According to a recent article posted on the bleacher report (Link Below) you will notice a familiar face listed in the top ten Centers of 2010-2011 season. No its not Tyson Chandler, but Emeka Okafor who is slotted in at the number 9 spot. Chandler is currently ranked number 13 on the list and is also listed in a related article as being the number one player most likely to be overpaid this offseason. When you really compare what we have/pay for a “Top Ten Center” in the league it truly shows you how far the modern center has dropped over the years. I for one am happy with Okafor remaining on the team and hopefully continuing to improve and be a stable in our every improving defense headed by Monty Williams. Who here in January was not salivating looking at Okafors numbers in November (FG .532, 10.7 PPG, 10.1 REB, and 2.4BLK) December (FG .610, 11.2 PPG, 9.9 REB, and 1.4BLK), and finally January before his injury posting (FG .630, 12.1 PPG, 11.0 REB, and 1.6BLK). Althought that in itself once again plays to paying a salary of 11.5 million for a double double as opposed to having a 18 and 9 player for that same salary. In this day in age, the center is the king of being overpaid and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
I am hopeful that Emeka will return to that form starting next season and continue to be an anchor in our lineup of the future.
Link to article (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/761532-nba-rumors-tyson-chandler-and-5-agents-ready-to-be-overpaid#/articles/762642-nba-ranking-all-30-starting-centers/page/23)
6 responses to “Top Ten Center?”
I think that Okafor should be in the top 10, but he’s not that elite force like he was when he was a rookie. I would be at least be satisfied if he was playing like he’s rookie year and progress every season a lil bit more. but what’s done is done already, but I’m sorry but we need to get 3-team trade going on to get either Javale McGee or A. Blatche from washington. I’d rather have MCGEE. that could be a start right there. everybody pretty much have these centers in mind of worth looking at. these are the top 5 most talked about Centers around Hornets247 that i’ve been observing.
Top 5
1.) D. Howard
2.) J. McGee
3.) D. Jordan
4.) C. Kaman
5.) A. Ajinca
Who in their right mind would list Okafor as a top ten center? I can think of two back up centers better than him. Anybody who says Emeka is top ten knows absolutely nothing about hoops.
Names?
Marcin Gorat and DeAndre Jordan. Both back ups both better than Okafor and that’s not even getting into the money situation.
Thanks.
I don’t see those as clear cut improvements if we ignore the money. Jordan is on a rookie deal, so we can’t even really talk about his money anyway.
Emeka is no the classic center, but he seems to lack some oomph for sure. The dude is fundamentally sound, but seems to hesitate or play too conservatively or something. He’s also as much a part of our size / length problem as the next guy. He lights it up at times, enough to be in the all-star conversation thought no seriously so.
I’m ok with him, but I’d take Jordan for less money than Okafor. I’d take Gortat and his current money.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoem01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gortama01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordade01.html
Top ten centers
D. Howard
A. Bogut
A. Jefferson
A. Bynum
T. Chandler
J. Noah
Nene
M. Gasol
K. Perkins
B. Lopez
Next 10
Cousins
Jordan
Gortat
Kaman
Camby
Hibbert
Okafor
Dalembert
Varejao
Okur