthony Davis, Drummond, Whiteside, Noel, Horford, Gobert, P Gasol, M Gasol, D Jordan, D Favors, D Howard. Probably most of Vucevic, Dieng, Jokic, Monroe, Kanter, B Lopez, R Lopez. Porzingis or D Green, if you count them. Capela, S Adams maybe? Embiid if he comes back? Myles Turner?

Other young guys may emerge and pass him.

You pay a high price for Okafor and he would have some future potential, but he'll be a below average starter out of the gate and cost you wins. His absolute ceiling might be lower than what Cousins is right now.

Nobody was willing to part with a top-5 pick for Okafor. Every team outside of *maybe* Philly at #1 would have traded their pick (and more) for Cousins. There are no asterisks about salary necessary.

Would I trade a middle 1st rounder for him, or part with some guys from our bench? Sure. But I would be absolutely shocked if he fetched Smart, Brown, or any BRK pick.

[Irish Stew]

Besides being a good young offensive center with upside, Okafor's most important qualities are:

1) Unlike Cousins, who in the abstract would be much preferable, Okafor is actually available.

2) He is completely under your control for the next three years at  $4.8, $5.0, and $6.3 million until he reaches his qualifying offer year 4 seasons from now.

3) He is not just a good young cheap player but an asset too that could be used in the future as part of a trade for, say, a top ten player if that opportunity came along.

[Celtics4ever]

Cousins is better now, and maybe better than Okafor will be.   The trouble is if you get him, your stuck with him, he is your team and you better hope your pieces like playing with him and compliment him.

Okafor is a more flexible option.  But the risk is he could be just as expensive to maintain in the future as Cousins.  This is taking into account that both of them have reps as being difficult and headcases.


One has to wonder what Larry and Magic think all these guys getting paid.   No doubt they are happy for them.   But they paved the way, with Michael for today.   I think Bird never got paid more than 7 mil ( that may have been as a coach)  and some change but was mostly paid around 3 mil.

http://nesn.com/2010/05/sports-legends-salaries-may-surprise-you/

[Onslaught]

Why do I keep seeing people say that Cousins is "misunderstood?" I think I've seen enough about him to understand what kind of person he is. And I don't think of him as a Celtic. He won't get us past the Cavs so I'd rather save the picks for something else down the road.

[Onslaught]

Cousins is better now, and maybe better than Okafor will be.   The trouble is if you get him, your stuck with him, he is your team and you better hope your pieces like playing with him and compliment him.

Okafor is a more flexible option.  But the risk is he could be just as expensive to maintain in the future as Cousins.  This is taking into account that both of them have reps as being difficult and headcases.


One has to wonder what Larry and Magic think all these guys getting paid.   No doubt they are happy for them.  But they paved the way, with Michael for today.   I think Bird never got paid more than 7 mil ( that may have been as a coach)  and some change but was mostly paid around 3 mil.

http://nesn.com/2010/05/sports-legends-salaries-may-surprise-you/

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16835221/free-agent-frenzy-new-era-stars

Only talks about that a little but he seems ok with it. 

[Surferdad]

I'm good with Okafor, especially for Smart and picks if that's at all possible. Cousins has not been and is still not available. It would cost a king's ransom. If we had one other all-star to pair with him and Horford, that'd be great. Otherwise, I wouldn't completely fleece the roster for him. We would probably become a glorified version of the Kings if we did.

Well, an all-star core of IT/Horford/Cousins is very tempting, especially of you can manage to hang onto one or two players among Smart/Bradley/Crowder.  Yes, you lose both BKN picks for sure and maybe Brown if the Kings are rebuilding.  Not saying I would do it as I love to see this 'organic' development, but I definitely would be tempted.

[IDreamCeltics]

Most here don't understand the concept of buying low. They want proven commodities and are willing to empty the cupboard for him. Okafor hasn't shown them enough and by the time he does, he won't be worth whatever the 76ers are willing to deal him for now.

Okafor has shown flashes of vast potential to combat with Cousins for the best offensive 5 in the league. Instead, the focus is placed on his negatives, while his are subsequently dismissed and vice cersa for Cousins. As long as he's dedicated and barring career threatening injury, he will be a star with or without the Celtics.

Cousins is a two way player, is a top 5 scorer, is an elite passing big, and has been one of the NBAs top rebounders since his rookie year.

Had to laugh when I read that.  TP.

People said all those things about Kevin Love his last year in Minnesota too.  The year before being traded to the Cavs he averaged 26 pts 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Boogie is a good stats on a bad team guy. 

Here's some clips of his defense
https://youtu.be/Wpo2F4Ldr2U
https://youtu.be/3YsIisb9vhU

Here's a clip of him playing against Okafor last year
https://youtu.be/RXIZEAo9Fec

[meangreenmachine]

Why do I keep seeing people say that Cousins is "misunderstood?" I think I've seen enough about him to understand what kind of person he is. And I don't think of him as a Celtic. He won't get us past the Cavs so I'd rather save the picks for something else down the road.

https://youtu.be/aKBCyW-eIe0?t=1m3s

[Celtic_Pride777]

Most here don't understand the concept of buying low. They want proven commodities and are willing to empty the cupboard for him. Okafor hasn't shown them enough and by the time he does, he won't be worth whatever the 76ers are willing to deal him for now.

Okafor has shown flashes of vast potential to combat with Cousins for the best offensive 5 in the league. Instead, the focus is placed on his negatives, while his are subsequently dismissed and vice cersa for Cousins. As long as he's dedicated and barring career threatening injury, he will be a star with or without the Celtics.

Cousins is a two way player, is a top 5 scorer, is an elite passing big, and has been one of the NBAs top rebounders since his rookie year.

Had to laugh when I read that.  TP.

People said all those things about Kevin Love his last year in Minnesota too.  The year before being traded to the Cavs he averaged 26 pts 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Boogie is a good stats on a bad team guy. 

Here's some clips of his defense
https://youtu.be/Wpo2F4Ldr2U
https://youtu.be/3YsIisb9vhU

Here's a clip of him playing against Okafor last year
https://youtu.be/RXIZEAo9Fec

Thanks for the clips. Didn't know Cousins was so lackadaisical on defense.