Welcome Okafor

[PhilasFinest]

I agree, I think the Lakers are assuming the can land a big somewhere....BUT if you could tell them they will miss out on all of them, I think they would take Okafor.

I love Russell, and wanted him bad....But I think Okafor has just as much of a chance if not more to be an impact player in the league...and a much less chance of being a bust.

[tk76]

I feel the same as last year. The draft just sort of played out in a way that forced the team to draft another center... just like last year it played out for them to draft the injured Embiid and a player in Saric who also would not be on the roster for a few years. You understand it, but at the same time you sort of have to laugh.

This year they finally get a guy who is NBA ready, and he happens to play the same position as your two other cornerstones. Sure, Okafor is the best guy on the board, but it is comical how many times the best guy on the board is either the worst fit or years away from stepping on the court. I don't think Hinkie intends on prolonging this rebuild, but it sure is playing out that way. It is sort of the reverse of the perfect storm that OKC had- with the right player and the right fit falling to them every year as the BPA.

[PhilasFinest]

I feel the same as last year. The draft just sort of played out in a way that forced the team to draft another center... just like last year it played out for them to draft the injured Embiid and a player in Saric who also would not be on the roster for a few years. You understand it, but at the same time you sort of have to laugh.

This year they finally get a guy who is NBA ready, and he happens to play the same position as your two other cornerstones. Sure, Okafor is the best guy on the board, but it is comical how many times the best guy on the board is either the worst fit or years away from stepping on the court. I don't think Hinkie intends on prolonging this rebuild, but it sure is playing out that way. It is sort of the reverse of the perfect storm that OKC had- with the right player and the right fit falling to them every year as the BPA.

OKC got so damn lucky....easy to say to follow there blueprint, but landing 3 of the top 10 players in the league at those spots in the draft that quickly is simply unheard of and flat out near impossible to duplicate.

[tk76]

The odd thing is that although I am least excited by Okafor compared to the other recent Sixers lottery picks- he very well could be the guy out of all of them who steps up to be that franchise player they have been waiting for. Maybe not the 2 way dominant guy we hoped for with Embiid-not the hero we dreamed for but still the one we need?

[Embiid P]

Like Embiid last year, Okafor (for all his flaws) was the no-brainer pick at 3. Not sure who else that was still on the board was worth passing him up for.

[PhilasFinest]

The odd thing is that although I am least excited by Okafor compared to the other recent Sixers lottery picks- he very well could be the guy out of all of them who steps up to be that franchise player they have been waiting for. Maybe not the 2 way dominant guy we hoped for with Embiid-not the hero we dreamed for but still the one we need?

I agree 100%. Putting Embiid's health into the equation, I think Okafor is easily our best prospect and our best shot at an allstar on this team.

If he can show promise early on, I think we start building around him.

[tk76]

OKC got so damn lucky....easy to say to follow there blueprint, but landing 3 of the top 10 players in the league at those spots in the draft that quickly is simply unheard of and flat out near impossible to duplicate.

Not only that... but in Westbrook, Harden, Durant and Ibaka they got a top 3 PG, SG, SF and then Ibaka fell to them as a PF. It was uncanny. And that ignores the talent of Jeff Green, who would have been a perfect 6th man had they kept him.

[snoopdogg88]

i still can't believe we got Okafor

we are so lucky. this is a blessing people. we have a dominant front court.

we weren't winning the championship next year. we just got the charismatic low post monster from Duke. superstar potential

[tk76]

I'm trying to see how Hinkie envisions using Okafor. I guess sort of the way Orl used Shaq and Dwight, but a more competent scorer and passer? The question really will be what Brett Brown can do to turn around his defense and FT shooting. And how the heck Noel and Embiid fit into that vision?

[reds622]

The odd thing is that although I am least excited by Okafor compared to the other recent Sixers lottery picks- he very well could be the guy out of all of them who steps up to be that franchise player they have been waiting for. Maybe not the 2 way dominant guy we hoped for with Embiid-not the hero we dreamed for but still the one we need?

I agree 100%. Putting Embiid's health into the equation, I think Okafor is easily our best prospect and our best shot at an allstar on this team.

If he can show promise early on, I think we start building around him.

The problem is the Sixers aren't going to be able to attract any big time FA, and are just now starting to build around a potential All Star after losing a ton of games over the past 3 seasons?

At what point do you actually owe it to your fan base to actually put a product on the floor that they can be proud of.. People are spending money to watch trash teams season after season. Seems like the Sixers are really far away still from even being respectable.

[76ciology]

The odd thing is that although I am least excited by Okafor compared to the other recent Sixers lottery picks- he very well could be the guy out of all of them who steps up to be that franchise player they have been waiting for. Maybe not the 2 way dominant guy we hoped for with Embiid-not the hero we dreamed for but still the one we need?

For me, it's a boring pick because Jahlil has very little risk in his game. IMO, he's the guy with the highest chance to be a star in the draft and his floor should be around Al J level where he'd be great post scorer with disappointing defense. But honestly, I do think he can be a better defender because of his tools and maybe improved conditioning.

[sogood]

I still think we're going to get Russell.

Lakers are using him as leverage to get their 2016 1st back, or protected more. They take the player they know we want, they know we'll be forced to take the player they want.

I predict a Russell/Okafor swap in the next few days.

[crow]

I'm so happy we didn't do anything stupid. Stick to the 3 top guys and take bpa. We just got ourselves the best player in the draft at 3.

Welcome to Philly, Jah.

[PhilasFinest]

The odd thing is that although I am least excited by Okafor compared to the other recent Sixers lottery picks- he very well could be the guy out of all of them who steps up to be that franchise player they have been waiting for. Maybe not the 2 way dominant guy we hoped for with Embiid-not the hero we dreamed for but still the one we need?

I agree 100%. Putting Embiid's health into the equation, I think Okafor is easily our best prospect and our best shot at an allstar on this team.

If he can show promise early on, I think we start building around him.

The problem is the Sixers aren't going to be able to attract any big time FA, and are just now starting to build around a potential All Star after losing a ton of games over the past 3 seasons?

At what point do you actually owe it to your fan base to actually put a product on the floor that they can be proud of.. People are spending money to watch trash teams season after season. Seems like the Sixers are really far away still from even being respectable.

What could they possibly have done to put a better product on the floor?

You said it yourself, as is and even before with the Iggy/Jrue/Thad era, they weren't attracting anyone here and they peaked as a 1st/2nd round playoff team in a weak East at best. No way to build anything better paying mediocre guys, 10+ million a year to get bounced in the 1st round or finish with the 14th pick every year.

We tried to mortgage our future to pickup a star in Bynum, but he crumbled.
We tried to sign a "star" in Brand but he wasn't able to be one.
We paid Iguodala to be a star and he couldn't be one.

We had to blow it up, and while it sucks watching poor ball...theres no other realistic way to go about it. We haven't gotten lucky in the lottery, and we continue to try and stick to the plan of swimming for the fences with the best prospect on the board, regardless of position or health.

[76ciology]

I think there's good potential of Okafor/Jerami Grant frontcourt. Grant can stretch out the floor and provide some weakside defense.

If Noel can hit mid range shot consistently ala david west, he too should also be a good fit for Okafor.

But I like the Biid/Oka frontcourt but I don't think it can defend small line-ups.

[agiaco]

I have to imagine we view Saric as a realistic possibility to start at SF. Sort of like a Kukoc role if he continues to develop his handle and passing ability.

[Los5782]

Not mine btw... hopefully there will be more up soon. If this is bothersome to anyone let me know, I'll take down.

[Skates]

Really awful draft show, Jay Williams keeps saying things that make no freaking sense at all. Jalen's player comparisons are a little goofy, but I like his commentary. The other guys, not so much. Shooters at 35 and 37, let's get them.

[Stanford]

What's the plan again?

This is becoming the mantra of the tedious bore.

[guest81]

next step is to trade for Hibbert and snag a few more 2nd rounders