Oklahoma still feels like home to Duke's Jahlil Okafor

[bocabull]

You dont' trade a year in the prime of two hall of famers who might not even resign with you for a draft pick, unless it's a LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Anthony Davis type player. That kind of guy isn't in this draft.

Okafor is the closest thing to Tim Duncan you will ever see. As for the Thunder being in the lottery if the Pelicans beat the Spurs tonight they might just knock off the Warriors. They are an intriguing matchup due to Davis.

 

[sperry]

Okafor is the closest thing to Tim Duncan you will ever see. As for the Thunder being in the lottery if the Pelicans beat the Spurs tonight they might just knock off the Warriors. They are an intriguing matchup due to Davis.

Tim Duncan was and is a historically great defensive player. Okafor is not. Not even close. Okafor isn't even going to go #1 in this draft, while Tim Duncan was the biggest slam dunk #1 overall pick since at least Patrick Ewing, and probably in the history of the draft.

 

[bocabull]

Tim Duncan was and is a historically great defensive player. Okafor is not. Not even close. Okafor isn't even going to go #1 in this draft, while Tim Duncan was the biggest slam dunk #1 overall pick since at least Patrick Ewing, and probably in the history of the draft.

Lebron James?

Duncan played 4 years in college. Okafor has played 1 and has a more advanced game. Somebody might take Towns ahead of him. Okafor is hands down easily the best pick.

 

[WTSooner]

Lebron James?

Duncan played 4 years in college. Okafor has played 1 and has a more advanced game. Somebody might take Towns ahead of him. Of course Sam Bowie was drafted ahead of Hakeem and Jordan too. Okafor is hands down easily the best pick.

Agreed.

I like Towns, but he doesn't move as well as Okafor and doesn't have the offensive game that Okafor has.

 

[sperry]

Okafor plays no defense. There are plenty of offensively gifted big men that play no defense. The Thunder just got one for an expiring contract.

Not worth addressing boca, since he's just being an obstinate troll, as usual.

 

[WTSooner]

Okafor plays no defense. There are plenty of offensively gifted big men that play no defense. The Thunder just got one for an expiring contract.

Not worth addressing boca, since he's just being an obstinate troll, as usual.

I think the "Okafor plays no defense" stuff has been taken too far. Is he a defensive stud? No. But I thought he played pretty well in the Tourney on D. He has the skills, so it's either a teaching issue or an effort issue. Towns may or may not ever develop an solid offensive game.

That, and I just don't like drafting a D first player first in the draft. Doesn't seem very smart to me. Draft offense, teach defense or draft it later.

 

[sperry]

I think the "Okafor plays no defense" stuff has been taken too far. Is he a defensive stud? No. But I thought he played pretty well in the Tourney on D. He has the skills, so it's either a teaching issue or an effort issue. Towns may or may not ever develop an solid offensive game.

That, and I just don't like drafting a D first player first in the draft. Doesn't seem very smart to me. Draft offense, teach defense or draft it later.

Okafor had the same number of blocks as Tashawn Thomas. He's not an elite athlete and thus will probably never be a great shot blocker. The rest is about effort. He hasn't shown it yet, maybe he will some day.


Towns is an 81% free throw shooter. He's an elite athlete. Those are pretty good signs that he'll develop a lot more of an offensive game. They know he's going to be a great defensive player.


If you're talking about a guy like Cauley-Stein, who is a defense only type guy, then I agree. That's not a #1 overall pick.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

It seems like the Thunder organization is cheep, and would rather tank then have to pay any big time free agents...

far from it.

I can't see KD or Westbrook in town that much longer...

they may not stay but I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they both stayed

 

[bocabull]

I'm still laughing at any list of #1 locks that does not include Lebron at the top.

Anyway I do know this ... the Lakers have a 25% chance of landing the 1 or 2 pick which will give them Okafor or Towns to pair with Julius Randle on the front line. Then in 2016 they will have approximately $70 million in cap space. People are going to scream bloody murder if they get Okafor. lol

 

[152219]

Okafor had the same number of blocks as Tashawn Thomas. He's not an elite athlete and thus will probably never be a great shot blocker. The rest is about effort. He hasn't shown it yet, maybe he will some day.


Towns is an 81% free throw shooter. He's an elite athlete. Those are pretty good signs that he'll develop a lot more of an offensive game. They know he's going to be a great defensive player.


If you're talking about a guy like Cauley-Stein, who is a defense only type guy, then I agree. That's not a #1 overall pick.

Towns' offensive game is better than Okafor's defensive game IMO. And that 81% FT shooting is strong evidence is has a a nice shot.

And I would argue that Towns is quite a bit more explosive than Okafor.
Okafor has great footwork (Towns' is good, but Okafor's is better), but Okafor also seems to have lead filled shoes too often for my liking. Sometimes it appears he is a bit of a plodder.

And agree about Cauley-Stein. He is an elite defender/athlete but still raw offensively and will likely never be a star in the league. Low lottery pick I would guess.

 

[sperry]

I'm still laughing at any list of #1 locks that does not include Lebron at the top.

Anyway I do know this ... the Lakers have a 25% chance of landing the 1 or 2 pick which will give them Okafor or Towns to pair with Julius Randle on the front line. Then in 2016 they will have approximately $70 million in cap space. People are going to scream bloody murder if they get Okafor. lol

The '03 draft produced three other hall of famers. The '97 draft produced Keith Van Horn.


And Okafor = Al Jefferson. He'll be perfect stuffing the stat sheet for an awful Los Angeles team for a decade. Maybe they can get Kevin Love to form their front court, scoring 50 a game and giving up 75.

 

[Price is Right]

I think Kaminsky Will have the best NBA career of any big in this draft. Go ahead and start laughing.

 

[WTSooner]

I think Kaminsky Will have the best NBA career of any big in this draft. Go ahead and start laughing.

I like Frank The Tank, but I think he is more likely to bust than be anything more than a roll player. He just matches the M.O. of a lot of players that look a lot like him in the past 15 years of the NBA draft. Hope I'm wrong, seems like a good dude.

 

[bocabull]

The '03 draft produced three other hall of famers. The '97 draft produced Keith Van Horn.


And Okafor = Al Jefferson. He'll be perfect stuffing the stat sheet for an awful Los Angeles team for a decade. Maybe they can get Kevin Love to form their front court, scoring 50 a game and giving up 75.

ha ha That's funny. Yeah the Lakers will be terrible for the next decade. Like I said when they are pushing for a title in 2-3 years the ref whiner types will be crying a river.

BTW, who had more blocks in the NCAA tournament, Towns or Okafor? Love the plumber nitpicking. Okafor is a spitting image of Tun Duncan. Only he's further along at the same age.

 

[sperry]

ha ha That's funny. Yeah the Lakers will be terrible for the next decade. Like I said when they are pushing for a title in 2-3 years the ref whiner types will be crying a river.

BTW, who had more blocks in the NCAA tournament, Towns or Okafor? Love the plumber nitpicking. Okafor is a spitting image of Tun Duncan. Only he's further along at the same age.

You mean the guy who averaged 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as a freshman, and is a 14 time all-nba defensive player? Yeah, identical I tell you.


He had two more blocks than Towns in about 50 additional game minutes. When going up against legit future NBA frontcourt players (Poeltl, Sabonis, Kaminsky) Okafor he averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds in about 27 mpg.

But sure, the Lakers are going to be winning championships in no time with Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson part two.

 

[Price is Right]

Frank reminds me a lot of pau gasol. Also he's a lower risk in terms of injury because of his age. The younger guys like Towns who are still potentially growing often struggle with injuries in an 82 game season. Noel, embiid, randle, etc... Kaminsky has legit size great IQ can stretch the floor and is a good passer. Depending on who gets him I think he competes with Russell for ROY. Obviously this is all opinion but I hope I'm right he does seem like a good guy.

 

[bocabull]

I think the "Okafor plays no defense" stuff has been taken too far.

It's just silly talk. lol @ claiming a 19 year old 6'11" 270 lb guy with incredible footwork who just won the national championship "plays no defense". It's as silly as saying the Lakers (who are perfectly positioned for a quick rebuild) will suck for a decade. But I guess if your a Thunder fan with nothing better to do it's easy to get carried away.

 

[bocabull]

Frank reminds me a lot of pau gasol. Also he's a lower risk in terms of injury because of his age. The younger guys like Towns who are still potentially growing often struggle with injuries in an 82 game season. Noel, embiid, randle, etc... Kaminsky has legit size great IQ can stretch the floor and is a good passer. Depending on who gets him I think he competes with Russell for ROY. Obviously this is all opinion but I hope I'm right he does seem like a good guy.

Is Frank as big as Gasol? I do like his game and think he could have a chance at being an impact that player. But it's tough business in the NBA.

If healthy I bet Embiid is ROY. The 76ers are poised for a big leap in the standings and they sandbagged his injury this year.

 

[Price is Right]

Is Frank as big as Gasol? I do like his game and think he could have a chance at being an impact that player. But it's tough business in the NBA.

If healthy I bet Embiid is ROY. The 76ers are poised for a big leap in the standings and they sandbagged his injury this year.

He's listed at 7 foot and I think that's probably pretty accurate maybe an inch, inch and a half smaller.

IF Embiid stays healthy you're probably right. I thought he was the second coming of Dwight Howard. I always forget you can win ROY after missing the season due to injury.

Was there any truth to his weight issues and the run ins with some of the staff? I read articles saying as much and others saying it was being blown way out of proportion.

 

[Price is Right]

It's as silly as saying the Lakers (who are perfectly positioned for a quick rebuild) will suck for a decade. But I guess if your a Thunder fan with nothing better to do it's easy to get carried away.

Yup Lakers will be a playoff team again sooner than later. Randle plus someone big out of this draft and tons of cap... money talks. They will land some key free agents.