Okafor - The Ringer (article)

[Stig]

Honestly I don't get why so many people want to give up so many for Okafor. Philly wants to get rid of him after just one year and failing so.

He's a useful role player for sure, but why he's mentioned with other stars? He's the poor man's Greg Monroe or Enes Kanter, Big Al at his peak is better. But they are all low impact players, help their team very little in winning. As the 5th best player in the team he'll do fine, but giving up a high lottery pick for him is crazy.

[LarBrd33]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

[tankcity!]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

[Ilikesports17]

Honestly I don't get why so many people want to give up so many for Okafor. Philly wants to get rid of him after just one year and failing so.

He's a useful role player for sure, but why he's mentioned with other stars? He's the poor man's Greg Monroe or Enes Kanter, Big Al at his peak is better. But they are all low impact players, help their team very little in winning. As the 5th best player in the team he'll do fine, but giving up a high lottery pick for him is crazy.

Okafor has a tremendous frame. He's got great length and size and has the frame that could easily pack on some muscle without sacrificing much quickness. Everyone knows he's a natural post scorer and his passing was very good at Duke. His form on his jumper is not bad at all and he's improved his FT shooting from college.

If you give up major assets for him it's because you believe that those tremendous physical tools will allow him to grow into a solid defender and a good rebounder and that he will become an OK shooter from midrange who more importantly can make his fts.

Okafor still has a ton of room to grow and potential.

[LarBrd33]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

nobody is out-shooting the Warriors.  Going big might actually be the only way to upset them.

[Ilikesports17]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

[LarBrd33]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

They are fine for now.  They can experiment with this for a few months.

PG - Simmons
SG - Bayless/Henderson/Stauskas/Rodriguez
SF - Saric/Convington
PF - Okafor
C - Embiid
---
PF/C - Noel

Plenty of minutes for Okafor, Noel and Embiid to all get 30+

They'd be wise to see if Okafor improved from his rookie to sophomore season (as typically happens with 20 year olds) and whether he plays better alongside Embiid who supposedly has range.  They'd also be wise to see if Okafor flourishes with Simmons passing the ball.  Lot of stuff they can play around with.  There's not enough data yet.  They need to make educated decisions here.

So I wouldn't count on Okafor being traded for a role player.  That'd make no sense whatsoever.

[Ilikesports17]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

nobody is out-shooting the Warriors.  Going big might actually be the only way to upset them.

high level talent doesnt need to follow league trends. role players and even realy good players need to worry about trends. Al jefferson and greg Monroe are not good enough to justify putting them in a system where they dont thrive. Perk was a nice role-player for us 8 years ago. In the modern NBA hed be useless. however, I think its possible that a) Okafor improves his weaknesses to be able to fit in the modern game and b) his post presence grows to be dominant enough that he forces defenses to adapt to defend him rather than guys like Kanter being forced to the bench because his scoring is not dominant enough to justify what he gives up.

[LarBrd33]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

nobody is out-shooting the Warriors.  Going big might actually be the only way to upset them.

high level talent doesnt need to follow league trends. role players and even realy good players need to worry about trends. Al jefferson and greg Monroe are not good enough to justify putting them in a system where they dont thrive. Perk was a nice role-player for us 8 years ago. In the modern NBA hed be useless. however, I think its possible that a) Okafor improves his weaknesses to be able to fit in the modern game and b) his post presence grows to be dominant enough that he forces defenses to adapt to defend him rather than guys like Kanter being forced to the bench because his scoring is not dominant enough to justify what he gives up.

Yeah has anyone ever successfully followed one of these fads to a championship?  Whatever team wins, people try to replicate their success with lesser talent.  It doesn't work.  You need to maximize the talent you have and create the new trend. 

[Celtics18]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

They are fine for now.  They can experiment with this for a few months.

PG - Simmons
SG - Bayless/Henderson/Stauskas/Rodriguez
SF - Saric/Convington
PF - Okafor
C - Embiid
---
PF/C - Noel

Plenty of minutes for Okafor, Noel and Embiid to all get 30+

They'd be wise to see if Okafor improved from his rookie to sophomore season (as typically happens with 20 year olds) and whether he plays better alongside Embiid who supposedly has range.  They'd also be wise to see if Okafor flourishes with Simmons passing the ball.  Lot of stuff they can play around with.  There's not enough data yet.  They need to make educated decisions here.

So I wouldn't count on Okafor being traded for a role player.  That'd make no sense whatsoever.

I don't think they can start Simmons as a point guard.  They'd be better served starting him as a point forward for defensive purposes. 

You don't want Simmons spending the whole game, every game chasing guards around and fighting through pick and rolls.

They need to start a combo guard like Bayless along with a two guard like Stauskas.  Simmons can still be the primary ball handler, but will be able to guard his position.

[footey]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

None that I ever saw, other than on LibertyBallers or quoted by LarBird33. Maybe you are confusing this topic with the reports from the Feb trade deadline.  The Brooklyn '16 pick had much less value then. 

[max215]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

They are fine for now.  They can experiment with this for a few months.

PG - Simmons
SG - Bayless/Henderson/Stauskas/Rodriguez
SF - Saric/Convington
PF - Okafor
C - Embiid
---
PF/C - Noel

Plenty of minutes for Okafor, Noel and Embiid to all get 30+

They'd be wise to see if Okafor improved from his rookie to sophomore season (as typically happens with 20 year olds) and whether he plays better alongside Embiid who supposedly has range.  They'd also be wise to see if Okafor flourishes with Simmons passing the ball.  Lot of stuff they can play around with.  There's not enough data yet.  They need to make educated decisions here.

So I wouldn't count on Okafor being traded for a role player.  That'd make no sense whatsoever.

Not only would there be no space for any of the bigs to work on offense, but they'd be a disaster on defense. You can't roll out a lineup with 2 4s and 2 5s.

[Ilikesports17]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

None that I ever saw, other than on LibertyBallers or quoted by LarBird33. Maybe you are confusing this topic with the reports from the Feb trade deadline.  The Brooklyn '16 pick had much less value then.

I was referring to the deadline. Okafors value had dropped a bit, but at that point the Brooklyn pick had the potential to turn into Simmons and Ingram. 

[spikelovetheCelts]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

There were also reports that we couldn't get Okafor for Brooklyn '16 plus substantial assets. Reports are a nice guideline and you can use all of them to try to build a picture of the value or going rate for a player. However just because it's reported that philly can't get anything for Okafor doesn't mean it's necessarily true. Reports are wrong all the time.

They are fine for now.  They can experiment with this for a few months.

PG - Simmons
SG - Bayless/Henderson/Stauskas/Rodriguez
SF - Saric/Convington
PF - Okafor
C - Embiid
---
PF/C - Noel

Plenty of minutes for Okafor, Noel and Embiid to all get 30+

They'd be wise to see if Okafor improved from his rookie to sophomore season (as typically happens with 20 year olds) and whether he plays better alongside Embiid who supposedly has range.  They'd also be wise to see if Okafor flourishes with Simmons passing the ball.  Lot of stuff they can play around with.  There's not enough data yet.  They need to make educated decisions here.

So I wouldn't count on Okafor being traded for a role player.  That'd make no sense whatsoever.

I think it is wise to see how training camp does before making a big trade in Philly.

[celticsclay]

I have a hard time imagining a trade that makes sense for both teams.  I think in theory, trading a package around one of the future Brooklyn picks or Marcus Smart would make sense, but if I'm Philly, I wouldn't want Smart (can't shoot) and I wouldn't want an unknown pick.  I think it might need to be a 3-team deal with Philly getting a shooter. 

Or something built around Avery Bradley, I guess.  Bradley would make sense there.

Man I can't wait to see okafor traded for a role player, lol. You're so wrong on Okafor's value. I agree with you he is awesome, but the league doesn't feel that way because everyone wants to be the Warriors. Yes it's dumb I know, but teams are dumb if you don't know already. The latest reports were okafor doesn't hold much value in the market so please stick with reports instead of talking out of your butt

nobody is out-shooting the Warriors.  Going big might actually be the only way to upset them.

high level talent doesnt need to follow league trends. role players and even realy good players need to worry about trends. Al jefferson and greg Monroe are not good enough to justify putting them in a system where they dont thrive. Perk was a nice role-player for us 8 years ago. In the modern NBA hed be useless. however, I think its possible that a) Okafor improves his weaknesses to be able to fit in the modern game and b) his post presence grows to be dominant enough that he forces defenses to adapt to defend him rather than guys like Kanter being forced to the bench because his scoring is not dominant enough to justify what he gives up.

Yeah has anyone ever successfully followed one of these fads to a championship?  Whatever team wins, people try to replicate their success with lesser talent.  It doesn't work.  You need to maximize the talent you have and create the new trend.

I am not sure if it is a "fad", but the Warriors definitely implemented San Antonio's offensive system when Kerr became their coach and they rode that system to a championship and probably should have 2.