Poll: Who would make the Celtics better Noel or Okafor

[KG Living Legend]

 If it's the third pick won't have to add much, a young prospect or mid level first rounder. If it's the sixth pick they probably are not interested at all.

[Denis998]

My vote goes to okafor, just more skilled overall on the offensive end, and gives us a great post player. Brad could work him into being a great defender.

[#1P4P]

Okafor is a budding elite NBA player.

His combination of agility, quickness, strength, and skillfulness on the offensive end is reminiscent of, Celticsblog favorite, DeMarcus Cousins; except, he's in the first year of his rookie contract and can be reasonably expected to acquire strength, skills, and the wrinkles to better utilize them in-game.

The answer isn't obvious today because of Okafor being a rookie and the CB lust for a defensive+rebounding Center, but this thread will be looked back on as an "Ibaka or Cousins?"-type thread even if Noel improves.

If the cost to acquire Okafor or Noel were equal, Jahlil is the player to acquire, easily.

Since when is Okafor quick or agile? Dude moves in slow motion.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZihwmQ3PaC8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In the very first clip, he's beating the 2014 DPOY off the dribble with a quick first step, getting to the rack, and dunking it.

What Okafor exhibits in that video and others is agility and quickness, in addition to the other attributes mentioned. He's facing up 4s and 5s, taking them off the dribble, making quick moves, and gaining position on them without utilizing brute strength.

If he's placed on a scale in relation to his size (compared to players 6'11 and up), he'd be above average agility and quickness-wise.

[#1P4P]

Okafor is a budding elite NBA player.

His combination of agility, quickness, strength, and skillfulness on the offensive end is reminiscent of, Celticsblog favorite, DeMarcus Cousins; except, he's in the first year of his rookie contract and can be reasonably expected to acquire strength, skills, and the wrinkles to better utilize them in-game.

The answer isn't obvious today because of Okafor being a rookie and the CB lust for a defensive+rebounding Center, but this thread will be looked back on as an "Ibaka or Cousins?"-type thread even if Noel improves.

If the cost to acquire Okafor or Noel were equal, Jahlil is the player to acquire, easily.

Since when is Okafor quick or agile? Dude moves in slow motion.

#1P4P specifically says on the "offensive end" which I'd agree with. IDK if I'd say Cousins, but if you watch him play he's definitely both quick and agile on the offensive end. His foot work is unreal, he takes people off the dribble, and I've seen him make some pretty layups at weird angles. Plus his ball handling is very much above average.

TP for understanding!

[GreenFaith1819]

Either or.

Both would thrive and get better in our system.

[SHAQATTACK]

Either or.

Both would thrive and get better in our system.

I'm with neither .....

Rather....

Anthony Davis on the Celtics as is would be very good

[LarBrd33]

How adorable... a thread where a voting majority agrees Nerlens Noel would make a bigger impact than the guy we tried and failed to trade the Brooklyn 1st for last week. 



You get me, thread... you get me.

[KG Living Legend]

 So Lar, your pretty sure it was Okafor we were targeting? Would you have been happy to land Okafor for the Nets pick

[LarBrd33]

So Lar, your pretty sure it was Okafor we were targeting? Would you have been happy to land Okafor for the Nets pick

Sources have said it was Okafor.  I'd say it's a 95% chance that's who we tried to trade the Brooklyn 1st for.  Makes a ton of sense.  We tried landing him in the draft as well.  I also doubt we were only trading the Brooklyn 1st.  We probably had other assets in a package.  That's a huge risk for Philly to give up a guy like Okafor for a pick that might not even be top 5... makes a lot of sense why they backed out.   They are better off waiting until this Summer and weighing their options. 

And yes... I would have been thrilled to land Okafor with the Nets pick.  The fact we offered is mildly vindicating.  As I said in numerous threads leading up to the draft, it was blatantly hypocritical for the majority of this fanbase to say they wouldn't trade Marcus Smart for the Suns pick... while at the same time saying they wouldn't trade the Brooklyn pick (worse than the Suns pick) for Okafor (better than Smart). 

I'm also a big fan of Noel, though.  So I'm getting a kick out of this thread suggesting Noel would make a bigger impact here.   As much as I love Noel, I think Okafor has a higher ceiling.  Noel has a shot to be a perennial DPOY candidate, though.  I'd be happy with either one in Green.  I'd be happy with Embiid in Green too.   Philly has options.

[Celtics18]

Noel, without doubt.  I think he's just what we need, an athletic, defensive minded 4/5.  He would be a great complement to Olynyk in the front court.

I like Okafor's talent as a low post scorer, but he's too limited in too many other areas.  I don't trust him to have the mindset (or the ability) to become more well rounded.

[HuskerCeltic]

Noel, without doubt.  I think he's just what we need, an athletic, defensive minded 4/5.  He would be a great complement to Olynyk in the front court.

I like Okafor's talent as a low post scorer, but he's too limited in too many other areas.  I don't trust him to have the mindset (or the ability) to become more well rounded.

Okafor is currently a much better player than Noel. Okafor will develop more on Defense than Noel will on Offence.

[Celtics18]

Noel, without doubt.  I think he's just what we need, an athletic, defensive minded 4/5.  He would be a great complement to Olynyk in the front court.

I like Okafor's talent as a low post scorer, but he's too limited in too many other areas.  I don't trust him to have the mindset (or the ability) to become more well rounded.

Okafor is currently a much better player than Noel. Okafor will develop more on Defense than Noel will on Offence.

Both of those opinions are highly debatable.

[HuskerCeltic]

Noel, without doubt.  I think he's just what we need, an athletic, defensive minded 4/5.  He would be a great complement to Olynyk in the front court.

I like Okafor's talent as a low post scorer, but he's too limited in too many other areas.  I don't trust him to have the mindset (or the ability) to become more well rounded.

Okafor is currently a much better player than Noel. Okafor will develop more on Defense than Noel will on Offence.

Both of those opinions are highly debatable.

Okafor's first year in the league, he's averaging 17 and 7. This is Noel second year. I think that is something overlooked by the comparisons. Compare Noels rookie year to Okafor now and is it really close?

[arctic 3.0]

 Watch there highlights vs Portland if you want to see his skillset. I think it's ridiculous. Between the legs dribbling like he's Harden or something actually nails a three at two minutes. His skills for a guy that big is almost unheard of.
 Negatives on offense for me, is just that he's not as tall as once thought, but I'll take him anyway.

https://youtu.be/qbRwBeO70SY

Yeah, ok. That's pretty impressive.
He definitely has the offensive skill set and agility beyond what I had expected. question is can he molded to play as dominantly on the D side.

[Ilikesports17]

Noel, without doubt.  I think he's just what we need, an athletic, defensive minded 4/5.  He would be a great complement to Olynyk in the front court.

I like Okafor's talent as a low post scorer, but he's too limited in too many other areas.  I don't trust him to have the mindset (or the ability) to become more well rounded.

Okafor is currently a much better player than Noel. Okafor will develop more on Defense than Noel will on Offence.

Both of those opinions are highly debatable.

Okafor's first year in the league, he's averaging 17 and 7. This is Noel second year. I think that is something overlooked by the comparisons. Compare Noels rookie year to Okafor now and is it really close?

Both are very ok rebounders so the 7 rebounds stat is irrelevant.

As for the points, yes when you purely look at points the inneficient offensive specialist will look much better than the defensive specialist.

That shouldn't be surprising.

Let's keep in mind Okafor is probably benefitting from being a decent scorer Ina terrible team. It happens every year.