Emeka Okafor...?

[Smills91]

Has asked for a Sign and Trade, why not just screw the cap space idea and go for our 'free agent' NOW.

Ron Artest/Brad Miller for Emeka Okafor.


Kings new roster:
C: Spencer Hawes, Mikki Moore, Shelden Williams
PF: Emeka Okafor, Jason Thompson, Kenny Thomas
SF: John Salmons, Francisco Garcia, Pat Ewing Jr.
SG: Kevin Martin, Quincy Douby
PG: Beno Udrih, Sean Singletary

[deNIEd]

Thats good, only it makes the Thompson drafting look even worse

[Bac2Basics]

Okafor's one of those guys that I think whatever team gets him will have to overpay significantly to do so, and while he's talented without question, I'd rather not get into a bidding war over him.

[sackings916]

Okafor's one of those guys that I think whatever team gets him will have to overpay significantly to do so, and while he's talented without question, I'd rather not get into a bidding war over him.

I agree. Okafor's a good defensive player but below average offensively. He may get better, but I still wouldn't want him on the Kings on a max or near max deal.

[dozencousins]

If Larry Brown had a hard enough time dealing with a headcase in Iverson and traded him what makes you think he wants Artest ?

Enough said !

[chriswebb86]

Even if we move Miller we sould still have cap space in 2010. I like the move and think the Bobcats would would be willing to do something like this. I think we we could get him for a 6 year 75 million deal I would be willing to do something like that. However if he wants anything more then that I would just hold off. I think Josh Smith could be another player to go after. I kinda agree on the fact this would make the Jason Thompson drafting look a little worse, but a rotation of Okafor, Thompson, and Hawes would be really really nice to have.

[SacKingZZZ]

You know, at one point I would have been all over this one, but I am not so sure anymore. He wants big money and I don't know if he is really worth as much as he thinks he is. He is beginning to look less and less like anything close to a superstar level big man prospect. He is a solid player but I don't think it's the right move as of now.

[ethiosew]

Okafor's one of those guys that I think whatever team gets him will have to overpay significantly to do so, and while he's talented without question, I'd rather not get into a bidding war over him.

I agree. Okafor's a good defensive player but below average offensively. He may get better, but I still wouldn't want him on the Kings on a max or near max deal.

This team has enough offensive players with Martin, Beno and Hawes for the future. We NEED a guy like Okafor who can get the rebounds and be a defensive force in the middle. I would give up Thompson/Miller with future pick to sign Okafor.

[ICMTM]

I don't see Okafur as being a dominating force in this league. Remember when there was a question of who should be drafted 1st out of Howard and Okafur?

I just think 10M is the ceiling on what I'd pay him, and I feel its on the high end.

[Dustin5566]

I just don't feel he can stay healthy enough to deserve/earn a 10+ million contract

[BMiller52]

I'd take Emeka anyday. I donno if we could work a deal for him.

[Ballings7]

I'd love Emeka on this team, but am not sure he can be had here

I've watched him consistently since 06, he has been pretty inconsistent offensively, but collectively he does have respectable skill in the low-post (facing up or posting up), above-average on the pick and roll, and will get multiple put-backs. Lacking a jumper, takes them semi-regularily, but hits them less than he does. Some times he has lacked energy. 20/20-range capable player, having had a handful of them.

Defensively and rebounding, he's top 5 in the league (at least around there). Has struggles against quicker, perimeter-oriented PFs. Not a stand-out athlete, but not bad, either. Defensively, he's special... obviously defense is not all about blocks, and his defensive ability definitely isn't, but he's had like three near 10-block games. Offensively, he still has a bit of improvement to do in a few areas.

Over the years, some games he's played like an all-star, others a border-line all-star, and others like a decent role-player.. I'd say so far he's rounded out to be a border-line all-star, but has been on a developing, young team. If he was on Cleveland in place of Big Z, he may well of been an all-star already. If he was on a playoff team, he'd at least be up there in the running for All-NBA-defense and DPOY. And individually, he is that kind of defensive big man. Offensively, he really can do multiple things, specifically in the low-post area, but like I said earlier it's just about being more consistent and some more refined (with foot-work, specifically).

I think with the right kind of group around him, regardless of how much he improves offensively, he's a great piece to have because of what he does consistently on both sides of the court.

-----------

Larry Brown and AI had their issues, but ultimately were fine, from what I remember (I don't care if he was traded while LB had a front-office position, Philly's situation dictated things). Also he coached Rasheed for a year and a half (and was there when they traded for him, of course). I don't think Artest would be a problem, if anything just minor things at times like Ron's had with Theus (which is relatively common). Thing is Gerald Wallace is there already, unless they'd go small, but I doubt Larry Brown would go small with Ron or Gerald at PF.

[KM44]

Okafor's one of those guys that I think whatever team gets him will have to overpay significantly to do so, and while he's talented without question, I'd rather not get into a bidding war over him.

I agree. Okafor's a good defensive player but below average offensively. He may get better, but I still wouldn't want him on the Kings on a max or near max deal.

This team has enough offensive players with Martin, Beno and Hawes for the future. We NEED a guy like Okafor who can get the rebounds and be a defensive force in the middle. I would give up Thompson/Miller with future pick to sign Okafor.

Yikes, that's a little brash. Okafor is the kind of player the kings need, but giving up a guy who we just used as the 12th pick of the draft, a solid starting center in the league AND another pick is too much for any player who isn't a sure star. I would LOVE to have Okafor on our team and I think he combined with hawes and martin would make a super core to build around, but he isn't worth that much.

Don't forget about Al Horford, who will be a free agent in a few years, who would be the perfect PF for the kings. So this comes down to judging what direction we want to go in, because getting Okafor practically makes the thompson pick irrelevant, Horford will be available ect...

[BMiller52]

Wonder if they'd take Spencer for Meka? I know we all like Spencer a lot but you guys have to admit that a future front line of Okafor/Thompson would be SPECIAL defensively. And I think Mek is really a C anyway. That would remind me a bit of Ben/Sheed in Detroit.

[Bac2Basics]

It would be completely ridiculous to trade Spencer at this point unless it was part of a package to get an absolute unquestioned homerun, which Okafor isn't. He's good, just not quite that good.

[BMiller52]

It would be completely ridiculous to trade Spencer at this point unless it was part of a package to get an absolute unquestioned homerun, which Okafor isn't. He's good, just not quite that good.

Yea I know, but man just think of that d. Thompson is really mobile, a good shotblocker and a good rebounder. Okafor is a great post defender, rebounder, and he's had a few games where he's had 10 or nearly 10 blocks. We'd have an absolutely awesome defense in our frontcourt. You can build a team around that. Look at the Pistons, they got a championship. I don't think we have the next Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, etc. on this roster. Look at Boston. Yeah they had 3 all stars, but that's not the reason they won. Washington has 3 all stars too. The difference there is defense. You either need an absolutely amazing player, or you need a great defense. I'm not sure Spencer can be a part of a great defensive team.

[Bac2Basics]

^^
what you say may be true, but with the progress that Spencer was able to make in his rookie year, I'm willing to hang on to him long enough to find out.