MoBettle wrote:

Grotewold wrote:

gr wrote:love the "he's so smart" sarcasm afterwards, or maybe that's them being sincere but whatever, BODZ owned.

BENDER.

I think it was sincere, but still pretty funny how much they didn't want to believe.

I remember it being the same way when Angelo talked to Bill James a while back. "You're telling me Bobby Abreu didn't sanction the Holocaust?"

I liked when he said there's never been someone known for his passing go number 1. Apparently he's never heard of Magic Johnson.

gr wrote:

SteveJeltzPhanClub wrote:

Youseff wrote:

gr wrote:if we somehow got pick #3 for okafor, i kinda want bender because i think noel doesn't stay here past his rookie deal.

He'd be your 4th big man in that scenario - willing to draft a guy number 3 to be your second big man off the bench?

I agree with this logic as well. Can't draft Bender #3 unless you are also going to trade Noel. And I like Noel. So no thanks.

Get the #3 from the Celtics, and then let the next 3-4 teams battle it out for trading up to get Bender. Take the best player left among Dunn, Murray, Hield (in that order) and grab an extra asset.

Circling back to this, I would draft Bender to be the starting center of the future.

Seems like Okafor is getting traded. Just working off the chatter to follow this logic.

As I said, I don't think Noel sticks around. I think he wants to be a starting center (why wouldn't he?). But is he a starting 5 on a championship team? He doesn't really fit at the 4. Not sure how great his stone hands and limited offensive game fit next to Simmons. In anycase, when his contract is up, he will probably have more opportunity with another team.

Saric is Simmons backup, maybe spends little time at the 3.

That leaves Embiid. I want to believe as much as anyone in his greatness, but I'm just not sure that's really deserved at this point. He's going to be on a minutes restriction this year, and I'm starting to talk myself out of his ability to be a 80 games, 30+ minutes player. My whole desire to draft Bender hinges on Embiid's "reality" let's say. I guess I just think that until I see it, it's irresponsible to believe it.

So, I don't think it's crazy to draft Bender. There's an argument against it, but I don't think that argument is "well, we already have guys". He's not just a elite talent as are the guys we have in certain areas of their games, he's a more complete talent, and is possibly an elite fit in multiple ways with multiple guys.

Plus, Dunn, Murray, Hield et.al. don't seem like starting caliber players to me. So, you're still using #3 on a bench player if you go one of those routes.

Just sayin' is all.

Basketball bloodlines and why Domantas Sabonis might interest the Celtics

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Noel can definitely be the starting center on a serious contender, imo (I guess that means "championship team," I just think that term is unnecessarily limiting since dozens of hall of famers will never play on a championship team)

I constantly hear that his skillset is easily replaced but the only guy in this draft who approaches his ability is maybe Deyonta Davis

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Noel can definitely be the starting center on a serious contender, imo (I guess that means "championship team," I just think that term is unnecessarily limiting since dozens of hall of famers will never play on a championship team)

I constantly hear that his skillset is easily replaced but the only guy in this draft who approaches his ability is maybe Deyonta Davis

pacino wrote:it's all so staged. how can anyone listen to that for more than a 10 minute clip once a month?

Soren wrote:

pacino wrote:it's all so staged. how can anyone listen to that for more than a 10 minute clip once a month?

People love them. It's so fucking weird.

heyeaglefn wrote:Noel and Okafor can both be the 4th or 5th best player on a championship team. The problem is you are looking for guys now who will be 1-2-3 on a team. Simmons should be one of those guys, so if you can move either guy in hopes to try to get at 1-2-3 you probably do it.

Soren wrote:Embiid has demonstrated elite skills?

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Noel can improve, too. he just turned 22

Grotewold wrote:

Soren wrote:

pacino wrote:it's all so staged. how can anyone listen to that for more than a 10 minute clip once a month?

People love them. It's so fucking weird.

It's misery porn for Old Philly