Fastbrk4brkfast wrote:Hayes and Okongwu are both potentially foundational pieces for a franchise. I lean toward Okongwu because I think the gap between him and Wendell (and definitely Young) is wider than the gap between Hayes and White. I'm not even sure Hayes is better tbh. He's slower than Coby and a worse shooter especially on catch and shoot which we need to keep the floor spread. And I'm more confident of Okongwu's success in the NBA. The college competition was just so clearly beneath him. And I'd say we need Okongwu's rebounding and high % scoring as much or more than Hayes' playmaking.
Your point of view is very understandable.
I think our different views come from me viewing
a) Coby and Hayes (my preferred pick) not playing the same position, as in Hayes being a primary ball handler and complementary floor spacer, while Coby is a primary shot-maker and floor spacer, but a secondary ball-handler
b) even if their evolutions as players make them alike, by modern standards, it's really easy seeing both sharing the court
c) Okongwu and Carter play very much the same role, even if with different strenghts
d) no matter their evolutions as players, it's really hard envisioning both sharing the court at most times.
So, if one finds Okongwu and Hayes at the same tier (apparently not our cases, as in I prefer Hayes and you Okongwu), that's why Hayes would pull ahead.