It seems like every day I open CB, I see at least two or three threads based around trading the BRK pick for Okafor. I've voiced my opposition to such a proposal, because I believe Okafor is too flawed of a player, and his flaws aren't really things players improve upon with age. For example, he's never going to be a plus defender, especially in the current NBA where the best defenders can switch 2-4 positions. Okafor will always have a hard time defending anyone who can score outside the paint. But I digress.
People seem to have come to the conclusion that Okafor is attainable, because Philly has 3 blue chip prospects who all play the same position and who really don't fit together at all. By that logic, Noel and Embiid should be up for discussion too. I think the Colangelo's aren't looking to make some huge splash to put them in the playoff conversation or anything, but they are looking to build something that resembles a "core". A group of guys you could see growing together into something. You can't have that with 3 centers and a PF (Simmons). That's where we come in.
I think we've got this all wrong, if were looking to trade for a Philly big, to me the target should be Noel. The Celtics developed into one of the leagues strongest defensive team's last season thanks to their lock-down perimeter defense. Now, the presence of Amir allows that group to develop into the defense they were just by being adequate at protecting the rim and battling down low, which is something we didn't have before him. Then Just plug Noel, a super-versatile modern 5 who can protect the rim, rebound at a high level, defend down low and on the perimeter, and would be as good as Amir on Offense, with the potential to be much better. Noel is very good at getting easy put- backs, short jump hooks and easy dunks.
The biggest difference in real terms between Okafor and Noel is that Noel is coming up on an extension next year, and RFA. Thus, it's harder to justify trading a very valuable asset for him, and that's a totally valid point. I for one think that Noel, a MA native, would sign a reasonable deal with us long term should he be traded here and succeed in a role like Amir's. Still, I have a hard time a walking away from the third pick in the draft for a guy with one more year on his contract, even of he's still got RFA. If Ainge was willing to do it (and maybe, if he's unimpressed with his choices, he will be) I think Philly would have to take #3 straight up for Noel, if only because they NEED to trade one of their Centers and having #1 and #3 this year could really allow them to establish a core identity, the thing they lack the most.
But I think Ainge wouldn't want to give up #3 for a guy like Noel with one year left on his rookie deal. Maybe he'd try to make them add something else valuable to the trade like Bob Covington (the only non-blue chip legit player), and he could include an extra pick or two (maybe 23, 31 or 35), or one of the kids (Hunter/Young), just to make the trade more mutually beneficial. The Sixers need to start building an actual legit roster, even if it's half rookies. We need to consolidate assets. PHI could use #1 on Simmons, 3 on Dunn, get someone at 23 and pick up a promising sophomore SG in Hunter. We could use a 22-odd year old local boy centre who could anchor an elite defense for years to come, a young Swing (3/4), solid 3&D guy in Covington who could spell Crowder and hit shots, and we consolidate some of our assets.
Or better yet, we could trade back a few spots should some team fall in love with a guy at #3 like Bender, Dunn or Hield. Maybe we could trade back to 7 with Denver, swap out a guy like Young or Hunter for an extra asset like Will Barton, even if it took an early 2nd to get done, and trade #7, #16 and the other of Hunter/Young for Noel. I'd be good with that. Still plenty of room to grow, and time to shape out the roster. Let's just say we to into next year with
PG: Thomas/Smart/Rozier
SG: Bradley/Smart/Barton/Rozier
SF: Crowder/Barton/Jerebko/Smart
PF: Olynyk/Jerebko/Crowder/Mickey
C: Noel/Amir/Olynyk/Mickey
There's still plenty of space to fill out that rotation with FA signing (Nik Batum, Horford?) and our other draft picks (Thon Maker, Valentine?$), and if that's the direction out summer went, I could be happy. We'd have a defensive juggernaut who would probably win 50-55 games and still be walking into a crapload of assets next summer to work with, plus an addition core piece in Noel.