Welcome Okafor

[phiphan]

Even after sleeping on it, I just can't get behind a center who plays below average defense and is a below average defensive rebounder. Okafor truly needs to be elite offensively to make up for that, but his FT% is a major handicap on that end. Moreover, from an analytics perspective, aren't low-post scorers going the way of the dinosaur? Just overall nonplussed about this pick given our current roster. Almost wish we had gotten stuck with #4 versus #3.

[crow]

Guys, we have 4 1st rounders next year. We have plenty of opportunities to shore up our back court.

[BobThornton]

All of this talk about the league playing small because that's how the Warriors won....

The Warriors went small because Andrew Bogut was playing like @ss. He was bleeping terrible in the finals before he was benched. If Bogut had played well, the Warriors wouldn't have had to go small.

And then the Cavs couldn't fully take advantage of it because Mozgov isn't a guy who can really punish you posting up. He can roll to the hoop, and is good on the offensive glass, but he doesn't have any sort of bevy of low post moves. He's more likely to travel than score if he tries to string together anything on the low block.

If you have a killer on the low block that demands a double team, it opens up everything on offense.

The other thing is that with Okafor, suddenly Embiid's foot isn't the franchise killer that it had the potential to be. We'll find out who can play out of 3 highly talented big men. We have 4 first rounders next year to find a point and some wings.

[snoopdogg88]

the dumbest thing you can do is just try to copy the championship team every year
so what that the warriors won playing small ball? i'd say they won because they had the best players


blaze your own trail. be innovative. 3 dominant centers? make the rest of league fear you

[CoreyGallagher]

http://www.csnphilly.com/video_content_type/sam-hinkie-press-conference-626

Press conference at 11AM EST, so in about 10 minutes.

[Stanford]

http://www.csnphilly.com/video_content_type/sam-hinkie-press-conference-626

Press conference at 11AM EST, so in about 10 minutes.

Thanks! This should be interesting.

Guys, we have 4 1st rounders next year. We have plenty of opportunities to shore up our back court.

I think most people are missing this. There was so much clamor to combine these for another guy in this draft, but we don't lose them just because we didn't get a deal done. We still have the picks.

[76ciology]

Dear knowledgeable poster,

Is there a big gap between Towns and Okafor as prospects? Rebounds per 40 doesn't have much difference. But I do see a big gap with the block%.

Is the rationale here that Okafor's edge on offense isn't good enough to compensate the big difference between the two in defense (drtng, dbpm and blk%)?

[PhillyFever]

The way to beat small ball is to dump the ball down low to a dominant post scorer that the small center can't guard. You can force them out of going small. Small ball has been working because there aren't many dominant low post scorers. Okafor can dictate who's on the floor for the other squad since his offensive game will need to be accounted for.

[CoreyGallagher]

Biggest thing with Towns is that while he's a better defender he fouls a lot.
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Hoops_Nerd/status/614235587575332864[/tweet]

[Kobblehead]

Dear knowledgeable poster,

Is there a big gap between Towns and Okafor as prospects? Rebounds per 40 doesn't have much difference. But I do see a big gap with the block%.

Is the rationale here that Okafor's edge on offense isn't good enough to compensate the big difference between the two in defense (drtng, dbpm and blk%)?

Yes, I think the gap is pretty big. Towns is the total package with little to no red flags or weaknesses.

Okafor doesn't even have much of an edge over Towns on offense. He's just a better/more refined post scorer.

[Stanford]

The way to beat small ball is to dump the ball down low to a dominant post scorer that the small center can't guard.

I think that's probably true (but wtf do I know), but we desperately need some shooters if that's going to work. Honestly, I was hoping that one would come out of the draft, but it is what it is.

[sixers hoops]

How likely will Honkie all his bigs for his season, then trade Embid; Nerlens, or Oak next year?

I think about 90%. Unless he can work out a trade for an available star, like a Lillard maybe, then just go with all 3 and see who we like.

My biggest concern is that we have two elite shot blockers who will have to spend a lot of time covering 4's away from the basket. From what I read Okafor can't defend on the perimeter at all. Then again, he can't guard in the post so keep our shot blockers in the center.

[Tony Franciosa]

Biggest thing with Towns is that while he's a better defender he fouls a lot.
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Hoops_Nerd/status/614235587575332864[/tweet]

this is why you keep Noel. dude is so smart as a defender.

[Stanford]

This dude could make me a religious believer.

[Tony Franciosa]

http://www.csnphilly.com/video_content_type/sam-hinkie-press-conference-626

Press conference at 11AM EST, so in about 10 minutes.

Eskin dominating the questions. So annoying. He needs to shut it.

[MountainDrew]

Interesting comment on Embiid. Still don't know what it really means though, but neither do they. Can't wait for an update soon.

[Stanford]

At least there won't be any Can-Kicking questions. Jah is the most NBA-ready guy in the draft. The annoying questions should be mitigated somewhat.

[Kobblehead]

Hinkie is amazingly revealing with this Embiid stuff. Surprisingly candid.

[Tony Franciosa]

yeah. it definitely sounds like something changed in his MRI that made them pause. whether it's additional damage or just not improving is hard to tell from his comments.

[76ciology]

Dear knowledgeable poster,

Is there a big gap between Towns and Okafor as prospects? Rebounds per 40 doesn't have much difference. But I do see a big gap with the block%.

Is the rationale here that Okafor's edge on offense isn't good enough to compensate the big difference between the two in defense (drtng, dbpm and blk%)?

Yes, I think the gap is pretty big. Towns is the total package with little to no red flags or weaknesses.

Okafor doesn't even have much of an edge over Towns on offense. He's just a better/more refined post scorer.

Big edge on the defensive end for towns, while Towns also seems to be a more efficient scorer.