Okafor... would Blazers be interested?

[Brock]

Dave from blazers edge expects him to be available... IF the Blazers feel they are contenders he would be a decent fit...


It's nice to break the losing streak.

If the Blazers seriously thought they could content this year, or were close, they could probably call up the Hornets and make an offer for Emeka Okafor. He has an expensive (Camby-level) contract running through 2014. The Blazers would be luxury-tax payers in 2012-13 and 2013-14. But he's exactly what the Hornets don't need right now--non-scorer, inside player, rebounder and defender, big guy, and expensive--and most of what the Blazers do need. I don't believe the Blazers will assess themselves as being far enough towards elite status to justify the expense. But Okafor should be there for the picking if anyone wants him.

 

[B-Roy]

What do you give up for him? Swapping him with Camby doesn't make us THAT much better...

 

[magnifier661]

Do you really think Okafor is a good center/pf? I think he isn't. In fact, he had his share of injuries as well. I don't like his contract, nor his lack of interior scoring.

 

[Carlito]

This team needs another big in the worst way.

 

[Rhal]

Okafer would be nice but his contract is so big id want something else enticing like the Wolves pick or there own pick.

 

[RR7]

Okafer would be nice but his contract is so big id want something else enticing like the Wolves pick or there own pick.

jesus, and what are you offering up? They're not using a lotto pick to move him(if I mention it, does that mean someone after me won't mention Clippers last year? Thanks).

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

After this season he's owed $13.5 and $14.5 -- His Drtg is barely above average and so is his PER.

He's overpaid and would take a big chunk of the cap.

 

[Rhal]

jesus, and what are you offering up? They're not using a lotto pick to move him(if I mention it, does that mean someone after me won't mention Clippers last year? Thanks).

He has a horrible horrible contract for his play. A team wanting to get ride of a cap killing contract like his better give up there Lotto pick or sit on him.

 

[mook]

What do you give up for him? Swapping him with Camby doesn't make us THAT much better...

It's kind of like swapping Miller for Felton. Kind of a downgrade in per minute talent, but you get a lot younger guy to do basically the same job. (Although Camby also gives you passing.) It's an ok move, but I'm hoping there are better options out there.

Hard to believe now that at one time there was a lot of controversy about maybe drafting him over Dwight Howard.

 

[ppilot]

It's kind of like swapping Miller for Felton. Kind of a downgrade in per minute talent, but you get a lot younger guy to do basically the same job. (Although Camby also gives you passing.) It's an ok move, but I'm hoping there are better options out there.

Hard to believe now that at one time there was a lot of controversy about maybe drafting him over Dwight Howard.

The miller for Felton thing hasn't exactly worked so far.

 

[mook]

The miller for Felton thing hasn't exactly worked so far.

It's been okaaaay. He's got the tempo up and he's playing better defense. But jesus he's a turnover machine and his shot is horrible. Overall I consider it a minor downgrade. But he does have more tread left on the tires. And there's still a lot of season to go. *shrug* I'm not really defending either the Felton deal or the Okafor idea. They both are kind of ho hum lateral-but-younger moves.

I'm hoping for a lot better. Another Gerald Wallace-level heist of some kind.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Goddammit. we're turning into the Charlotte-fucking-Bobcats ... The Bobcats people (Jesus, we've even got an "Ammo" clone with Babbitt).

 

[B-Roy]

It's been okaaaay. He's got the tempo up

Yeah see, I just don't buy this. Dre has been fine playing in uptempo systems in his career. The change came from Nate, not Felton. Dre would have been just as good at pushing pace.

 

[RoyToy]

Goddammit. we're turning into the Charlotte-fucking-Bobcats ... The Bobcats people (Jesus, we've even got an "Ammo" clone with Babbitt).

The Blazers have the difference-maker:

Nate McMillan

 

[Nikolokolus]

The Blazers have the difference-maker:

Nate McMillan

Charlotte had Larry Brown at one point too ...

 

[MickZagger]

The Bobcats wish they had Aldridge.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Does Okafor make us a title contender? I don't think he does, so why bring him in? I still think it's time to think very seriously of adding some youth and draft picks and hope we hit gold. mediocrity is like death in the NBA

 

[Nikolokolus]

Does Okafor make us a title contender? I don't think he does, so why bring him in? I still think it's time to think very seriously of adding some youth and draft picks and hope we hit gold. mediocrity is like death in the NBA

That's a tough sell around here.

It's kind of like convincing poor people to stop fighting like hell for their double-wide instead of letting the bank repo it, declaring bankruptcy and living in an apartment for a couple of years to rebuild their credit ... except in this case it's just a silly sport and not a matter of homelessness that's on the line. Frankly, it's not even that bad; we even get to keep our "Bitchin' Camaro" (Aldridge).

 

[RR7]

Does Okafor make us a title contender? I don't think he does, so why bring him in? I still think it's time to think very seriously of adding some youth and draft picks and hope we hit gold. mediocrity is like death in the NBA

Okafor is a lotto pick. You should be behind such a move.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Okafor is a lotto pick. You should be behind such a move.

Is he a lotto talent? That would be a more pertinent question.

 

[Blazinaway]

Does Okafor make us a title contender? I don't think he does, so why bring him in? I still think it's time to think very seriously of adding some youth and draft picks and hope we hit gold. mediocrity is like death in the NBA

would rather try to do a trade where we move a Wes or Wallace for Varajeo, Varajeo's contract is much more reasonable for what do does. Not sure if varajeo is available. We could do something like Camby and Wes and Nolan for Andy and Jamison (playin well but an expiring) and Sessions?

 

[Mediocre Man]

would rather try to do a trade where we move a Wes or Wallace for Varajeo, Varajeo's contract is much more reasonable for what do does. Not sure if varajeo is available. We could do something like Camby and Wes and Nolan for Andy and Jamison (playin well but an expiring) and Sessions?

IMO this team isn't a contender, so trading role players for role players still doesn't make us a contender.....IMO.

 

[santeesioux]

The prospect of getting Okafor excites me about as much as getting Crawford did...

 

[Draco]

If this was the old CBA and we were over the cap the next two years I’d be in favor of a Camby for Okafor swap.

But right now we have the flexibility of adding a free agent in the offseason. Obviously the dream scenario is adding Deron Williams, but even without that pipe dream cap space could give us a useful player. I’d rather keep that flexibility then lose basically all of it by assuming Okafor’s large contract.

Even if we don’t sign a free agent, Okafor would make it more difficult to retain Batum and Wallace. I’d rather keep those two with a band aid center then lose one of them but have Okafor.

 

[Draco]

The Hornets center I would look at adding is Kaman. No I don’t think he’ll be close to an all-star again but he could provide good role playing minutes for us at center. He is much better offensively then Camby, he could let Thomas and LaMarcus play at PF. His contract expires at the end of the year which would give us the flexibility of going in a different direction if he doesn’t fit well or resigning him to a reasonable contract if we like his play.

With as horrible as Felton is I’d possibly consider trading them straight up. Or if Camby stays injured send him out.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The prospect of getting Okafor excites me about as much as getting Crawford did...

 

[Rhal]

The Hornets center I would look at adding is Kaman. No I don’t think he’ll be close to an all-star again but he could provide good role playing minutes for us at center. He is much better offensively then Camby, he could let Thomas and LaMarcus play at PF. His contract expires at the end of the year which would give us the flexibility of going in a different direction if he doesn’t fit well or resigning him to a reasonable contract if we like his play.

With as horrible as Felton is I’d possibly consider trading them straight up. Or if Camby stays injured send him out.

I personally really don't like Kaman. He is good offensively but slow and bumbling on defense. Also is a black hole down low. I would much rather have the rhino or Johnson on the court then Kaman.

 

[mook]

The Hornets center I would look at adding is Kaman. No I don’t think he’ll be close to an all-star again but he could provide good role playing minutes for us at center. He is much better offensively then Camby, he could let Thomas and LaMarcus play at PF. His contract expires at the end of the year which would give us the flexibility of going in a different direction if he doesn’t fit well or resigning him to a reasonable contract if we like his play.

With as horrible as Felton is I’d possibly consider trading them straight up. Or if Camby stays injured send him out.

I like that idea a lot more. There isn't much incentive for the Hornets to do this deal, though, other than saving a million bucks in salary. I mean, there's no incentive not to--the Hornets are going to suck this year. But Kaman isn't chopped liver. You probably have to throw in a second round draft pick or something of that sort along with Camby.

Again, it's swapping role players of similar worth. But it's swapping old role players for younger ones.

I don't see how we could swap Felton for Kaman. We'd have no NBA-worth PG. (Insert joke here about Felton and how we have no NBA-worth PG anyway.)

 

[Draco]

I like that idea a lot more. There isn't much incentive for the Hornets to do this deal, though, other than saving a million bucks in salary. I mean, there's no incentive not to--the Hornets are going to suck this year. But Kaman isn't chopped liver. You probably have to throw in a second round draft pick or something of that sort along with Camby.

Again, it's swapping role players of similar worth. But it's swapping old role players for younger ones.

I don't see how we could swap Felton for Kaman. We'd have no NBA-worth PG. (Insert joke here about Felton and how we have no NBA-worth PG anyway.)

We could offer a second round pick, maybe Babbitt, and/or some cash. Ditching Babbit would save us cap space next offseason. It could be $10 million over a 5 year contract, which could be the difference in keeping Batum along with adding another player.

At this rate Felton would be addition by subtraction. No I've never been an advocated for that strategy with Bonzi/Rasheed/ZBo but Felton has been the worst starting PG in the NBA. If he can't improve his play he doesn't deserve to be on the court. Patty Mills would be an improvement. If Felton improves then yeah we don’t include him in this trade, but if he doesn’t improve and we have a hole in the rotation at center it’s something on the table we should consider.

 

[MickZagger]

Is he a lotto talent? That would be a more pertinent question.

I'd say he's been as good as roughly 50% of lotto players picked in the last 20 years. Drafting in the lotto does not assure you future success. You need to be really, really shitty for several years.