« Reply #90 on: May 26, 2016, 01:08:52 PM »
I wouldn't trade #1 pick for him, but #3? Yes, yes I would.
Sure there is risk attached. The advanced stats are a little scary. But compared to the risk of a player like Bender, or Hield, or Murray? The upside is just as high, and the floor is what? Brook Lopez?
Suppose we utilize him smartly, and he becomes a "mere" 18/8 center with a block or two every night and average defense. Develops a decent midrange game and hits his free throws. On certain nights/matchups he becomes a nightmare for teams with no post defense. That's a [dang] valuable asset.
I don't disagree with this, in spirit, but I don't think it's accurate to say Okafor's upside is as high as someone like Bender. Bender's upside is a 7-foot rim protector who can shoot 3's, distribute, and guard anyone in the frontcourt. There isn't even a good NBA comp for a guy like that.
btw, this is my 1000th post.
I like Bender, but that's just not true. Porzingis is an easy NBA comp who is nearly a best case scenario for Bender 2 years from now. Bender is a good prospect but he's hardly the first sweet shooting euro big man. Will he be as good as Gallinari, Kirilenko, Nowitzki?
Okafor's upside is a 7 foot All-Star center who averages over 20/10 with a couple blocks for the next 10 years. Not saying it's going to happen, but he's hardly set in stone with the limitations of his 20 year-old season. Guys who can average 18/7 before their 21st birthdays have every bit the upside of any 18 year-old prospect who hasn't played in a top level league, with the exception of maybe LeBron back in the day. He could score 25ppg one day.
I can't fault anyone for objectively preferring Bender, but I just don't see the logical argument that one of these guys definitely has a higher upside than the other. Okafor is just as capable to improve his defense and score 25 per game, as Bender is to develop from euro bench player to NBA star in his 18-22 years.
I understand everyone's inclination to compare one 3-point shooting European 7-footer to the other one that was just drafted but they seem like they're pretty different players to me. Bender is a much more versatile defender (although probably not as good of a rim protector) and has better passing instincts.
Kirilenko is probably the better comp but Bender is a better shooter than Kirilenko was and he's bigger. That potential, to me, is more valuable than Al Jefferson 2.0.
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