[MopgrassParticipant]

 Chad Ford ran an insider article that said teams are starting to view Towns as a better long-term prospect than Okafor. Don’t kill the messenger here.

Okafor is clearly better today and a lot of people make Tim Duncan comparisons. I think Towns deserves consideration and I’m glad Chad Ford is making me sound less crazy for saying so. 

[BlazermannParticipant]

 My opinion is more valid then chad’s lol he’d be in the negative on this site dude sucks 

[BlazermannParticipant]

 My opinion is more valid then chad’s lol he’d be in the negative on this site dude sucks 

[gopack10Participant]

Talked to a Scout that I’ve worked with before…his response…

No words, just laughter.

And that is in no way a knock on Towns as he is a great player, just the idea that at this point he would be favored over Okafor.  Of course all of that could change leading into the draft of course based on Tournament play, inuries, etc but right now that’s just not going to happen.

[gopack10Participant]

Talked to a Scout that I’ve worked with before…his response…

No words, just laughter.

And that is in no way a knock on Towns as he is a great player, just the idea that at this point he would be favored over Okafor.  Of course all of that could change leading into the draft of course based on Tournament play, inuries, etc but right now that’s just not going to happen.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

I’d say at this stage of the season, anyone’s mock draft will be pretty inaccurate. The only thing I like from Chad Ford is that he’s good at gossiping from the scouts 2-3 weeks before the draft, but he doesn’t provide absolutely any info we wouldn’t get from watching the prospects. I totally lost respect for him after it was found that he changed his projections.

So him saying "maybe Towns over Okafor" actually means "Somebody likes Towns better than Okafor". Nothing more.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

I’d say at this stage of the season, anyone’s mock draft will be pretty inaccurate. The only thing I like from Chad Ford is that he’s good at gossiping from the scouts 2-3 weeks before the draft, but he doesn’t provide absolutely any info we wouldn’t get from watching the prospects. I totally lost respect for him after it was found that he changed his projections.

So him saying "maybe Towns over Okafor" actually means "Somebody likes Towns better than Okafor". Nothing more.

[juves4783Participant]

good analysis of ford.  i’ve been on insider for 5+ years and enjoy reading his thoughts but don’t put much merit on them.  i mean the guy lives in hawaii and is an employee at byu-hawaii so it’s not like he’s getting up close and personal with any of the prospects.  

[juves4783Participant]

good analysis of ford.  i’ve been on insider for 5+ years and enjoy reading his thoughts but don’t put much merit on them.  i mean the guy lives in hawaii and is an employee at byu-hawaii so it’s not like he’s getting up close and personal with any of the prospects.  

[ropeParticipant]

No big deal.  Ford will change his mind after the draft and fix his mock in a couple of years.

Dude has no credibility anymore.  How he is not another of the ESPN "suspensions" is beyond me.

[ropeParticipant]

No big deal.  Ford will change his mind after the draft and fix his mock in a couple of years.

Dude has no credibility anymore.  How he is not another of the ESPN "suspensions" is beyond me.

[Rip255]

I got no problem with Towns going #2

But damn…Okafor is just money on the offensive end. Tim Duncan comparison is fair as far as offensive talent goes.

[Rip255]

I got no problem with Towns going #2

But damn…Okafor is just money on the offensive end. Tim Duncan comparison is fair as far as offensive talent goes.

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Okafor is a great prospect, but the Duncan comparisons should stop, Timmy is either the best or second best defensive player of his generation (depending on how you feel about Kevin Garnett).  Building a team around a great offensive center who doesn’t protect the rim is very difficult to do, ask the teams trying to build around Al Jefferson, Nikola Vucevic, Nikola Pekovic, Greg Monroe, Brook Lopez, etc.  If you don’t have a power forward who both spaces the floor and can protect the rim, of which I can name maybe 3 (Bosh, Ibaka, Brow), you will have a difficult time contending. 

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Okafor is a great prospect, but the Duncan comparisons should stop, Timmy is either the best or second best defensive player of his generation (depending on how you feel about Kevin Garnett).  Building a team around a great offensive center who doesn’t protect the rim is very difficult to do, ask the teams trying to build around Al Jefferson, Nikola Vucevic, Nikola Pekovic, Greg Monroe, Brook Lopez, etc.  If you don’t have a power forward who both spaces the floor and can protect the rim, of which I can name maybe 3 (Bosh, Ibaka, Brow), you will have a difficult time contending. 

[holefillersParticipant]

 I like Towns. His skillset reminds me of Aldridge. I wish he would get closer to 30min a game it would be much easier and safer to pick him in the top three. Seperate topic, check out Thomas Robinsons draft write up. Safest player in draft…Ha!

[holefillersParticipant]

 I like Towns. His skillset reminds me of Aldridge. I wish he would get closer to 30min a game it would be much easier and safer to pick him in the top three. Seperate topic, check out Thomas Robinsons draft write up. Safest player in draft…Ha!

[Darth DivacParticipant]

I’m not too big on Towns. He just strikes me as more of a roleplayer than a franchise talent. 

[Darth DivacParticipant]

I’m not too big on Towns. He just strikes me as more of a roleplayer than a franchise talent. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I think it means that a team would rather pick at 2 than 1.

You have a harder decision at 1.

At 2, you take the other big guy IF you need a big.

If not, you look at Mudiay.

Say there are four great prospects for the first pick, but you have to pick the BEST between Okafor, Towns, Russell, and Mudiay.  Well, you only have a 25% chance.

NOW, if you fall to 2, and IF the odds weren’t on the top teams side and he picked the wrong guy, well now your odds improve to 1 in 3 (33% chance) of getting the "best" guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I think it means that a team would rather pick at 2 than 1.

You have a harder decision at 1.

At 2, you take the other big guy IF you need a big.

If not, you look at Mudiay.

Say there are four great prospects for the first pick, but you have to pick the BEST between Okafor, Towns, Russell, and Mudiay.  Well, you only have a 25% chance.

NOW, if you fall to 2, and IF the odds weren’t on the top teams side and he picked the wrong guy, well now your odds improve to 1 in 3 (33% chance) of getting the "best" guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[imAboutDatActionParticipant]

 Post the article.

[imAboutDatActionParticipant]

 Post the article.

[HoopLandParticipant]

 Chad Ford says anything to keep his job. 

[HoopLandParticipant]

 Chad Ford says anything to keep his job. 

[DaGuywhodidurmaParticipant]

 I think towns has more potential than Okafor but I see Okafor as more of a NBA ready product with lower bust potential . Towns already shows a nice hook shot in the post and has flashed a nice turnaround fade away plus he shoots 78% ft and that bodes well for his midrange game. I like the way he passes and obviously while he isn’t a Shaq/Robinson type of athlete towns is a good one and a better one than okafor. Which is part of the reason why he is a better rim protector.

 

I wouldn’t discount towns having the better career but I also wouldn’t bet my money on it since I do like okafor alot.

 

 

[DaGuywhodidurmaParticipant]

 I think towns has more potential than Okafor but I see Okafor as more of a NBA ready product with lower bust potential . Towns already shows a nice hook shot in the post and has flashed a nice turnaround fade away plus he shoots 78% ft and that bodes well for his midrange game. I like the way he passes and obviously while he isn’t a Shaq/Robinson type of athlete towns is a good one and a better one than okafor. Which is part of the reason why he is a better rim protector.

 

I wouldn’t discount towns having the better career but I also wouldn’t bet my money on it since I do like okafor alot.

 

 

[4th quarterParticipant]

Illimane diop should be a top 5 lotto pick!! Better athlete then okafor and towns

[HoopLandParticipant]

I would not draft anyone with the last name of "Diop"

[HoopLandParticipant]

I would not draft anyone with the last name of "Diop"

[sitlbitoParticipant]

Problem is:It’s a basketball drafty,he may be a better athlete than Okafor many players are in this draft,but few are better basketball players

[sitlbitoParticipant]

Problem is:It’s a basketball drafty,he may be a better athlete than Okafor many players are in this draft,but few are better basketball players

[4th quarterParticipant]

Illimane diop should be a top 5 lotto pick!! Better athlete then okafor and towns

[ncballer]

Okafor certainly is a polished post prospect from an offensive standpoint.  However his defense leaves a lot to be desired.  Go back and watch the UNC vs. Duke game.  Kennedy Meeks scored at will on him (granted, Meeks is nothing to scoff at), but the shocking thing is that Joel James (who does not have a very polished offensive skillset) scored at will on him.  I think his transition to the NBA will be a lot tougher than people think.  His offensive game is certained around bullying his way through the post, and with bigger stronger, longer athletes guarding him I don’t think he will be able to get away with it.  

Now, I don’t want all of you to neg me.  I still take him over Towns, and IMHO he is a toss-up for the number 1 pick between him and Mudiay.  I think when he gets adjusted to the NBA game and going up against players consistently that are as strong as he is, he will become a consistent 19+10 player.  I believe that his rookie season however will be closer to 13+7 than what his college stats are.  

 

 

[ncballer]

Okafor certainly is a polished post prospect from an offensive standpoint.  However his defense leaves a lot to be desired.  Go back and watch the UNC vs. Duke game.  Kennedy Meeks scored at will on him (granted, Meeks is nothing to scoff at), but the shocking thing is that Joel James (who does not have a very polished offensive skillset) scored at will on him.  I think his transition to the NBA will be a lot tougher than people think.  His offensive game is certained around bullying his way through the post, and with bigger stronger, longer athletes guarding him I don’t think he will be able to get away with it.  

Now, I don’t want all of you to neg me.  I still take him over Towns, and IMHO he is a toss-up for the number 1 pick between him and Mudiay.  I think when he gets adjusted to the NBA game and going up against players consistently that are as strong as he is, he will become a consistent 19+10 player.  I believe that his rookie season however will be closer to 13+7 than what his college stats are.  

 

 

[properbreaksParticipant]

ESPN will say stuff that isn’t popular or goes against the grain just to create a story. It’s no story here. I can’t see anybody doing it other than……….. Philadelphia. And then ask him to play overseas for a year of “seasoning” for no reason. lol

[properbreaksParticipant]

ESPN will say stuff that isn’t popular or goes against the grain just to create a story. It’s no story here. I can’t see anybody doing it other than……….. Philadelphia. And then ask him to play overseas for a year of “seasoning” for no reason. lol

[DolanCareParticipant]

I doubt the rumors are accurate but Towns ahead of Okafor is not ridiculous. Low post scoring is great to have but rim protection from your bigs is irreplacable. Especially in today’s game.

 Having some one who can back you down is great, ala Al Jefferson which is a great Okafor comparison IMO, but Al jeff has his ceiling because of the defense issue. 

[DolanCareParticipant]

I doubt the rumors are accurate but Towns ahead of Okafor is not ridiculous. Low post scoring is great to have but rim protection from your bigs is irreplacable. Especially in today’s game.

 Having some one who can back you down is great, ala Al Jefferson which is a great Okafor comparison IMO, but Al jeff has his ceiling because of the defense issue. 

[username_takenParticipant]

 I’d definitely debate who to take it isn’t a no brainer. Okafor’s advanced post moves at his age are nice, but he’s not much of a shot blocker or rim protector, which Towns seems to be.

[username_takenParticipant]

 I’d definitely debate who to take it isn’t a no brainer. Okafor’s advanced post moves at his age are nice, but he’s not much of a shot blocker or rim protector, which Towns seems to be.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 The Big Al comparison is terrible I think. Okafor honestly seems more skilled, bigger, and more aggressive than Big Al. Jefferson is one of the least efficient Centers in the league, plus he plays no D. 

Before getting on too much of a tangent, why is that people always say a player A is more NBA ready, but player B has a higher ceiling? Why can’t one guy be both? Okafor can get better defensively can’t he? The last two defensive players of the year are Gasol and Noah…neither one is an elite shot blocker. Neither one is of the DeAndre Jordan/Javale McGee/Andre Drummond jumping jack freak athlete mold. You don’t need to be a shot blocker to be a solid rim protector, that requires positioning and desire. Dude has a 7’6 wingspan, he doesn’t need to jump high to contest shots. 

I do like Towns a lot and think he could be a very good player, but I think his floor and ceiling are both lower than Okafors. I can see him being a very good two way power forward. He may be more diverse than Okafor, but that doesn’t mean he’s the better player. Doing more doesnt always equal being better. 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 The Big Al comparison is terrible I think. Okafor honestly seems more skilled, bigger, and more aggressive than Big Al. Jefferson is one of the least efficient Centers in the league, plus he plays no D. 

Before getting on too much of a tangent, why is that people always say a player A is more NBA ready, but player B has a higher ceiling? Why can’t one guy be both? Okafor can get better defensively can’t he? The last two defensive players of the year are Gasol and Noah…neither one is an elite shot blocker. Neither one is of the DeAndre Jordan/Javale McGee/Andre Drummond jumping jack freak athlete mold. You don’t need to be a shot blocker to be a solid rim protector, that requires positioning and desire. Dude has a 7’6 wingspan, he doesn’t need to jump high to contest shots. 

I do like Towns a lot and think he could be a very good player, but I think his floor and ceiling are both lower than Okafors. I can see him being a very good two way power forward. He may be more diverse than Okafor, but that doesn’t mean he’s the better player. Doing more doesnt always equal being better. 

 

 

[BiggaveliiiParticipant]

 okafor is not more skilled than al jefferson. Jeffersons footwork and postskills are probably second to none in the leagu ( gasol being the other)  okafor is going to be a stud chad fords a clown. 

[BiggaveliiiParticipant]

 okafor is not more skilled than al jefferson. Jeffersons footwork and postskills are probably second to none in the leagu ( gasol being the other)  okafor is going to be a stud chad fords a clown. 

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