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He blocked 1.1 shots a game, which would have put him 36th in the league, except he didn't do enough to qualify.I think Okafor's floor is as a backup front court guy who can provide offense and where the other team down with his size. I think he will remain a good trade chip if he does not work out. To be honest I don't know much about him from College or High School. Being in the Philly situation would not be easy for any 19 year old and I am not ruffled by some of his behavior IF the Celtics staff is not. I don't know the man. I do think he has excellent moves to the basket, good feet and hands, above average passing for a man his size at his age and at least average rim protection. I think he fits in particularly well with Horford and the Celtics need for size and go to scoring. His contract is very good to absorb. Given his draft profile (not the perceptions from his 1 year on the sixers) would have had him rated ahead of both Smart and Brown in their draft classes. Where he would have been picked those years is speculation. The celtics culture and Stevens are exactly what he needs to have the best chance of being a star and he has a genuine chance of being a star.
I love Bradley and do not want to lose him, but there is a cost and I think he has the best value to give. His 1st defensive team is important for the Sixers to sell to the fan base because like all pro sports it is about the selling of the brand. I don't think he is a 1st defensive team. That award was more due to his clamp on Curry and his past work. Although his shooting has improved, he is not good at creating his own shot. I think he is at his peak and he is an injury risk and at times he plays to protect himself from injury. The fact that we have many young players who can take his minutes makes him more easy to lose. His two year contract is much better in value than Amir's or JJ's.
Because Rozier was in the same draft class as Okafor, the Sixers get him for the same length of time on a rookie contract. Actually a much cheaper contract than Okafor's.
I believe Okafor's ceiling on the Celtics is a starter on a championship team and the Celtics are tying to get as many of those players as they can. If we could get him for Bradley and Rozier that is a win as I see it.
Plus, which part of 'he doesn't play the way Stevens wants his bigs to play' do you not get? He's slow, doesn't run the floor, can't stretch the floor and can't play defense.