"WCIHAoTDP?" - 2016 Draft Thread P.2

[Duke4life831]

Thomas Bryant is returning to Indiana. Interesting decision considering their recruitment class in poor right now, but you'd have to expect Bryant will be able to dominate next season and be rated higher than late-lotto to late-1st.

Bender will be asked by Croatian NT coach to join the team right away and not to go to US for the draft process. Right around the draft they're playing only friendlies before Olympic QT so he wants to see how Bender fits.

As for Okafor, I assume Philly would like somebody more mature. I wouldn't be surprised if they traded Okafor and something else (Lakers pick or theirs if it falls) to Chicago for Butler. Colangelos are gonna look really bad if 76ers suck next year.

I actually think Bryant could move up quite a bit with a year back at IU. Get in a bit better shape, work on his offensive game away from the rim, and improve some of his defensive bugaboos.

I don't really see any player improving their stock that much from this year to next. Next year's class is just so much better and deeper. The 17 draft is going to have 10+ freshman in its lottery and the only ones that won't be freshman will probably be over seas players. I wouldn't be surprised if Bryant is one of the first non fresh/euro players taken but it won't be in the lottery

[Gomes3PC]

I don't buy that. Everyone talks about how the next class is always so great. The reality is a number of guys will wind up like Labissiere or Diallo and disappoint.

Bryant has tremendous measurables at a 9-4 standing reach and 7-3 wingspan. He's got touch that coaches dream about and is a hungry rebounder. Simply put, there is not a center prospect in the 2017 draft among US prospects that can match his size/talent combo. Don't know about Euros but guys with his size and touch will always be in the mix in the lottery.

However, he's unpolished defensively and has too much baby fat. He also could use the opportunity to show he is the focal point of an offense and be more of a facilitator.

[return2glory]

Noel is this new Josh Smith of this board.

Noel hasn't done jack in the NBA.

[Luicampos12]

I would trade our first pick for Okafor. First year he put up some big numbers. Yea he played for Philly but still, the 20 year old can match up with ANY big he plays against. If he plays for a team that isn't a joke with good coaching and supporting players he can thrive and become an All Star.

[Curmudgeon]

I wouldn't trade a bag of potatoes for Okafor. He can't defend a chair, and shows no sign of being able to learn to do so. Sullinger is a better player.

[galipeautim]

I don't buy that. Everyone talks about how the next class is always so great. The reality is a number of guys will wind up like Labissiere or Diallo and disappoint.

Bryant has tremendous measurables at a 9-4 standing reach and 7-3 wingspan. He's got touch that coaches dream about and is a hungry rebounder. Simply put, there is not a center prospect in the 2017 draft among US prospects that can match his size/talent combo. Don't know about Euros but guys with his size and touch will always be in the mix in the lottery.

However, he's unpolished defensively and has too much baby fat. He also could use the opportunity to show he is the focal point of an offense and be more of a facilitator.

There is an economic advantage to coming out next year even if their draft stock doesn't improve. The huge increase in the cap occurs right after this draft, meaning next years' rookie class will have a much higher salary scale. It also makes the Celtics picks this year more valuable because the contracts are far more favorable than they will be.

[BRUNiNHO91]

I would trade our first pick for Okafor. First year he put up some big numbers. Yea he played for Philly but still, the 20 year old can match up with ANY big he plays against. If he plays for a team that isn't a joke with good coaching and supporting players he can thrive and become an All Star.

I kind of agree. It depends if it was top 3 or not. If it was 3-5 I'd certainly look into it. People are so quick to point at the flaws these young kids show on their first years in the NBA, they completely forget what they can do well. Okafor is a post scoring big man that can score the **** out of the basketball in a team without a friggin system or a clue. You put him on the Celtics under Stevens and lord have mercy..imagine the ways we can use the guy? Would be crazy.

Noel on the other hand I don't understand why people want him so bad. He's solid but he's not worth a top 7 pick anymore IMO.

[Gomes3PC]

Okafor's flaws are fundamental though. He's a below average rebounder, does not pass well, he has zero range on his shot, and he can't tell you what letter is missing in this word "_efense".

He's a worse-rebounding Al Jefferson. That's not a guy who will help teams win.

You cannot be a zero-range low-post player in the league anymore unless you are an elite defender/rebounder.

[Crossy2008]

So no Noel and no Okafor. Maybe Saric then?

[Duke4life831]

I would trade our first pick for Okafor. First year he put up some big numbers. Yea he played for Philly but still, the 20 year old can match up with ANY big he plays against. If he plays for a team that isn't a joke with good coaching and supporting players he can thrive and become an All Star.

Ya I'm with you on this. I think Okafor is the far superior prospect out of him, Simmons and Ingram. His per 36 stats were 21 and 8.5 which is pretty impressive for what he was surrounded by. He also shot 59% from the field the last two months. Did all this at the age of 19 and 21. His D is bad but he was improving pretty noticeably throughout the season. I think by the time he is like 23-24 he can be a 24 and 9 type of player that plays solid D

[165bows]

8.5 boards per 36 is not good.

[sully00]

I don't buy that. Everyone talks about how the next class is always so great. The reality is a number of guys will wind up like Labissiere or Diallo and disappoint.

Bryant has tremendous measurables at a 9-4 standing reach and 7-3 wingspan. He's got touch that coaches dream about and is a hungry rebounder. Simply put, there is not a center prospect in the 2017 draft among US prospects that can match his size/talent combo. Don't know about Euros but guys with his size and touch will always be in the mix in the lottery.

However, he's unpolished defensively and has too much baby fat. He also could use the opportunity to show he is the focal point of an offense and be more of a facilitator.

There is an economic advantage to coming out next year even if their draft stock doesn't improve. The huge increase in the cap occurs right after this draft, meaning next years' rookie class will have a much higher salary scale. It also makes the Celtics picks this year more valuable because the contracts are far more favorable than they will be.

Actually I don't believe this is true. The rookie salary scale is independent of the salary cap in the NBA and is already determined through the length of the current CBA. The contracts will go up but RealGM has a page that runs through the '19-'20 season. No matter what rookie scale contracts are going to be a huge advantage until the next CBA.

[sully00]

8.5 boards per 36 is not good.

It is actually pretty bad. Jonas Jerebko's total rebounding % is 12.9. Okafor 12.8.

I would have done it at the deadline but now I am not sure I would give up a Top 5 pick for Okafor straight up. The Bender kid scares the hell out of me but I would want a deal that consolidates some of our other choices into a higher pick or something. I don't think I would give up Ingram or Simmons mostly because PHI is kind of over the barrel on this and have to make a trade.

[London2Boston]

We need to stop with Okafor. I mean, have we not seen enough average athletes at the big positions that can't rebound, defend or pass for toffee? He's a very minor upgrade over Sully.

[Edug27]

Okafor can easily develop into a talent on par with Demarcus Cousins. Similar bodies, athleticism, skillset and all around games.

Cousins rookie season:
14 pts, 8 boards, 2 ast and less than a block per game.

Okafors rookie season:
17 pts, 7 boards, 1 ast and 1 block per game.

Cousins took his game to a different level during his 4th-7th seasons in the league.

[Edug27]

He's a very minor upgrade over Sully.

[London2Boston]

He's a very minor upgrade over Sully.

Maybe a slight exaggeration, but You can show me all the numbers you want. Sully would most likely do the same playing for that Philly side. And if not he is at least a better passer and defender/rebounder.

[Parasite]

He's a very minor upgrade over Sully.

That's not so far-fetched. Sully is the superior rebounder, defender, and outside shooter after all. Passer as well.

[OFWGKTA]

He's a very minor upgrade over Sully.

Maybe a slight exaggeration, but You can show me all the numbers you want. Sully would most likely do the same playing for that Philly side. And if not he is at least a better passer and defender/rebounder.

Okafor was an overwhelmingly more efficient scorer than Sully on that dumpster fire of a team

Sully TS%: .478

Okafor TS%: .536

[165bows]

I don't buy that. Everyone talks about how the next class is always so great. The reality is a number of guys will wind up like Labissiere or Diallo and disappoint.

Bryant has tremendous measurables at a 9-4 standing reach and 7-3 wingspan. He's got touch that coaches dream about and is a hungry rebounder. Simply put, there is not a center prospect in the 2017 draft among US prospects that can match his size/talent combo. Don't know about Euros but guys with his size and touch will always be in the mix in the lottery.

However, he's unpolished defensively and has too much baby fat. He also could use the opportunity to show he is the focal point of an offense and be more of a facilitator.

There is an economic advantage to coming out next year even if their draft stock doesn't improve. The huge increase in the cap occurs right after this draft, meaning next years' rookie class will have a much higher salary scale. It also makes the Celtics picks this year more valuable because the contracts are far more favorable than they will be.

Actually I don't believe this is true. The rookie salary scale is independent of the salary cap in the NBA and is already determined through the length of the current CBA. The contracts will go up but RealGM has a page that runs through the '19-'20 season. No matter what rookie scale contracts are going to be a huge advantage until the next CBA.

That's what he is thinking of, there is a CBA out clause between 16 and 17. Right idea just reasoning was off a bit.