I assume that you laid down a case for why Jaylen Brown is better than Aaron Gordon. That doesn't seem to be the case, but I hope you're right. I guess we'll have to see how Jaylen plays on the pro level. My expectations are that he'll average about 6 points on 35% shooting and struggle to make an impact for a few years.
Based on what little we've seen of Jaylen thus far (College and a few summer league games), I don't see any part of his game that is better than Aaron Gordon a year ago.
He has potential. It's going to take him time.
Aaron Gordon has made leaps. Hopefully Jaylen can make similar leaps someday.
it is possible to think both are good, yet one may have an edge in a particular category/area that one of us values more than the other. that's life.
but, let's have some fun. i accept your "challenge" on brown's future. i predict he will surpass your predictions this year AND next. i am willing to commit to an awe inspiring wager as testiment to my belief.
if brown surpasses your prediction, you click and give me 10 valuable and precious tps each year. if brown does not, then i will return the favor.
and if brown manages to average EXACTLY 6 points a game, well hell, let's give each tps. ha, ha.
deal?
if the #3 pick actually averages 6 points, that's pretty brutally depressing. Last year the #3 pick averaged 17 and 7 with 50% shooting and folks around here think he's worth a grilled cheese sandwich. God help us if brown lives up to my expectations.
If "PPG" was the only factor determining a player's value in this league, then your point would be a valid one.
It's not, however.
This league very strongly values flexibility (the ability of a player to be able to rapidly and effectively adapt changed in on-court circumstances) and versatility (the ability of a player to contribute in multiple ways).
Guys who lack flexibility/versatility, but who are exceptional at in one specific aspect of the game, are what we refer to as "role players". Such players CAN still have significant value in the league, but they have far less value compared to players who can do a variety of things at a high level.
The former #3 pick you are referring to falls in to the "role player" category. As an interior scorer, he is genuinely exceptional. However there is nothing else at all that he does at a high level, and numerous things that he does at an alarmingly poor level.
The reason why people see such potential in Brown is that has the potential to become a very flexible/versatile player. He has quite a bit of potential as a scorer, he is a very good rebounder relative to his position, he has very high potential on the defensive end, and he the type of physical attributes (height, length, physical strength, athleticism) to allow him to easily switch onto a range of different positions defensively.
If Brown were to improve across all the areas he's already competent in, you have a guy who can score, rebound and defend multiple positions - all at a high level.
If Okafor were to improve across all the areas he's already competent in, you'd have a elite post scorer and that's about all.
Okafor has a higher floor then Brown because he already does something at a very high level - so even if he never improves a smidgen his entire time in the league, he's still going to be useful to somebody as a big guy who can score in the paint.
However Brown has a far high ceiling then Okafor, because his ceiling is that of a star who can impact the game in a range of areas.
Brown's ceiling is pretty much Kawhi Leonard, while Okafor's ceiling is more like Brook Lopez...and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that 90% of GM's in the NBA would probably choose Kawhi Leonard over Brook Lopez if they had to choose a guy to build their franchise around.
You also have to consider role and opportunity. Brown is going to be playing the SF spot behind Jae Crowder - a very good two way player who had a lot to do with this team's success last season. His minutes are undoubtedly going to be limited (he may only get 20 minutes a game, perhaps even less) because he's playing behind a very good and very proven player for a team who's aim is to win a lot of games. Hence it's going to take a LOT of convincing for a Brown to steal minutes from a guy like Crowder.
Okafor played big minutes and was given pretty much complete freedom to dominate the ball as a primary option on a team that had no incentive to win games, and who's entire point of focus was on losing and getting reps for their young prospects.
If Brown were to play on the 76ers squad this year, there is a good chance he would be given ~30 minutes a game and that he would score ~16 PPG, especially given that team's desperate need for perimeter talent.
I'll also be VERY curious to see what will happen to Okafor's production if the Sixers can't move him in time for the start of the season, and if he and Noel end up playing 15-20 MPG off the bench as backups to Embiid and Simmons. With Okafor no longer being the focal point of the offense and no longer playing big minutes, you may well find his production dropping to something more in the 9 point, 4.5 rebound range combined with his already very prominent weaknesses - at which point his value won't be nearly as high as it is now, and he may well become VERY difficult to trade.
I'm thinking the Sixers are going to try their best to make a trade happen while he still has ome value, and avoid that scenario.