Rumor CJ McCollum for Jahlil Okafor

[TBpup]

This isn't so much of a rumor as it is something that has been proposed back East by numerous writers and Blogsites. This is the latest: http://www.libertyballers.com/2016/1/26/10833940/trade-proposal-portland-philadelphia

There have been a number of others and now BlazersEdge is picking up the conversation as well. http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/1/2...azers-jahlil-okafor-philadelphia-sixers-76ers

There are certainly some reasons Pro and Con but it is at least interesting that this KEEPS COMING up and it's from back there.

• Would this balance out the roster more?
• How does the extra two years of additional cap space help out if at all?
• Do you like Okafor more at C or PF and which would be his best opposite C/PF on the current roster?
• CJ is the better player right now even though Okafor is the younger player w/possibly more potential. Is straight across enough?

 

[THE HCP]

Very intriguing, but if you want your post to hold any weight or have ANY credibility whatsoever, don't mention that BlazersEdge has picked it up. That's not helping your case son.

 

[BBert]

Neil should hold out for a draft pick.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Okafor is a worse defender than CJ (I expect them both to improve but Okafor would really have to improve!). We can't have guys in the paint that just let the other team have free reign to the rim.

I don't think this is the trade of CJ (not even convinced we want to move him) that we are looking for. In fact, I would say Noel is a better player to target than Okafor (still not sure I would pull the trigger though).

 

[BBert]

FWIW: 69% of Liberty Ballers say "NO".

 

[brendanjames]

I wouldn't. I'm not in favour of trading CJ til we see a ceiling

 

[BBert]

I'm not crazy about bad defending bigs.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Why, when we finally have a 2nd scorer next to Dame, maybe the best 2nd option we have since I can remember, we want to trade him? Why? And for someone who just lately had issues with violence? how is this rational? "We have an amazing player. Great, lets trade him!".... I just don't get it

 

[TBpup]

Okafor is a worse defender than CJ (I expect them both to improve but Okafor would really have to improve!). We can't have guys in the paint that just let the other team have free reign to the rim..

Here is a solid article on Okafor's defense. http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/1/2...azers-jahlil-okafor-philadelphia-sixers-76ers There is way more than the quote below and this is the more positive side of his Defense.

He's allowing opponents to convert just 47.5 percent of shots against him at the rim, which ... is on par with alleged defensive studs such as Dwight Howard,Roy Hibbert, Clint Capela, Nerlens Noel. That may be in part because Okafor has held his own down low. Nobody has defended a higher volume of attempts in the post than Jah this season, who has allowed 48.4 percent shooting on such looks... Okafor may not have the vertical lift of a Hassan Whiteside or Andre Drummond, but he uses his combination of a stocky build and 7-5 wingspan to shut down the paint. Jahlil is already a prodigy when it comes to the ever-so-glamorous art of bodying post behemoths and keeping those hands up.

FWIW: 69% of Liberty Ballers say "NO".

As you would expect they would. He's a rookie putting up 17/7 at 20 years old under a very inexpensive contract for several more years. You would also expect Blazer fans to want to keep CJ who has blossomed into a 20 ppg scorer. Rarely do fans want to trade their player unless he is an absolute scrub....but if that was who was being offered, Okafor wouldn't be in the discussion.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

It would be tough, but I think you'd have to make that trade. Okafor is a stud prospect in his own right and will be cheap for another three years. Helps with the salary cap situation for future years.

But it would be tough. I don't think Neil does it, as situated now, Neil can sit back and bask in drafting McCollum with him becoming a Stud, and likely keeps his job.

If he traded mcollum and okafor ended up sucking for us, he would get fired

 

[Natebishop3]

Hmmm.... intriguing. I'm not sure how I feel though. If we were to trade CJ, I'd really like to get an established player.

 

[BBert]

So are you suggesting, TBPup, that perhaps Okafor's defense looks worse than it is in part because he's on the worst team in the league?

To quote the wise old sage Bugs Bunny: Hmmmm......could be!

 

[TBpup]

So are you intimating, TBPup, that perhaps Okafor's defense looks worse than it is in part because he's on the worst team in the league?

To quote the wise old sage Bugs Bunny: Hmmmm......could be!

If as a rookie he is on the same plane of defending at the rim as Howard, teammate defensive demon Noel, Roy Hibbert, etc, that would seem like perhaps he certainly has a good foundation from which to build from.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Here is a solid article on Okafor's defense. http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/1/2...azers-jahlil-okafor-philadelphia-sixers-76ers There is way more than the quote below and this is the more positive side of his Defense.

He's allowing opponents to convert just 47.5 percent of shots against him at the rim, which ... is on par with alleged defensive studs such as Dwight Howard,Roy Hibbert, Clint Capela, Nerlens Noel. That may be in part because Okafor has held his own down low. Nobody has defended a higher volume of attempts in the post than Jah this season, who has allowed 48.4 percent shooting on such looks... Okafor may not have the vertical lift of a Hassan Whiteside or Andre Drummond, but he uses his combination of a stocky build and 7-5 wingspan to shut down the paint. Jahlil is already a prodigy when it comes to the ever-so-glamorous art of bodying post behemoths and keeping those hands up.

There are a lot of defensive stats. You are pointing out merely one.
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/1/12/10754296/jahlil-okafor-nerlens-noel-breakdown-nba-76ers

Philadelphia is still bad when the two have been split up, but the results haven't been nearly as ghastly. The Sixers' defense has been quite stout with Noel on the floor without Okafor, giving up under 100 points per 100 possessions in those situations. That's the mark of a top 10 unit and a continuation of the solid defense the team played at the end of last season as Noel improved.

Okafor without Noel has brought better offense and equally terrible defense, which isn't surprising given the rookie's shortcomings on that end of the floor. While Okafor has great size and length, he's slow of foot, not an explosive leaper and has poor defensive instincts. It's hard to see him ever becoming an effective rim protector.

http://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-beat-podcast-what-do-we-make-okafors-defense/ (haven't found a transcript for it though so you may or may not choose to listen to it all.)

http://bkref.com/tiny/j73NR (check out DRtg, DWS and DBPM (ouch on this one!)

He is not a good overall defender at this point. I don't see how it can even be argued otherwise.

And I already stated that I expect him to improve but he would have to really improve.

 

[Trackjack]

I wouldn't do it if it CJ was in the discussion of the trade. But i do like Okafor since college but it would have to a different package before I would agree and you know that won't happen.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I said last week that this would one that we would have to consider. At least Okafor is a solid player and because he is not a big leaper, will probably be good for another 12 years. He is only 20.

But I really enjoy watching CJ play.

What it comes down to for me is who is harder to find? Can we find another CJ if we trade for Okafor, or is it easier to find another Okafor if we keep CJ. They both are pretty skilled offensively for their position.

 

[Scalma]

I'm more interested in Noel. Can we get him without giving up CJ lol. Maybe our first rounder+something else?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think it would be interesting to see how Alexander and Okafor would play together, having been high school rivals and all. A big-man triumvirate of Okafor/Vonleh/Alexander would have a lot of potential. We'd also be 85% likely to keep our pick next year too, IMO.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

So are you suggesting, TBPup, that perhaps Okafor's defense looks worse than it is in part because he's on the worst team in the league?

To quote the wise old sage Bugs Bunny: Hmmmm......could be!

Philly's DRtg as a team is 107; Okafur's DRtg as a player is 108... he's below average for his team.

 

[e_blazer]

I think it would be interesting to see how Alexander and Okafor would play together, having been high school rivals and all. A big-man triumvirate of Okafor/Vonleh/Alexander would have a lot of potential. We'd also be 85% likely to keep our pick next year too, IMO.

Oh happy day! Another losing season to look forward to.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Oh happy day! Another losing season to look forward to.

Yeah--I wasn't really listing that as a positive...

 

[TBpup]

There are a lot of defensive stats. You are pointing out merely one.

He is not a good overall defender at this point. I don't see how it can even be argued otherwise.

And I already stated that I expect him to improve but he would have to really improve.

As I said, I'd pointed out the one that showed him on the more positive side. No one is saying he is the second coming of Bill Russell. He's 20 years old in his rookie season. There are no definitive statements here, especially on someone so young. What it is, is interesting. CJ is being considered for names that were picked ahead of him and are younger and not nearly as close to being a finished product as CJ is.

Buy Low, sell High.

 

[Natebishop3]

As I said, I'd pointed out the one that showed him on the more positive side. No one is saying he is the second coming of Bill Russell. He's 20 years old in his rookie season. There are no definitive statements here, especially on someone so young. What it is, is interesting. CJ is being considered for names that were picked ahead of him and are younger and not nearly as close to being a finished product as CJ is.

Buy Low, sell High.

I'd love to add someone like Cousins or Okafor and then try to sign Whiteside.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

As I said, I'd pointed out the one that showed him on the more positive side. No one is saying he is the second coming of Bill Russell. He's 20 years old in his rookie season. There are no definitive statements here, especially on someone so young. What it is, is interesting. CJ is being considered for names that were picked ahead of him and are younger and not nearly as close to being a finished product as CJ is.

Buy Low, sell High.

I not against making a deal I just don't think that player is Okafor personally.

And yes, buy low sell high. I don't see CJ at his high yet however.

 

[TBpup]

I not against making a deal I just don't think that player is Okafor personally.

And yes, buy low sell high. I don't see CJ at his high yet however.

I agree, it may not be Okafor but CJ's name keeps coming up which at the least is interesting to see what other teams think.

I don't see CJ at his high either but I believe he is closer to it than Okafor who is 17+/7+/1+ at 20 years old. Take him out 3-4 years and he looks to project to a 20/10/1.5 guy pretty easily.

 

[Natebishop3]

For those who might be curious

http://bkref.com/tiny/PXQh2

Okafor as a 20 year old rookie versus Cousins as a 20 year old rookie.

Cousins was really a much better defender, and he rebounded/passed better than Okafor, but Okafor is the superior scorer at this point.

 

[TBpup]

For those who might be curious

http://bkref.com/tiny/PXQh2

Okafor as a 20 year old rookie versus Cousins as a 20 year old rookie.

Cousins was really a much better defender, and he rebounded/passed better than Okafor, but Okafor is the superior scorer at this point.

Thanks for the comparison. Boogie is a freak and if this was a CJ for Cousins discussion, I think the tone would be different but that is not a real comparison. One guy is probably the most talented big man in the league and the other is a nice scoring SG. For another comparison, this was a surprise. CJ only averages 0.8 more assists per game in his career than Okafor.

 

[illmatic99]

They think Okafor is worth more than Dame in their comments.

lol

 

[TBpup]

They think Okafor is worth more than Dame in their comments.

lol

Clueless...lol. But you have to love passionate fans. Many Blazer fans vastly overestimate their own players as well....every team does it.

 

[Strenuus]

Clueless...lol. But you have to love passionate fans. Many Blazer fans vastly overestimate their own players as well....every team does it.

Are you saying it's wrong to think Connaughton is worth Durant + Westbrook?