[festar35Participant]

Today’s game against Minnesota showed me something today and that is Boston still has a massive weakness in the front court. I look at the teams in the East and most have an established front court or at least the potential is there.

Boston didn’t address thus issue before the deadline and I predict it’ll cause them problems come play off time. Most likely they will match-up with a team like Miama (Whiteside and Bosh hopefully), Indiana (Mahinmi and an improving Turner who could cause problem for the shorter Celtics), Detroit (Drummond) or Chicago (Gasol, Noah, Port is, Gibson).

The Celtics are still in a fantastic position going forward, but they may find themselves bounced first round if they get a team with established big men.

Now for the good part, how do they address this issue in the off-season and who do they get? I still love the idea of Brook Lopez or Jahlil Okafor.

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 The sixers arent trading Jahlil Okafor to the Celtics unless the nets pick is concrete in the top two selections in the draft. It would also depend on where the sixers own pick lands as well. Say the sixers pick comes in third and the nets come in second. Maybe they pull the trigger on the deal. Which at this point you would essentially be trading Okafor for Ingram(nets second overall pick). Then the sixers draft best player available. That would also mean they were banking on Embid being healthy which is to big of a risk. To many risks for the sixers trading a sure thing like Okafor for some unknowns. That franchise and its fan base need Okafor for just the overall morale of the team and the fans need some hope

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 The sixers arent trading Jahlil Okafor to the Celtics unless the nets pick is concrete in the top two selections in the draft. It would also depend on where the sixers own pick lands as well. Say the sixers pick comes in third and the nets come in second. Maybe they pull the trigger on the deal. Which at this point you would essentially be trading Okafor for Ingram(nets second overall pick). Then the sixers draft best player available. That would also mean they were banking on Embid being healthy which is to big of a risk. To many risks for the sixers trading a sure thing like Okafor for some unknowns. That franchise and its fan base need Okafor for just the overall morale of the team and the fans need some hope

[markfitz14Participant]

 Def depends on where the picks land. But the 6ers could play Noel at center to make up for losing Okafor. Embid will just have to find his place once he starts actually playing. I would think the 6ers think about the trade on draft night if the Nets pick is where Dunn is. This is a guard league now and Dunn looks really nice. And they have no Guards on the team to speak of. So that could be inticing to get some Guards. Celtics could also give Sully or Olynk for some depth to the 6ers in the trade. 

Also depends on the Lakers pick. That could get them someone they want and cancel the need for Nets pick.

 

 

[markfitz14Participant]

 Def depends on where the picks land. But the 6ers could play Noel at center to make up for losing Okafor. Embid will just have to find his place once he starts actually playing. I would think the 6ers think about the trade on draft night if the Nets pick is where Dunn is. This is a guard league now and Dunn looks really nice. And they have no Guards on the team to speak of. So that could be inticing to get some Guards. Celtics could also give Sully or Olynk for some depth to the 6ers in the trade. 

Also depends on the Lakers pick. That could get them someone they want and cancel the need for Nets pick.

 

 

[warson24]

Fully agree.
May except the Mahinmi note. Not sure he’ll cause problems to any team, who’s better than the Grambling State Tigers…
Okafor had a high price (which is understandable) and giving up too much asset for Brook Lopez also not so wise.

 

[warson24]

Fully agree.
May except the Mahinmi note. Not sure he’ll cause problems to any team, who’s better than the Grambling State Tigers…
Okafor had a high price (which is understandable) and giving up too much asset for Brook Lopez also not so wise.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

The idea that Philly may need to trade one of Noel, Embliid or Okafor needs to be taken in context. We have yet to see Embliid in a competitive NBA game. There are 96 frontcourt minutes to share out. Okay if Philly did get Simmonds he’d play some PF but there would still be decent minutes for all.

I don’t see Ainge giving up a shot at say Ingram if he had 2nd pick to get Okafor for example and I don’t see Hinkie giving up a top prospect as well as a high draft pick to move into top 2 for example.

Ainge also won’t rush to send this year’s pick via the Nets back to them for Lopez, he might explore other deals for that possibly around Blake Griffin, DMC for example. If he thought Lopez was the best he could get then he’d likely offer the Nets their 2018 first rounder back plus other assets and use this year’s Nets pick to get BPA.

[HitsterParticipant]

The idea that Philly may need to trade one of Noel, Embliid or Okafor needs to be taken in context. We have yet to see Embliid in a competitive NBA game. There are 96 frontcourt minutes to share out. Okay if Philly did get Simmonds he’d play some PF but there would still be decent minutes for all.

I don’t see Ainge giving up a shot at say Ingram if he had 2nd pick to get Okafor for example and I don’t see Hinkie giving up a top prospect as well as a high draft pick to move into top 2 for example.

Ainge also won’t rush to send this year’s pick via the Nets back to them for Lopez, he might explore other deals for that possibly around Blake Griffin, DMC for example. If he thought Lopez was the best he could get then he’d likely offer the Nets their 2018 first rounder back plus other assets and use this year’s Nets pick to get BPA.

[220Participant]

 Yeah for me Embiid not only has to be incredibly good when he finally plays, but he needs to play at least 70 games in one season without reinjury before I’d even consider him as a building block of any sort.

[220Participant]

 Yeah for me Embiid not only has to be incredibly good when he finally plays, but he needs to play at least 70 games in one season without reinjury before I’d even consider him as a building block of any sort.

[I am an idiotParticipant]

As a Celtics fan, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve always said that they would be a better regular season team than a playoff team.

Never thought they would have the 3rd seed, however.

The big man point is obvious. At the deadline, the C’s were associated with every big man rumor (Cousins, Love, Howard etc.) but nothing related to a perimeter player or point guard.

Between the draft picks they have and free agency, it seems a sure thing that Ainge will make a move for next year.

This year? They may not make it out of the first round.

 

 

 

 

 

  

[I am an idiotParticipant]

As a Celtics fan, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve always said that they would be a better regular season team than a playoff team.

Never thought they would have the 3rd seed, however.

The big man point is obvious. At the deadline, the C’s were associated with every big man rumor (Cousins, Love, Howard etc.) but nothing related to a perimeter player or point guard.

Between the draft picks they have and free agency, it seems a sure thing that Ainge will make a move for next year.

This year? They may not make it out of the first round.

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 What about Diamond Stone?  I think he is outside the top 5 or 10 now, but he is a big man who looks like a Z Bo type.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 What about Diamond Stone?  I think he is outside the top 5 or 10 now, but he is a big man who looks like a Z Bo type.  

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 Dangerous…… This kid is so talented down low…. and he gets absolutely No calls b/c he’s a Rookie….. He’s the Only player on that Phila team who can score….. so all five opposing players shade in on him & collapse on him….. The gaurds are so bad they can’t penetrate & get him any easy buckets….. The kid is averaging close to 20 & 10 on a team that barely even runs their offense thru him…….

On the Celtics, with a team that actually understands how to build & run an Offense that can succeed in the playoffs, Okafor would be a nightmare for opposing defenses…… 

He def still needs to develop parts of his game…. for example, he loses focus for stretches & it really affects his Def & Rebounding…… But I think a big part of that is b/c he is a Rookie & not used to the NBA regular season grind….. And he plays for a franchise that doesn’t even feel like it’s a real NBA team……

I believe Okafor would be laser focused on the C’s….. As far as the Celtics needs, Okafor would be a Perfect fit….. put that Monster in the paint & it’s open shots All over the perimeter….. I’d Luv to see this trade go thru….. Sixers would be Crazy to give up on Okafor so soon….

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 Dangerous…… This kid is so talented down low…. and he gets absolutely No calls b/c he’s a Rookie….. He’s the Only player on that Phila team who can score….. so all five opposing players shade in on him & collapse on him….. The gaurds are so bad they can’t penetrate & get him any easy buckets….. The kid is averaging close to 20 & 10 on a team that barely even runs their offense thru him…….

On the Celtics, with a team that actually understands how to build & run an Offense that can succeed in the playoffs, Okafor would be a nightmare for opposing defenses…… 

He def still needs to develop parts of his game…. for example, he loses focus for stretches & it really affects his Def & Rebounding…… But I think a big part of that is b/c he is a Rookie & not used to the NBA regular season grind….. And he plays for a franchise that doesn’t even feel like it’s a real NBA team……

I believe Okafor would be laser focused on the C’s….. As far as the Celtics needs, Okafor would be a Perfect fit….. put that Monster in the paint & it’s open shots All over the perimeter….. I’d Luv to see this trade go thru….. Sixers would be Crazy to give up on Okafor so soon….

 

 

 

[PatrickMurphyParticipant]

 If the Celtics get the 2nd pick in the lottery from Brooklyn would they be willing to trade it to Philly for Okafor?

Ideal scenario for Sixers would be getting 1st pick on their own (Simmons) and then dealing Okafor to Boston for Ingram. 

A nucleus of Simmons, Ingram, Noel, Embiid and Saric would be a nice start. Re-sign Ish as a steady PG and then still have the 2017 Lakers pick in a stacked draft.

 

 

 

 

[PatrickMurphyParticipant]

 If the Celtics get the 2nd pick in the lottery from Brooklyn would they be willing to trade it to Philly for Okafor?

Ideal scenario for Sixers would be getting 1st pick on their own (Simmons) and then dealing Okafor to Boston for Ingram. 

A nucleus of Simmons, Ingram, Noel, Embiid and Saric would be a nice start. Re-sign Ish as a steady PG and then still have the 2017 Lakers pick in a stacked draft.

 

 

 

 

[CasualCelt]

 I agree that Okafor would be a good fit in Boston, even if he only played 25-27 mpg.

The most immediate problem for Boston is that Olynyk is injured for the next 3-4 weeks. 

I found a Kelly Olynyk video that sums up the situation the Celtics are now faced with until he comes back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

 

 

 

[CasualCelt]

 I agree that Okafor would be a good fit in Boston, even if he only played 25-27 mpg.

The most immediate problem for Boston is that Olynyk is injured for the next 3-4 weeks. 

I found a Kelly Olynyk video that sums up the situation the Celtics are now faced with until he comes back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

Interesting point about Celtics trading 2nd pick for Okafor, it would be more that I would not see Ainge giving up the chance to take Ingram. If the Celtics ended up with 3rd pick or lower then I think Ainge would listen to offers, I don’t think he’d proactively look to trade it but if an offer too good to turn down came in, then he’d very carefully consider it.

I know that Clippers traded Brand for 2nd pick back in 2001 and last year Hinkie traded MCW for a future pick hopefully top 5 but rarely teams trade a pick for a guy only in the NBA for a year or two.

[HitsterParticipant]

Interesting point about Celtics trading 2nd pick for Okafor, it would be more that I would not see Ainge giving up the chance to take Ingram. If the Celtics ended up with 3rd pick or lower then I think Ainge would listen to offers, I don’t think he’d proactively look to trade it but if an offer too good to turn down came in, then he’d very carefully consider it.

I know that Clippers traded Brand for 2nd pick back in 2001 and last year Hinkie traded MCW for a future pick hopefully top 5 but rarely teams trade a pick for a guy only in the NBA for a year or two.

[Author]

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