Emeka Ofakor has already shown how good a player he is in college. Can he duplicate that effort and exceed expectations in the NBA? One thing I am impressed with is his comments. He does not seem to be affected by the fiasco in Orlando. Okafor is ready to enter the NBA and make an impact. Drafting this guy and bringing a few more good defensive players to Orlando will reshape this team into what it needs - a solid defensive team. Anyone can score in the NBA, it takes a lot of work to defend. Ask McGrady about the 2003 playoffs - the Pistons choked him every time he got the ball. In the final minutes, it takes great defense to stop the other team.
Can Okafor become the leader of this team? I think so. As McGrady exits, this team could easily become centered around the defensive abilities of Okafor.
6 Comments on "Rookie Leader?"
Your joking right? Mcgrady is the NBA's best player. As soon as he leaves Orlando no more fan base, no more wins, and it would be relocation time in the near future. Okafor was a great player in the NCAA... but so was Washington Wizard Christian Laettner and look what he is doing for his team. Okafor is too small to push everyone around like he did in College
Joking? No. McGrady is not the NBA's best player. If he was, then he'd have a good team around him and either be the MVP or have a ring on his finger. Unfortunately, he has neither. As McGrady was blossoming into the star he is, he played team ball. If you want my honest opinion, he fed off of Mike Miller too much. I think Miller helped make McGrady what he is today. McGrady has turned into a baby. At some point, you have to step up, be a man and take one for the team. The Magic are making moves to correct their horrible roster and front office. Things don't happen over night. The Magic didn't become the league's worst team overnight. And, in response to your thoughts about the fan base. There are a few us that attended the games when there was no Shaq, Penny or McGrady. In fact, one of my most memorable games was Mike Miller nailing a three pointer to beat the Heat without Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. So, you have your superstar followers, and you have Magic fans. I, personally, am a Magic fan. And if we haven a dozen Bogans, Zaza's or Armstrongs on the team - that is just fine by me. I will be there cheering them on just like any other year. Follow your T-Mac to another team, or watch fat-ass Shaq come back here to "save" us - but in the end, there are fans and there are posers who root for whatever the media wants them too.
Tj, are you worried that someone is going to take Zaza or Gaines in the expansion draft?
Not Gaines - he can go. He either isn't very good or not catching a break from the Magic staff - no sense in tying up a roster spot and money on someone who doesn't play. Zaza - Yes. Bobcats would be crazy not to take this guy.
Orlando Magic Sucks so bad they will not win a championship in a million years....hehehahahahahehehe...where is the magic on that
And the Raptors will? Have they even made it past the first round yet? Next.