Merged: |0fficial| Trade Deadline

FWIW, not sure who this Keith Smith kid is, or if he is old enough to shave?

Okafor, 21 years old, plenty of time to develop high O potential and improve his D. Third scoring option. Paint scoring threat to take pressure off of Dame & CJ. Two more seasons on a cheap rookie contract.

Not a perfect solution, has a few warts, but he does fill a few needs, at a cheap price.

 

If Okafor could have a Zach Randolph transformation, then maybe. But he comes across as kind of sulky and entitled.

 

Why has Woj stayed so silent? Hasn't even reported on Okafor sitting out. That seems like a big enough story to write something about.

Unless of course someone told him to sit on it.

 

nuric not playing in nuggets 3rd game in 4 nights.

 

Understand your concerns about Okafor. I am trying to find positives, just in case he does wear our colors.

Watching film, he has amazing O paint skills. It would take double teams to stop him in the paint. He has better handles than Crabbe. I can see why he was drafted #3.

 

Okafaor has plenty of offensive potential. Right now, however, he does nothing well. He's not an efficient scorer, his teams don't do better offensively when he's on the floor, he's a mediocre rebounder for a center and he's an awful defender.

Yes, he's young and he notionally has the skills to be good on offense, but he's starting from such a low baseline. Much, much lower than he was expected to as the #3 pick.

 

Okafor has some good game on both side of the floor but just like our players we have now they have to do it every night and they don't. I believe Okafor would help CJ and Dame to make it easier on them because you can't single cover Okafor because he is skill enough to score any center in this league.

 

We have to get either better D or better O from our front line - a "threat" from either end where we now have little to nothing - this team has to take some chances given the position salary wise we are now in. At least we know Okafor has a skill and has proved that and he's only 21. and on a rookie contract which is huge for POR. Additionally if we don't get Okafor where much current attention appears to be focused, then perhaps it gets even easier to get a guy like Nurkic for even cheaper?

 

I guess I wouldn't be too upset if this was the trade.

Nothing too exciting for either side. We take on Bayless as a favor. Not one of the ex-Blazers I'd be excited to get back.

 

Only problme is that this trade puts us in the Luxury tax.

 

Well, for all his flaws Okafor is among the league leaders in one stat:

 

Okay, fine.

 

With the possible exception of Frank Kaminsky.

 

Go Chicago!

Jeez, how depressing must it be to be a Pelicans fan. Or Anthony Davis.

 

This team IMO has to take some chances given the performance we have seen this yr and especially given the bind we are now in cap wise because of last summers awful signings. Our front line is a disaster, anyone who we can find that has talent and is on a good contract and that can be had reasonably is worth a hard look.

 

Don't worry....if Portland is invovled, Olshey will let Woj know way before he would ever tell anyone local.

Holy early season Evan Turner Batman!!

 

I know that teams like to use Portland in trade rumors to try to drive up the asking price, since they know Portland never, never comments on rumors. Possible here. Meanwhile Orlando is just becoming a disaster; is it possible their GM will panic and make some crazy deals? Or is it possible Olshey knows Hennigan likes Okafor and wants to use him as part of a trade with them? He's young.

 

NO might be exploring options and then striking a deal with one of the teams that lose out on Okafor. Seems like his kind of deal. Hit them while their down.