Countdown to NBA Draft: Prospect Talk

[Worst_to_First]

As much as I like Towns (i like him a lot and would love if we got him), I think you gotta go with Okafor. His offensive game is tremendous and he's hella quick in the post. You can cover him up with a defensive anchor and I wouldn't be surprised if his defensive game doesn't approve while he's in the NBA. Dude has incredible legwork.

I think people don't want him because they don't want to have to cover him with a defensive anchor, they want him to be the defensive anchor.

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

[NYKnicksTAPE]

As much as I like Towns (i like him a lot and would love if we got him), I think you gotta go with Okafor. His offensive game is tremendous and he's hella quick in the post. You can cover him up with a defensive anchor and I wouldn't be surprised if his defensive game doesn't approve while he's in the NBA. Dude has incredible legwork.

I think people don't want him because they don't want to have to cover him with a defensive anchor, they want him to be the defensive anchor.

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

[Worst_to_First]

I think people don't want him because they don't want to have to cover him with a defensive anchor, they want him to be the defensive anchor.

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

Doesn’t really matter for me what their defense is ranked right now. My question was leaning towards if we put Okafor in that Bobcats/Hornets team that season which in my view had the players to complement him offensively and defensively (while meeting salary cap limitations), do you guys see a title contender?

[NYKnicksTAPE]

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

Doesn’t really matter for me what their defense is ranked right now. My question was leaning towards if we put Okafor in that Bobcats/Hornets team that season which in my view had the players to complement him offensively and defensively (while meeting salary cap limitations), do you guys see a title contender?

I think that defense might have been a fluke or is too hard to accomplish. That was probably the 1st time he's been a part of an elite defense, and their offense was horrible. It seems like it would be really hard to have a nice balance of offense and defense when the guy who should be your defensive anchor is bad on D. There aren't that many perimeter players that are good enough to make the defense elite while also being good on offense. As u can see, it didn't look like their defense was sustainable.

[fresko024]

he wouldn't take him with the number one pick. he would most likely nab Oak and trade down with a team that wants him and still be able to get WCS and another first for next year in the process.

[AlphakirA]

Anyone basing anything on 1 game shouldn't be analyzing basketball...Should we worry about Phil giving Will Barton a max deal too? If they get #1 they're picking Okafor with a 5% chance they pick Towns, otherwise it's not up for debate.

[damedash09]

Wtf no

[Worst_to_First]

I would go like this.....

[TrueWarrior]

Willie reminds me of a suped up Jeffries. If that doesnt deserve the top pick idk what does.

[RHODEY]

Anyone basing anything on 1 game shouldn't be analyzing basketball...Should we worry about Phil giving Will Barton a max deal too? If they get #1 they're picking Okafor with a 5% chance they pick Towns, otherwise it's not up for debate.

Nice interpretation... So we have a only 5% chance of picking Towns, what are you basing that on? I know you said it's not up for debate but who died and proclaimed you the authority on basketball analysis?

[Milk]

On Bleacher Report









http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2395481-the-ideal-star-pairing-for-every-top-2015-nba-draft-prospect

[mgeise]

I would be pretty livid, specifically for passing on Okafor. I think Okafor and Towns are the clear 1-2 at this point, but there's more of an argument to be made between Towns and Mudiay and Cauley

This is a pretty great year for the Knicks to be in the basement, though. Assuming they finish in last, they pick no worse than fourth and are guaranteed one of Okafor, Towns, Mudiay, and Cauley-Stein. Nice position to be in.

[RHODEY]

I would be pretty livid, specifically for passing on Okafor. I think Okafor and Towns are the clear 1-2 at this point, but there's more of an argument to be made between Towns and Mudiay and Cauley

This is a pretty great year for the Knicks to be in the basement, though. Assuming they finish in last, they pick no worse than fourth and are guaranteed one of Okafor, Towns, Mudiay, and Cauley-Stein. Nice position to be in.

I take it you are not a Russel fan?

[Worst_to_First]

On Bleacher Report









http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2395481-the-ideal-star-pairing-for-every-top-2015-nba-draft-prospect

Personally, I would put Towns with Melo here and Okafor with Wiggins. Better mix of offense and defense.

[E-Balla]

I think people don't want him because they don't want to have to cover him with a defensive anchor, they want him to be the defensive anchor.

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

They were never as low as 22nd (outside of maybe the first few weeks when MKG was hurt and Al waa on the bench) and they're currently 8th after being top 5 most of the year.

[bigfnjoe96]

Doc, stop smoking the ganja....

Sent from my G2 via Tapatalk

[Workforce250]

There are a few fans here who like Kaminsky, I'm one of them.
While he may not be in conversation for top 1-4 pick, why he's not in the group of 5-10, is confusing me.

There's actually a lot of people who like Kaminsky, me included, he just isn't a top 5 pick kind of player.

I think he's working himself to be a top 10 pick to be honest.

Hear you JBreeze. I mean who from 5-10 is better overall? Passing, shooting, very good instincts, his defense is good.

[NYKnicksTAPE]

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

They were never as low as 22nd (outside of maybe the first few weeks when MKG was hurt and Al waa on the bench) and they're currently 8th after being top 5 most of the year.

For defensive rating?? I remember there was a thread on the general board about what was going on with the Hornets and everybody showed how their defense had fallen off tremendously, and their below average offense couldn't pick up the slack.

[moocow007]

WCS is a zagnut, a space cadet type. Yes, he's a terrific defensive player, is a terrifically athletic 7 footer and he could (not will) be a game changing defensive player in the NBA. But he's a guy that you need to manage and maintain. Calipari has done a great job of that. What is Fisher like in terms of managing players like that? It would be puzzling for Jackson to take WCS unless the Knicks end up with the 4th, 5th or 6th pick. If they do, then, yes, it's understandable.

[NYKnicksTAPE]

Charlotte was a top defensive team last season in spite of having Al Jefferson as their Center. That team has a good coach and great defenders that could cover for Al Jeff’s weaknesses. Now, swap Al Jeff with Jahlil Okafor then ask yourself if that Hornets team could be title contenders in a year or two’s time. If the answer is a resounding YES, then Jahlil Okafor should be the #1 pick in this draft.

What about their defense this year? I remember reading a while ago that their defense was ranked something like 22nd, but that was like back in January...I'm not sure what their defense is ranked right now.

They were never as low as 22nd (outside of maybe the first few weeks when MKG was hurt and Al waa on the bench) and they're currently 8th after being top 5 most of the year.

Just went back and checked, and their defense is ranked 9th, but their offense is ranked 29th! I'm not a fan of their model of team building. They do manage to be OK on defense, but their horrible in pretty much all offensive categories. Their defense was ranked 25th on November 30th, but I guess it was because MKG was out. It scares me that 1 dude may be the reason for a defense to go from top 5 to 25th. I think it's too hard to get a good balance of offense and defense when the perimeter players have to be great at defense to cover up for a weak interior.