Joel Embiid -- The Process is now Live

[phiphan]

The problem with the Jefferson/Okafor comparison is that Jefferson was a plus defender for the past 7 consecutive years.

[Kolkmania]

No it isn't. Okafor doesn't have close to the value that Russell has around the league. Okafor has no value. I seriously doubt the Lakers would take Okafor and their pick for Russell. They're happy with Russell. They're not going to get any body that is any better in the draft, and Okafor isn't worth the difference.

Well Pacers payed Al Jefferson to produce points from the bench, so I won't say Okafor has no value at all after one rookie year showing similar skills.

If the pick lands in the top 6/7, there is a serious chance a better player is available than D'Angelo Russell. I'm not saying the Lakers would do it, but if I'm the Sixers GM I wouldn't do it for sure.

You said it... Bench. The Pacers didn't pay Al Jefferson anything. In this day and age, a 3 year 10mil per contract is a mid-level salary exemption player. Nobody is paying for that kind of player anymore and their surely not trading anything valuable for that. That's why both Utah and Charlotte had to let Jefferson walk for no compensation these last few seasons. What Okafor or Jefferson offer, isn't valuable.

And people crack me up when they start parroting pre-draft hyperbole about classes before they start playing. People talking like there are going to be 4-5 All-star guards available in this draft, that are better than D'angelo Russell, is a joke. I remember in 2014, the same guys saying this nonsense, said "we HAVE to take Wiggins or Exum over Joel Embiid because the 2015 draft was loaded with Bigs" and we can surely get a player as good as Embiid in that draft. Nonsense.

Well they paid him 30 million over 3 years with a team option right? So apparently he's worth something, I'm not saying much. On top of that, Okafor isn't Jefferson, the kid is 20 years old.

Who's talking about guards? I'm talking talent level and this draft is loaded with players with higher potential than Russell. I don't know how they develop this year and adjust to the NBA eventually, but the potential of this draft alone is enough for me to consider that pick as nearly untouchable.

[CoreyGallagher]

I never changed anything.

This was your original point.

They're happy with Russell. They're not going to get any body that is any better in the draft, and Okafor isn't worth the difference.

When it was argued that there is a possibility that they could get a better prospect/player around the 4th to 6th to 7th pick this is what it morphed into.

People talking like there are going to be 4-5 All-star guards available in this draft, that are better than D'angelo Russell, is a joke.

And anybody who thinks there are 4-5 guards in the top of this draft, better than Russel, doesn't have a clue about judging talent or understanding of yearly talent distribution in the draft in general.

You didn't reply to either of our posts specifically, but it seemed to be relevant enough to be vaguely referring to that point.

It may not have been intentional, but that is what this stemmed from.

[LloydFree]

I never changed anything.

This was your original point.

They're happy with Russell. They're not going to get any body that is any better in the draft, and Okafor isn't worth the difference.

When it was argued that there is a possibility that they could get a better prospect/player around the 4th to 6th to 7th pick this is what it morphed into.

People talking like there are going to be 4-5 All-star guards available in this draft, that are better than D'angelo Russell, is a joke.

And anybody who thinks there are 4-5 guards in the top of this draft, better than Russel, doesn't have a clue about judging talent or understanding of yearly talent distribution in the draft in general.

You didn't reply to either of our posts specifically, but it seemed to be relevant enough to be vaguely referring to that point.

It may not have been intentional, but that is what this stemmed from.

OK. I see that. But I thought it was fairly obvious I've been talking about guards the whole time. Either way, I don't believe there is any chance there will be 4-5 guards better than Russell in the top of this draft and I think there is very little chance there are 6-7 players that will drafted that will be better than Russell. One draft in Ten work out that way.

[CoreyGallagher]

OK. I see that. But I thought it was fairly obvious I've been talking about guards the whole time. Either way, I don't believe there is any chance there will be 4-5 guards better than Russell in the top of this draft and I think there is very little chance there are 6-7 players that will drafted that will be better than Russell. One draft in Ten work out that way.

That's fair. What I personally meant is that if their pick coneys just outside of the protection (4th-6th, few pick leeway) - which I think there is a very real possibility of it doing - then there is an opportunity for us to possibly draft a prospect better than him.

I'd trade Okafor for Russell due to fit, while I'm not conceding the type of potential that I believe Okafor has which I know that you disagree with, I do like Russell's outside shooting (believe he's more of a SG than a PG, but that sort of combo guard would work with Simmons). However, I would not trade Okafor and the pick because of what I believe is a possibility of us drafting a better prospect while also keeping Okafor.

[Hipster Doofus]

When do we think The Process' minutes restrictions will start to slowly get lifted?

[Kobblehead]

When do we think The Process' minutes restrictions will start to slowly get lifted?

He got the cap raised an additional 4 minutes after just 2 games. If all goes well, he should be playing 30+ minutes a night by the time December rolls around.

[jbent87]

When do we think The Process' minutes restrictions will start to slowly get lifted?

I don't know. If he continues to be this good it could be very soon. But I would expect sometime around the new year.

[Hipster Doofus]

Good. That would mean that his minutes should be pretty much normal by the time Simmons returns.

As an aside, this team is one true point guard and a shooter away from starting to get some wins.

[SexDrugsPnR]

Good. That would mean that his minutes should be pretty much normal by the time Simmons returns.

As an aside, this team is one true point guard and a shooter away from starting to get some wins.

they should have already won two games. one of the problems is still their inexperience. they don't know how to handle end of game defenses. i am not sure if another pg and a shooter will fix that problem. there will still be some growing pains. with this team, no lead is a safe lead, unfortunately.

[Hipster Doofus]

Maybe if Bayless was playing, he's a veteran and would direct the young guys what to do.

What I also don't like is pushing the ball almost every single trip down. Pushing the ball is fine sometimes because you get easy buckets, but not every single time. Pushing=careless, out of control mistakes. Especially in the fourth quarter. The Sixers average 20 turnovers a game and most of them come from recklessly pushing the ball left and right.

They should slow the game down towards the end and if they have a lead, protect it by making the game methodical and even predictable if you will, now that they have a true big man in the middle. There was nothing more predictable than Tim Duncan in the 4th quarter in San Antonio, yet they won tons (granted, they had excellent players, but the statement still remains that our young guys should learn to play the right way).

And if they don't have the lead, then swarm your opponents in the 4th quarter, similar to blitzes in the NFL. Something's gotta give and the other team will make mistakes.

[phiphan]

I heard Brett Brown say the additional 4 minutes was only due to the fact that Embiid wouldn't play in the CHA game. Might see him back to 20 tomorrow night.

[Ericb5]

When do we think The Process' minutes restrictions will start to slowly get lifted?

He got the cap raised an additional 4 minutes after just 2 games. If all goes well, he should be playing 30+ minutes a night by the time December rolls around.

Yeah, I mean they are CURRENTLY being slowly lifted.

[Ericb5]

OK. I see that. But I thought it was fairly obvious I've been talking about guards the whole time. Either way, I don't believe there is any chance there will be 4-5 guards better than Russell in the top of this draft and I think there is very little chance there are 6-7 players that will drafted that will be better than Russell. One draft in Ten work out that way.

That's fair. What I personally meant is that if their pick coneys just outside of the protection (4th-6th, few pick leeway) - which I think there is a very real possibility of it doing - then there is an opportunity for us to possibly draft a prospect better than him.

I'd trade Okafor for Russell due to fit, while I'm not conceding the type of potential that I believe Okafor has which I know that you disagree with, I do like Russell's outside shooting (believe he's more of a SG than a PG, but that sort of combo guard would work with Simmons). However, I would not trade Okafor and the pick because of what I believe is a possibility of us drafting a better prospect while also keeping Okafor.

That's me as well. 6 months ago I wouldn't have traded Okafor for Russell even due to fit, but today I probably would. I still think that at 25 years old that Okafor will be a better, and more valuable basketball player than Russell. I don't see either of them becoming stars, but they both have a shot to make an all star team or two in time.

Also, the player that we could get in the 4, 5, 6 range of this up coming draft is likely to have a higher ceiling than Russell, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily going to be better.

Dennis Smith, could easily be available at 4, for example, and he has WAY more potential than Russell. I would argue that Giles, and Tatum are in the same boat. Both possibly available at the Lakers pick, and both more talented than Russell.

[Ericb5]

I heard Brett Brown say the additional 4 minutes was only due to the fact that Embiid wouldn't play in the CHA game. Might see him back to 20 tomorrow night.

He sort of implied that the other day, if we are thinking of the same conversation, but I don't expect them to move him back down to 20. It was more a reason for the bump so quickly, but I doubt that they move it back down after the fact, assuming that he continues to feel good.

[LloydFree]

OK. I see that. But I thought it was fairly obvious I've been talking about guards the whole time. Either way, I don't believe there is any chance there will be 4-5 guards better than Russell in the top of this draft and I think there is very little chance there are 6-7 players that will drafted that will be better than Russell. One draft in Ten work out that way.

That's fair. What I personally meant is that if their pick coneys just outside of the protection (4th-6th, few pick leeway) - which I think there is a very real possibility of it doing - then there is an opportunity for us to possibly draft a prospect better than him.

I'd trade Okafor for Russell due to fit, while I'm not conceding the type of potential that I believe Okafor has which I know that you disagree with, I do like Russell's outside shooting (believe he's more of a SG than a PG, but that sort of combo guard would work with Simmons). However, I would not trade Okafor and the pick because of what I believe is a possibility of us drafting a better prospect while also keeping Okafor.

That's me as well. 6 months ago I wouldn't have traded Okafor for Russell even due to fit, but today I probably would. I still think that at 25 years old that Okafor will be a better, and more valuable basketball player than Russell. I don't see either of them becoming stars, but they both have a shot to make an all star team or two in time.

Also, the player that we could get in the 4, 5, 6 range of this up coming draft is likely to have a higher ceiling than Russell, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily going to be better.

Dennis Smith, could easily be available at 4, for example, and he has WAY more potential than Russell. I would argue that Giles, and Tatum are in the same boat. Both possibly available at the Lakers pick, and both more talented than Russell.

Hmmm. 6 months a, huh. Neither player played a real game in the past 6 months. I wonder what changed. I guess it takes a year or so for most to figure out what they're watching.

[CoreyGallagher]

Hmmm. 6 months a, huh. Neither player played a real game in the past 6 months. I wonder what changed. I guess it takes a year or so for most to figure out what they're watching.

(Ben Simmons)

I don't believe I've ever said anything contradictory to what I just posted. I've always valued Russell and Okafor similarly.

[Ericb5]

That's fair. What I personally meant is that if their pick coneys just outside of the protection (4th-6th, few pick leeway) - which I think there is a very real possibility of it doing - then there is an opportunity for us to possibly draft a prospect better than him.

I'd trade Okafor for Russell due to fit, while I'm not conceding the type of potential that I believe Okafor has which I know that you disagree with, I do like Russell's outside shooting (believe he's more of a SG than a PG, but that sort of combo guard would work with Simmons). However, I would not trade Okafor and the pick because of what I believe is a possibility of us drafting a better prospect while also keeping Okafor.

That's me as well. 6 months ago I wouldn't have traded Okafor for Russell even due to fit, but today I probably would. I still think that at 25 years old that Okafor will be a better, and more valuable basketball player than Russell. I don't see either of them becoming stars, but they both have a shot to make an all star team or two in time.

Also, the player that we could get in the 4, 5, 6 range of this up coming draft is likely to have a higher ceiling than Russell, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily going to be better.

Dennis Smith, could easily be available at 4, for example, and he has WAY more potential than Russell. I would argue that Giles, and Tatum are in the same boat. Both possibly available at the Lakers pick, and both more talented than Russell.

Hmmm. 6 months a, huh. Neither player played a real game in the past 6 months. I wonder what changed. I guess it takes a year or so for most to figure out what they're watching.

No. What has changed is we drafted Simmons, and Embiid has been healthy.

The fit for Okafor is worse today than it was 6 months ago, and the fit changing is the variable here.


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[phiphan]

I heard Brett Brown say the additional 4 minutes was only due to the fact that Embiid wouldn't play in the CHA game. Might see him back to 20 tomorrow night.

He sort of implied that the other day, if we are thinking of the same conversation, but I don't expect them to move him back down to 20. It was more a reason for the bump so quickly, but I doubt that they move it back down after the fact, assuming that he continues to feel good.

Tracked it down. I'm referring to here @ 8:20:

http://www.nba.com/sixers/video/teams/sixers/2016/11/01/1478037459958-brownpregame11116-906638

Brown says "I don't believe Joel's minutes are on that progressive path" to no restrictions at all, and that the reason for the extra 4 was the back-to-back. You may be right that he stays at 24 minutes though.

[TTP]

OK. I see that. But I thought it was fairly obvious I've been talking about guards the whole time. Either way, I don't believe there is any chance there will be 4-5 guards better than Russell in the top of this draft and I think there is very little chance there are 6-7 players that will drafted that will be better than Russell. One draft in Ten work out that way.

That's fair. What I personally meant is that if their pick coneys just outside of the protection (4th-6th, few pick leeway) - which I think there is a very real possibility of it doing - then there is an opportunity for us to possibly draft a prospect better than him.

I'd trade Okafor for Russell due to fit, while I'm not conceding the type of potential that I believe Okafor has which I know that you disagree with, I do like Russell's outside shooting (believe he's more of a SG than a PG, but that sort of combo guard would work with Simmons). However, I would not trade Okafor and the pick because of what I believe is a possibility of us drafting a better prospect while also keeping Okafor.

That's me as well. 6 months ago I wouldn't have traded Okafor for Russell even due to fit, but today I probably would. I still think that at 25 years old that Okafor will be a better, and more valuable basketball player than Russell. I don't see either of them becoming stars, but they both have a shot to make an all star team or two in time.

Also, the player that we could get in the 4, 5, 6 range of this up coming draft is likely to have a higher ceiling than Russell, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily going to be better.

Dennis Smith, could easily be available at 4, for example, and he has WAY more potential than Russell. I would argue that Giles, and Tatum are in the same boat. Both possibly available at the Lakers pick, and both more talented than Russell.

Highly doubt the bolded. I think most of you guys underrate Russell as a prospect though. I have him on a similar level as Ingram.

Also, it's hard to say anything about next year's class right now. At this time last year, Skal was #1 on a lot of draft boards.