The 'ers Center Overcrowding Issue

The fabulous 'ers immediately have even further complicated their issue of having too many young, developing and talented players who can only play the center position.

Last night Joel Embid showed me enough to think that he is clearly (and, certainly not unexpectedly since he was much better when in college than either Okafor or Noel) their best young center.  He combines the best of Okafor and Noel in my opinion, and should get true starter minutes for Philly if he can stay healthy.

Yes, his health was an issue but probably not any more than Okafor and perhaps not even Noel.  Cripes, every NBA player is one twisted knee or ankle from not playing. What is the saying--"everyone is really only day-to-day" as an athlete.  He certainly did not appear last night to have any injury concerns.

Now what to do with all these centers on what is still a fairly weak NBA team?  My first thought is that they are not moving Embiid-period.  That would leave them to decide what to do with Noel and/or Okafor since neither one can move out to the power forward spot on offense even if Noel can probably play the PF on defense.  I thought that Saric looked already better at the power forward position for them even though he is a rookie.

Noel and Okafor showed for most of last season that they did not function well when on the court at the same time, and I would very much expect that neither will play well with Embiid for any extended minutes this season either for probably the same reasons as Okafor and Noel did not mesh well last season.  Neither guy is a power forward for today's game on offense.

Since this is Cs forum and I am a Cs fan dating way back to 1960, I ask for your thoughts on Ainge being interested in either guy.  To lead off, I am going to hold on to both of the Nets picks unless something else (like the Philly first round pick in 2017) were to come along with either Okafor or Noel.

I drool over Okafor - and would give up either of the Nets picks for him.

swish