Okafor trade talk: Will he be traded by the deadline?

[76ciology]

Basketball nowadays is heavy pace and space/pick and roll that translates it into 48 minutes of read and react. Faster the pace, harder it is to read ans react on D.

Problem with Okafor is he is a ball stopper on offense and is not quick to roll on offense that makes it easy for opponents to set up on D when he is focal point on offense. Thus, you see him trying to be on the flow and not forcing too much on offense to make it unpredictable for opponents D. You also notice he is driving and kicking more to the perimeter, with the ball. Problem is without the ball, he is yet find a way to be a plus on offense. He needs to cut/roll quicker and be better floor spacer.

On D, he needs to be able to GREAT in reading on D to keep up with his lack of athleticism. Guys like Marc Gasol and Pachulia are great example of this. To be fair, he is much improved in reading on D the problem lies with inconsistency. Sometimes he looked like it's on the upward trend sometimes it seems he's hopeless.

Rebounding, he needs to really be physical. No way he is going to out jump guys like DeAndre, but with technique and being too physical he CAN get boards.

[Ben]

To back this up, capspace is not nearly as important now as it once was because of the giant rise in the salary cap. The earlier value of capspace was why some teams were able to swing good trades just for taking on bad contracts. That said, I loved Hinkie and his methods/lens, and I've never thought much of BC. I'm not an Okafor homer, but I don't want to see the Sixers get screwed.

Looks like you're misconceiving this. Cap space is the exact same thing it always was, it was just that last year a bunch of people had a lot more of it than usual because of the cap jump. This year's cap jump is relatively small, and next year there won't be much leap at all.

In other words, yes it's true that last summer cap space was much easier to come by than usual, and that the coming summer it will be slightly easier to come by. Apart from that, nothing at all has changed about the cap structure: the cap went up by like 75% so the contracts will all go up 75%, otherwise same thing. (BTW, about 10 teams have no meaningful cap space this offseason, and another fifteen teams don't have room for a single max contract. Only leaves about 5 for whom cap space isn't a huge concern heading into this offseason.)

Hmm. Seemed logical to me, but while I used to be quite the cap expert, I must admit that I haven't followed the more recent developments. I guess I was... misinformed.

Watch on YouTube

[Yuri Vaultin]

Watched some of the Bulls game last night because they had been mentioned in trade rumors for Okafor. Man, what a mess and I dont know if its the coach but all those young players look like busts to below average players.

In their defense they were playing the very best team in the NBA, and potentially NBA history without their 2 best players in Wade and Butler. Not too many kids don't whither under that type of scenario.

[SouthJersey]

Watched some of the Bulls game last night because they had been mentioned in trade rumors for Okafor. Man, what a mess and I dont know if its the coach but all those young players look like busts to below average players.

In their defense they were playing the very best team in the NBA, and potentially NBA history without their 2 best players in Wade and Butler. Not too many kids don't whither under that type of scenario.

It was tough scenario and I expected them to lose by 30 but it wasn't just last night. The whole season they've been bad and last night was a chance to show something after being called out by Butler and Wade about not playing hard, but know one playing really looked like a good prospect to trade for.

[Negrodamus]

My prediction is that Okafor gets traded at or right before next draft. I don't really understand a mid year trade for him. He has time on his rookie contract and isn't going to really immediately improve any team.

[spikeslovechild]

My prediction is that Okafor gets traded at or right before next draft. I don't really understand a mid year trade for him. He has time on his rookie contract and isn't going to really immediately improve any team.

Well someteam on the outskirts may feel he can give them a push. Like I said NOP are 3.5 GB last I checked. It's crazy in the west.

For us I don't do a deal unless a pick has upside. The NOP trade isn't even for their 2017 pick. Basically we may get their 2018 pick but likely won't since the rumored offer has it top ten protected if we do it will be at best mid first round pick.

F that. I'd rather wait until the draft and see what the offers are. There aren't really any big men this draft so some team may up their offer even if we had to settle for a mid to late first round pick I'd rather do so at the draft then do the spin the wheel crap having the wheel rigged so we finish outside the top ten every time.

Pelicans can f off.

[Sixerscan]

If we don't get at least top 7 protection on the pick then I feel pretty good walking away knowing that his value could tank even more and we could be left we getting a turner-like package. There's really not that much difference between that and a lottery protected pick from a team that's made the playoffs one in the last 6 years.

[marcush]

Get any sort of first and move on.......the guys no good and that realisation is only going to be more ingrained the longer this goes.

[Kolkmania]

If we don't get at least top 7 protection on the pick then I feel pretty good walking away knowing that his value could tank even more and we could be left we getting a turner-like package. There's really not that much difference between that and a lottery protected pick from a team that's made the playoffs one in the last 6 years.

Well nobody is giving a lottery pick for Jahlil Okafor right now, IF the protections are declining the potential of the pick would increase substantially. Something like lottery protected '17, top 10 protected '18 and top 5 protected '19 would absolutely do it for me.
With the Pelicans' dysfunctional FO there's a serious chance that NOP are still a borderline PO team in 2/3 years. An Anthony Davis injury in 2019 e.g. could lead to a very interesting pick after all. I know it's not the immediate return everybody would like to see, but I think a former GM taught us to be patient and trust the process.

[spikeslovechild]

If we don't get at least top 7 protection on the pick then I feel pretty good walking away knowing that his value could tank even more and we could be left we getting a turner-like package. There's really not that much difference between that and a lottery protected pick from a team that's made the playoffs one in the last 6 years.

Well nobody is giving a lottery pick for Jahlil Okafor right now, IF the protections are declining the potential of the pick would increase substantially. Something like lottery protected '17, top 10 protected '18 and top 5 protected '19 would absolutely do it for me.
With the Pelicans' dysfunctional FO there's a serious chance that NOP are still a borderline PO team in 2/3 years. An Anthony Davis injury in 2019 e.g. could lead to a very interesting pick after all. I know it's not the immediate return everybody would like to see, but I think a former GM taught us to be patient and trust the process.

People look at thess protected firsts and say ah ha its the the 7th or 8th pick or whatever when it could often times be 22nd. Not to mention it could carry over.

For this reason alone i like for it to have upside otherwise just do a deal for a mid to late first around ghe draft.

[Sixerscan]

If we don't get at least top 7 protection on the pick then I feel pretty good walking away knowing that his value could tank even more and we could be left we getting a turner-like package. There's really not that much difference between that and a lottery protected pick from a team that's made the playoffs one in the last 6 years.

Well nobody is giving a lottery pick for Jahlil Okafor right now, IF the protections are declining the potential of the pick would increase substantially. Something like lottery protected '17, top 10 protected '18 and top 5 protected '19 would absolutely do it for me.
With the Pelicans' dysfunctional FO there's a serious chance that NOP are still a borderline PO team in 2/3 years. An Anthony Davis injury in 2019 e.g. could lead to a very interesting pick after all. I know it's not the immediate return everybody would like to see, but I think a former GM taught us to be patient and trust the process.

I would be more into that, haven't heard that is the case though. Sounds like it was a lottery protected 2018 pick.

[thenbaman]

If you look at oak he is way better than anyone that just came out of the 2016 draft by far
don't say simmons because i'm talking about players that have actually played in a game.
So i don't see why they cant get a top 10 pick for him.

[LloydFree]

If you look at oak he is way better than anyone that just came out of the 2016 draft by far
don't say simmons because i'm talking about players that have actually played in a game.
So i don't see why they cant get a top 10 pick for him.

[Unbreakable99]

If you look at oak he is way better than anyone that just came out of the 2016 draft by far
don't say simmons because i'm talking about players that have actually played in a game.
So i don't see why they cant get a top 10 pick for him.

I'm pretty sure most GMs would rather have Brogden than Okafor. I'd take Ingram over Okafor. Dunn. Brown. Maker. Those are to name a few. I'd probably add more.

[Ericb5]

Get any sort of first and move on.......the guys no good and that realisation is only going to be more ingrained the longer this goes.

That might ultimately be what they do, but you don't take that until the deadline.

[SparksFly87]

Okafor and Noel need to realize that there potential and draft status means nothing in the NBA. They need to put in work and work on there weaknesses. Honestly I want both of them traded. They are pretty much the same as they were in collegd or worst. Okafors motor is awful and his jumper and defense is lazy. Nerlens hasnt improved at anything. Trade these bums.

[76ciology]

Would be funny if Okafor opts to sit out the game against the Heat and let Noel take on Whiteside again

[marcush]

Would be funny if Okafor opts to sit out the game against the Heat and let Noel take on Whiteside again

He should be well rested after sitting out the Magic game.

[Slizeezyc]

If you look at oak he is way better than anyone that just came out of the 2016 draft by far
don't say simmons because i'm talking about players that have actually played in a game.
So i don't see why they cant get a top 10 pick for him.

This is not how trading former drafted players for future picks works, at all.

[76ciology]

Would be funny if Okafor opts to sit out the game against the Heat and let Noel take on Whiteside again

He should be well rested after sitting out the Magic game.

You never know when you are going to get a flu