Time to Grab Okafor?

[Bballkingsrock]

Anthony Davis will be wearing a Hornets uniform and I think the Hornets are thinking of trading/ Amnestying Emeka Okafor. He could be a great third big with Thompson and Cousins but the question is would we like his contract and what would we give up to get him?

Personally, I think the Kings should consider it and try trading away some players that DONT include #5, Evans, Thornton, Thomas, and Cousins.

Thoughts?

 

[rainmaker]

Okafor might end up being the best defensive big we can get. Tough to answer this before draft day where potential trades might go down,but if we were for arguments sake to draft a SF, or not be involved in a trade bringing back a defensive big, then yes I definitely consider going after Okafor. Don't love his game, but like it enough to bring him in.

 

[Bricklayer]

Anthony Davis will be wearing a Hornets uniform and I think the Hornets are thinking of trading/ Amnestying Emeka Okafor. He could be a great third big with Thompson and Cousins but the question is would we like his contract and what would we give up to get him?

Personally, I think the Kings should consider it and try trading away some players that DONT include #5, Evans, Thornton, Thomas, and Cousins.

Thoughts?

I've been saying this since the offseaosn began, but certainly it really popped up as a possibiity with the Hornets getting #1. One of the national announcers was talking about them letting Kaman walk and then Okafor and Davis being all defnse as a frontcourt. Sees to me with Davis that you would go the other way and have Kaman stay and move Okafor. But who knows.

Downsides are two: 1) huge contract. 2) I've never thought he actually had that much impact Maybe watching him up close will change my opinion on #2, but he jsut seesm to always put up the umbers wihtout making much difference, and almost always for terrible teams. Still he's a rock stable pro, and does what we need done, so if we can't get anything else moving you would hope we'd hold this possibility in reserve and that the money won't chase us off. Would have been cheaper just to pay Daly last summer, but hey, what do I know.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I'd obviously prefer a more Mobile shotblocker/defender then Emeka, that can chase quicker PF's around, and play pick and roll defense. But if Okafor is the best we could do this offseason i'd be for it.

 

[Mass]

I'm not a great fan of Okafor and his contract, but if at the end of the summer we come up with him and Barnes, I think I's be a pretty happy fan.

Reke
Thornton
Barnes
Okafor
Cousins

IT
Salmons
Williams
JT
Hayes

This is a much more balanced team, with a chance to be decent on D too.

 

[Prince_XY]

I hope we get rid of one or two of Hayes, Salmons, and IT in the process of acquiring Okafor or Kaman. These guys are very good role-players eating so much time of our starter player's minutes. They are almost always confusing the coach to the detriment of our starter player's development.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Downsides are two: 1) huge contract.

And by huge, we're talking $28M over two years. Given that we have broke owners, it probably doesn't make any sense to take on that kind of salary unless we send back something like Salmons+Garcia (which is about $22.75M guaranteed). That trade would be about a push this year money-wise, but would add $7M to our cap number for next summer, which combined with Tyreke's presumed extension means that this year would probably be our only chance to hit thee free agent market before getting capped out. Still, does NO do that, just to save a little bit of money? Seems like a lot of their young players (Gordon maybe, Aminu, Henry, heck Ariza) are at the wings, and adding in two more to save a few bucks may not make any sense to them.

 

[Section 101]

Right now JT is better than Okafor. The only way you make a trade for Okafor is to dump Salmons and Garcia. Don't think NO is that desperate.

 

[bajaden]

Right now JT is better than Okafor. The only way you make a trade for Okafor is to dump Salmons and Garcia. Don't think NO is that desperate.

I'm a fan of JT's, but I do think that Okafor is a better overall defender. However, thats about it. JT's a better rebounder and a more rounded offensive player than Okafor. Plus, I know that JT fits on this team. Not sure Okafor does. Wouldn't mind having both of them, but with Okafor's contract, you'd have to kiss JT goodbye.

 

[ElRey]

Okafor is too expensive... don't forget who our owners are. Minimal payroll is all we going to get from the Maloofs. Just expect draft picks, and cheap midlevel players only.

 

[JMelho]

Kaman is a FA so he would be a better player to target than Okafor's contract.

 

[Bricklayer]

Kaman is a FA so he would be a better player to target than Okafor's contract.

Kaman doesn't help us with what we need, and he can't play with Cousins. So you would be targeting a 16 minute a night backup center. Okafor isn't being mentioned because he's sexy, he's being mentioned because he could be the shotblocker/defender at PF we have been needing.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

Kaman doesn't help us with what we need, and he can't play with Cousins. So you would be targeting a 16 minute a night backup center. Okafor isn't being mentioned because he's sexy, he's being mentioned because he could be the shotblocker/defender at PF we have been needing.

What do you think the Kings could give up realistically for him? Do you think they could really buy a Salmons, (Garcia or Hayes), and Jimmer package maybe?

 

[Bricklayer]

I posted this in another thread, but since its obviously Okafor related:

Shaun Powell: Hornets will entertain offers for 10th pick if someone also agrees to take Ariza or Okafor contracts. Twitter

I mean...if we jsut bleeping financially solvent how could anything actually work out any better for us than that?

 

[hrdboild]

I posted this in another thread, but since its obviously Okafor related:

I mean...if we jsut bleeping financially solvent how could anything actually work out any better for us than that?

I've been hearing that rumor since before the trade deadline. The Minnesota pick ended up being higher than it looked like it would be at that point in the season so I'm a little surprised it's still on the table. Okafor would fill a need for us and we get another high pick in a deep draft? What's not to like. He only has 2 years left on his contract too so it expires before we have to re-sign Cousins. It's the type of move we'd make in the past but it would require a major reversal from recent policy and/or an ownership change.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

I posted this in another thread, but since its obviously Okafor related:



I mean...if we jsut bleeping financially solvent how could anything actually work out any better for us than that?

Holy crap. Would be an almost ideal situation. Either grab Ariza and get Henson or grab Okafor and get Terrence Jones.

If the Maloofs can try to spend at least a dime, the Kings can turn around quick. dang

 

[BMiller52]

I posted this in another thread, but since its obviously Okafor related:



I mean...if we jsut bleeping financially solvent how could anything actually work out any better for us than that?

some things never change, Tom Benson is cheap. But yeah that'd be an amazing deal for us. Get Okafor, Draft a guy like Drummond or something at 5, then take a 3 like Perry or Terrance Jones at 10.

 

[rainmaker]

I posted this in another thread, but since its obviously Okafor related:



I mean...if we jsut bleeping financially solvent how could anything actually work out any better for us than that?

Not sure we could get a better deal to fill TWO positions of need. For those who want to trade down to grab guys like Henson or Taylor, maybe the 5th and an expiring like Cisco could get it done.

But damn, that's exactly what we need and they're not asking for much it would seem. With rumors like that, it would be absolutely inexcusable to only walk away from this off season with our freakin draft picks and/or JT.

This could theoretically get us a SF and a PF starter(or center of Cuz plays for PF) to fill out our lineup, AND a rookie who should be able to provide depth and be part of the rotation.

Edit: Oops. It was Ariza or Okafor, not both. Still consider taking on both if we can send Cisco/Salmons back.

 

[rainmaker]

Guys, I doubt it means they're just giving away the 10th pick. It's not trick or treat. We'd still have to give something of value.

 

[DesertFox]

I would trade down for Okafor if they take Salmons or Outlaw off our hands. Addition by subtraction, or trade for Ariza leaving space to resign JT.

a.Okafor and Terrence Jones/Jeff Taylor at 10 (will have the space to resign JT, just not Maloof space)

b.Ariza and Henson/Zeller at 10 + resign JT

vs

c.Drummond/Beal/reaching for one of the above and Salmons/Outlaw + resign JT

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Guys, I doubt it means they're just giving away the 10th pick. It's not trick or treat. We'd still have to give something of value.

But we wouldn't have to send the #5 by any means. They're dangling the #10 to get somebody to take Okafor off their hands. Yes, it would be nice if Salmons would get it done, but more likely Garcia. Or even Garcia + #36. I imagine that any of those would be a sneaky-good deal for us if only we could afford it.

 

[The_Jamal]

Guys, I doubt it means they're just giving away the 10th pick. It's not trick or treat. We'd still have to give something of value.

Exactly. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a team to dump a contract like Okafor (while overpriced is a solid big) and #10 to save 7 mil in cap space. Something I would strongly consider:

Okafor+10 for Marcus Thornton back

5+Cisco/Salmons/Hayes for Lowry+12

Lowry
Reke
Jeff Taylor
Okafor
Cousins

looks damn solid to me

 

[Bricklayer]

Guys, I doubt it means they're just giving away the 10th pick. It's not trick or treat. We'd still have to give something of value.

But if the report is accruate it means something pretty close. Its like the Clippers dumping Baron a few years back. organization just wants free of the contract and to get a fresh start. You send them back somethig that doesn't cost them much money -- an ender, or a kid like Hassan or Honeycutt, or our 2nd round pick, or somethign where they get a body and then get ot write it off the books.

Again, when a rumor like this pops up as far as New Orleans is concerned YOU are doing THEM the favor by taking Okafor. And they are willing to pay you with a pick to do it.

What you can't do is send back a Salmons or sometbody -- New Orleans is trying to clear its books, not take on more long term money.

 

[Dr. Spaceman]

Does Garcia straight up for this package work under the CBA? I remember vaguely that we didn't have too much room to spend after our "spree" on the likes of Hayes, Salmons and Outlaw last season. Something like 10-12 million? Too lazy to look it up right now. But just wondering if we need to be able to take on that monster $14 mil contract entirely before the trade can happen.

But would love to have Petrie having two shots to fire in this lottery. He's subpar with vet for vet trades and free agent signings, but everyone knows he can draft. Was against it before, but with two picks, I wouldn't mind us taking a chance on Drummond at 5 and then Terrence Jones at 10. Then you have Okafor around for the next two years as insurance until one of Whiteside or Drummond develops into a solid PF. 2 years might be optimistic for those guys, actually, but it's not a bad plan.

 

[ParniValjak]

Does Garcia straight up for this package work under the CBA? I remember vaguely that we didn't have too much room to spend after our "spree" on the likes of Hayes, Salmons and Outlaw last season. Something like 10-12 million? Too lazy to look it up right now. But just wondering if we need to be able to take on that monster $14 mil contract entirely before the trade can happen.

But would love to have Petrie having two shots to fire in this lottery. He's subpar with vet for vet trades and free agent signings, but everyone knows he can draft. Was against it before, but with two picks, I wouldn't mind us taking a chance on Drummond at 5 and then Terrence Jones at 10. Then you have Okafor around for the next two years as insurance until one of Whiteside or Drummond develops into a solid PF. 2 years might be optimistic for those guys, actually, but it's not a bad plan.

No we had a lot of salary cap left but what we did was just sneak above the bare minimum allowed which was 80% of the cap. Next season that number rises to 85% of the cap. We could take on Okafor's contract without sending anything the other way if it were allowed.

 

[Bricklayer]

Does Garcia straight up for this package work under the CBA? I remember vaguely that we didn't have too much room to spend after our "spree" on the likes of Hayes, Salmons and Outlaw last season. Something like 10-12 million? Too lazy to look it up right now. But just wondering if we need to be able to take on that monster $14 mil contract entirely before the trade can happen.

But would love to have Petrie having two shots to fire in this lottery. He's subpar with vet for vet trades and free agent signings, but everyone knows he can draft. Was against it before, but with two picks, I wouldn't mind us taking a chance on Drummond at 5 and then Terrence Jones at 10. Then you have Okafor around for the next two years as insurance until one of Whiteside or Drummond develops into a solid PF. 2 years might be optimistic for those guys, actually, but it's not a bad plan.

Yeah, as Carolina said, the salary cap is about $58mil, and after our expiring contracts our salaries are all the way down to $40mil. And that's with qualifying offers to JT and Donte included. So we wouldn't even have to renounce those. When you're cheap, you're cheap.

 

[mac]

Yeah, as Carolina said, the salary cap is about $58mil, and after our expiring contracts our salaries are all the way down to $40mil. And that's with qualifying offers to JT and Donte included. So we wouldn't even have to renounce those. When you're cheap, you're cheap.

I haven't been watching the Hornets, and I don't know what Okafor and Ariza's salaries are, but personally I'd rather have Ariza, if he still plays like he did for the Lakers. Then we can draft Drummond or Henson or Robinson.

 

[upinsmoke]

Garcia + 5th for Ariza +10th sounds fair for all parties. (Side note) Imagine what kind of return NO could get if they decide to trade both picks and okafor my goodness.

 

[Bricklayer]

I haven't been watching the Hornets, and I don't know what Okafor and Ariza's salaries are, but personally I'd rather have Ariza, if he still plays like he did for the Lakers. Then we can draft Drummond or Henson or Robinson.

Unfortunately he doesn't, although obviously defensive SF is also a need. Since he left the Lakers though his offensie has been badly exposed and he struggles to shoot 40% out there.

 

[Bricklayer]

Garcia + 5th for Ariza +10th sounds fair for all parties. (Side note) Imagine what kind of return NO could get if they decide to trade both picks and okafor my goodness.

I don't think you either a) entirely understand what the Hornets are supposedly offering; or b) like us very much. The beauty, the only reason the rumor out of New Orelans is interesting is because they AREN'T asking for major talent in return. They desperately want to dump bad contracts. They will pay the team who takes that contract off their hands wiht their #10 pick. If you turn around and give them your own even higher pick, you have completely missed the point of the exercise.