would you trade okafor for celtics #3 pick?

[joyeuxnoel]

I voted yes but changed my mind. 3 for Okafor is certainly not enough and to the Celtics also has me thinking no. Hate for him to terrorize us 4 times a year especially if embiid is unable to stay healthy.

That's what I'm afraid of as well - Okafor's best games were against team's and players he had a grudge against and it would scare me having to see him 4 times a year for the next decade or so. If I'm trading him than I'd look at Phoenix, ship him out West.

Out west would definitely be less worrisome but what comes with the 4th pick for okafor? I'd imagine Booker wouldn't be on the table.

booker + dunn/murray for okafor would be tougher to say no too, but id still say no

okafor is one of the most dominant scorers in the nba period, at 20 years old. booker cooled off big time last year when is usage rate climbed (okafor got better and better as year went on, even with the same usage rate)

not a huge fan of dunn, i like murray a lot, but price here is too steep so not for this price

[PhilasFinest]

You have to be smart here. If Embiid gets injured again and we have no Okafor, this franchise will be severely set back. Besides you have to watch all of these pieces play together first before deciding who to cut.

While I agree to an extent, but how is it a severe set back? Also who are you drafting?

With a trade:
C-Noel/Injured Embiid
F-Simmons
F-Covington/Saric
G-?
G-#3 Pick (Murray/Hield/Dunn)

Without a trade:
C-Noel/Okafor/Injured Embiid
F-Simmons
F-Covington/Saric
G-?
G-?

I don't see how its much further off. If Embiid gets hurt again, its gonna suck no matter what we do. Even in that scenario, You still have a position battle between Noel/Okafor and only 1 year left on Noel's deal.
Would we be better off moving Noel?
Are we that much better off with Okafor/Noel/Simmons or Ingram compared to say Noel/Simmons/Jamal Murray? or Noel/Ingram/Dunn?

Its all depends on who we draft tho honestly. Ingram and I think Okafor becomes a keeper. Simmons and I think he's probably got to be moved.

i want simmons, but i see why he would create a logjam with saric, embiid, and simmons coming in this year

having said that, the matchup problems we would create would be absolutely ridiculous if we keep them all (except noel)

okafor with his post moves and soft touch
embiid with his range and all-around game
simmons with his slashing and passing
saric with his shooting and passing

literally skilled big bodies to throw all game on offense

How many teams have 4 "stud" bigs that they rotate?
DO you think all 4 bigs are gonna be happy playing different roles and sacrificing playing time and touches for each other?

If you keep all of them, how are you acquiring quality Guards/Wings to compliment them?

[ET Da Gawd]

Okafor is the best offensive weapon we have, Him & Joel need to be our Z-Bo/Marc Gasol...Simmons should be feeding the both of them easily on postup opportunities & drives

I don't see how Embiid/Okafor/Simmons realistically fit on the floor at the same time.

WE ARE NOT WINNING THE CHIP NEXT YEAR...so Simmons finding his jumper year 1 with the other 2 is not a bad deal. It takes time for chemistry...No one wins a chip overnight, esp a young core who hasn't played together. Embiid high post/3pt line-Okafor in paint...Okafor in high post/top of the key for drive--Embiid on the block/sliding out the the baseline for a 2pt/3pter. Simmons can not be guarded by a SF one on one, esp at the top of the key. The pick n roll with either of the bigs will open up so many options because of the dual finishing ability of the bigs and simmons great vision. Okafor was avg close to 20ppg before Ish came, doing so while facing completely single coverage or double teams with poor options to pass to for a shot and or repost opportunity. Like BC (still dont like him)...Simmons will always have 2 shooters around him on the floor. Teams will have to make a decision:
1. Double Jahlil
2. Double Embiid
3. Double Simmons

Thats many opportunities to take advatage of defensive mismatches and lapses while teams figure out how to guard us. Okafor at the 4 esp with Embiid ensures complete domination. Jah was cooking the likes of Deandres, Gasols (both), Towns, Whiteside, Lopez etc. Embiid can most likely do the same, that slides Jah to 4 where he will be taking advatage of small ball 4s & Simmons will take advatage of SFs. Our defense will be extremely hard to finish in the paint on.

[ET Da Gawd]

Also remember fellas as far as our 3 Centers:
Best Defense- Noel
Best Offense- Okafor
Best of Both worlds- Embiid
Jahlils post game is still much more ahead of Joels, his footwork is probably 2nd to none in the league as we speak, he has too many fakes and ways to finish, not to mention no one can handle his size at 270+, esp smallball powerforwards.

[joyeuxnoel]

While I agree to an extent, but how is it a severe set back? Also who are you drafting?

With a trade:
C-Noel/Injured Embiid
F-Simmons
F-Covington/Saric
G-?
G-#3 Pick (Murray/Hield/Dunn)

Without a trade:
C-Noel/Okafor/Injured Embiid
F-Simmons
F-Covington/Saric
G-?
G-?

I don't see how its much further off. If Embiid gets hurt again, its gonna suck no matter what we do. Even in that scenario, You still have a position battle between Noel/Okafor and only 1 year left on Noel's deal.
Would we be better off moving Noel?
Are we that much better off with Okafor/Noel/Simmons or Ingram compared to say Noel/Simmons/Jamal Murray? or Noel/Ingram/Dunn?

Its all depends on who we draft tho honestly. Ingram and I think Okafor becomes a keeper. Simmons and I think he's probably got to be moved.

i want simmons, but i see why he would create a logjam with saric, embiid, and simmons coming in this year

having said that, the matchup problems we would create would be absolutely ridiculous if we keep them all (except noel)

okafor with his post moves and soft touch
embiid with his range and all-around game
simmons with his slashing and passing
saric with his shooting and passing

literally skilled big bodies to throw all game on offense

How many teams have 4 "stud" bigs that they rotate?
DO you think all 4 bigs are gonna be happy playing different roles and sacrificing playing time and touches for each other?

If you keep all of them, how are you acquiring quality Guards/Wings to compliment them?

id have simmons and saric split minutes between the 3/4
simmons can play the 3 with saric at pf and embiid at c, they can both shoot.

have embiid limited at 20-25 minutes his rookie year to help him adjust to the nba after the injuries and monitor his foot and back.

that means you have 144 minutes between 4 guys which is 36 mpg each althoughs with embiid limited at 20-25, give grant and holmes the rest of the minutes

I'd have a cheap pg like dellabova who can shoot and play defense, doesnt have to distribute that much when you have either simmons or saric or both on the floor at all times distributing.

have a combo guard like a jamal murray who can also distribute and shoot the rock at sg (would trade noel + the late 1st rounders for him)

so

PG- Delly/Mcconell
SG- Murray/Covington/Stauskas
SF/PF- Simmons/Saric
PF-Okafor/Holmes/Grant
C- Embiid/Okafor

[PhilasFinest]

Okafor is the best offensive weapon we have, Him & Joel need to be our Z-Bo/Marc Gasol...Simmons should be feeding the both of them easily on postup opportunities & drives

I don't see how Embiid/Okafor/Simmons realistically fit on the floor at the same time.

WE ARE NOT WINNING THE CHIP NEXT YEAR...so Simmons finding his jumper year 1 with the other 2 is not a bad deal. It takes time for chemistry...No one wins a chip overnight, esp a young core who hasn't played together. Embiid high post/3pt line-Okafor in paint...Okafor in high post/top of the key for drive--Embiid on the block/sliding out the the baseline for a 2pt/3pter. Simmons can not be guarded by a SF one on one, esp at the top of the key. The pick n roll with either of the bigs will open up so many options because of the dual finishing ability of the bigs and simmons great vision. Okafor was avg close to 20ppg before Ish came, doing so while facing completely single coverage or double teams with poor options to pass to for a shot and or repost opportunity. Like BC (still dont like him)...Simmons will always have 2 shooters around him on the floor. Teams will have to make a decision:
1. Double Jahlil
2. Double Embiid
3. Double Simmons

Thats many opportunities to take advatage of defensive mismatches and lapses while teams figure out how to guard us. Okafor at the 4 esp with Embiid ensures complete domination. Jah was cooking the likes of Deandres, Gasols (both), Towns, Whiteside, Lopez etc. Embiid can most likely do the same, that slides Jah to 4 where he will be taking advatage of small ball 4s & Simmons will take advatage of SFs. Our defense will be extremely hard to finish in the paint on.

What are those "small ball 4's" gonna do to Okafor on the opposite end tho?
You think Simmons defends the elite athletes at the SF position?
You think Simmons is cooking Kawhi,LeBron and Paul George at the SF spot with a shaky jumper?
What "shooters" are around Simmons/Okafor? Please don't say Canaan or Stauskas.

[PhilasFinest]

Also remember fellas as far as our 3 Centers:
Best Defense- Noel
Best Offense- Okafor
Best of Both worlds- Embiid
Jahlils post game is still much more ahead of Joels, his footwork is probably 2nd to none in the league as we speak, he has too many fakes and ways to finish, not to mention no one can handle his size at 270+, esp smallball powerforwards.

You can't keep all 3 together though...thats the point.

[joyeuxnoel]

I don't see how Embiid/Okafor/Simmons realistically fit on the floor at the same time.

WE ARE NOT WINNING THE CHIP NEXT YEAR...so Simmons finding his jumper year 1 with the other 2 is not a bad deal. It takes time for chemistry...No one wins a chip overnight, esp a young core who hasn't played together. Embiid high post/3pt line-Okafor in paint...Okafor in high post/top of the key for drive--Embiid on the block/sliding out the the baseline for a 2pt/3pter. Simmons can not be guarded by a SF one on one, esp at the top of the key. The pick n roll with either of the bigs will open up so many options because of the dual finishing ability of the bigs and simmons great vision. Okafor was avg close to 20ppg before Ish came, doing so while facing completely single coverage or double teams with poor options to pass to for a shot and or repost opportunity. Like BC (still dont like him)...Simmons will always have 2 shooters around him on the floor. Teams will have to make a decision:
1. Double Jahlil
2. Double Embiid
3. Double Simmons

Thats many opportunities to take advatage of defensive mismatches and lapses while teams figure out how to guard us. Okafor at the 4 esp with Embiid ensures complete domination. Jah was cooking the likes of Deandres, Gasols (both), Towns, Whiteside, Lopez etc. Embiid can most likely do the same, that slides Jah to 4 where he will be taking advatage of small ball 4s & Simmons will take advatage of SFs. Our defense will be extremely hard to finish in the paint on.

What are those "small ball 4's" gonna do to Okafor on the opposite end tho?
You think Simmons defends the elite athletes at the SF position?
You think Simmons is cooking Kawhi,LeBron and Paul George at the SF spot with a shaky jumper?
What "shooters" are around Simmons/Okafor? Please don't say Canaan or Stauskas.

1. okafor conditioned should be able to guard 4s on the perimeter, hes an above average man to man defender. Hes a good fit at PF, not at C where he he has to offer rim protection
2. Simmons is actually a much better perimeter defender than defending bigger guys. He defended the elite PGs in highschool very well, and has outstanding feet and lateral quickness on D
3. no i dont, but honestly noone can cook those guys in general
4. Like i said in above post, we need a 3 and D guy at PG like delly, and a combo guard at SG who can shoot like murray

[sixers23]

since when does anyone care about divisions? lol

[Sixerscan]

I'd want the Celtics to include Crowder or Bradley, maybe another non-lotto 1st.

Embiid/Noel/Holmes
Simmons/Saric
Cov/Grant
Bradley/Stauskas
Murray/TJ

Let's ride.

[CoreyGallagher]

since when does anyone care about divisions? lol

You have to play the teams in your division 4 times every season.

[sixers23]

since when does anyone care about divisions? lol

You have to play the teams in your division 4 times every season.

might as well just say conference tho. division are meaningless in the nba

[ET Da Gawd]

No Simmons wont drop 40ppg on the Elite SFs in year 1 on his career...He has a long career ahead of him and will improve greatly from the starting point he's currently at. Simmons was a monster SF in highschool when he was 6'7 pulling mad jumpers all the time, after this growth spurt, he realized "Why take jumpers when I can my defenders to the rack?"...Philadelphia fans tend to focus on strictly the bad of the players they dont like but ignore deficiencies of players they do like. I doubt too many teams would complain and be clammoring to trade Okafor & not draft Simmons

[CoreyGallagher]

since when does anyone care about divisions? lol

You have to play the teams in your division 4 times every season.

might as well just say conference tho. division are meaningless in the nba

You don't play every team in the conference 4 times.

[ET Da Gawd]

Also remember fellas as far as our 3 Centers:
Best Defense- Noel
Best Offense- Okafor
Best of Both worlds- Embiid
Jahlils post game is still much more ahead of Joels, his footwork is probably 2nd to none in the league as we speak, he has too many fakes and ways to finish, not to mention no one can handle his size at 270+, esp smallball powerforwards.

You can't keep all 3 together though...thats the point.

I been saying all yr Nerlens can bounce, Okafor/Embiid stay in my book...but if Nerlens wants a decent deal thats cool..if not he'll get dealt most likely due to him being the least talented.

[ET Da Gawd]

Mind you!! Embiid is on a minute restriction next season anyways & trying to play GSW style up and down ball would not be the best course of action for his foot.

[eagereyez]

That's what I'm afraid of as well - Okafor's best games were against team's and players he had a grudge against and it would scare me having to see him 4 times a year for the next decade or so. If I'm trading him than I'd look at Phoenix, ship him out West.

Out west would definitely be less worrisome but what comes with the 4th pick for okafor? I'd imagine Booker wouldn't be on the table.

booker + dunn/murray for okafor would be tougher to say no too, but id still say no

okafor is one of the most dominant scorers in the nba period, at 20 years old. booker cooled off big time last year when is usage rate climbed (okafor got better and better as year went on, even with the same usage rate)

not a huge fan of dunn, i like murray a lot, but price here is too steep so not for this price

I'm almost positive PHX wouldn't trade Booker for Okafor straight up. Booker + Dunn/Muray is a pipe dream, and you're on crack for saying no to that.

[Negrodamus]

It'd have to be more than #3 and I'm not sure the Celtics are willing to do that. Either way, I think we like Dunn and Murray so a team like the Suns would be more inclined to give up more.

I really like what Okafor can do, but man it would be hard for me to give up on Nerlens. He's so disruptive on PnR and can pick the pockets of guards along with great rim protection. If we could bring on an Ingram and a Murray, i think we are alright playing 4 v 5 on offense with the occasional lob to Nerlens.

[CoreyGallagher]

I'm almost positive PHX wouldn't trade Booker for Okafor straight up. Booker + Dunn/Muray is a pipe dream, and you're on crack for saying no to that.

Yeah, Suns seem invested in Booker.

[Sixerscan]

No Simmons wont drop 40ppg on the Elite SFs in year 1 on his career...He has a long career ahead of him and will improve greatly from the starting point he's currently at. Simmons was a monster SF in highschool when he was 6'7 pulling mad jumpers all the time, after this growth spurt, he realized "Why take jumpers when I can my defenders to the rack?"...Philadelphia fans tend to focus on strictly the bad of the players they dont like but ignore deficiencies of players they do like. I doubt too many teams would complain and be clammoring to trade Okafor & not draft Simmons

I'd say the opinion of Okafor is a lot lower among other fan bases than ours. People don't think he's very good.